Do you feel it is ethical to use a product/service in ways it wasn't intended?

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BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
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My question is related to software specifically, but I guess you can apply it to anything really...

Just as an example, Microsoft developed MSN Messenger protocol to be used with MSN Messenger.

Microsoft didn't open up the protocol for others to use, yet some people figured out how the protocol worked and developed their own messenger clients.

Do you consider this to be ethical?

What about using the NTFS file system outside of Windows? People spent a lot of time figuring out how it works so you could read/write from other operating systems.

Would you consider that ethical?
 
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miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
3,679
0
76
If you feel it it is unethical, then yes. I doubt you would be asking this question if you did not.
 
RaistlinZ

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
7,470
9
91
Yes. I paid for it, I can use it however I want as long as it's not against federal, state, city law.
 
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BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
76
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
There has to be a decision on software.

As it stands now, no innovation can occur because of the claim that corporations own 0's and 1's.
Click to expand...

Well, I tend to feel that people should develop things so that they are open and free to be used by everyone, as well as modified and improved if it can be.

That said, i also feel it's unethical to use something in a way that wasn't intended by the original developer.

Just because something can be reverse engineered, doesn't mean it's right.
 
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Mahaguru

Senior member
Jul 20, 2007
326
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71
Is it ethical to use your cell phone as a source of light when trying to unlock your door in the dark? It wasn't intended to be a source of light.

or

Is it ethical to use a CD as a coaster? It wasn't intended to be one.

We can go on with this.
 
S

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
Answers in the form of a question:

Was it unethical for the british to develop enigma to decypher german encrypted communications during ww2?

Is it ethical that the nuclear power industry used technology developed to kill people and funded by u.s. taxpayers to generate profits for private shareholders?

What's the difference between ethics and morality? merriam-webster seems to use the two interchangeably in some cases and in others, one to define the other. So if it turns out they are the same and since a lot of people associate morals with religion, a person might be committing a sin by using a non-ms os to read/write an ntfs volume.

Is it unethical to not obey or follow a law? Or is it just common sense to follow them for the most part to avoid anarchy. Should a law, once it's passed by some sort of legislative body, put on the books and enforcement begun, ever be challenged? rescinded? Is it unethical to question the legislative body's wisdom?

Is it ethical to loan a book or a music cd to a friend who has not paid (and never will) the author or musicians?

Is it ethical to use toothpaste as a thermal compound between a cpu and heatsink?

Is it ethical to be allowed to be duped into believing that a corporation is an all powerful and knowing god?

Final answer: it's unethical for an individual to use technology other than how it was intended but it's ok for a corporation. A corporation has more lawyers.
 
P

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
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Not only is it not unethical at all, I would venture to say that many great ideas and products have come from trying to use a product in a way that it wasn't meant to be. Often times the "unintended" use is as good as or even better than the original intended use.

How about this one for starters: you're using the internet in a way that was not intended.

If it turns out that some drug intended to treat cold sores can also cure cancer, do you think it would be unethical to use it to cure cancer? Of course not......
 
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