by PCMystro

Created on: January 05, 2009

Like the Shortwave radio or the CB and Hamm Radios of the past, when computers were limited to a select few 'Enthusiasts' there was no end to what was being tested or 'hacked'. Since then, the CB and Shortwave radio, and many other novelties have faded away. In contrast, the computer has become as much a part of many cultures as a telephone. It serves countless purposes, most of which are second nature to operate for the average 5th grader. Obviously the definition of 'hack' is subject to debate by itself. Nevertheless, I offer my humble opinion in hopes that some single minded, paranoid, crackpot that has allowed his or her brain to deteriorate due to lack of exercise, will choose an open minded perspective; if only for a few moments.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

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Why do 'hackers' hack? Why do certain children take apart the electronic toys that their Uncle Mike buys them? It is curiosity coupled with the challenge of being told NO that encourages a young mind to wander into uncharted or forbidden territories. Considering percentages, more children probably hack computers in present day for no other reason than there are more computers. But the same percentage of children have the inclination to 'hack', to find out what makes things 'tick', to do what they are told is not acceptable or not possible. When parents insist their children do not smoke or drink alcohol, what makes the majority of children test the challenge? We are human, and to be human means to explore boundaries. Boundaries are adjusted by cultures, and countries, and companies, and families every day. We learn through the necessary process of not accepting everything we see or hear as fact. To be human is to apply touch and feel and smell and perform comparative analysis, assess risk, weigh the consequences against the reward and make decisions. Hacking is a human instinct. Children are driven almost purely by instinct. They are the least mentally developed of our species and therefore we apply environmental variables to enforce or dissuade their instincts.

Lately, we have not been monitoring our children's instinctive behavior. We have not been encouraging them to behave a certain way or not to behave certain other ways. As a society, we have grown lazy regarding morality and exploration and too often accept things as they are. We are teaching our children not to hack. We are teaching them not to hack computers, not to hack their environment, not to push the envelope and test for inertia. Albeit through a lack of instruction, we are instructing are children to accept their environment as it is and cease to grow, cease to develop their minds, and cease to explore opportunities for improvement.

It is without question that children are less likely to hack computers today than in the past. But it is anything but a cause for celebration. It is a symbol of decay. As technology evolves, so must the human mind. That evolution is fostered by Hacking'.

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