Yes Mr. Cowherd, you bring up valid point. This is one of the reasons I have become so fond of the SuSE mailing list. On other list (e.g. the old Maximum Linux list, etc..) flaming and condensation of the other users was common place. The intimidation factor is also another valid point. My wife is a good case in point. She was very computer illiterate when I met her. She was very worried about "breaking" something and often time if something went wrong she would just let it go or walk away thinking she broke it. If I wasn't there to encourage her to use it and how to work through the snafu's she would have been "out in the cold" as it were. She wasn't comfortable seeking help because she "felt stupid". I showed her that this is the nature of computers and made my self available to her. I am just an end-user with a little more experience and no fear and taught her to be the same - without fear. On the issue of the increase of Cracking and malicious activity. This is a reflection of the culture in general. You'll always encounter anti social and malicious people. The internet is just another medium for the expression of this (and a potentially powerful and destructive medium). One might use graffetti or one might bring a server or corporation to it network knees. The potential harm goes deeper than financial. Imagine cracking into a medical network and destroying data or programs. Can you imagine the harm of altering a medical diagnostic program that makes the program give false information. The medical professionals and patients that rely on this information to make "informed" decisions will be make decisions base on false and inaccurate information - potentially alot of uneeded suffering or worse. These types of thing can touch all aspects of society and an individual's or groups life. Cheers Curtis On Friday 08 June 2001 02:24 am, Jonathan Paul Cowherd wrote:
I get the feeling from my research so far that computer systems cracking is becoming more malicious and nasty then it was ten and more years ago. I was wondering if anyone else felt this way?
It used to be enough for people to get into a system and make some noise and exit without destroying data, etc... Now, hacking and cracking remote systems has utility...
I am doing some research in the cybernetic culture (media and communication) areas of "computer hacking", as it is called, not the technical side. Since the slashdot crack came up on this list, I thought I would ask what syadmins and others may suspect or feel. with thanks, Chris Jones.
I think there is a serious problem with the cultures of all the technology fields. The idea of Bastard Operator From Hell (BOFH) is a testament about this issue. I think the harshness of this culture is one of the primary reasons why women and minorities are not as attracted to the field of technology.
I also think a lot of technologist have trouble being regarded as professional by De facto. There is this air of immaturity that follow us and effects how we interact with other professionals. For instance, a lot of times I have heard computing devices and related peripherals referred to as toys. I also see a lot of average people intimidated by computers because they are afraid someone more savvy reprimanding their mistake or regarding them as stupid.
I hope someone else speak to this issue... I don't want to be the only person talking out about it... :)
Jonathan
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Jonathan Paul Cowherd jpcowh01@slug.louisville.edu http://www.slug.louisville.edu/~jpcowh01
This is my world and I am... World Leader Pretend =========== ===========