No, piracy is not a fun topic. From the International Maritime Organisation's report on armed robbery at sea for April to June 2006:

During the period under review, 5 crew members were killed, 76 crew members were
held hostage, 42 crew members were injured/assaulted, 37 crew members missing and 4 vessels
were hijacked. In several of the incidents reported, the crew were violently assaulted/attacked by
individuals or groups of two to ten persons carrying guns or knives.

http://www.imo.org/includes/blastDataOnly.asp/data_id%3D15189/89.pdf

Are we to understand that on this Talk Like A Pirate Day, people go round threatening each other with murder, maiming, or rape if they refuse to hand over their valuables?

Bingley