Re: HateWatch Press Release: Activism vs Hacktivism

["stu" <lsi@space.net.au>]

[: hacktivism :]

> everybody must have the right to publish his/her ideas,
> and promote his/her cause, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

> I am still wondering whether this list is dedicated to hackers or to 
> activists .....

well, what is a hacker?  Contemporary media hijaacked the term 
and proceeded to use it to describe a malicious electronic 
assailant.  But history defines it as anyone who messes with a 
system until it does something unusual.  Activists fight for "good 
causes" ...

...so a hacktivist is someone who messes with a system to 
promote peace, learning and happiness.

Levy's hackers, for example, picked locks at MIT -- but only so 
they could develop the beginnings of the multiuser, multitasking 
operating systems we're using to write these messages.

The essential difference seems to be about intent - facilitation vs 
mutilation.

Stuart
----------------------------------------
. ^                         Stuart Udall
.~X\                   s_udall@yahoo.com
.~ \  http://members.xoom.com/loosekrew/

Merry Krishnas! .. are quite raucous

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