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2 Views of Hackers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the now-thats-an-interesting-piece dept.

zonker writes "CNN has an interesting perspective on hacking with two opposing yet, somewhat complementary views. They have an interview with 2600's Emmanuel Goldstein vs. IBM's Charles Palmer. Goldstein tries to explain the hacker ethic and big media's clueless portrayal of 'hackers' in general. Palmer draws hackers in a more corporate eye. Draw your own conclusions."

3 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. this isn't new... by thelaw · · Score: 5

    this opposing viewpoints interview section has been around forever.

    it was announced in april in this story.

    jon

    --
    -- http://www.cerastes.org
  2. GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY! by zencode · · Score: 5
    You guys must have had one hell of a Friday night. This page hit CNN in 1998 (look at the source) and you already reported in 1999.

    My .02,

    --

    My .02,
    zencode

    iactivist.org/jason

  3. one again by fluxrad · · Score: 5

    Goldstein is one hell of a spokesperson for the hacker ethic.

    The only problem? None of the unenlightened seem to get what he's saying. You can tell by the tone of the questions being directed at him from this article that the writer and Goldstein have come to the table with two complete definitions of the word hacker. The questions are more of a "i know what a hacker is (read: media hacker) and i just want you to answer these questions since you're admitedly one" - two bad Goldstein is admiting to being something of which the author has no idea.

    I really think people should pay closer attention to Goldstein's definition of "hacker" though, and his use of the term "cracker." - I agree sincerely with his belief that you can't just use "cracker" as a catchall for anyone who breaks into a system or anyone who "breaks the law" - whatever the hell that is. This makes things too black and white. It makes hackers look like saints and crackers look like uber-villains. Way too black and white for something as complex as the internet.

    Oh well, once again, the uneducated will see hackers as villains since they have no concept of what it is to be one. It's like telling someone who's never done drugs before what they're like. (bad analogy ;-)


    FluX
    After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network

    --
    "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume