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From: turner@rand-unix@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Wargames (again)
Message-ID: <4141@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Aug-83 11:26:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.4141
Posted: Fri Aug 12 11:26:00 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Aug-83 20:43:52 EDT
Lines: 25


  The really sad thing about WARGAMES is that it did not show the kid getting
punished for his clearly illegal acts.  Point of the movie aside, none of
these problems would have ocurred had the kid not clearly and intentionally
violated another's privacy.

  If nothing else, he should have been punished for his actions.  Instead, he
is a hero by movie's end -- a hero for having caused a great deal of trouble
and expense and for almost starting a nuclear confrontation.  How sad.

  I heard on the news this morning a small teaser about a group of "computer
geniuses" in Minnesota who had broken into "many college grading systems,
a Los Angeles bank, and a computer at a nuclear testing site in Los Alamos."
Presumably they were proud of their actions.

  Such an attitude is morally reprehensible.  Crime is crime no matter what
the popular movies say, and should be punished appropriately.  The blatant
violation of a person's right to privacy is no laughing matter.  I'm certain
society wouldn't have condoned WARGAMES had it shown rape as the violation
of privacy.

  Grow up, Hollywood (preaching to the converted).

				-- Scott Turner
				   turner@rand-unix