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The Outing of Pranknet
An anonymous reader writes "The Smoking Gun recently published a story on their investigation and outing of Pranknet, an online cabal that aims to take pranks to the next level. Their legacy includes thousands of dollars of damage, and many harassed souls. Many of the pranks have clear criminal implications. Reading their report may send chills down your collective spines." From the linked article: "Coalescing in an online chat room, members of the group, known as Pranknet, use the telephone to carry out cruel and outrageous hoaxes, which they broadcast live around-the-clock on the Internet. Masquerading as hotel employees, emergency service workers, and representatives of fire alarm companies, 'Dex' and his cohorts have successfully prodded unwitting victims to destroy hotel rooms and lobbies, set off sprinkler systems, activate fire alarms, and damage assorted fast food restaurants. But while Pranknet's hoaxes have caused millions of dollars in damages, it is the group's efforts to degrade and frighten targets that makes it even more odious ..."
All internet chaos comes from /i/
And that fact that the parent comment was modded 5 insightful, rather that -1 troll smells like Slashdot. What was I thinking...
Mike @ The Geek Pub. Let's Make Stuff!
Fair enough, you make a good point. How much are we a product of our environment, and how much is our environment a reflection of us?
When a storm knocks out the electricity and the traffic lights stop working, I've always seen everyone obeying the rules.
You must live in fantasy land. Most people don't even know what to do when power goes out at an intersection. They all try to go at the same time.
When a storm knocks out the electricity and the traffic lights stop working, I've always seen everyone obeying the rules.
You must live in fantasy land. Most people don't even know what to do when power goes out at an intersection. They all try to go at the same time.
As much as I grumble about what idiots my fellow drivers are, I've seen this in action. I was in Houston during Ike's aftermath when the majority of the city lost power. I saw plenty of inconsiderate idiots during that time. But I also saw the vast majority of folks working together. You had to be careful around intersections because you didn't know for sure some bozo was going to muck it all up. Sure. But I made it through those intersections without incident (although it was MUCH nicer to have the street lights going again).
I'd hate to live wherever it is you are. Where is it, anyhow?
I live in a quiet suburb of Chicago.
I've accidentally left the back door unlocked for days with no problems. (Don't tell my wife.)
We have neighbors with a very similar address who we don't know at all, really, but we routinely trade packages.
And all the delivery guys play "ding-dong-ditch" - none of them get a signature. They just dump the package on the porch, ring the door bell, and head for the truck. Even when it's literally thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.
The preferred solution is to not have a problem.