Self and Cyborg...my thoughts...
It is probably unstoppable that technology is going to develop so far that yes we will have ‘chips’ or ‘cards’ installed in us that information can be instantly taken from. When I first read the lecture notes I did ponder on Privacy...surely this could be easily breached if the chips existed readily in society, but after reading Dana’s recent blog about Thursday’s seminar, I believe that such issues could be somewhat overcome! I think that the idea of having a ‘cheque’ and ‘savings’ account within these devices in a good idea. I do however have to question what I would actually put into these categories! Yes name and date of birth, drivers license etc are important pieces of information but imagine these being in the ‘cheque’ account and being readily available to the public. Imagine walking into a shop and the shop assistant saying ‘Hello Michaela’ ... Some people may like the personal touch of it but I think it would freak me out. Maybe if I had formed a relationship with the shop assistant it would be ok for her to address me by my name but a stranger? No thanks! A similar example could be used for medical information...surely someone with epilepsy wouldn’t want to be walking along the street and having every man and his dog knowing of their medical condition! But then I suppose on the other hand if emergency struck and the individual had an epileptic fit then it would help emergency staff or any public assisting them to know of the condition! Possibly there could be a switch or remote? To turn off the chip or change over information from one account to another when it suits you!!
I have found in this class I have been thinking very futuristically (is that a word)...so many what if’s, what if this technology developed, what would happen here, there and everywhere! So many pro’s and con’s...things to toss and turn over! It’s been fun...stimulates the mind
Thanks for reading guys and I’ve enjoyed reading all of the different posts and comments. Good luck for the exam, and Erika, I hope it’s not too hard!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Convergance culture: my experience!
My parents have a family video of my brother and I, aged 2 and 4, standing in our hall way talking on our ONE family telephone to our grandparents. The phone was mounted on the wall and was one of those oldies that you have to turn to dial a number. 18 years later, I carry around a small cellphone which not only enables me to call people, but access the web and take pictures! It’s scary to think in this small amount of time how technology has changed. I’m pretty sure at age 12 I was still using a manual disposable camera. And maybe I was 13 when the internet entered our household. To think back then that all of these things would one day converge and become one little mobile device would have been absurd to me! Devices such as Blackberrys and ‘iphones’ mix the standard phone, camera, internet, mp3 player and electronic diary together all in one! If this technology has been developed in the last few years then what else is to come? My question is...will different technologies continue to converge so that one day soon they will be too intricate to operate? How far can it really go? I suppose our technological skills and ability advance as new technologies are developed. But then one has to ponder...will the world ultimately be just one big technological society where computers do the thinking for us. I personally don’t want to exist like that! For me at the moment technology assists in my daily life – it doesn’t rule it!
Blogging
In week 6 we looked at Blogging. I thought therefore it was fitting for me to offer some of my own blogging experiences – I’m not an avid participant in posting, but I’ll often read!
I have a really strong interest in fashion and often frequent fashion blogging sites or magazine websites such as U.K’s ‘Glamour Magazine’ to read the weekly blog that the editor releases. I find the exercise of ‘blogging’ handy. For someone deeply interested in the industry and ultimately seeking it as a career I find blogging to be a leading service for the fashion and clothing industry. Those with a passion AND opinion can come together and release thoughts, give tips, and debate! Yes, I do read fashion magazines, but reading blogs regularly keeps me up to the season, not the commercial release season – trust me they are VERY different. For someone aiming to edit a magazine one day, I find Jo Elvin’s (editor of Glamour U.K) blog very insightful. No other way would I be able to gain such insight into the job and industry that I desire!
Something else I have been tracking through blogs is the American Candicy race. For some unbeknown reason I have a real interest in this upcoming election...could be something to do with a woman running for presidency? Anywho, you’ll often find me snooping on ‘The Spectator’ – US Election blogging site. The vast variety of opinion and strong points debated are crazy! No where else could people from such different backgrounds with different life experiences come together and not only give their side of the story but consider different opinions. It’s also a great way to keep up to date with the most recent election info! Someone always seems to be updating!
I have a really strong interest in fashion and often frequent fashion blogging sites or magazine websites such as U.K’s ‘Glamour Magazine’ to read the weekly blog that the editor releases. I find the exercise of ‘blogging’ handy. For someone deeply interested in the industry and ultimately seeking it as a career I find blogging to be a leading service for the fashion and clothing industry. Those with a passion AND opinion can come together and release thoughts, give tips, and debate! Yes, I do read fashion magazines, but reading blogs regularly keeps me up to the season, not the commercial release season – trust me they are VERY different. For someone aiming to edit a magazine one day, I find Jo Elvin’s (editor of Glamour U.K) blog very insightful. No other way would I be able to gain such insight into the job and industry that I desire!
Something else I have been tracking through blogs is the American Candicy race. For some unbeknown reason I have a real interest in this upcoming election...could be something to do with a woman running for presidency? Anywho, you’ll often find me snooping on ‘The Spectator’ – US Election blogging site. The vast variety of opinion and strong points debated are crazy! No where else could people from such different backgrounds with different life experiences come together and not only give their side of the story but consider different opinions. It’s also a great way to keep up to date with the most recent election info! Someone always seems to be updating!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Catch up: Communities and Communication
I have been sooo busy lately that I’ve wound up sick in bed...Doesn’t it always happen at the most crucial time in the semester..right when you have 100 assignments due and exams in 2 weeks! My blogs are in dire need of an update..Although I’ve been publishing about once a week (sometimes every 2weeks..my bad!) sometimes they aren’t always on the topic of the week...I tend to go off on my own tangent sometimes! So I’m doing some catch ups.
Today I wanted to talk about week 4’s topic, Communities and Communication.
I wanted to touch on my own personal experiences in this topic. So here goes...
I have never really been big on chat rooms or virtual games etc. As I’ve said in previous blogs, I tend to use cyber communities as a way of keeping in touch rather than making new friends. I tend to be more reserved online...In conversation I am not so open and don’t like to leak REALLY personal information, I’m quite weary of who can read what I am writing. Being an emotive person I find it really hard to express myself totally. There are however the little pictures and things that have helped people express their feelings but more often than not I find that people are always using smiley faces and those little cheesy tongues sticking out or big grins (bebo is renowned for these!)...it seems in every conversation everyone includes 10 cheesy little faces and ‘love you xxxx’ at the end, regardless to who they are writing to! And yes, I am guilty of doing this sometimes too but It all just seems a bit fake to me...I personally feel that interactive communities limit expression and emotion...It is all compacted to fit the icons that are available. I’m really big on intuition and reading people’s faces, body language and tone of voice...Something that I find I can’t do with cyber communication; I think I am more open and express myself differently in person. Everyone for themselves though! For someone who is being quite critical of cyber communication, I do use the interactive programs very regularly. Perhaps it’s that nosy streak in me...being able too see what other people are up to! I think we all have it in us...
Today I wanted to talk about week 4’s topic, Communities and Communication.
I wanted to touch on my own personal experiences in this topic. So here goes...
I have never really been big on chat rooms or virtual games etc. As I’ve said in previous blogs, I tend to use cyber communities as a way of keeping in touch rather than making new friends. I tend to be more reserved online...In conversation I am not so open and don’t like to leak REALLY personal information, I’m quite weary of who can read what I am writing. Being an emotive person I find it really hard to express myself totally. There are however the little pictures and things that have helped people express their feelings but more often than not I find that people are always using smiley faces and those little cheesy tongues sticking out or big grins (bebo is renowned for these!)...it seems in every conversation everyone includes 10 cheesy little faces and ‘love you xxxx’ at the end, regardless to who they are writing to! And yes, I am guilty of doing this sometimes too but It all just seems a bit fake to me...I personally feel that interactive communities limit expression and emotion...It is all compacted to fit the icons that are available. I’m really big on intuition and reading people’s faces, body language and tone of voice...Something that I find I can’t do with cyber communication; I think I am more open and express myself differently in person. Everyone for themselves though! For someone who is being quite critical of cyber communication, I do use the interactive programs very regularly. Perhaps it’s that nosy streak in me...being able too see what other people are up to! I think we all have it in us...
Food or Laptops?
A question arose in our digital divide lecture that I thought was really interesting...What needs to be done to boost the under privileged in our world up the societal ladder? The OLPC Project is a fantastic example of this and raises such questions. The projects developers wanted to use a laptop as a vehicle in the education system of developing countries. The $100 laptops fit into the textbook budget and are designed to bring the poorest children in the world internet access. HOWEVER, response to the project comes in two different forms. One side is pro the concept, whilst the other scrutinises the project. The debate comes down to ‘food’ or ‘laptop’. Pro argues that the project is facilitating education and propelling kids up the socio-economic ladder, basically giving students a jump start to that next level. Against argues that the project doesn’t fit into the curriculum and wonders why food and other such things that will aid the children’s present lives aren’t distributed instead. They say that there is no supporting info structure and no need in the curriculum for technological advancements such as the laptop. OLPC says that there first must be the technology to enable an info structure to be created. Two opposing thoughts. So this brings me to my question, what do these people need to escape these ‘poor’ underprivileged lives and propel into higher streams of society? It is evident that technology is a HUGE part of the western world. It surrounds us and affects all parts of our lives. By giving these children access to technology, they are not only being prepared for, but are given access to other areas of society. Many of these children are not even aware that life exists outside their own environment. The laptop can open their eyes to the world. Not only does it immediately affect the child but it affects all those who the child is associated with...their parents, teachers, brothers, sisters. Yes maybe food will help these children’s immediate lives and aid the present starvation, but the OLPC project opens gates to later life... it unlocks a door to a better future. With education, starvation may not even be a future issue in these kids’ lives.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
ECHELON...Mystery Surveillance
I never really think about the fact that all my cyber footsteps can be tracked…I usually just go about my usual business of writing emails to friends and family, buying things online and checking my facebook with no clue or worry that all the while someone or something could be monitoring my every move…
I was just having a flick through Sophie’s new blog about Echelon and wanted to touch on one thing in particular… Echelon's success in catching criminals comes from the fact that 'criminals' aren't aware they are being monitored and don't know the 'keywords' that the surveillance device is tracking. The program has an air of ambiguity about it; the predominant users (U.S and U.K) don’t even admit to using it! If laws were enforced on Echelon and we all gave our permission to be monitored on the program surely we would be much more subtle with our cyber activity! If you know you are doing something wrong, you go to all lengths to no get caught. Look at drugs for instance. Police can monitor digital devices to track words such as ‘weed’ ‘E’ ‘Acid’ etc… suppliers are frequently caught out through such mediums. However, because suppliers know that such systems are in place the clever ones dodge being caught by using other words in texting and emails etc. Instead of dealing with the word ‘ecstasy’ the supplier will use the word ‘bickie’ or something as such.. Same goes for dealers that get a text message or phone call saying ‘hey can we have some weed’…if they are intelligent they will ignore the text message or not answer the call! Although it is known that Echelon does exist, the fact that some Governments don’t acknowledge using it, that keyword’s aren’t exposed and that there are no laws covering it means that criminals don’t have something to ‘dodge’…if they don’t know when or what they are being monitored, surely they are bound to slip up! Hence why it’s effective!
I was just having a flick through Sophie’s new blog about Echelon and wanted to touch on one thing in particular… Echelon's success in catching criminals comes from the fact that 'criminals' aren't aware they are being monitored and don't know the 'keywords' that the surveillance device is tracking. The program has an air of ambiguity about it; the predominant users (U.S and U.K) don’t even admit to using it! If laws were enforced on Echelon and we all gave our permission to be monitored on the program surely we would be much more subtle with our cyber activity! If you know you are doing something wrong, you go to all lengths to no get caught. Look at drugs for instance. Police can monitor digital devices to track words such as ‘weed’ ‘E’ ‘Acid’ etc… suppliers are frequently caught out through such mediums. However, because suppliers know that such systems are in place the clever ones dodge being caught by using other words in texting and emails etc. Instead of dealing with the word ‘ecstasy’ the supplier will use the word ‘bickie’ or something as such.. Same goes for dealers that get a text message or phone call saying ‘hey can we have some weed’…if they are intelligent they will ignore the text message or not answer the call! Although it is known that Echelon does exist, the fact that some Governments don’t acknowledge using it, that keyword’s aren’t exposed and that there are no laws covering it means that criminals don’t have something to ‘dodge’…if they don’t know when or what they are being monitored, surely they are bound to slip up! Hence why it’s effective!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Facebook to find criminals...
My apologies for being 'blog vacant' for the last 2weeks...last week of term saw me snowed under with work and then had a nice relaxing holiday at the beach where we have no internet connection...actually quite nice for a change, dabbled in other activities, even attempted a puzzle! Anyhow... Was reading an article on the BBC website "Facebook to track Darfur suspects." (To view it go through the magnolia Feed on my page)... Crime authorities are now resorting to the internet, in this case Facebook, to spread awareness and gain information about criminal whereabouts etc. I find this every interesting because I think it highlights the extent at which the internet engrosses our lives. Nick Donovan of the Aegis Trust, the organisation behind the "Wanted for War Crimes" list states "Wanted posters can only be seen by a few hundred people at most - the internet is used by billions." I think he hits the nail on the head...so many of us use the internet, be it as a social means or for information. By using facebook, authorities are able to alert a large and diverse group in society with minimal effort. Quite effective if you ask me!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
IBM and Second Life...Merger!
A management paper I am presently doing touched upon the subject of technology in the workplace, specifically in regards to communication. It is evident that technological advancements have completely transformed the world of business, essentially bringing greater efficiency and productivity. Work environments have developed from physical spaces into interactive atmospheres where it is not uncommon to have employees working together from various locations around the world. There is however a downside to all of this; the constant use of new technological advancements as a means of communication sees personal interaction disintegrate.
You guys may think, what on earth has this got to do with ‘Virtual Identities?’ and I do assure you I have a point coming…
While browsing online news articles on the virtual community ‘Second Life’ I stumbled across an article referring to computer technology giant IBM (see the article @ http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/IBM-First-to-Host-Second-Life-on-its-Own-Servers/).
It seems IBM, in conjunction with Second Life creator Linden Lab, are planning to host the program on IBM’s own server as a ‘stepping stone’ to greater adoption of virtual worlds across the enterprise. Now, I find this really interesting because in previous research for my management class I discovered that IBM is in fact very ‘pro’ face-to-face interaction with customers rather than communication of a virtual means. IBM believes that while technological advancements such as the web have certainly made it easier for the company to communicate with its clientele, it is no substitute for personal interaction. IBM has even recently created ‘The Global Tivoli User Group Council’ which is comprised of 20 appointed leaders from all around the world whom represent the company’s various user groups. Once a year the Council meets in person with employees of IBM and are given the opportunity to voice any concerns, gain important information, express ideas and discuss the new and emerging business.
After learning both pieces of information I must ask…Does indulging in a business venture with a ‘virtual community’ company mean that IBM is contradicting their ‘apparent’ beliefs on personal customer interaction? And does this effectively mean that face-to-face communication is a thing of the past and online presence the future?
The internet is well and truly changing the way in which business works. Already many companies have virtual presences in ‘Second Life’. A list of the brands can be viewed at http://slbusinesscommunicators.pbwiki.com/Companies+in+Second+Life
Sony/BMG, BMW and Adidas are just a few to name. The world of online communities is large and developing. Established companies such as IBM who once proudly stated their devotion to personal interaction have jumped on the bandwagon in a big way. Surely this signals that there are major advancements install for life online. Maybe one day we will be just that, a ‘virtual being’…Scary to think huh!!
You guys may think, what on earth has this got to do with ‘Virtual Identities?’ and I do assure you I have a point coming…
While browsing online news articles on the virtual community ‘Second Life’ I stumbled across an article referring to computer technology giant IBM (see the article @ http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/IBM-First-to-Host-Second-Life-on-its-Own-Servers/).
It seems IBM, in conjunction with Second Life creator Linden Lab, are planning to host the program on IBM’s own server as a ‘stepping stone’ to greater adoption of virtual worlds across the enterprise. Now, I find this really interesting because in previous research for my management class I discovered that IBM is in fact very ‘pro’ face-to-face interaction with customers rather than communication of a virtual means. IBM believes that while technological advancements such as the web have certainly made it easier for the company to communicate with its clientele, it is no substitute for personal interaction. IBM has even recently created ‘The Global Tivoli User Group Council’ which is comprised of 20 appointed leaders from all around the world whom represent the company’s various user groups. Once a year the Council meets in person with employees of IBM and are given the opportunity to voice any concerns, gain important information, express ideas and discuss the new and emerging business.
After learning both pieces of information I must ask…Does indulging in a business venture with a ‘virtual community’ company mean that IBM is contradicting their ‘apparent’ beliefs on personal customer interaction? And does this effectively mean that face-to-face communication is a thing of the past and online presence the future?
The internet is well and truly changing the way in which business works. Already many companies have virtual presences in ‘Second Life’. A list of the brands can be viewed at http://slbusinesscommunicators.pbwiki.com/Companies+in+Second+Life
Sony/BMG, BMW and Adidas are just a few to name. The world of online communities is large and developing. Established companies such as IBM who once proudly stated their devotion to personal interaction have jumped on the bandwagon in a big way. Surely this signals that there are major advancements install for life online. Maybe one day we will be just that, a ‘virtual being’…Scary to think huh!!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Web 1.0: hierarchy...Web 2.0: hierarchy too?
In class last week we investigated web development…1.0, 2.0 etc. 1.0, the web that we left behind in the 1990’s was quite hierarchical – Erica’s simile to a theatrical stage really helped me understand the concept. Web 2.0 (our current web generation) has a much more flattened hierarchy. No longer is there an authorative voice, but instead a sense of community and interaction; all users are somewhat given a voice. Again the theatre simile works brilliantly at clearly defining and understanding this notion. Web 2.0 : Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The audience was very interactive and would alert the actor’s (and not always in very subtle ways) what they thought of the play.
These two generations are to be clearly represented in the contrasting online websites of Online Britannica and Wikipedia. Britannica is written by a panel of experts (just like the physical Britannica books). Wikipedia however is understood as an online information centre that the users themselves can act as authors for. We as participants of Wikipedia are given the opportunity to add to or adapt the information on the website. The idea behind this means that there is no longer an ‘authortive’ group or ‘one voice’ feeding us information, but instead it is users informing users.
That’s the IDEA anyway.
I however have to question this.
The claim is that Online Britannica and Wikipedia mirror the development of Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Britannica – one voice. Wikipedia – interaction and community. We say that Wikipedia is an example of a flattened hierarchy, but is it really? Or is this program just giving an authoritive opportunity to different groups? When investigating the authorship of Wikipedia I discovered that of all the consumers, a very minimal percentage actually engage in the writing. When Jimbo Wales, the face of Wikipedia did an authorship study on his program he found out that over 50% of all the edits are done by just 0.7% of the users ... 524 people. ...Think of all the hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people that use Wikipedia regularly – to have such a minority actually writing this information effectively shows that even Wikipedia has an authorative group. Yes we are all given the opportunity to indulge in this experience but how many of us actually do it??? Obviously a very small few. Majority of us are consumers of the information in front of us and don’t even think of the source – hardly an interactive community…
Erica touched on the subject of Wikipedia, the sum of social prejudice and I’d like to quickly elaborate on this…When it comes to Wikipedia might = right. It is those people that have the time and desire to contribute to the program that do so. This small group will effectively plant information, documenting it as ‘truth’ even if it isn’t….
So…has hierarchy been banished with these new web developments? I certainly have to question it…I do believe that Web 2.0 is a web generation that offers many more interactive opportunities but even in these programs (be it Wikipedia, Bebo, Blogs, Facebook etc) there seem to be ‘authorative groups’. Maybe it comes down to how much you actually WANT to participate, but those that indulge more frequently than others certainly maintain an upper hand.
Until next time,
Michaela
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Hackers, freedom fighters?
Well I am currently sitting on the couch watching a documentary about Tom Cruise, personally can’t stand the guy since he jumped on Oprah’s couch. Anyway he’s a wee bit boring so thought I’d have a flick through the recent comments posted about hacking. Intense technology, like the little gits and gadgets of the internet never really interested me but this morning’s class somewhat changed that! I’m so interested in this whole hacking theme…How do they gain the skill and knowledge to get into the itsy bitsy wee corners of cyberspace!!! So, I was reading Nicole’s blog relating to hackers being classed as modern freedom fighters or a new age terrorists…
In regards to the view of hackers as freedom fighters:
I believe society needs some sort of boundaries and hierarchy for successful flow. Without boundaries and rules in place the world would be a huge communist society. New Zealand, a democratic country, runs successfully because we have ‘boundaries’ or ‘laws’ so to speak in place, (even if I don’t necessarily agree with the current gvmt, but that’s totally another subject). If hackers ‘crack in’ and gain unlimited access to any material, be it company, government or personal information they are breaking the boundaries that make up our society. Imagine if they got in and accessed your bank account details or a large company’s new business plan; it’s a breach of privacy. Nicole’s right when she says people need to display their moral obligation and act responsibly in cyberspace, black hat hackers don’t seem to respect these boundaries. Yes, some hackers do have good reason, for example in our first reading by R.Kitchen we are taught that the first computers were massive machines originally developed to crack Nazi war codes – these people I would class as ‘freedom fighters’ but there has to be a limit. Possibly harsher penalties for black hat hacking? But then I guess this form of crime is sometimes VERY hard to catch! Any thoughts?
OK now bed time! Untill next time…
Michaela
In regards to the view of hackers as freedom fighters:
I believe society needs some sort of boundaries and hierarchy for successful flow. Without boundaries and rules in place the world would be a huge communist society. New Zealand, a democratic country, runs successfully because we have ‘boundaries’ or ‘laws’ so to speak in place, (even if I don’t necessarily agree with the current gvmt, but that’s totally another subject). If hackers ‘crack in’ and gain unlimited access to any material, be it company, government or personal information they are breaking the boundaries that make up our society. Imagine if they got in and accessed your bank account details or a large company’s new business plan; it’s a breach of privacy. Nicole’s right when she says people need to display their moral obligation and act responsibly in cyberspace, black hat hackers don’t seem to respect these boundaries. Yes, some hackers do have good reason, for example in our first reading by R.Kitchen we are taught that the first computers were massive machines originally developed to crack Nazi war codes – these people I would class as ‘freedom fighters’ but there has to be a limit. Possibly harsher penalties for black hat hacking? But then I guess this form of crime is sometimes VERY hard to catch! Any thoughts?
OK now bed time! Untill next time…
Michaela
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Psyche of Hacker
After our class today I decided to look up 'The Hacker Manifesto' that Erika talked about; I was interested to get into the psyche of a hacker. I found out that the Hacker Manifesto was written by a hacker who went by the name of 'THE MENTOR.' The piece was written on January the 8th, 1986, after the authors’ arrest. He was only 21 years old at the time. Inspired by the book ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ (which he was reading at the time) and the idea of a revolution and with hacking withdrawal, The Mentor constructed the small essay. In 2000 in an interview with Elf Qrin, The Mentor revealed that he still finds the piece very valid today.
I want to know why hackers, more specifically, the hacker’s who cause chaos by hacking into prohibited places, do what they do. What inspires them? Is it a forceful desire to create havoc and grief for others or are they simply bored and too intelligent for their own good? After reading the ‘Hacker Manifesto’ I am overwhelmed with a sense of empathy for the author. To me he seems like a bored young man who hasn’t found his place in the world. The constant interruption in the text with what appears to be an adult’s or an authority’s opinion; “Damn kid. Probably copied it”; “Damn underachiever,” reveals to me that The Mentor feels patronized. He is obviously an intelligent kid and gets bored with the badgering of his teacher to learn something he already knows. He finds the computer. This gives him an escape. With it he can make his own mistakes, does what he wants to do. It doesn’t judge him or belittle him. When he begins his hacking he feels a sense of accomplishment and success. It’s addictive. It escalates from here on.
I know some of you may think that I am excusing hackers for their work and somewhat ‘siding with them’. This is not the case at all. The Hacker Manifesto just opened my eyes to the inner hacker; who they are, how they think and feel. Yes, maybe hackers are stereotyped as geeky male teenagers who are at the peak of puberty and outcasts in the world, but one must ponder; we live in a western world where such things as sport, sex and beauty are celebrated. How often do you hear news about intellects and academia…Very rarely when compared to sport and entertainment, which have whole television channels and newspapers dedicated to them. Where do the social misfits place in this world? Some find satisfaction in their cyber world and feel success through tunneling the phone lines to sacred places. Yes perhaps hacking into government systems and causing corruption aren’t very appropriate things to do, but one does need an outlet and possibly for some people, testing their hacking boundaries by burrowing deeper and deeper may be a their exit.
I’ve got a copy of ‘The Hacker Manifesto’ below so you can all have a read and maybe even respond with your own opinion.
Anywho, until next time :)
Ciao!
Michaela
The Hacker Manifesto
Written January 8, 1986
By ‘The Mentor’
Another one got caught today, it's all over the papers. "Teenager Arrested in Computer Crime Scandal", "Hacker Arrested after Bank Tampering"...Damn kids. They're all alike. But did you, in your three-piece psychology and 1950's technobrain, ever take a look behind the eyes of the hacker? Did you ever wonder what made him tick, what forces shaped him, what may have molded him? I am a hacker, enter my world...Mine is a world that begins with school... I'm smarter than most of the other kids, this crap they teach us bores me...Damn underachiever. They're all alike. I'm in junior high or high school. I've listened to teachers explain for the fifteenth time how to reduce a fraction. I understand it. "No, Ms. Smith, I didn't show my work. I did it in my head..."Damn kid. Probably copied it. They're all alike. I made a discovery today. I found a computer. Wait a second, this is cool. It does what I want it to. If it makes a mistake, it's because I screwed it up. Not because it doesn't like me... Or feels threatened by me.. Or thinks I'm a smart ass.. Or doesn't like teaching and shouldn't be here...Damn kid. All he does is play games. They're all alike. And then it happened... a door opened to a world... rushing through the phone line like heroin through an addict's veins, an electronic pulse is sent out, a refuge from the day-to-day incompetencies is sought... a board is found. "This is it... this is where I belong..." I know everyone here... even if I've never met them, never talked to them, may never hear from them again... I know you all...Damn kid. Tying up the phone line again. They're all alike...You bet your ass we're all alike... we've been spoon-fed baby food at school when we hungered for steak... the bits of meat that you did let slip through were pre-chewed and tasteless. We've been dominated by sadists, or ignored by the apathetic. The few that had something to teach found us willing pupils, but those few are like drops of water in the desert. This is our world now... the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons, and you call us criminals. We explore... and you call us criminals. We seek after knowledge... and you call us criminals. We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias... and you call us criminals. You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it's for our own good, yet we're the criminals. Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for. I am a hacker, and this is my manifesto. You may stop this individual, but you can't stop us all... after all, we're all alike.
I want to know why hackers, more specifically, the hacker’s who cause chaos by hacking into prohibited places, do what they do. What inspires them? Is it a forceful desire to create havoc and grief for others or are they simply bored and too intelligent for their own good? After reading the ‘Hacker Manifesto’ I am overwhelmed with a sense of empathy for the author. To me he seems like a bored young man who hasn’t found his place in the world. The constant interruption in the text with what appears to be an adult’s or an authority’s opinion; “Damn kid. Probably copied it”; “Damn underachiever,” reveals to me that The Mentor feels patronized. He is obviously an intelligent kid and gets bored with the badgering of his teacher to learn something he already knows. He finds the computer. This gives him an escape. With it he can make his own mistakes, does what he wants to do. It doesn’t judge him or belittle him. When he begins his hacking he feels a sense of accomplishment and success. It’s addictive. It escalates from here on.
I know some of you may think that I am excusing hackers for their work and somewhat ‘siding with them’. This is not the case at all. The Hacker Manifesto just opened my eyes to the inner hacker; who they are, how they think and feel. Yes, maybe hackers are stereotyped as geeky male teenagers who are at the peak of puberty and outcasts in the world, but one must ponder; we live in a western world where such things as sport, sex and beauty are celebrated. How often do you hear news about intellects and academia…Very rarely when compared to sport and entertainment, which have whole television channels and newspapers dedicated to them. Where do the social misfits place in this world? Some find satisfaction in their cyber world and feel success through tunneling the phone lines to sacred places. Yes perhaps hacking into government systems and causing corruption aren’t very appropriate things to do, but one does need an outlet and possibly for some people, testing their hacking boundaries by burrowing deeper and deeper may be a their exit.
I’ve got a copy of ‘The Hacker Manifesto’ below so you can all have a read and maybe even respond with your own opinion.
Anywho, until next time :)
Ciao!
Michaela
The Hacker Manifesto
Written January 8, 1986
By ‘The Mentor’
Another one got caught today, it's all over the papers. "Teenager Arrested in Computer Crime Scandal", "Hacker Arrested after Bank Tampering"...Damn kids. They're all alike. But did you, in your three-piece psychology and 1950's technobrain, ever take a look behind the eyes of the hacker? Did you ever wonder what made him tick, what forces shaped him, what may have molded him? I am a hacker, enter my world...Mine is a world that begins with school... I'm smarter than most of the other kids, this crap they teach us bores me...Damn underachiever. They're all alike. I'm in junior high or high school. I've listened to teachers explain for the fifteenth time how to reduce a fraction. I understand it. "No, Ms. Smith, I didn't show my work. I did it in my head..."Damn kid. Probably copied it. They're all alike. I made a discovery today. I found a computer. Wait a second, this is cool. It does what I want it to. If it makes a mistake, it's because I screwed it up. Not because it doesn't like me... Or feels threatened by me.. Or thinks I'm a smart ass.. Or doesn't like teaching and shouldn't be here...Damn kid. All he does is play games. They're all alike. And then it happened... a door opened to a world... rushing through the phone line like heroin through an addict's veins, an electronic pulse is sent out, a refuge from the day-to-day incompetencies is sought... a board is found. "This is it... this is where I belong..." I know everyone here... even if I've never met them, never talked to them, may never hear from them again... I know you all...Damn kid. Tying up the phone line again. They're all alike...You bet your ass we're all alike... we've been spoon-fed baby food at school when we hungered for steak... the bits of meat that you did let slip through were pre-chewed and tasteless. We've been dominated by sadists, or ignored by the apathetic. The few that had something to teach found us willing pupils, but those few are like drops of water in the desert. This is our world now... the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons, and you call us criminals. We explore... and you call us criminals. We seek after knowledge... and you call us criminals. We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias... and you call us criminals. You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it's for our own good, yet we're the criminals. Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for. I am a hacker, and this is my manifesto. You may stop this individual, but you can't stop us all... after all, we're all alike.
Interview with the Mentor
Check out my new link 'Interview with the Mentor.' You can find it under Interesting Links. It is an interview with the hacker who in 1986 wrote 'The Hacker Manifesto' which remains legendary amoung hackers today.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Community vs Network
In our second lecture we were asked the question ‘What do you think makes an online community and how does this differ from an online network?’ I thought this topic seemed fitting for my first post seeing as we are using an interactive program for our assignment in this course.
For me an online community is more personal and intimate than a network. Those in our online community are people we choose to communicate with on a regular basis and possibly have strong or familiar ties with. For instance, I have a both a facebook and bebo account. My ‘friends’ in these programmes are the people I have personally added or accepted as friends; most are family or close friends that I correspond with very regularly. I use the systems to keep in touch with people and in turn share a little bit of my life with them through photographs and comments.
In contrast to this, I view a network as a more broad community. There is often a common interest and weak ties between people. I will use facebook again as an example to illustrate my point. On facebook I belong to a ‘New Zealand’ network. There are 278,619 members in this network. Obviously I do not know all these members, but there is a common interest; our country. The same example could be used on bebo. Bebo allows members to join ‘groups’. These groups vary, from sports to television shows, to fan clubs. People joined to these networks are linked by their common interest. Many are strangers to one another and may never interact, but they are still in the same network.
These are just my views on the topic but if you have any thoughts of your own let me know!
Michaela
For me an online community is more personal and intimate than a network. Those in our online community are people we choose to communicate with on a regular basis and possibly have strong or familiar ties with. For instance, I have a both a facebook and bebo account. My ‘friends’ in these programmes are the people I have personally added or accepted as friends; most are family or close friends that I correspond with very regularly. I use the systems to keep in touch with people and in turn share a little bit of my life with them through photographs and comments.
In contrast to this, I view a network as a more broad community. There is often a common interest and weak ties between people. I will use facebook again as an example to illustrate my point. On facebook I belong to a ‘New Zealand’ network. There are 278,619 members in this network. Obviously I do not know all these members, but there is a common interest; our country. The same example could be used on bebo. Bebo allows members to join ‘groups’. These groups vary, from sports to television shows, to fan clubs. People joined to these networks are linked by their common interest. Many are strangers to one another and may never interact, but they are still in the same network.
These are just my views on the topic but if you have any thoughts of your own let me know!
Michaela
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