<p>My mom keeps bringing me Christian DVDs and CDs she gets from her friends asking me to rip them and copy them (do you love the irony?). This is something that I am 100% opposed to and she knows it. When I tell her I don’t want to do it she gets mad and insists it is because they are Christian programs (I’m not Christian and she knows it). I’ve told her 100 times at least that I am opposed to people pirating intellectual property (I’m a writer so I guess I am sensitive to this topic). There isn’t a singe piece of software, music, or anything else on my computer or in my house that I didn’t get legally. To me, I don’t see it as being any different than walking into Walmart and putting stuff in my pocket. She has a computer with a DVD burner and I have shown her how to do it. She always tells me that it is okay because it is Christian stuff. I have a hard time standing up to my mom, so I usually end up breaking down and doing it. </p>
<p>Would you ask your kid to do something illegal that you know they are against, even if you didn’t think there was anything wrong with it?</p>
<p>No, I would ask my kids to do something like that.</p>
<p>I applaud you for standing up for your ethics.</p>
<p>When I was young, I started refusing to buy cigarettes for my mom, who used to want me to run into the store and get her cigarettes while she waited in the car outside. Once I learned that cigarettes caused cancer, I refused to help her harm her health.</p>
<p>This really seems like a “What Would Jesus Do?” situation. Does she realize she is not only breaking the law but one of the 10 Commandments. I don’t think it says “Thou Shalt Not Steal - Except for Christian Music and Movies.”</p>
<p>When I try to show her she acts all flustered and pretends she doesn’t understand computers. She’s had a computer for 12 years, has a computer technology certification, and was working as a document controller before she was laid off, but because she is almost 60 she thinks she can get away with acting like she doesn’t know what she is doing.</p>
<p>50 years ago book publishers tried to have photo copiers made illegal. 35 years ago the movie industry tried to have VCRs made illegal. And so it goes…</p>
<p>The law still gives the owner of the material the right to control its distribution. There are a few exceptions that allow for copying, but OP’s mother does not fall into one of those. It is irrelevant that the mode of duplication is legal - duplication is still illegal and is theft.</p>
<p>tell her that while you appreciate that she feels strongly about this issue- you do as well & since you are " growing up" , you need more practice sticking to your own decisions that are based on your values- especially when part of you wants to do it. ( because it is fun/ it is your friend/parent etc.)</p>
<p>My mother-in-law does the exact same thing – asks my husband to copy CDs for her to give to her friends. He tells her no, it’s illegal, and that he would be happy to purchase a copy for her if she needs one.</p>
<p>I like the porn clip idea! Perhaps just some Metallica would do the trick.</p>
<p>My husband also does not understand this–though he’s doing the ripping himself. I had to tell him we won’t watch the dvds he burns because I don’t want the kids getting the idea that it’s o.k.</p>
<p>Good for you!!! I work in the software industry - and can tell you that piracy is a tremendous problem for my company. I don’t have any copied music on my computer or iphone - and taught my kids from an early age that it would not be tolerated on the computers I provide for them. </p>
<p>The rule is quite simple - I find pirated software, music or videos on your computer, I will take it away. As I put it, my income depends upon license fees - and that is what paid for your computer and everything else in your life - let’s not be hypocritical. </p>
<p>I do provide them with an itunes allowance so that they have no excuse in my mind. Never had to take away a computer :)</p>
<p>Good for you! My family is in the music business and film business. They make much of their money through the sales of music cds and dvds. What your mother wants you to do is STEALING of intellectual property. And, as I recall one of the Ten Commandments says, Thou shall not steal. It is not ok.</p>
Perhaps just some Metallica would do the trick.</p>