software I

 (click to see better with eyeballs):

I should point out that I'm writing this on a free, open-sourced piece of software refereed to as “OpenOffice”. While it's true that there are many valid free programs out there, such things are often creative and production based. They are designed and contributed to by scores of hardworking and good-willed men and women whom devote their time, for little, or more likely no, pay and/or recognition. (Unless you're a truly devotional Linux nerd.) Such applications exist for a variety of platforms, come from trusted sources, allow you to donate little (or no money) for downloading them, and generally speaking make life more affordable, and tolerable for those of us whom cannot afford to shell out 400 USD for a word-processor.

Having said that, these are the exception, and by far, not the rule. Many free programs are just demos of various time allowances, which force you to save in a format only usable by the parent program, which must be purchased at full price, and unless your savvy enough to do some quick file-conversion, cause you to loose your work if you do not acquiesce to their demands. Often times anti-malware programs simply protect you from their own products, or at best implement a couple of fixes you could resolve yourself by spending half an hour getting to know your operating system of choice. What's worse, is they run data collection in the background, send back information that you gave them access to by clicking through the end user license agreement without reading. (Even if you did, some of the clauses and terms are practically indecipherable.) On this subject, it is important to note two things: One, more and more frequently public organizations are demanding “plain English” condensed versions of legal terms to include important and significant information in bullet point format (this should, by all rights, include common E.U.L.A.s), and Two: Just because you agree to something with a click, does not make it legal for said company to violate your basic rights. As such, were more people willing to come forward and seek legal action against said companies doing the violation, such behavior might be stymied, at least a bit.

How did we get to this point? Simple: apathy and “loose” moral justification on what is, and is not, a product. (Specifically what deserves our money.) In other words, by seeking to NOT learn about the thousands of dolars of electronic equipment we've invested our money into, nor paying for a legitimate product developed by people whom spent very real money earning an education that allows them to create these things for you, we've opened ourselves to the mercy of anyone whom can make a quick buck on our lack of interest in these areas. These highly profitable areas. Proponents of mal-ware can do anything from selling your trackable information and habits to research and marketing groups, to outright stealing your identity, reputation, time, and money.

How do we move forward? By taking an hour or so from our “busy” schedules to learn about the products, services, and equipment we possess. By making a simple 5 USD donation to a sight such as Sun Microsystems's(tm) “Open Office” (after all, $5 is by far cheaper, and more reasonable that $400), and positive recognition of those whom work on our behalf. In all honesty, it's neither difficult, nor time consuming.

Having said that, I feel I should point out that I still downloaded the free version of “Angry Birds”.