<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by raincityrd:
Stealing? Give me a break, on the morality scale this rates just a little worse than installing your buddies copy of software on your own computer. If the airlines were THAT concerned about it, it would take a little more effort to sign up for a FF account. They want the business - look at how easy it is to get status on HP.
[This message has been edited by raincityrd (edited 02-12-2002).]</font>
I agree. Installing unlicensed software is stealing. That's because we respect "intellectual property". I also agree that it's not quite the same as breaking into the Gates' household and walking off the with the silverware, but you are stealing.
In my opinion the HP argument is relevant but not sufficient. Imagine I stand at a street corner and randomly hand out $100 bills to strangers passing by. If you were to sneak up behind me and pickpocket me, taking only the $100 I seem to be willing to give just about anyone, you still stole $100, because it's mine and I DIDN'T give it to you. If I was the judge sentencing you, I would obviously take the circumstances into account, maybe even laugh at the whole thing- but you still stole $100.