(June 26, 2009 at 3:57 pm)Kyuuketsuki Wrote: If he downloads music illegally then he is a criminal ... it is also morally wrong.I had no problem with this, I agree with you. What I objected to was this:
(June 25, 2009 at 4:49 pm)Kyuuketsuki Wrote:(June 25, 2009 at 4:06 pm)Meatball Wrote: I'm not arguing that it's not a crime. I'm arguing that it shouldn't be a crime.
... and because of that you are a criminal (and it is morally wrong).
Kyu
Someone who argues that something shouldn't be a crime is not necessarily a criminal, as my example showed. If Meatball is actually downloading music, then of course, he is a criminal, but saying that "because he argues that it shouldn't be a crime, he is a criminal" (which is what you said in the above quote) is wrong.
It flies in the face of freedom of speech, and is counterproductive since no new laws (or repeals) could be implemented if this was the case. I mean, say a bunch of 16 year olds wanted to reduce the drinking age to 16. They are well within their right to call for such a law, but they are not breaking any (not even drinking laws) simply by suggesting the law change. Unless it can be proved that you are actually breaking the law, you can talk about how it needs changing all you want.
