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jamescwarren

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 10, 2005
403
0
Isle of Man
I have noticed all these torrent sites where you can download things for free and stuff like that but before I start using it, I would like to knoiw if it is illegal or not. If it isn't, then I'll start using it straight away. If it's not, then I won't. Please help.
 

mad jew

Moderator emeritus
Apr 3, 2004
32,191
9
Adelaide, Australia
You'll have to be more specific. Some sites offer legal torrent downloads, some offer illegal ones. Generally you have to go back to the official site of the actual file (software, movie, song or whatever) and see what they say. Generally if they're charging a price, then the torrent you find will be illegal. :)
 

mad jew

Moderator emeritus
Apr 3, 2004
32,191
9
Adelaide, Australia
It's not the site you get files from, but rather it's the specific files you try to download that are relevant. What do you want to download? Check the web site of the developer/manufacturer/producer/owner of the file to see what the copyright licence says (or more simply, check how much it costs).

I hate to say it, but most torrents are not legal. :(
 

Lacero

macrumors 604
Jan 20, 2005
6,637
3
BitTorrent is a lot like a loaded gun. Depending on what you shoot, it could be illegal or perfectly acceptable. Do you plan on being a naughty boy? :D


Here's to the Crazy Ones
 

robbieduncan

Moderator emeritus
Jul 24, 2002
25,611
893
Harrogate
Basic rule: If the torrent is for something that costs money it's probably not legal to obtain it for free.

I'm sure that there are exceptions (say for demo versions) but it's probably a good start.
 

combatcolin

macrumors 68020
Oct 24, 2004
2,283
0
Northants, UK
Lacero said:
BitTorrent is a lot like a loaded gun. Depending on what you shoot, it could be illegal or perfectly acceptable. Do you plan on being a naughty boy? :D


Lets be honest, anyone using File Sharing software is going to be very, very naughty!
 

California

macrumors 68040
Aug 21, 2004
3,885
90
Am I "aloud"? :eek:

Wow. I don't know anything about bittorrent or any of that stuff -- but

I'm pretty sure that "aloud" is not a word. Is there any way to spell check on MR, I wonder? That is a such a peculiar spelling error... wow. Sorry it's very late and its glaring illiteracy just caught my eye. I guess it is latent snobbery that all Mac people are well-educated and of superior intelligence.. :cool:
 

mad jew

Moderator emeritus
Apr 3, 2004
32,191
9
Adelaide, Australia
California said:
Is there any way to spell check on MR, I wonder?


Some browsers have inbuilt spell checkers. I use Safari and it's off by default but I turned it on by CONTROL-CLICKING in the text window and selecting Check Spelling As You Type. Of course, it really wouldn't help the aloud situation though, it's merely a spell check, not a grammar check. :eek:
 

robbieduncan

Moderator emeritus
Jul 24, 2002
25,611
893
Harrogate
California said:
I'm pretty sure that "aloud" is not a word.

Aloud is a word. As in "to read aloud". The Tiger built in dictionary says:

"aloud |??la?d| adverb 1 audibly; not silently or in a whisper : he read the letter aloud. 2 archaic loudly : he wept aloud. ORIGIN Middle English : from a- 2 (expressing manner) + loud ."

I agree that it's used incorrectly in the thread title though.

It should read "Am I allowed?".
 

Lacero

macrumors 604
Jan 20, 2005
6,637
3
robbieduncan said:
Aloud is a word. As in "to read aloud".
Or Girls Aloud. :D

girlsaloud.jpg
Here's to the Crazy Ones
 

Deepdale

macrumors 68000
May 4, 2005
1,965
0
New York
California said:
Am I "aloud"? :eek: I'm pretty sure that "aloud" is not a word.

It surely is a valid word, just not in the context in which it was used by the poster.

California said:
Sorry it's very late and its glaring illiteracy just caught my eye. I guess it is latent snobbery that all Mac people are well-educated and of superior intelligence.. :cool:

I don't feel the need to comment on misspellings so long as I understand what is being asked. As far as Mac people are concerned, the commonality there is that the clear majority can state with accuracy that, in one degree or another, they overpaid for their hardware. I'll pass on the issue of superiority. Snobbery ... well, that depends.
 

Deepdale

macrumors 68000
May 4, 2005
1,965
0
New York
max_altitude said:
I know! There are so many of them that they're difficult to use in their correct forms. :p

Agreed and a decent starting place would be to check out ... http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html

That list represents homophones, not homonyms as stated. Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings. Homonyms sound the same and have similar spellings, but different meanings.
 

California

macrumors 68040
Aug 21, 2004
3,885
90
Deepdale said:
I don't feel the need to comment on misspellings so long as I understand what is being asked. As far as Mac people are concerned, the commonality there is that the clear majority can state with accuracy that, in one degree or another, they overpaid for their hardware. I'll pass on the issue of superiority. Snobbery ... well, that depends.

Well, as far as Mac people are concerned, I'm glad that girls are aloud or allowed or alloud or alowed or eiloud or eillowed or whatever on MR.

Otherwise I would not be here.
:)
 

adk

macrumors 68000
Nov 11, 2005
1,937
21
Stuck in the middle with you
California said:
I guess it is latent snobbery that all Mac people are well-educated and of superior intelligence.. :cool:

It's not mac people, it's forum users in general. They feel the need to feel superior to other people by correcting inane spelling mistakes. just the other week I was told this:

First of all, it's iPod not Ipod.
 

Platform

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2004
2,880
0
adk said:
It's not mac people, it's forum users in general. They feel the need to feel superior to other people by correcting inane spelling mistakes. just the other week I was told this:

Well if you are going to talk Apple why not do it properly ;)
 

kretzy

macrumors 604
Sep 11, 2004
7,921
2
Canberra, Australia
adk said:
It's not mac people, it's forum users in general. They feel the need to feel superior to other people by correcting inane spelling mistakes. just the other week I was told this:

I totally agree, I have found this to be even worse on other forums I have visited. I hope you didn't take offense at our little bit of word play with the homophones, it wasn't intended to be snobbish - just a bit of fun. ;)
 

adk

macrumors 68000
Nov 11, 2005
1,937
21
Stuck in the middle with you
max_altitude said:
I totally agree, I have found this to be even worse on other forums I have visited. I hope you didn't take offense at our little bit of word play with the homophones, it wasn't intended to be snobbish - just a bit of fun. ;)



Actually, the worst example of this i've ever seen was on another forum. One poster (assumedly american) was convinced that a UK poster was spelling the word "colours" wrong.
 
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