Is this unethical?

[Easy E]

Not for the person receiving the counterfeit tokens or cash, it isn't, other than the fact that the money has more downstream damage possible.

Arguing degrees of damage is fine when talking about penalties, but as far as condemning them from an ethical standpoint, or trying to justify one as "more acceptable"?
[img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Easy E]

Also, keep in mind that I'm not saying that what I did was right. I realize that it's theft.

But if any of you that said it was theft, also download mp3s and burn CDs from them, then you're a hypocrite

Unless, of course, they also say "I know I'm stealing, but.." like you did, in which case they are.... what, exactly?

(besides fellow thieves?)

I'm not sure why you started this thread. You obviously know you're in the wrong. Is this a curiousity experiment or a "make me feel better about myself and my actions" post? Your continuous attempts to counter replys leans me towards the latter..

[touchfaith]

[ QUOTE ]
But people have been hoping the turn-styles in subways and kids have been sneaking onto golf courses for years and that is essentially what this is

And if you don't condemn them all, then the attitudes about theft grow and expand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Then you agree with my previous statement?

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anyone who considers the token thing theft, needs to delete their MP3's or stop being hypocritical.

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[ThaSaltCracka]

[ QUOTE ]
So, purchasing fake chips is not the same as printing your own money?

[/ QUOTE ] are you referring to casino chips? If so, I would say its the same as printing your own money. The reason why is chips have a legitimate monetary value. Tokens at a batting cage are worth essentially that, and there is no potential return by using them, other than the service. using fake chips is entirely different, you can actually win money with them. Same thing with counterfeit dollars.

I agree, stealing is stealing in essence, but there are varying levels of degree and I think in the case of stealing, it makes a huge difference.

[Dex]

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Of course it's stealling. You're receiving the service/product without paying the company that's providing it. In fact, you're paying $0 to that company.

[/ QUOTE ]

While we're at it, let's close down all used book stores and used record stores. People that shop there are stealing, of course, since they're paying $0 to the company that produced the book/music.

[Easy E]

as I replied to another post, getting rid of the stolen materials doesn't make it non-theft as a result.

Whether or not I steal something differently than you doesn't invalidate my correct definition of YOUR theft as theft.

What do you want me to agree or disagree with here, exactly?

[ThaSaltCracka]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Of course it's stealling. You're receiving the service/product without paying the company that's providing it. In fact, you're paying $0 to that company.

[/ QUOTE ]

While we're at it, let's close down all used book stores and used record stores. People that shop there are stealing, of course, since they're paying $0 to the company that produced the book/music.

[/ QUOTE ]good analogy [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[IndieMatty]

How the [censored] can there be 10 pages to this thread when the answer is clearly. "Yes you are stealing. Stealing is unethical."

I'm slowly joining the "WTF is happening here" contingent.

[razor]

[ QUOTE ]
As to this other statement of yours:
To claim that there are no "degrees" of theft in terms of the value of what is stolen and the impact on the victim is just silly.

So, we have good theft and bad theft now? And reread the link before you answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

If that's the conclusion you draw from reading El D's statement you need to work on your reading comprehension and critical thinking skills...

[Ulysses]

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[ QUOTE ]
You certainly are rationalizing. The amount of the cost doesn't matter, I hope that's not your only poor attempt at justification.

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF are you talking about? See my response to ThinMan or stabn's response. It has already been established that both what sooga have done and illegally downloading music are stealing. In your simple world, is stealing a piece of gum the same as a home burglary ring?

[/ QUOTE ]

You didn't read this response, I guess?

As to this other statement of yours:
To claim that there are no "degrees" of theft in terms of the value of what is stolen and the impact on the victim is just silly.

So, we have good theft and bad theft now? And reread the link before you answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good theft? WTF are you talking about? Are you just trying to manufacture arguments here?

Theft is bad. Some theft is worse than other theft, yes.

sooga: I understand that this is stealing. But certainly there are different levels of stealing, ranging from maybe taking a couple of paper clips at work, to stealing a car off the street. This is why i'm asking HOW bad you would think this is.

That is the specific question regarding which OP requested opinions once it had been clearly established and acknowledged in the thread that what he did was indeed unambiguously stealing.