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Anonymous is at it again - hacking govt websites and now threatening to release classified and sensitive info unless there are changes made to the US Justice system. Of course, Anonymous wants to dictate those changes.

If they follow through (which they usually don't) with their threat to publish this sensitive info - is it a protest...or treason?

What do you think?

Seems to me stunts like this provide fuel to those who want tighter restrictions on online activities.
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    The protest or treason depends on who they are, and what the information is. If the information merely reveals how the government is wrong and reveals no materially disabling information, then it is a protest. Outside of that, if they are foreigners, it is espionage. If they are citizens, it is TREASON!

    Of course, I doubt "anonymous" cares.

    As for Arron? First of all, Aaron was a johnny come lately to RSS He apparently played some minor part to a REVISION!!!!!!! And he did NOT work with any meaningful framework! When the meaningful parts were done, he was about SEVEN YEARS OLD! By the time RSS became popular in a MINOR role, it had a number of competitors. ALL it is is an XML format! When XML came out, they tried to make it sound SO fantastic. I said NOPE! It is a TYPE of FORMAT, NOTHING MORE! Well, RSS is an XML based format! BTW XML is just a name for something that has been around since before 1986.

    Even that stupid article starts to backtrack on the headline!

    [quote]
    "Aaron Swartz helped create the Internet."

    THEN...

    Maybe not the Internet foundations of ARPANET and TCP/IP and Mosaic, the codes and packets and standards on which the whole thing is based. But he was a factor in fashioning some of the Web's upper floors. With his contributions to RSS coding and the Web application framework, Swartz made some of today's more expansive Internet possible.
    But what Swartz also helped create was a philosophy of the Internet, one that remains the subject of great controversy almost 20 years into its life: the libertarian idea that information wants to be free.
    [quote]

    GIVE ME A BREAK!

    And the guy FAR earlier that was credited with the free concept, though even HE was a johnny come lately, started a little company for that purpose. WHEN? 1990 when aaron swartz was about FOUR years old! https://www.eff.org/about/history

    He ALSO had a hand in GCC. It was perhaps the first widely available C compiler, it was free. It is currently the standard on Linux. When was IT created? well, the first release was made available March 22, 1987. Aaron was about 5 MONTHS old!

    Sometimes it amazes me. Maybe in a few years that guy in australia will die and we will hear about how the inventor of the wheel died! People will then be saying that "John Keogh" invented the wheel! BTW in case you are curious, they invented the wheen 5/2001! Never mind that history declares that it was used THOUSANDS of years earlier, and australia as a nation didn't exist at all. The UK didn't even exist!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Steve,
      But what Swartz also helped create was a philosophy of the Internet, one that remains the subject of great controversy almost 20 years into its life: the libertarian idea that information wants to be free.
      The single most disgusting thing I've ever seen online is the way people abuse that concept. Somewhere high on the list is the misattribution. That was Stewart Brand, mid-80's, and the full quote is:
      On the one hand information wants to be expensive, because it's so valuable. The right information in the right place just changes your life. On the other hand, information wants to be free, because the cost of getting it out is getting lower and lower all the time. So you have these two fighting against each other.
      That's intelligent thinking. These morons who use just the one half to justify their lack of integrity should be shot through the wrong end of a wormhole into Lilliput.


      Paul

      PS: Alexa... Truth, with a capital 'T.'

      I commend to you the words of Fitzgerald: "The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function."
      Signature
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      Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        Steve,The single most disgusting thing I've ever seen online is the way people abuse that concept. Somewhere high on the list is the misattribution. That was Stewart Brand, mid-80's, and the full quote is:That's intelligent thinking. These morons who use just the one half to justify their lack of integrity should be shot through the wrong end of a wormhole into Lilliput.
        Yeah, I hate that sort of thing. There are actually two people in my industry that many consider like GODS! SERIOUSLY! I don't! I did it before they even started in the industry. Am I saying I was the first? NOPE! There is evidence going back like 2000+ years, and I wasn't even the first contemporary. FAR FROM IT. GIVE ME A BREAK! They take an obvious concept, give it a name, name some methods in it, and then claim to have invented the whole concept.

        I'm OK with people inventing things. I've spoken about it enough. But I DON'T like people basically STEALING the reputations of others and changing history.

        As for missatribution and misquoting, I once saw a quote that made its rounds saying that 30% of the US had diabetes. I researched it and found the REAL quote from the "american diabetes association". It said approximately 13% had diabetes, and 30% of them didn't know it". 13% is still high, but believable.

        PS: Alexa... Truth, with a capital 'T.'
        Yeah, I hadn't looked at what alexa wrote, but she is right. People use things like this to try to watch, and plan to stop, the internet. It is a shame, but that seems to happen with anything that can help equalize people. When I first got on the internet, I was going to CHINA for some things. I wish I could remember what. I was also going a few thousand miles away for some things like PERL, and to finland to get the latest Linux updates. And I never even left my seat. Such things were only DREAMED of in the early 60s. Alas, many might consider such quick/easy communication between such diverse areas a national security issue. 8-(

        I just liked being able to get such nice software that I knew would cost thousands if I bought the commercial versions. Of course, it was all offered freely with them not even asking a penny.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    If the information they release proves the gov is involved in treason, they risk their lives to let us know - that used to be considered heroism. If it's just info that is embarrassing because it makes the person the information is revealed about seem scummy, greedy, and dishonest - we still have a right to know. Embarrassing criminals and scumbags is not treason and it's only dangerous to the scumbag you are exposing. We could use more of that right now no matter who the source.

    If the revelation is solely for the purpose of special interest demands - then the person/organization revealing it is just as bad as those they are exposing.

    Frankly - if they have information that is that damning, they should be revealing it just because we have a right to know if we have criminals in office, not because demands are or are not met.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author John Rogers
    If they expose the government acting in ways contrary to the best interest of the citizens, it is patriotism.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Seems to me stunts like this provide fuel to those who want tighter restrictions on online activities.
      I think I agree.

      Originally Posted by John Rogers View Post

      If they expose the government acting in ways contrary to the best interest of the citizens, it is patriotism.
      I think I agree with this, too.

      It's quite difficult to discuss. One of the problems is that the word "treason" tends to be used in a legalistic sense, whereas the word "patriotism" tends to be used more in a moralistic sense. It's not even completely inconceivable, given the typical meanings implied and assumed by these words in everyday chat, for something to be both "treason" and "patriotic", in spite of these two being superficially conflicting concepts.

      Misunderstandings in such discussions are, for this and other reasons, almost universal.
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      • Profile picture of the author Big Rob
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Anonymous is at it again - hacking govt websites and now threatening to release classified and sensitive info unless there are changes made to the US Justice system. Of course, Anonymous wants to dictate those changes.

        If they follow through (which they usually don't) with their threat to publish this sensitive info - is it a protest...or treason?

        What do you think?

        Seems to me stunts like this provide fuel to those who want tighter restrictions on online activities.
        If nothing else,this is extortion.
        Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

        If the information they release proves the gov is involved in treason, they risk their lives to let us know - that used to be considered heroism. If it's just info that is embarrassing because it makes the person the information is revealed about seem scummy, greedy, and dishonest - we still have a right to know. Embarrassing criminals and scumbags is not treason and it's only dangerous to the scumbag you are exposing. We could use more of that right now no matter who the source.

        If the revelation is solely for the purpose of special interest demands - then the person/organization revealing it is just as bad as those they are exposing.

        Frankly - if they have information that is that damning, they should be revealing it just because we have a right to know if we have criminals in office, not because demands are or are not met.
        Yup. Aint that the truth!

        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        I think I agree.



        I think I agree with this, too.

        It's quite difficult to discuss. One of the problems is that the word "treason" tends to be used in a legalistic sense, whereas the word "patriotism" tends to be used more in a moralistic sense. It's not even completely inconceivable, given the typical meanings implied and assumed by these words in everyday chat, for something to be both "treason" and "patriotic", in spite of these two being superficially conflicting concepts.

        Misunderstandings in such discussions are, for this and other reasons, almost universal.
        Cmon,Dude! That is such a cop out, and pretty much,waffling BS.

        If you are a Traitor, then you are an enemy of the state.

        If you are a Patriot, you are a hero of the people. And very likely, a Traitor.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        I think I agree.



        I think I agree with this, too.

        It's quite difficult to discuss. One of the problems is that the word "treason" tends to be used in a legalistic sense, whereas the word "patriotism" tends to be used more in a moralistic sense. It's not even completely inconceivable, given the typical meanings implied and assumed by these words in everyday chat, for something to be both "treason" and "patriotic", in spite of these two being superficially conflicting concepts.

        Misunderstandings in such discussions are, for this and other reasons, almost universal.
        TREASON is an action that can destroy a country, or the positive attributes of it. Against a JUST country, it is often done for money or power towards the person committing treason.

        PATRIOTISM is working to support or defend the country, and it is generally for GOOD aspects. Money and power may have nothing to do with it, and it may be dangerous.

        So treason IS moralistic, being against the morals of a country. Patroitism tends to be spoken of in times of physical war, or when the countries government ITSELF is not patriotic. Patriotism isn't about the government, etc... It is about the better side for all in the country. The forefathers in the US were considered guilty of TREASON by great britain, but considered patriots by the Americans.

        I COULD state a famous quote made in 2007, that illustrates a lot of things including my point, but, alas, too....

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    I think that if crimes and criminals are exposed: boo hoo hoo.
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    Project HERE.

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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    Anonymous is at it again - hacking govt websites and now threatening to release classified and sensitive info unless there are changes made to the US Justice system.

    That alone is a crazy idea, when was the last time US Gov. gave in to a threat/demand?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      That alone is a crazy idea, when was the last time US Gov. gave in to a threat/demand?
      They do it ALL THE TIME! How do you think most of the stuff happens.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        They do it ALL THE TIME! How do you think most of the stuff happens.

        Steve

        So share when the US Gov. gave in to any threats/demands. If they do it all the time you should have a long list.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          So share when the US Gov. gave in to any threats/demands. If they do it all the time you should have a long list.
          I DO! ALAS....

          Steve
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