But seriously you should not be proud of it. There will never be a good reason to do that. Why should you do that when there are free alternatives available. For example in my case, I have all the software I need but I cannot quantify the cost because it is Linux and free. I cannot possibly begin to pay for the opposite numbers yet I are at par with those that can.

That is the difference when you use others work. If the owner has let his work out to run free in the wild as it were, then it is free. It is NOT plagiarism or stealing if you use it as if it were your own.

That goes for knowledge. For instance Isaac Newton did not own and claim the knowledge of gravity as his own even though the publication on which you read it will claim copyrights over that publication.

But if the owner has not let it out so and wants due recognition for his work where it goes and you do not comply when you appropriate it for yourself, that is just plain wrong. Just look how the phone makers are suing themselves.

We need to lead by example. And from the front.

@masukuma being original is a gift from God. And from someone who professes his faith on this forum so vehemently, its a shame to see you're admitting to being a common thief.

I also counselled you before on the use of words like "us" and "me". If you have issues being an African say so, but don't use that as an excuse to steal.

Once there was a gang called the mungiki who refused to accept the validity of simple laws of don't covet your neighbours property. I'm sure you were one of the fellows who were screaming they should be hanged.

As they say, don't throw stones, especially if you are a common thief yourself.

Carol Mutoko is a serial plagiarist. look at this article she wrote on August 13 2012 titled "Dear Ladies, Greatness Has Been Found" http://www.the-star.co.k...reatness-has-been-found where she writes,

Covered in clothing from head to toe, except for her smiling face poking out from her hood, Attar's debut came five days after a Saudi judo athlete became the ultraconservative country's first female competitor at any Olympics. Her mother is American and her father is Saudi. She has dual citizenship. Attar wanted to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympics as a way of inspiring women – she could have run as an American.

These are the exact words found in an article by AP (associated Press) in this US Today magazine
http://www.usatoday.com/...-saudi-women/56869212/1

Again look at Mutoko's article "The Women of My Generatin Kinda Blew It" dated 25th June 2012 http://www.the-star.co.k...eneration-kinda-blew-it and you get this,

Only you can decide what defines success for you, and you’ll have to decide it over and over and over again. But know this, it is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. It’s also a very clear path to happiness.

words that appear in a speech by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's COO given during Barnard College's commencement,may 17 2011 where she said,
Find transcript and video here http://barnard.edu/headl...erating-officer-facebook

In the same article of June 25th Mutoko writes

I’m not suggesting you be boastful. No one likes that in men or women. However, I am stating categorically that believing in yourself is the first necessary step to coming even close to achieving your potential.

Sheryl in the commencement speech said