My old physics teacher says, "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."

Anyway, I don't think that there is any reason for there to be a ban on discussion of warez. Probably everyone I know uses software illegally in one way or another. What influence do you think I would have over someone if I asked him to stop? None. It is the same here. It may be a good idea not to promote it, based upon restrictive laws, but it should not be ignored.

Also, I think that software piracy is a much smaller problem that it is made out to be today. I plan to be a game programmer, but I do not fear the deamon that is warez. Let's take Warcraft 3 for instance. I know of a few people who looked for CD keys. If you really think about it, almost all the people who want the game bad enough to pay for it have already bought it. Those who do not, will not pay for it, whether or not they get the game. How much money do you think Blizzard has made from just that one game? Plenty. The developers have gotten their money. I say let it be.

Also, while I am at it, I would like to address the rules that contain the anti-warez clause.

"By clicking the Agree button, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws."

Obscene: Offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty.
How many times have I read an obscene post? More than none.
Vulgar: Deficient in taste, delicacy, or refinement.
Similar to obscene. I will find examples if anyone wishes.
Hateful: Feeling or showing hatred; malevolent.
What is the flame forum?
Threatening: To indicate danger or harm.
Gladly, this doesn't seem to be much of a problem.
Sexually-Orientated: *This has to be a judgement call as the concrete definition of the word would simply be something that has to do with the male or female sex. The connotative meaning is gender degrading material*
There were some posts with comments to or about certain member(s) of the forums to which I took offense. I may have overreacted, but I was not pleased when I read them nonetheless.

While I think that some of these rules may be restrictive, everyone has to accept that there must be rules to keep order. Maybe we should be lenient in inforcing these rules. Maybe we shouldn't. There must be an individual decision made for each case, as they are not the same. I would like to see some rules inforced more strictly, and some ignored alltogether at times, but if it were up to the person posting, the rules would always correspond to what he were posting.

*Deep breath*

There is no way to decide a best way to deal with any of the rules, and if there were, it wouldn't be best for long. Situations constantly change, so the rules must try to stay current with them. Example:
It is still legal in Texas to hang someone if they steal your horse.

Anyhow, to finish on topic, I would not ban the discussion of warez. I would not allow posting of cd-keys or links to places to get them.

[/rant]

p.s. I love you Kristy.

What is it they say about silence being golden?