[pepitablue]

Wow that's a very interesting spin on the morality of hacking. Maybe the priest should resign and become the PR person for the hacking community? ;p

I can understand the point made by the priest, but I wonder if he'd say the same about anarchists? Since just about all governments these days are corrupt and unsympathetic towards the plight of their constituency, then you would think the priest would also congratulate those who are philosophically and actively opposed to these un-Godly governments? Except...

All is fine and "Godly" until hackers or anarchists engage in destructive behavior, which is not in line with the teachings of Jesus. This Robin Hood idea of stealing from the rich, or even destroying property because it's owned by "evil", is wrong because both are forms of violence, which Jesus was against for obvious reasons - both acts violate individuals. Whether or not these individuals deserved it or are "evil" is inconsequential: two wrongs don't make a right. So I'm kind of disappointed that this disclaimer wasn't brought up by the priest, if at least towards the end of his comment. There exist more positive ways to combat negative forms of competition or scarcity issues created by ownership of property; violation of individuals doesn't need to be the answer. Although seeing the sketchy and hypocritical history of Catholics, I shouldn't be too disappointed by the omission...

[waqf]

I'm sure Jesus was against stealing, but as those words are normally used stealing is not violence.

[Qz]

Neither of those two acts violate individuals. 'Property' is merely a convenient fiction.

[thret]

How does the conclusion that theft and property damage do not violate individuals get even one thumb up?

[Qz]

I'm not really an anarchist, but I do think it's important to distinguish between living breathing human beings, as opposed to the social and cultural structures we impose upon each other. I am not my property. You cannot 'violate' me by stealing or destroying the things I 'own'.

[eof]

Theft and property damage aren't inherently violating individuals.

To answer your question, clearly some HNers are anarchists.