It’s really funny when someone knows something that he is doing is morally or ethically wrong but tries to explain it away as not really so bad. Case in point: on /. there is a thread about the BSA sending threatening letters to companies telling them to do a “self audit” of their software to make sure they are totally legal. One genius responded thusly

yeah but… so they “pirated” software. here is the result:

one, it doesn’t cost the software companies a thing. you steal a car, it takes steel, rubber, plastic from somewhere. you make a DIGITAL copy, it costs software co. nothing. and many of the “pirates” wouldn’t have bought the software.

Yep, it doesn’t “cost” the software companies anything. That’s a good one. Just like stealing cable or satellite service doesn’t “cost” those companies anything. His last sentence is the kicker, though. “[A]nd many of the ‘pirates’ wouldn’t have bought the software.” So, by this guy’s “logic” if you wouldn’t have bought a product anyway, but you still want to use it, it should be ok for you to just take it? Give me a break. It sounds to me like his conscience is whispering to him and he is doing his best not to listen.