Question for a little paper I'm working on....

[Sekkite]

Basically, my question is: What is considered to be unethical computer use? So far, I've been able to come up with hacking, creating computer viruses/worms, data mining, and downloading music for free. What else did I miss?

[Not Kuno]

You should include dling all sorts of stuff; games, programs, music, movies. Theres more then just music that's "stolen".

[Axil]

Child porn
EDIT: GAH KUNO YOUR SIG OWNS

[edgarfigaro]

msg board trolling.

creating a forum account specifically to push a product.

posting inaccurate information designed to libel someone (like the guy linked to the JFK assasination on wiki)

[Arvin]

Scamming, identity theft?

[Robert]

botting and teleport hacking in FFXI!

[rahskala]

I don't believe that "downloading music for free" is unethical. If the music in question is copyrighted, and if the holder of the copyright has not given the music away for free, then all you're doing is infringing on that copyright. There is plenty of music made by plenty of artists who are more than happy to share their art with the world.

Nor is downloading copyrighted music the same as theft -- theft would imply that I'm taking something which that person no longer has. That copyright infringement == stealing is nothing more than a concept that the music/film industries made up.

[macbain24]

Bashing your boss's face with a moniter.

[Zigma]

kiddie porn.

[Demetrick]

Any thing that your society deams illegal or immoral.

[Immortaldonut]

playing as a female character and saying that you're female in real life to get phat lootz, when you're actualy a man. i dont speak from experience on either end, but that is definitely highly unethical

edit: thought of another one - breaking alliance because a bard outlotted you on e.body

[Lordwafik]

Telekenetic rape.

[vudoodoodoo]

Telekenetic rape.

Digital rape. Kekeke

[Meilyn]

Maxx/Joee is unethical

^_____________^




Edit: You should have fun and go off on a tangent about how ethics are relative depending on social discourse and personal belief. What is illegal and what is unethical are not always the same and can actually be contradictory. When someone says ethics most people tend to assume legalality, which doesn't really have anything to do with it (though the two interplay and often influence and depend upon the other). This is even more nebulous within the realm of the internet as it is often difficult to determine which rules/laws are applicable, or what body of law holds jurisdiction.

It would be an interesting way to lengthen your paper and show a little insight beyond the topic at hand. It likely depends on the professor, some would call it nitpicking, but others would appreciate the deeper evaluation of the question itself. Probably depends on grade level/course subject/paper length for how much I would go into that though lol.

[Awoir]

Necro bumping

[Sarchar]

Basically, my question is: What is considered to be unethical computer use? So far, I've been able to come up with hacking, creating computer viruses/worms, data mining, and downloading music for free. What else did I miss?

You should make the distinction between hacking and cracking. The definition is such that a hacker is just someone that is really good with computers. A cracker is someone who uses his knowledge maliciously.

[Khamsin]

Necro bumping

The thread has to be dead first, to be able to necro bump it.

I wouldn't call data mining unethical.

So what if we found out how to get to Aht Urhgan before the expansion even went live, or that we found a useless level 50 gorget that everyone wants because we can't find out how to get it.

[Sekkite]

Necro bumping

The thread has to be dead first, to be able to necro bump it.

I wouldn't call data mining unethical.

So what if we found out how to get to Aht Urhgan before the expansion even went live, or that we found a useless level 50 gorget that everyone wants because we can't find out how to get it.

Data mining can be unethical when you are finding out someone's personal information.

And thank you to everyone who has responded to this thread so far. Theres been lots of very helpful information. Although I'm probably gonna exclude including a part about child porn because that is more universally unethical rather then something that is specifically utilized through computers.

And thank you for pointing out a few mistakes for what I originally had, Kuno and Sarchar.