Economy Booming, Ethics Lagging Behind

I came across a blog post today that has me shaking my head only to stop and shake it even harder.

 Photo by Bird Abroad

 A Bird Abroad's post Are You Listening Steve Jobs? reports that the economic "progress" in China is at such a break-neck speed that it's capitalizing on Apple's exclusive image and enjoying a booming trade of knock-off electronic products. They're even being so bold as to open very convincing, but definitely fake Apple Stores.

I own and enjoy a few Apple products and regularly have to rationalize them to some people. I like many aspects of Apple's design and engineering and often lust after their latest "game-changing" piece of technology.

I mentioned to a friend last weekend that I've been considering finally purchasing the latest iPhone, and he replied that he's considering a Chinese knock-off. I laughed and he got really serious. He told me the deals being advertised and his strategy for a carrier plan and I got serious with questions. And at the end of the night, I went home and forgot to consider it, until I read the above article. Now I am left to wonder... would I buy a knock-off Apple product? Well, the answer is no, I wouldn't. Just like I wouldn't order a mail-order bride.

It's one thing to look for deals, it is another to look for "too good to be true" deals, and yet another thing again to actually support an illegal activity with your money. I'm not trying to come off as some sort of self-appointed deputy sheriff for the Internet, but there's a rule I often return to with my classes and in my own online activities: "If I wouldn't do this in real-life, why would I do it online?"

If nothing else, it appears I've got a new case study to discuss in my grade nine Media Literacy course. I wonder how long it will be until this sort of thing comes crashing into our society?