[xiaoma]

> "Other things you must hate: morality and ethics."

I'm less impressed with your own ethics than those of the OP.

The OP made a tool that served a market niche in a country that isn't so wealthy and then shared the story here to help other makers. You've taken exception with one small piece of the story and expanded it to claim the poster "must hate morality and ethics".

While it's a bit of a rabbit hole to get into ethics of the copyright and IP regime of the US and allies, it's worth keeping in mind that even multiple US legal scholars have expressed concerns—from Jefferson (who wrote at length about IP before drafting US law) to Lessig now. It's certainly not so clear cut as to justify vilifying those who disagree.

This goes doubly so, considering the poster did this in a country that has only fairly recently caved to international pressure to "harmonize" its copyright enforcement. The OP's project was built on VK, where downloads of copyrighted videos and songs were offered by the platform itself until very recently.

[jsumrall]

The tool OP made is neither technically challenging or interesting. The story is about what the tool was for, which is certainly not one small piece.

These types of stories are great and motivational, but not when it promotes people who are looking for inspiration to turn to stealing content and selling access to it.

Just because this kind of stuff is common in other countries or cultures doesn't change my opinion about it being wrong.

[xiaoma]

By stealing do you mean copying? What is the actual harm caused by social media marketing norms on VK?

Do you feel like Indians making generic copies of western cancer drugs is also wrong?

Most importantly, what kind of paragon of morality are you to pass such strident judgment on such a pedestrian issue?

Are you some super eco-conscious, vegetarian, volunteer worker who fights to stop the various unsavory things you have going on in your own country... or are your unyielding ethical judgments primarily reserved when for those living in much poorer countries and different cultures copy and share each other's social media ads?

I just don't understand why this is an issue worthwhile to try to shame strangers on the internet over.

[kazga]

Could you maybe explain how you compare copying a cancer drug to automatically putting your own watermark on other people's funny images?

[xiaoma]

Okay, kazga.

Both violate international IP treaties and both are absolutely normal behavior to many millions of people. Not amoral psychopaths for the most part, just normal people.

[aries1980]

False. In Europe, you can IP the industrial process of making the drug, not the drug itself.

[mskvsk]

Well, your opinion won't change this kind of stuff in other countries either. Your actions will, though.

[jsumrall]

Exactly, which is why I think it's important to point out when something is wrong rather than try to promote it as an example for others to follow.

Sure, feel free to continue. Just don't come here looking for praise.

edit: *praise from everyone. It seems some people are impressed. Congrats.

[mskvsk]

And I'd like to address the "not technically challenging" part of your comment.

Do you have even slightest idea what it takes to juggle the APIs of 4 buggy social networks without passing it through to your customers?

I'm not saying I'm a high-league developer, but your remark seemed like an ignorant understatement to me.

[mskvsk]

Dude, look around. There's no shortage of people pointing to something.

It's not about shaming. It's not about praise.

It's about actually doing something, even if it seems dirty. Because one day it'll help you to actually change the whole system. There are a lot of examples of this phenomenon.