Are the feds really watching us?
by Adrenalin Members
* NOTE *
This is the first time an idea such as this has been used. This is a compilation of all the different opinions on one topic from a few members of the Adrenalin Staff. There will be a different topic in every issue where every member who wishes to express their opinion may do so.
The question for this issue is:
What's your opinion on the paranoia by the law enforcement agency that occurs through everyone's mind at one time or another? How much caution should be used?
..I feel that there is something to be learned from busts. It's true that many people go overboard when a person in the "pirate scene" get's caught for what he's done, but there's also a bit of caution that a lot of us probably should use. I'd have to say, that the odds are against a singular user, who just pirates copies of entertainment software, getting caught by the law, however, that doesn't mean everyone should go around pirating and spreading "warez" with reckless abandon. The term "elite", means the best, the top, the most private. That's what piracy should be. I feel it's quite too simple for someone to get involved in the inner workings of the scene itself, and perhaps a little more caution should be involved when pirating. Busts come and go. The paranoia that follows is annoying, but perhaps instead of getting all riled up about each bust, maybe some should just keep up their guard a little more of the time.
- Sir ReaL
As a SysOp, I don't worry too much about being busted unless I become involved in something more 'illegal' such as carding/phreaking/hacking. Since I am not into such things any longer, I do not worry, at least not as much.
Before in the past, I was interested in the topic of hacking, ranging from calling places such as QSD/Lutzifer to calling up VAXes and using Telenet. I also have done a little phreaking, ranging from boxes to /<-rad c0de /<iddies stuff. The question now is, is pirating itself enough to get canned for?
I believe as long as a person stays away from codes, CC#s, I think he is safe. Also, staying away from 'hazardous utilities/productivity' if you know what I'm gettin' at is advised. Anyhow, I feel a lot of the paranoia and fed scares are overrated but shouldn't be taken too lightly. Without the paranoia that most if not all users & sysops feel at one time, one would be careless and end up getting busted. So, as long as a person sticks with simple pirate things, he should be fine..
- Ricochet
- SysOp: BiTUSA [51O]
Busts? What busts? I thought it all was a joke written by someone just as an excuse to get out of the scene! :) ...
With all these stupid textfiles goin around with great filenames like BUST.TXT, TRUTH.TXT, FEDSUCK.TXT, etc., blaming each other of narcing, and lying, I don't know whas goin on half tha time. I mean, if you're juss gonna run mabbe a 200meg pirate system at 14.4 or 16.8, tha feds wouldnt bother with ya, I figure, cuz they'd go after giant BBSs like Rusty 'n Eddie, or big hack/phreak BBSs. Even with all tha busts, it'll never stop pirating, because people will always be stupid enough to continue doin this hobby, tha only thing that'll stop it, is mabbe if games are all released on CDs, and are 500megs (and I ain't d/lin a 500meg game) and junk like that. Hell if I know, I ain't a 'pirate', I juss do ANSis and once in a while some articles. I agree with Ricochet in that if ya don't do anything crazy, and sticks to simple pirating, you'll be fine. Doin stuff like carding, runnin a 5gig, 10 node pirate BBS, etc. might getcha caught, and doin articles and ANSis won't get ya jack shit, so I don't haveta worry bout tha feds...
- Ren/R.Noble <LEGACY>
