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From: rupp@cod.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Re: PhonePhreaking in Europe
Message-ID: <816@cod.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Sep-87 11:22:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: cod.816
Posted: Fri Sep  4 11:22:55 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Sep-87 18:07:39 EDT
References: <812@cod.UUCP> <2133@eecae.UUCP> <1665@briar.Philips.Com>
Reply-To: rupp@cod.nosc.mil.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Organization: Conmputer Sciences Corp., San Diego
Lines: 51


Since I had ventilated quite a bit on this topic, I had decided to
refrain from further comment.  However, Mr. Robertson's comment is
sufficiently thought-provoking (or something) to warrant a brief
response.

   In article <1665@briar.Philips.Com> rob@briar.philips.com (Rob Robertson) writes:
   >In article <2133@eecae.UUCP> lawitzke@eecae.UUCP (John Lawitzke) writes:
   >>> 
   >>> I find this discussion of phone phreaking a bit disturbing.  Hey,
   >>
   >>While, I do not condon the activity, phone phreaking does have a 
   >>legitimate place in the legend and folklore of programmer histories
   >>and as such contemporary discussions of the topic should be allowed
   >>to take place.
   >
   >That's mighty nice of you to allow us to talk about a particular topic.
   >Phone phreaking may be illegal, but it is not illegal, nor immoral,
   >nor in bad taste to tell people about it.  Just to do it.
   >
   >Has something happened to the right of Freedom of Speech that we
   >aren't allowed to talk about?
   >
   >rob-- 
   >				william robertson
   >				rob@philabs.philips.com
   >		
   >				"better living through shell scripts"

Freedom of speech is not really the issue here.  I cannot stop posters
from discussing phreaking, nor would I want to.  The article on European
phreaking offended me because there was absolutely no hint of the moral
outrage that I feel should be the reaction to this type of crime.  I
was simply exercising my right of free speech to register my feelings.

Since there are some people in the computer field who believe that
software piracy is justified because publishers charge more than what
they want to pay, I am sure some people will not have the same emotional
reaction to the article that I did.  Perhaps the article was taken out
of context.  Perhaps it was intended as a bulletin to European phone
companies to alert them to possible danger.  Maybe.  I can't shake the
feeling that the author simply does not see phreaking as a bad thing.  Just
my reaction, which I shared with the Net.  If you don't think there is a
problem with today's moral standards, by the way, go ask Ivan Boeski (sp?).

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I speak for myself, and not on behalf of any other person or organization
.........................How's that, Gary?
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