Movie downloads have become so easy you probably don't know anyone who hasn't tried it at some point. Young people, especially, seem to have an expert knowledge of what's involved, whether they're with a group or on their own. Because of the many options open to them, it became very easy for them to do what they want without getting caught.

There's a big difference between illegal downloads and watching personal video on YouTube and other video sharing sites. In the latter, the owner of the video makes a conscious choice to publish what he has produced.

However, the companies who make major films have no say when their movies are stolen to be published on other websites, making them lose out on their profits.

Many people make excuses that watching illegally downloaded movies isn't harming anyone. Sometimes they even convince themselves that while the downloaders might get in trouble, they are safe themselves. However, this is a dangerously incorrect way to think. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) seriously condemns this practice and tags movie downloaders as "a movie thief whose crimes carry serious legal consequences."

You wouldn't deal with stolen goods on the street, and so you shouldn't have to deal with them online. It can be tempting to get your hands on your favorite movie before it's available on DVD, but it just isn't fair to the people who put a lot of hard work into the process. There really aren't excuses for this kind of behavior. It's just downright selfish.

If all the people who did illegal downloading were caught, prisons would be filled with them and the amount of fines being paid by others would add to a huge amount of money.

Rather discouraging, however, it has done little to raise the concerns of most people, who continue to do what they want.

Unfortunately, there is a common thought process for many people wherein their only concern is their own risk. Because they probably aren't going to get caught, they don't feel as though there's any reason for them to stop what they're doing. It's a rationalization process that keeps them from having to consider the actual consequences of their actions.

You really need to take a look at the morality of what you're doing. While it's easy to ignore that somebody is directly affected by everyone who downloads a movie as opposed to buying it, this doesn't change the fact that it is true.

Imagine if you were in their shoes. Knowing how frustrating it would be will hopefully make you more sympathetic.

We often justify our downloads by thinking that all people who work in movies are overpaid, and in some cases, this is true. However, there are also a lot of people involved in film production who don't make much of everything and need every dollar they can get. When you stop downloading movies illegally, you'll be giving some things up, but you'll feel a weight off your shoulders as well.