question: why pirate? Options

[*kryogenix*]

I'm studying Computer Science, so hopefully I can become a computer programmer. But, I'm a bit scared that I won't be able to eat.

Why?

Piracy.

I hear things about people pirating this, bragging about how they found cracks for photoshop, not fearing the legal issues and the works.

Piracy screws over the people making the product. When you download a copy of software in place of legitimately buying it, you are taking away profit of the company. Yes, I've heard the argument that "they make millions, it's ok if those greedy companies lose a few thousand dollars." You're right. Some companies don't need the extra money and should be punished for their greed *coughMicrosoftcough*, but not all companies are like this.

Why do this to Adobe? Photoshop is probably the most famous image editing program, but it's not the only one. People have told me that they pirate photoshop so that they can learn to design graphics without having to pay hundreds of dollars upfront. But you don't have to pirate software to learn how to design graphics. There are cheaper and even free alternatives to photoshop, but people still pirate.

So my question is why?

[ryanoman]

I'm guessing you don't pirate any software with saying that.

I have a trial of Photoshop CS, and I'll admit, I'm planning on getting it another way after my trial runs out, maybe by cracking it. You have a good point about stealing and pirating stuff. It is wrong, that's the bottom line, but I won't make any money off of my graphics. Adobe knows people pirate their software... but they make so much money... they don't seem to be worried.

That's all I have to say. This is an opinion question.