I love flattery!

[heist]

holy crap i didn't realise that joke had just been used.

i hang my head in shame

For every one of these f*cknuckles, how many more are out there unconscionably stealing other people's work? Stealing YOUR work?

probably a BILLION, and honestly, i'm one of 'em. i started out on the web stealing other peoples work, before i knew that was the wrong thing... and every day i take advantage of other peoples' hard work to help me solve problems.... the difference is in that case i suppose, that it's given freely... blog posts and how-tos and all that. but that just seems like semantics. it's pretty much the same in net effect.

the parts of my work that are visible, on the web, may have some slight value, but it being copied doesn't really cost me anything... i don't get paid for html code and PNGs... i get paid to solve problems, efficiently. to give good advice when it comes to the web. that kind of thing. the code and images is just a byproduct of that.

so there's no damage in "stealing" (copying) ... except perhaps to a brand, if the sites are too similar. and cost to the thiefs client, who believes a company capable of something they're not, because they have a nice looking site that they couldn't hope to build themselves.

and of course, it's just plain uncool.