Hell's Not So Bad

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Why, wi-fi. Why?

You may have heard about the guy in Florida who was arrested for using someone else's wi-fi network to get to the Internet. Unless there are more facts about the case that aren't being released then I have to say how utterly stupid this is. I'm not 'borrowing' bandwidth from anyone. I don't even have a wireless access point, but I completely disagree with this case. If the guy was cracking into a computer on the wireless network, or he was using this other IP to traffic in kiddy porn or some other illegal activity then sure, lock him up. If all he was doing was using the Internet then I have a hard time calling this digital tresspassing. The 'offender' was on the street and as far as I know he wasn't accessing any of the computers on the network. If you water your lawn and some of the water runs out in the gutter and down the street and I scoop it up to water my lawn, I'm not stealing water. Likewise, if your network extends beyond the boundaries of your property and there is no security, whatsoever, then I say it's fair game. I've heard the arguments that if you leave the door to your house unlocked and I walk in uninvited then I'm still tresspassing, the house doesn't have to be locked for it to be breaking and entering. But what if you grab me and drag me into the house? If anything, my neighbors who are broadcasting their network across the property lines they are the trespassers. If I find a signal that is unencrypted and blasting unwanted into my house, then I say it's mine. What say you?

5 Comments:

  • I totally agree with you. If someone is going to be "savy" enough to set up wireless, then they should be savy enough to protect it. If they don't protect it, then duh. I agree that accessing peoples personal computers is wrong, but using a signal that is just out there floating, free game I say.

    By Blogger Tracy, at 8/04/2005 07:00:00 AM  

  • This reminds me of a story I saw on the news last night about a hot dog vendor who called the cops on some kids with a lemonade stand down the street from where he was set up, pointing out that they didn't have a license to sell the lemondade and were taking buisiness away from him.
    It really all boils down to the law, doesn't it? Regardless of how ridiculous the law is, we are still bound to either obey it or face consequences for it's violation.
    If it's proved that this guy "borrowing" the signal was violating a law, then either accept it or fight to get the law changed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/04/2005 12:03:00 PM  

  • IF ANYBODY ST3ALS MAH WI-FI SIGNAL I WIL PARSONALY SE 2 IT TAHT THERE HEAD IS STUK ON A PIEK11!!111 WTF LOL O U SAY U R GONG 2 COMA STEAL MAH SIGNAL?!!?!!?! WTF BRNG IT ON1!!!1!!! BRNG IT!1!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/04/2005 07:36:00 PM  

  • I don't buy the idea of obeying the law simpley because it is the law. I don't consider myself a criminal and I don't break laws just for the sake of doing so. I feel that unless society acknoweldges and promotes a degree of individual self-government and using common sense then national laws are either meaningless or only a means of control. Social and common law may be "for our own good" but it must be chosen, not forced. Same thing with democracy. No people or nation but themselves can make a working democracy.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/04/2005 10:55:00 PM  

  • Why yes...laws are a means of maintaining control over us. Without them, we wouldn't even have a government. Anarchy would reign. Some of us could conduct ourselves accordingly in the absence of civil authority, but not all of us, and it is for those people that laws exist.
    Who among us hasn't exceeded the speed limit at one time or another? When we get caught, we pay the fine. That's the way it is.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8/05/2005 08:29:00 AM  

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