From: benjohn@... Date: 2006-05-17T00:41:19+09:00 Subject: Re: Ticked Off Austin Ziegler > On 5/16/06, gwtmp01@mac.com wrote: >> On May 16, 2006, at 5:21 AM, Kev Jackson wrote: >> > I live in the developing world, and the fact is that there are no >> > bookstores that carry Prag Prog titles here - they simply cost too >> > much for the bookstores to carry. Sadly this means that most >> > developers here don't even think about spending 25-50% of their >> > monthly salary on a book when they can download a pdf from a p2p >> > network. >> I don't get this attitude at all. Either pay the asking price or >> forgo the use of the book. It is really that simple. Otherwise you >> are taking the work of another without any compensation. I don't see >> how your location or income changes the ethics of the situation. > > I get the attitude from people in developing nations where you have > the choice of 25 - 50% of your salary or not learning something new to > be able to do better by your family. I do not get the attitude from > first-world people who would have to forego a pizza or three to afford > the book. Bravo! *claps loudly* - I've got two copies of Prog. Ruby, because it's excelent, and I can afford to have one at work and one at home. If some people are going to copy a book (one that's not free, as aposed to my example) so that they can feed their family, and better themselves, and perhaps one day join me in being very well off because my ancestors had a good head start in pillaging the world's recourses, then good on them. When they're rich and I'm poor, I hope they won't mind me listening in on the interesting stuff they produce. Pretty much my message is, I think: learn your 80:20 principle. You're coders aren't you? Don't try to chase every last penny, and maybe you'll find you end up with more. ...On the other hand, I used to work for a softeware company that would have had a much better stab at life if people had bought its products rather than using pirated versions...