The Old Man and the Apple...

You are not a number. Always remember that. If you allow yourself to be reduced to a number, people and corporations can and will do what they want to you. A relative of mine purchased a used computer recently. He's an older relative and a proud man, so it took me a while to get him to use the computer. He was a little afraid of the technology and ashamed to admit as such, so you know getting him on the web was a real treat. I finally convinced him.

Soon after getting on the web something strange happened, he loved it. His proficiency dramatically increased and he was proud of himself. Then it happened. Microsoft informed him via an icon about 4 inches long on the bottom of his screen that "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting" What he didn't know was that it would be permanent. What he also did not know was that they would take away his backdrop every hour, change it to all black and harass him upon log on. Now, he was not about to have his buddies come over and see what he had learned.

I understand the need to protect your intellectual property. I'm a comedian and writer, believe me I understand, but morally you should NOT change a person's property. You changed HIS computer Microsoft. HIS computer. What you did was the equivalent of following a person out of a consignment store yelling "Counterfeit pants!" ALL DAY...EVERYDAY, or standing by his refrigerator saying "Before you get that soda, would you like to buy the real designers pants? You can get your drink in...5...4...3...2...1..."

I want it to be clear, I think that EVERYONE has the right to protect their intellectual property...but there's better ways to do it. He won't use that computer again. EVER. He will however use another computer...that he purchased from APPLE.