Where are the ethics?

Honesty is a 2-way street. Many people (myself included) are not computer savvy and we rely on information given to us by others. For example, suppose a person buys a computer sight unseen off the internet based upon the seller's ad and it turns out the operating system was pirated. Just because the new owner asks questions and tries to fix a real problem doesn't mean the new owner is unethical. Au contrare, mon ami... the person asking the questions and trying to salvage a bad situation is actually the one who is trying to right an egregious wrong. I'm not condoning it, but I can certainly understand it if a person who has been the recipient of unauthorized intercourse says, "I've been *blanked* so I don't care who I *blank* in return." It all boils down to revenge (getting even with the whole world for getting *blanked* in the first place) and temptation (possibly getting something for nothing instead of having to pay big bucks - for example - for a new and legal operating system.) Revenge and temptation go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. I don't think they will disappear any time soon.

Hi Leo. I can definitely sympathize with you, however, I think that this has been going on since the Internet became accessible to geeks in the general population. Usenet, for example, isn't dead, but why else would you use it than for unethical purposes? There's so much illegal activity going on in the IRC rooms that the application/protocol has become a joke.

It is unfortunate to be sure, but porn and illegal activity have always driven technology, and it's no different today (think audio, images, and streaming video on the BB's in the 80's and 90's).

Those of us with ethics need to be strong and set an example for others and speak out when it can help.

Tim W.

Hi Leo, love your website and newsletter. What is wrong with people. I get the same questions, can I see what someone else is doing on there computer? what is there password?, I just don't get it.

Thanks for all your efforts and info.
Richard

Ah! You are troubled by the the darkest of humanity, those that wish to live behind mask. You meet them in all walks of life. often your friends.
I have found indeed most quite charming, adept, and all without a moral compass.
All you can do is live your life, with a honesty that perculates down through all of your activities. They will learn sooner, hopefully than later, "what goes around comes around".
TANSTAAFL!
Lee

Welcome to post 1980's America me-ism!!!

Funny how we can read the bible that there were two trees in the Garden, and not realize that the one that brought death to the spirit was the tree of the knowledge of GOOD, and evil.. Goodness was on that same tree with evil. It is so easy to see the *evil* in human nature, but does one realize that those doing *good* have the same sentence upon themselves?

Even the goodness of man ties him to death and separation from God.

Thereby the message of Christ. One must be born again! This time, born from above, rather than below.

Bar

If i were you Leo, i would not give it a second thought. Not only are people dishonest and without human ethics on the internet, as you can see in the world around you in which we live, unethical dealings go on as high as the government and trickle all the way down to common ordinary folk. It's not going to stop or even slow down! In fact, the pace of which crooked dealings, backstabbings and even murder continue to be a constant problem in our everyday life. Know why? Cause humanity does not care anymore! They are insensative to the brutality that exist and the mentality is if it is in someone elses family, then its not mine and im not going to worry about it. At every level, it all harms each of us in someway. There is no right or wrong answer Leo! Just continue doing what you do for you have helped me out in some very good ways lately and i love receiving the news letters and enjoy them all! Keep up the good work and just overlook the mud till you find the diamond. Peace.

Hang in there! we're all confronted by the amoral in our midst. How we respond determines who we are. No doubt you know who you are. That makes me,and, I'm sure, countless others who find things in their E-mail sent by someone with a compass, happy! :-))

Phil

Poor Leo! I know that feeling. I live in a small latin american country and it is so depressing to see the lack of honesty and integrity from the richest to the poorest people. Legal copies of CDs are not even available for sale here. Everyone is out to cheat someone else in any way they can, sometimes even when they don't benefit personally. I could just cry sometimes. Few people have internet access at home, but just wait until they do!

To the person who said "why else would you use USENET except for porn?"...That's a little cynical. I collect recipes--cooking RECIPES for heaven's sake!--and many of them came from the old USENET.

Leo, don't forget that there are a zillion of us out here who only use the internet for communication and education and we love your website.

Leo my Man, your are very much a help to us newbies out here in computer land that have a thirst to learn! Sadly, there are going to be those types of people in EVERY walk of life and I suppose with computers/internet its just the nature of the beast. My girlfriend just had her computer stolen from her house. So all in all, just keep up the good work. VERY much appreciated and there are good people out there that you have no idea how you have touched them in a positive way! Glad you brought up this subject though. So keep on truckin; Leo! Thanks!!