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From: ews@hammer.UUCP (Ed Sznyter)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Hacker.  A definition.
Message-ID: <474@hammer.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Jan-84 17:00:32 EST
Article-I.D.: hammer.474
Posted: Sun Jan 29 17:00:32 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Feb-84 02:48:50 EST
References: <4544@rochester.UUCP> <858@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 35


>	From: ewf@ihuxr.UUCP (Gene Foster)
>	Subject: Re: Hacker.  A definition.
>	
>	Something that is illegal as hacking is ought to be slandered.
>	If you think hacking is something decent, you need some legal
>	advice as to what is right and wrong.  How would you like it
>	if some computer break in artist (hacker) messed up all your
>	files or added $10K to your phone bill!  Hackers are criminals
>	just like cat burglars so don't give me any of that stuff that
>	says your not really hurting anyone.

O.K., I can ignore the unparsable first sentence.  I can even tolerate
the blatant misuse of the word "hacker".  But let's get something straight
about the words "moral" and "legal".

My dictionary (Websters New Collegiate) defines moral as
	... of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior ...
	... sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical
	judgment ...

and defines legal as
	... conforming to or permitted by law or established rules ...

Now, are you suggesting that one's sense of right and wrong is determined
by the law?  Such naivety is so refreshing in these cynical times!  Would
that everyone subscribed to that point of view -- but what would become of
net.women and net.auto.   No more abortion discussions.  No more 55 MPH
tirades by owners of Cadilacs(?) who don't use seat belts.  Why, we could
legislate morality itself, if only more people were willing to let Congress
think for them.

	Ed Sznyter
	President
	Society For Moral Values of Pi