Article Review:

"Hacking." The moment this word is uttered, malicious thoughts are the first to blitz the mind. According to computer ethics and morals, which are essentially the commandments and guidelines to using a computer, dub hacking as something unethical, and thus prohibited or wrong. Our assignment required us review an article discussing the computer ethics. As I began my search for such an article, I found countless articles devoted to deride hacking, spoofing, phreaking, and etc. For the most part, I agree with them, I mean any of these malicious activities are not justified by anything. However, I stumbled upon something very intriguing. A voice, coming from the other side of the fence. A poem written by a hacker, highlighting a slightly different outlook. So, I decided review that poem.

The poem is called, "The Conscience of a Hacker" by " Mentor ." The poem dated back to the 1986. The poem opens with the author's childhood. From the very beginning the author takes somewhat of a frustrated tone to describe the dark aura and prejudice that surrounds a hacker. He definitely portrays hackers as the "other" in our society and calls attention to the mind set of a hacker. He calls for people to look beyond the surface of a hacker, that is, the cause of their rebellion and campaign. He begins the distinction of a hacker by saying that he is a hacker, and starting from his school days, he has always been smarter than the other kids. His mind needed more than just the regular curriculum and more challenge. He also describes how him being smarter labeled and got him to be judged even more, at least in the physical world that exists outside of computers.

He continues to describe how hackers are more hungry and inclined to gain knowledge, and how that is what makes them to be discriminated. He points out an interesting hypocrisy, on the part of humans. He says, you build bombs and wage wars, and yet you blame us for exploring the digital world. He describes the world of computers where people are not judged by what color their skin is, or what they look like, or how curious they are. Once again, pointing towards the human hypocrisy of real bloodshed, and labeling digital activity for knowledge and creativity a "criminal" one.

In conclusion the author further justifies his digital activity to be far less evil and devious than the ones our society labels "legal" and "justified." The author obviously feels that he is a superior part of this society, but he is discriminated for that very reason. He claims that the hackers themselves are all the same, as the society labels them, so they will stick together, and though, the people might be able to arrest and catch some of these hackers, they will keep coming back, because they are all "alike" and united. In my opinion, this article or a poem was much more interesting than a generic article on computer ethics, condemning hacking and so forth. Therefore, I decided to write a review of this piece of writing.

- Faraz Ahmad.

Link to the Original Article: HERE.