Re: Asimov Mirror Sites Access Information

["Ernest" <ernestls@home.com>]

This pirate vs.. abandonware argument just goes on and on. Most know my
feelings on this issue but it isn't black and white for me. I can see valid
points on both sides, honestly, but I really think that it's a waste of time
to even discuss it anymore. I will continue to use this old software, even
if it bothers those who think that it's wrong. I'm not continuing to use
"abandonware" out of spite, or to prove a point, or to cause distress -I'm
using it because, legal or not, I enjoy it, I'm learning a lot by using it,
and for all intents and purposes, it isn't causing pain or harm to anyone.

I know that some people do feel that using this old software without
permission DOES cause harm, in some abstract, philosophical way but it's
pointless to argue about it. One can make a cause-and-effect argument about
anything -even a that a butterfly flapping it's wings in Chile causes it to
rain in Iraq. One can talk about any topic in abstract terms but in
realistic, and practical ways, the use of this "protected" old software
isn't hurting anybody, except maybe the people who work themselves into a
dither over the "horror" of it.

On the contrary, I think that the Apple II community that I see is alive and
growing with new members, like me, precisely because there is so much
software available for free. I have many other vintage computers that I've
collected but they usually reside unused on the shelf because I can't find a
lot of software for them. I like them. I use them but not as much as my
Apple IIe. My Morrow MD-3 doesn't have nearly as much software as my Apple
II, nor does it have an organized and fun user group to go to for support,
so it sits gathering dust.

To be fair, though, to those few of you who feel sharp physical pain at the
mere thought of someone else using old, no longer commercially sold software
without [your] permission, I am willing to at least look at your documented
list of illegally distributed software from any of the major FTP sites, like
Asimov, Ground, etc.. There may be software on your list that I currently
use that does, in fact, still have commercial value (to me,) like
communication, word processing, diagnostic, or other utility programs. If
I'm using these programs illegally, then I will make an honest effort to see
if I can find the owners, and I'll ask them if they want me to give them
some money, or make a donation to a charity of their choice. I'll even post
the information to this group, so that others can make the same choice.

For all that I know, all of the software on the major FTP sites is being
distributed without permission, or not, so I'm not going to try to research
it out. I'll leave that tedious job to those of you who feel more strongly
about the issue than I do. I think that posting a list like that would be a
good thing for the group, and as documented back-up to your argument. It's
easy to say that a site distributes software without permission but show me
which software that your talking about, so that I can at least see it in
real, rather than abstract terms.

One last question, for those of you who are playing hall monitor. Why do you
care if I'm illegally using some old program that was written more than ten
years ago by a company that no longer exists? I'm serious. Why does it upset
you so much? You'll put me to sleep if you start getting philosophical about
the fall of western society, so explain it to me in a practical, down to
earth way, OK. I'm sincerely curious.

Ernest