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- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE READ THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- Editorial by The Knack:
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- DISCLAIMER:
- The following are just some thoughts running through my head that
- I think may be important to us ALL, please read on...
-
-
- Keep American Pirating FREE!!!
-
-
- In Europe, there are no software Copy Protection laws such that we
- have in America, probably the reason why there's not much good software
- either, and if it is good, you can be sure that it is laden with Copy
- Protection of all kinds. Somehow a Pirate BBS system has developed over
- there that is quite different from ours. The sysops there consider their
- venture in BBSing a business, they charge users for access, some charge by
- files others by time, this is a COMMON thing in Europe. The sysops have
- (but not necessarily) some expenses outside of running the computer, like
- overseas phone calls to USA boards and/or overseas postage. This market
- probably developed from simple economics, not much software in Europe (IBM
- wise) or good quality so our (American) programs are in high demand, some
- ass decided to take advantage of this, others followed, thus creating a
- new Pirate BBS Community. To be honest, for the most part, it's not
- pretty. Imagine yourself trying to keep track of users who've paid and
- who hasn't and all that. The damn competition between the Euro boards
- (competition for paying users that is) is turning the whole system into a
- "Mafia" type scene (from what I hear anyway), I'm sure you can imagine.
- Newest developments are AMERICAN crackists and Sysops/BBSer's exchanging
- files and performing services for these overseas pirates for US Dollars,
- yes, these guys (sysops in Europe) are willing to pay us to crack their stuff
- and send our software, no bullshit and things are progressing rapidly as
- more and more cross-Atlantic links are made.
-
- I'm sure that someone more educated about economics and familiar
- with pirating can explain this phenomena much better, but I do know this,
-
- IT COULD HAPPEN TO US!!!
-
- In roads have already been made with organizations like "DEPBA"
- and others. Also, look at the THG cracking group, requiring money from
- it's members/supporters as a "Software Purchasing" fee. That's fine and
- dandy in theory, but who knows how it really works, who's getting paid and
- who's not, I DO know that new software has been immediately available
- without ANY purchase since the beginning of Copy Protection. I don't
- know, that's their business I guess and is NOT the target of this message.
- The point is, as I have already said, I have seen MANY changes in the
- IBM/AMIGA pirate community in the last year and I believe that honorable,
- hard working, giving pirates such as myself could be extinct sometime in
- our near future, in our place will be feuding alliances of pirate BBS's run
- by evil, greedy people. But sooner or later they would drive themselves
- out, along with the whole damn gaming industry cause people would stop
- pirate BBSing since either way they're gonna pay, at least the store gives
- you a manual. And/or the government will move quicker on enforcing Copy
- Protection laws (that ball is already rolling). God knows what effect this
- would have on the whole PC industry software AND hardware.
-
- To me, the underlying premise of Pirating is simple:
-
- Free software with NO obligations, for the enjoyment of all.
-
- I'm not against contributions, that's the American way, support
- you favorite BBS and/or pirate organization in what ever ways you can.
- It's like the buddy system, I can crack, I'll do it for you. Maybe you
- have time to write dox or distribute files or obtain new warez or just
- help other users enjoy the warez, whatever.
-
- But there's NO RULES! Only honor among thieves!
-
- From my end, and many other sysops/crackists/suppliers it can be a
- thankless job. If I added up all the time I spent cracking, BBSing,
- testing, doc writing, thinking about pirating etc. I could easily label
- myself insane since I have received only knowledge and experience in
- return. But that's not my attitude, I'm grateful for the experience and
- it will payoff in my future of computer programming, and most of all I
- know that this is my hobby, something I enjoy and I do not ask for
- anything in return. The ego trip and competition only serves to make
- things more interesting but we ALL should realize that's this is just a
- GAME and NOT SO SERIOUS! And I apologize to anyone that I have offended,
- I hope you can understand that's part of the game but still relatively
- meaningless as far as life goes. Concerning crackists, whether with The
- -=FiRM=- or other groups, I can relate my attitude by telling the story of
- the two kings, whom every year would spare no expense or trouble to send the
- other a BIGGER and BETTER birthday gift, a simple game of talent, wit and
- character only serving to drive each of us to our full potential, but in
- the end ALL FOR FUN!!! ( <- that's the important part ). Keep pirating,
- as long as you still enjoy it!
-
-
- A final note on some other VERY SERIOUS matters. Phreaking and
- Carding are becoming more and more dangerous. People are going to JAIL,
- and I've seen it happen. Everyone knows my stand on drugs, well I feel the
- same way here. People that tell you Carding and Phreaking(hacking too)
- are the most "elite" forms of illegal computer related activities are as
- evil as drug dealers and pushers. If you're reading this and laughing,
- you'd better think twice about your life and why you are alive today on
- this earth before it's your turn for an extremely RUDE awakening. I'm
- mostly concerned about Carding, the latest craze. By now you've all read
- about the "Legion of Doom" busts and familiar with the new technologies
- being used against phreakers and hackers, well the same things are
- happening for Carders, only much quicker. I can't say much to those
- centering their lives around these activities right now, you won't change
- no matter what I say, and I'm not so sure I want you to since you are the
- ones keeping the law away from us petty pirates, the feds are looking for
- you, not me. But for those of you thinking of Carding, DON'T! All the
- big mail order houses are very wise now, and tricky too, they are
- cooperating with local authorities and UPS not just to deter you, but to
- bust you. You'll know what I'm talking about when you approach you
- delivery point or P.O. box and find some new friends there who really want
- to meet you. You'll never get credit, decent employment or respect besides
- spending time in prison. Most of all, even if don't Card or Phreak,
- sooner or later the Carding/Phreaking/Hacking SUPPORTERS (sysops, BBSer's,
- etc.) will also be prosecuted, beware of your so called friends!
-
-
- In closing I would like to say that yes, it's hard for me to
- condemn Carding/Phreaking and be a pirate at the same time. But I can also
- say that when the day comes that pirating is no longer a fun game, it'll
- also be the last day of The Knack...
-
- To all the crackist, sysops, BBSer's and every pirate of any kind on all
- platforms, I say THANKS!!! You hard work and excellence has not gone
- unnoticed by me!
-
- Regards,
-
- ∙· T H E ·∙
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- May 7, 1990 - One year of IBM cracking!