This is something I've been wanting to discuss for a long time. I made a thread about it a while ago, that somehow managed to stay pretty civil, which was quite surprising. I didn't really get to say everything I wanted to, and I kept a lot of opinions to myself because it's a pretty taboo subject, and usually ends up with two sides waging war on each other, hurling insults and belittling others every chance they can get.

I did admit in the thread to supporting/partaking in piracy. Which leads me to the topic: I do not understand anti-pirates.

I just can't wrap my head around these people who so vigorously stand up against pirates. It's not as simple as having differing opinions, or believing what the person is doing is wrong. I'm talking pure to the heart hate these people have. I've seen so many discussions about piracy turn into such a fight that death threats are thrown out. Another common occurrence I see is people wishing they would be locked up in prison. Can you sincerely wish that they be sent to prison for downloading a GAME? I don't see how somebody can really want that to happen to somebody else, even if you really dislike piracy. I don't know about you, but I don't want my tax dollars being used to keep a guy locked up because he played a free copy of Halo. It costs over $100 a day to keep a person behind bars. We spend enough as it is on pot smokers, I really don't want to add to the cost by locking up illegal downloaders.

But it's more than just that. Another thing I don't understand is the sheer hypocrisy and biased attitudes a lot of anti-pirates share with each other. They don't download games, and hate the people who do, but how many of them download music? Movies? How about using emulators and downloading roms? Just about every time I get involved in a heated argument about piracy I bring this up, and most of these people admit to downloading other stuff. "Downloading music is different." How, I ask? "Because musicians make money by other means, like concerts and merchandise, and developers don't." But, you're still obtaining a piece of media for free that you're supposed to pay for.

Others claim that downloading roms is OK. Why, I ask? "Because the game is so old, the company isn't making money off the game anymore anyways." And...? The game hasn't magically become freeware because it isn't being sold in stores anymore. You're taking money from small businesses, people who really need the money. Used game stores, mom and pop shops who carry old games. Instead of buying from them, you download for free. Don't kid yourself, it's no different than downloading a new game. There's no library for old, washed up games, they still cost money.

How about music, the most commonly downloaded piece of media that exists. Can anybody truly, with a straight face, tell me they've never downloaded a song before? Even if it was just one song. No, I seriously doubt many people are capable of doing that, so it comes down to people being biased. They love the gaming industry and want to support it, but don't have the same passion for music, so they don't mind music downloaders.

I would like to make this next part very clear: It doesn't matter what you are downloading. Illegal downloading is illegal no matter what it is. You cannot sugar coat it. You cannot defend it. Downloading a game is the same as downloading music. Downloading a movie is the same as downloading a computer application.

I don't want to go on for too long and begin to ramble, so I'll leave it at this: Even if you are some kind of freak human being who has never downloaded an illegal thing in his life, why do you care so much about people who do? Why can't you just live and let live? Why can't you mind your own business? Aren't there more important things to worry about than Joe Blow from Nebraska downloading Crysis for his PC, or John Doe from Florida playing on his modded Nintendo DS? Why not do something productive instead of trying to get involved in the business of others, especially when that business doesn't directly affect you.