Why is seeding a torrent helpful? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 1 month ago by MaggotInfested@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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I keep seeing in forums and sites like these that say it's frowned upon to not seed torrents that you use/used. I saw a post on here or Reddit (I don't remember) with a guy ecstatic that someone started seeding his download he had been trying to get done for months. I know seeding lets someone download something using your computer but how is it helpful if someone doesn't have a site and/or isn't "in-range" ?

If you can't tell, I don't know much about how torrenting works other than how to download something using one. I hope that you all can just explain or point me in the right direction because I would like to support the community.

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[-] wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works 107 points 1 month ago

Torrents are P2P. You are downloading from other people who are seeding. If no one seeds, there's nothing to download. Simple as that. Etiquette dictates you should seed more than you download to ensure the network stays lively.

[-] MaggotInfested@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 month ago

So even if no one directly connects to my computer, just letting it seed is all you need? I use Deluge and, when it finishes downloading, it says "seeding" but I worry that means that someone can connect to my computer directly. Does it work fine if I just leave it be?

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 42 points 1 month ago

They don't connect to your computer like you're thinking. There is a connection, yes, just like when you're downloading you connect to other people's computers. You can see them in the peer list.