Slashdot Mirror
AC = Domestic Terrorists?
Miang writes "A video from a recent FOX 11 (Los Angeles) newscast has surfaced on YouTube. In the segment, reporter Phil Shuman investigates so-called "Hacker Gangs" comprised entirely of anonymous users. The segment, which focuses mainly on users at 4chan, 7chan, and 420chan, seems to confuse /b/ raids and motivational poster templates with a genuine threat to the American public. For added FUD, the FOX team inserted an unrelated video of a van blowing up — twice! Presumably, one is intended to equate anonymous posting with domestic terror. The story and video can be found on the local FOX website, so it does not appear to be simply a clever parody." Cringe as you watch this video explain terms like 'LULZ' and show inspirational poster parodies as evidence of the evils of this terrifying "Group".
"so-called 'hacker gangs'"
They're only called that because you just called them that! Jeeez. There are roving gangs of hackers, lurking the backstreets of the 'net looking for sites to spray their graffiti on.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
The fact that it's a Fox affiliate isn't relevant, really. I've seen plenty of stories on local ABC, CBS, or NBC stations that were just as cringe-worthy. Even as computers have become more popular, people who really like (and understand) computers haven't.
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
Apparently, the ability to phish myspace passwords from clueless users earns you the title of "Hackers on Steroids" now. OMGWTFHAX!
Legalize recreational marijuana. Seriously.
Well, 4chan did let us all read Harry Potter 7 five days early...and the video does equate spoiling popular fantasy books with domestic terrorism...so I guess they are terrorists!
If there's anything else the victims have in common is that they take themselves way too seriously.
The internet is a wonderful place, everyone can get their 15 minutes of fame, and more. However, it might not be the fame they want, and trying to control it is absolutely futile. Maybe posting some sob story on your livejournal that everyone on the internet can read isn't such a good idea, maybe posting too much skin on your myspace is a bad idea too. It's as if people forget why it's a good idea to protect your privacy when they go on the internet, and some of these people get burnt by it. I hope they learn something at least.
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
Anonymous is what happens when you give people the ability to act without reprecussions,
And "reporter" is what happens when you have sunk so low that it doesn't matter anymore what you say as long as it's controversial.
No matter how anonymity may be abused, it's an essential part of a functioning democracy and free society, because if you don't have it, the only people participating in discussions are those with nothing to lose.
right here on Slashdot who feel the same way. "I ignore ACs" "I don't respond to ACs" "I mod ACs to -6". I think it's sick. Those people are closed minded so-n-sos. Well, all you ACs out there, I DO respond if the comment is worth responding to. I don't care where it comes from. I derive value from the comment itself, not necessarily the author. Don't let anybody shut you down. Use whatever abilities you have to be heard.
What?
Wow. That's all I can say about that piece. Just wow...
First off, wasn't the Harry Potter spoiler clip in the middle of there taken from the Daily Show? (I could swear that's John Oliver's voice).
Second, the tool with the MySpace account--it's clear to anyone that has any idea about anything that he simply ended up with a virus/keylogger installed. "Anonymous" got his passwords from that and the virus got spread to his friends. Woooooh, that kinda shits been happening on the internet for forever now. He simply appears even more foolish for not having even that much of a clue (hell, my grandparents are aware that there are viruses and nasties out there).
What I find most disturbing about this is that if anyone sends Fox 11 an email/letter/phone call/whatever explaining to them how far off base their piece is, they'll just treat it all as threats that further back up their claim. Truly truly sad....
This guy's the limit!
As long as they get this kind of press, they'll never get bored. The FOX story is a great recruitment piece.
What?
I think u need to lurk moar.
I dont know who that "Former Anonymous" they had on there was. But he is now the greatest Troll in internet history.
Congratulations, sir. You have my undying admiration for having the balls to do a RL troll the likes of which I have never seen before.
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
How is it that after all these years, there are still people who don't realize that nothing that happens on the internet is real? That hot chick you've been chatting with? There's a 95% chance she is a dude and a 5% chance that she is fat, ugly and crazy. That dude who told you he would slit your whole family's throats and shit down their esophaguses because you like original Star Trek better than the Next Generation? He's 12 years old. Porn sites that say their girls are having sex for the first time? They're lying. That e-mail you got from a guy in Nigeria who wants to give you money? You're not going to get it.
ad infinitum.
As we've had to see for the past seven+ years, there is absolutely NOTHING which conservatives don't live in terror of.
It's little wonder groups like Al Qaeda are outmaneuvering Bush and the other conservatives: the Bushites are so fearful, they only know what they can see from their "undisclosed location". Conservative = coward.
Cowardservatives!
That still doesn't excuse the hackers. Whether it's just for fun or not, they still may be breaking the law (IANAL). The lack of any clue by the reporters and research teams doesn't change the actions of the hackers. What they did in the two cases mentioned was a form of cyber bullying. What was their reasoning for doing this to these people, "I don't like that you are doing {fill in the here}! So I going to hack your site an ruin you", or whatever their reasoning. Whether, or not, the victims are stupid, or just clueless, is irrelevant, they still are victims. AC can be abused just as much as it is useful. There is something to having the guts to say you disagree with someone and have a polite discourse with them about it. Just because you don't agree with someone, doesn't mean it's right to go an trash their website. That's just childish, and possibly criminal (IANAL).
In the end, I think AC is abused more than it is helpful. As another poster pointed out, people tend to do more extreme things when they can be an AC. Take that away, and they act nice and respectable. It's like the a school kid who is nice to you when your there, but mean, disrespectful, vindictive, and goes out of their way to cause trouble for you when you're not around.
At the next eco-hypocrisy-meeting, count the private jets used to get to the meeting. Should be interesting to see that
Cue suggestions to track people by name and number online, to prevent this kind of terrorism. The police state and crackdown on piracy fits lovingly well together.
Yes, that's a bit on the paranoid side. I'm bored.
I lost my sig.
Well, no. You have it wrong there.
Anonymity is a prime ingredient for a functioning democracy. Take camera surveillance. People are going to be scared to do anything out of the ordinary, for fear of being flagged as a peculiar guy (and thus much more likely to be caught doing anything illegal, even the mundane stuff like throwing something on the ground instead of in the trashcan). This fear prevents anyone from questioning the status quo, and thus a "democracy" results in everyone agreeing with the current government.
B.
Every experiment which ends in a big bang is a good experiment.
SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE If your don't get it, you weren't meant to. SAGE.
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello