I dumped the thread. I would be happy to answer any questions related to action taken on that thread.
While the actions discussed in the thread may be technically against the law (many interpretations can apply, in many different situations), it was not dumped because it discussed illegal activity. We routinely discuss minor and small infractions of the law, and it's not really a big deal at all.
Nor is it a moral judgment. The nature of the thread can not be described as either good or bad.
I dumped the thread for two reasons:
1. It leaves us vulnerable to legal action. I wouldn't expect our average member to be keeping up-to-date with online copyright information and news. Nevertheless, the situation is tenuous at best, with the recording industry looking to strike out with lawsuits at the most vulnerable parties involved in file sharing. Discussing illegal file/music/data/video sharing is one thing. Using the board as a tool for illegal file/music/data/video sharing is another. It draws heat for us. There are a million places you can do it on the net. It's disrespectful to do it here.
2. The act of discussing and promoting illegal file/music/data/video sharing attracts deleterious web-surfer activity of a nature that we would prefer to avoid. I'm not talking about the type of people that swap old hotrodding movies through the mail. Discussions, websites, software, or any other opportunity to get copyrighted material for free attracts a cyber-punk type of element that we can do without.
I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but I would hope that this is considered to be generally reasonable. When you Dump a thread, you are essentially ruining someone's party. So, you must have a good explanation, and you need to accept the fact that you can explain your brains out, but some people are still going to be dissatisfied.
Once again, I'd be happy to answer any questions about this policy, or the dumping of that particular thread.
