Tainted "Piracy" Statistics

newtley writes, "The music, movie, and software cartels claim 'piracy' is a Number One problem not only for themselves, but for the world as a whole and so successful are their continuing dis- and misinformation propaganda campaigns that they've been able to dragoon entire governments and police forces into acting as industry enforcers. But, says p2pnet, far from being at the top of the pile, movie and music piracy rank 16th and 20th, respectively, on a global index of illicit markets. (Software piracy ranks 7th.) And even those positions are subject to considerable doubt."

Comments

Re:Sounds like a great waste of time all around

[mrchaotica]

First, that doesn't mean that everyone should be able to carry arms.

Yes, it does. Period.

Do you really object to restrictions on felons and mentally ill people obtaining firearms

Yes, because it's impossible for that to actually happen: if a person is a felon, he's in jail and can't obtain a weapon. If a person is mentally ill [to the point of being dangerous], he's in an asylum and can't contain a weapon. If a person is not in a jail or an asylum, he is innocent until proven guilty and has every right guaranteed by the US Constitution!

restricting the ability of rogue governments and criminal organizations to obtain them?

The people in "rogue governments" (whatever the fuck that means -- I can only assume you're referring to something like this) and criminal organizations have either broken the law, or they haven't. Either way, go re-read the above paragraph.

Second, "small arms" includes a lot of things other than hunting rifles and handguns suitable for self-defense. It includes everything short of mortars and howitzers.

This is how it should be (except for the "short of..." part). The 2nd Amendment is explicitly the right of the people to rebel against an unjust "government," just as the people who wrote the damn amendment did themselves! As such, all weapons required to equal any "regular" military force should be allowed, up to and including F-22s (assuming the person could afford it, of course).

Do you really think that sales of AK-47s, Browning Automatic Rifles, flame throwers, and rocket propelled grenades should be unregulated?

Yep. A person hasn't done anything wrong until he actually uses the weapons in an unjust way.

The other problem I see is with illegal fishing. Private habitat development may be a solution to the loss of habitat for some exotic animals and plants with limited ranges, but how is it going to stop overfishing for cod in the Atlantic, for example? I don't see how a private party can protect sufficient habitat for wide-ranging fish in international waters.

No argument here, except that it possibly ought to be the responsibility of the United Nations, since no government can "protect sufficient habitat for wide-ranging fish in international waters" either (hint: that's why they're called "international").

Re:Sounds like a great waste of time all around

[cliffski]

"They're harmless for everyone other than the user, and the user should have every right to dispose of himself by whatever means he sees fit (as long as it doesn't hurt others)."

So in one post you think everyone should be able to own a rocket launcher, submachinegun, grenades, even an F22 fighter. In another post you think its fine for everyone at any age to be high as a kite whenever they feel like it.

Is this some kind of joke? I dont understand how your posts have not been modded troll.
If I went into a rough bar on a friday night, and sold everyone LSD and submachineguns, I reckon (and this might be a wild guess) that the evening would not end well.
Newsflash -> drunk drivers kill thousands each year
Newsflash -> thousands are injured every DAY in drunken fights.

You desire to throw heavy weaponary into the mix. Insanity. I'd like to see you have a nice romantic meal in a restaurant when someone walks in on LSD with a flamethrower, it would really add to the atmosphere.
I've debated your insane views on your percieved *right* to take other peoples intellectual property without payment before, now it seems that was just one string to your bow of completely whacked out viewpoints. Who on earth is modding this nonsense up?