Yet ANOTHER Tech Ethics/Sin Question

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LuxDei

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There are so many of these up here…

But here’s my deal (gonna try to make it brief): A few years ago, when I was heading off to college, a friend built me my computer (as in, we bought the parts, like the hard drive and the processor and the monitor and all that, separately and he put it all together himself). He apparently knew a way to get his copy of Windows onto it without paying again, meaning illegally. He did, and I’ve been using this thing for years.

I decided to confess this and ask the priest what I should do, since it would be possible to buy a $200 copy of windows and install it, but reformatting my drive to do so would be a pain and all that. Well the first one I talked to said, and I quote, “They want to charge you $200 for something that costs them $6 these days. Don’t worry about it; just don’t do it again.” As you can imagine, I was NOT satisfied with that answer, since he seemed to think it was “no big deal” to steal, and I know it is. So then the SECOND priest I asked was an older gentleman, and I’m not sure he understood. His response was something along the lines of “Well, that was definitely wrong, but there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

But there IS technically something I can do…I can pay for either a copy of windows or just buy a new laptop or something and stop using this one. I mean I’m not rolling in money, and it would financially “hurt” to do this, but I feel like I need to own up to my dishonesty here! So I don’t know…two priests said to just learn from it and not do it again, but I feel like I should either pay for this copy or stop using this computer and buy one with a legal copy on it.

What do you guys think?

Are they right, and I should just “not do it again”? Or, should I buy a copy for this computer? And would it be unethical to NOT buy a copy for this computer but to just buy a new computer (I’ve been wanting a laptop recently) with windows legally on it instead? I mean technically in that last scenario, I wouldn’t end up paying for this one…I’d just stop using it.

I don’t know what to do. GAH, technology creates so many moral problems…I should have just been ethical in the first place!

Thanks in advance.

NOTE: I know about the ability to buy licenses, but that wouldn’t work for me. He illegally put Windows XP Pro on here, and a license for that costs significantly more than an whole copy of XP Home, so that’s what I’d have to do if I stuck with this computer.
 
I would say any version of no longer using the illegal copy of Windows would be fine. I would think that by continuing to use something that doesn’t belong to you, you are would still be sinning. I know that when I finally got it through my brain that downloading music (not the legal stuff) was wrong, I deleted it. Some I have repurchased, some not. 🤷 Seems like pretty much the same deal.

I don’t think if really matters if you purchase a copy for your current computer or just go out and buy a new laptop. Seems like the same results either way, you are no longer using something that doesn’t belong to you.

And I would say since your conscious is telling you to do something, then you need to do something. (hey, I just read that part in my RCIA book 🙂 )
 
KarenElissa said:
I would say any version of no longer using the illegal copy of Windows would be fine. I don’t think if really matters if you purchase a copy for your current computer or just go out and buy a new laptop. Seems like the same results either way, you are no longer using something that doesn’t belong to you. And I would say since your conscious is telling you to do something, then you need to do something. (hey, I just read that part in my RCIA book 🙂 )
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First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on RCIA! Welcome home 😉

Second of all, I guess that makes sense, now that I think about it. Because if I had stolen a TV or something, really I would have two moral options: 1) pay for it (like if I bought a copy of Windows) OR 2) return it (since I can’t RETURN this, and they never lost any money that they actually paid to put this software in some kind of inventory, the same effect would happen if I stopped using it and bought a laptop).

Thanks for your help, and God bless!
 
LuxDei said:
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on RCIA! Welcome home 😉
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Thanks! 😃 I see you just swam home yourself.
Second of all, I guess that makes sense, now that I think about it. Because if I had stolen a TV or something, really I would have two moral options: 1) pay for it (like if I bought a copy of Windows) OR 2) return it (since I can’t RETURN this, and they never lost any money that they actually paid to put this software in some kind of inventory, the same effect would happen if I stopped using it and bought a laptop).
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Thanks for your help, and God bless!
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Yup, that makes sense to me!
 
If you need a laptop, by all means, go for it, but it doesn’t make too much sense to simply stop using your desktop altogether. Why not install a free OS on it instead? Ubuntu, for instance, is a fairly easy to install Linux OS with a lot of great software to back it up (Link to Ubuntu site). If you don’t want to deal with the hassle, why not delete Windows from the computer and donate it?
 
If it really bothers you all that much and you don’t want or can’t afford a new laptop at this time, why not dropp the price of the Windows XP program to something like Catholic Charities or a nearby Pro-Life Organization. There really is no good way to restore what was stolen from them to Microsoft. There is of course another hitch. If the program or computer ever goes haywire and you need support from Microsoft it is unlikely you will get it. One thing I would recommend is that you get a flash drive or some other device and back up your data files from time to time. Once that computer blows you will have a terrible time trying to recover the data at a legitimate vendor. My thought with software is, you pay the price up-front or you will end up paying a price later.
 
LuxDei said:
There are so many of these up here…

But here’s my deal (gonna try to make it brief): A few years ago, when I was heading off to college, a friend built me my computer (as in, we bought the parts, like the hard drive and the processor and the monitor and all that, separately and he put it all together himself). He apparently knew a way to get his copy of Windows onto it without paying again, meaning illegally. He did, and I’ve been using this thing for years.

I decided to confess this and ask the priest what I should do, since it would be possible to buy a $200 copy of windows and install it, but reformatting my drive to do so would be a pain and all that. Well the first one I talked to said, and I quote, “They want to charge you $200 for something that costs them $6 these days. Don’t worry about it; just don’t do it again.” As you can imagine, I was NOT satisfied with that answer, since he seemed to think it was “no big deal” to steal, and I know it is. So then the SECOND priest I asked was an older gentleman, and I’m not sure he understood. His response was something along the lines of “Well, that was definitely wrong, but there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

But there IS technically something I can do…I can pay for either a copy of windows or just buy a new laptop or something and stop using this one. I mean I’m not rolling in money, and it would financially “hurt” to do this, but I feel like I need to own up to my dishonesty here! So I don’t know…two priests said to just learn from it and not do it again, but I feel like I should either pay for this copy or stop using this computer and buy one with a legal copy on it.

What do you guys think?

Are they right, and I should just “not do it again”? Or, should I buy a copy for this computer? And would it be unethical to NOT buy a copy for this computer but to just buy a new computer (I’ve been wanting a laptop recently) with windows legally on it instead? I mean technically in that last scenario, I wouldn’t end up paying for this one…I’d just stop using it.

I don’t know what to do. GAH, technology creates so many moral problems…I should have just been ethical in the first place!

Thanks in advance.

NOTE: I know about the ability to buy licenses, but that wouldn’t work for me. He illegally put Windows XP Pro on here, and a license for that costs significantly more than an whole copy of XP Home, so that’s what I’d have to do if I stuck with this computer.
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If you feel obligated, then you should buy a new version of windows. It seems like the right thing in my opinion.
 
Wipe the disk clean and buy a legal version of Windows, along with the other software that you need. Software bundles are available very inexpensively these days, and having legal software gives you access to free technical support. 🙂
 
jmcrae said:
Wipe the disk clean and buy a legal version of Windows, along with the other software that you need. Software bundles are available very inexpensively these days, and having legal software gives you access to free technical support. 🙂
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Yeah. Make it an act of penance. Pray before hand and afterwards.
 
Do the right thing and scrap the Windows box and get a Mac! This way when you spend the money on a legit computer you aren’t wasting your money at the same time! 👍
 
I talked to my mom about this today, and she offered to buy my a laptop as a way early Christmas/Birthday present. I know, that’s silly since it’s not even October, but she understood why this needed to happen sooner rather than later. So yeah, I bought one with the OS already on it and everything. I feel much better already as I’m transferring my data to it 🙂

My plan for this old one is to completely wipe it clean and then sell the parts on eBay, and I’m gonna give my mom whatever money I get from that.

Thanks to everyone for your help!
 
willj1365 said:
Do the right thing and scrap the Windows box and get a Mac! This way when you spend the money on a legit computer you aren’t wasting your money at the same time! 👍
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Haha! I looked into that, but they were way more expensive…and we’re not made of money!
 
The apple site has refurbished macs that are a little cheaper and if you get a Mac Mini you only need to have a USB keyboard and mouse (which you might already own). I am a network admin and use Windows and Macs at work all day, and all I use at home are Macs -
 
Are you still a college student? Licenses for students are much more reasonable than standard commercial versions. And many universities and colleges have even better deals–the previous university I worked for allowed you to get a license for Windows for $20. Check with your IT department to see if this would be an option for you!
 
I wouldn’t consider it to be theft, as the other guy set up your PC for you, you didn’t do anything illegal. You’re worrying about nothing, seriously. If I murdered someone then I’d be worried about my soul - if I was in your position I’d not even think about the ‘illegal’ version of XP - two Priests have told you it isn’t an issue, so why are you doubting their advice? They’re better qualified to council you about Catholic theology than the lay people here.
 
OK, I know I’m going to get flamed for this, but you stole from MS. Send them a check with a brief explaination. Your conscience will be clear and the scale will be even. Then go confess it. You’ll feel much better.

God bless you.
 
One other option:

You could always buy a legal copy of Windows, and just not install it-keeping the old one one the computer.

I know this a somewhat different situation, cause it’s not an operating system but when I realized that pirating music was wrong, I did buy legal copies of the CD’s of some of the songs I had downloaded. Now I realize that a digital copy is an exact duplicate, so I didn’t go through the trouble of deleting the old copy, and copying a new copy of the exact same file onto the hard drive.

That to me would be legalistic, the digital file is the same whether it is a copy from the internet or a copy from a CD. I feel that I fulfilled what the law meant-i.e. to not steal and purchase a legal copy. The artist was then given their proper royalty. I didn’t see the point in deleting a file and then putting a file on that would be exactly the same.

Now I know some of you might say that the non-CD versions might have viruses or something. While that is possible, especially for popular songs, I don’t think that the virus writers were working hard writing viruses for “Christ be Our Light.”

However, it is also important to go with what you are told by a Priest. In some of my confessions, the idea was suggested to donate money to a charity if repairing the original damage was too difficult. I know some other posters have discussed that as well.

I say if it will put your soul to rest, buy the legal version. Then you know you’ve at least paid for what you have used. You’d probably get a good price with Vista out now, too:)
 
Thanks for your responses…I think I said in the middle of this thread somewhere that I decided it was ALSO an ethical option to get rid of my old computer and buy a new one with a legal copy of windows (and I got a laptop for school since I commute). Because if I had stolen a TV or something, I would have the option of either paying for it and keeping it OR giving it back. Well, in that situation, the vendor actually LOST real money he already spent to stock that TV on the shelf. MS didn’t…it was only ever hypothetical money because of how my friend went about this. That doesn’t make it moral either, but my point is that since I can’t “give it back” to them, ceasing to use it and paying them for a computer (whose price includes a legal copy of Vista) would have basically the same effect.

That’s what I did…and I guess I feel alright about that. Especially considering that both priests I consulted said I didn’t even need to do THAT much.

Take care, all!
 
Did you make any money from the piracy of that software? The answer to that question would make a difference to me.

I would just keep it and stop worrying (provided you didn’t make any money from it). If God sends me to hell for that, well, I guess I won’t be lonely in hell.

I think the priest is right; Get over it and do it right next time.

Sheeshh… Microsoft is a millionaire factory. And Bill Gates is the richest daddy of 'em all! Geez… I wonder who is being ripped off: Us, or them?

Sure, go ahead, give Microsoft the lousy two-hundred bucks. And ask them if they want a cup of coffee with that too. (Ok - end of sarcasm.)
 
LuxDei,
I had a rather interesting personal experience with something very similar. I am a musician, and I was at a place where I was really struggling coming back to God. I had downloaded all kinds of software for recording… soft synths… dynamics packages… you name it, I had it. I was getting ready to install all this software when I heard an internal voice say “My friend, this is where the rubber meets the road in your life… CHOOSE! between me or the world!” I said well Lord it has to be you.

I immediately reformatted my hard drive and decided to use only what I paid for knowing that if I installed that software I would be stealing.

I loaded what I actually owned which isn’t much, and immediately I started playing a chord progression with the words “Come Queen of Peace” coming to mind. The whole song just enfolded in front of me and the last line is Holy Spirit enter me. I started recording a guide track a few measures at a time, and when I finished and zoomed out I saw essentially the word “Peace” that was formed by all the notes in the piano roll editing view. Then I felt I needed to record the last line, “Holy Spirit enter me” exactly as the melody was in my mind the notes formed a dove with tongues of fire coming out of it.

A few days later as I was recording and layering orchestration and I went in to edit a string track and saw the image of 2 angels holding song books, and looking like they were singing. Needless to say I was rather overcome by the whole experience.

I believe this happened for 2 reasons. God definitely wants me to use the gift He gave me for Him, and the other reason is because I was faithful to God and didn’t steal.

Being a musician I would consider anyone downloading my music without my permission stealing. It is legally my property by copyright… Same with microsoft… they have the right to be compensated for all their software as does anyone who created anything in a digital format. If it is their sole source of income they have a right to earn a living, and downloading, or “Borrowing” hinders their ability to make a living. A large portion of software manufacturers are small companies. This is an age when peoples consciences are either dead or dying concerning this issue, but stealing is stealing no matter how you slice it, and it is a mortal sin.

For me that meant that I actually had to get my life right with God. No more pilfering at work. If I didn’t pay for it I DON’T OWN IT.
 
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