Opus 2012-16, Hackers Standing in Line

For about ten years I have been attending DEFCON as a father/son event.  It certainly gives us a lot to talk about.  It gives me a chance to help him keep his foundations and helps me get a better feel for what is going on in our culture.

If you are not familiar with it, DEFCON is an annual conference for people in the computer security field.  Just call them hackers.  These are the people who break into computers and make things happen.  They are also the people who help you keep people from breaking into your computer and making things happen.  If they ever get really angry at the system they could bring the country to its knees in a very short period of time.

I noticed something a few years ago.  These rebels, these self-styled revolutionaries and individualists are capable of being sheep just like the rest of us.  The year I first noticed this was the first year they had an unexpectedly large attendance.  They did not have near enough room in for the people who wanted to hear the speakers.  So they had them line up.  Single file.  In the hot sun of a Las Vegas summer.  I took one look at the lines and went back to my room to relax with a good book. 

This has repeated itself many times over the years that followed.  The rabid rebels stood quietly in line while I refused.  I had enough standing in line in the army.  I get enough of being a sheep when I get caught going to work and there are no choices.  I am getting old.  I don’t have enough time left to stand in line to hear a speaker who may, or may not, be worth it.  In short, I have a life.

I think it is funny that the rebels stand in line, like sheep, while the establishment refuses, like a goat.

homo unius libri