Taking advantage of piracy

If you were in a foreign land, somewhere in Asia maybe and there was an abundance of pirated clothing, DVD's, software and other valuable items all on sale for next to nothing, would you take advantage?

What are your thoughts on this?

Nick O'Neill
http://www.BaliBlog.com
BootsnAll's guide to Bali

Great topic Nick!

Here are a couple of thoughts regarding brands and brand names and the 'backpacker' culture.

I have seen a lot of 'backpackers', mainly in my travels around Australia but also through Europe and especially in Bangkok.

There have been other threads throughout the boards that have touched on this, but there seems to be a culture of belonging that is needed when you are proving yourself as an individual.

Of course, to prove yourself as a traveller, you must wear something displaying a message from somewhere different to where you are.

For example, the 'Red Bull' tshirt or singlet with foreign writing or the 'Bintang' beer tshirts from Bali. Very popular buys in Thailand and a popular 'I was there' type of advertisement.

So, what does this mean for pirated stuff?

The range of stuff on sale in Thailand is mind blowing. But is it now the cool thing to buy pirated clothing? To show yourself as a traveller in the same way that getting your hair braided in the traditional way does?

It probably doesn't matter. At least not for the tourists/travellers anyway... It does give the locals jobs, but are they good ones?

And what about the alternative attitude of buying brand name stuff, but not supporting multinationals?

So many angles. The world is a complex place.

--
Rob
http://www.robstravels.com

It all depends, on: my finances;
the quality of the clothes;
and just how tatty mine in my backpack are.

If they looked good, felt good & the price was right I would probably take advantage the clothing.

Definately not the Software & DVDs etc. Too dodgy.

yes. eom.

=== TasTas ===

If you are in a foreign country and you need clothing and could get it on the street "pirated" for cheap or go down to the Polo outlet and get it for your days budget I think the answer is obvious. Now I have never wanted to pick up a few DVD's or software programs while traveling so I don't think would change especially since with those type of things you never know what you are getting.

H
http://www.traveloutward.com