But Daddy downloads!

The topic of illegal downloading has been rehashed so many times it’s hardly even news anymore, but I thought I’d throw this tidbit your way: yesterday Reuters reported that the number one rationalization for downloading (despite being well aware of the risks) is “everyone — including their parents — is doing it.” That’s cute. My mom probably knows I dedicated my life to Napster when it was first released, but my dad can barely turn on a computer himself. Do your ‘rents download?

“Almost all of the children surveyed in the 27 European Union member countries as well as in Norway and Iceland said they expect to continue downloading. They also said the risk of downloading a virus was far more dissuasive than the risk of legal proceedings.”

Yeah, that’s pretty much why I stopped. That and iTunes is way faster, and more ADD than I am miserly with my dough. So my question for you is: what did/would make you stop illegal downloading? If they made a commercial of a virus eating all your Petey pics, would that heed a warning? If Paolo Nutini sobbed through a PSA about how he went without dinner because you downloaded his song, would that hit a nerve?