Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Re: Walking around amsterdam

Author:Paul Snively
Posted:5/16/2000; 7:34:31 AM
Topic:Walking around amsterdam
Msg #:17337 (In response to 17336)
Prev/Next:17336 / 17338

Doug Hacker: Nobody "deserves" to be hacked. Regardless of any foolish mistakes they make in their installation or security procedures.

We'll have to agree to disagree. We cannot completely absolve people of responsibility for their actions. It's legitimate to ask why someone would do something as colossally stupid as running a database--something that takes in code, runs code, manipulates files, etc.--with the permissions on the system that make the entire system available, no holds barred, a single "rm -rf *" will wipe out every mounted filesystem, etc. etc. etc.

It's also legitimate to ask why someone would do something as colossally stupid as walking down a dangerous street at night. Our society has moved far too far away from holding individuals responsible for their own actions and insisting that they think for themselves. If the person is mugged, we should obviously prosecute the mugger. :-) But then we should ask the victim "What were you thinking?"

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