ok lets be honest here most ppl in this forum weather they know to program or not have alot of knowledge on computers and computer systems.knowledge is power and with alot of power comes temptation.

so lets be honest how many of you here have abused that power before.

dont be shy now.

Abused my knowledge of computers? No, never, nope, not me ... What exactly do you mean by *abused* ?? Nothing illegal ... I don't play around in the IRCs although I used to run an FTP site and distribute bootleg movies.

Well, I'm an Op at a huge channel on IRC, named #Betas... our peak users:


And I don't ever abuse it. I just chill around, and make sure people are doing what they are supposed to and answer questions.

If you want to come visit us - we are on /server irc.ufnet.org, channel #Betas. (UFNet is run by us )

hmm i think i will give it a vist!

you gusy are too good. what i mean has you ever been hacked by some di** head who things he knows it all and you got him back in a way that he will not forget.

I think this is where you start to go wrong. Someone has knowledge, knowledge is power, power can be abused ....

You're trying too hard. Not all knowledge can be used as a form of power. Not all power can be abused in a meaningful way.

hmm..i'm sorry but that to me didnt make sence. what do you mean not all knowledge is power. every little extra piece of information makes you alittle more powerfull.

as for the rest thats the same thing that i said power can be abused.

on IRC, never abused it. In forums, never abused it (or not that I know of). On other stuff...I've used what I know against some people before...not to do anything bad or illegal, just to gain an advantage muwhahaha

"Knowledge is power" as it stands is nonsense. Knowledge can only be power if it's not common knowledge, if the knowledge is restricted in some way, particularly if you're the only person with that knowledge. When the knowledge is shared the power is diluted. Knowledge about computers is common knowledge.

Not all knowledge is powerful. If my wife knows everything there is to know about garden flowers - is she powerful? Can she abuse that knowledge? And what is she discovers a new garden flower that nobody else knows about? Does she then have a power that can be abused? I think not.

To take a simple statement like "knowledge is power" and develop an argument from it the way you did is foolish.

“Knowledge is power”--Steve Droke

interesting point, but as I understand it there are different levels of computer knowledge
you might know more then others and in that difference is your power.
you cant say that computers are common knowledge because that is deceptive and presumes that every ones knowledge of computers is equal.

I see no relation between flowers and computers. computers have the potential to do harm
and unless your wife is going to chase ppl and rub poison ivy on them that example is irrelevant.

All knowledge is power....the ability to abuse said knowledge is dependant upon the depth of the knowledge and the mind of the person with the knowledge, whether it be plants or computers. My knowledge of cleaning products can produce bombs - my knowledge of plants may produce poisons - my knowledge of computers may produce viruses. It is not the type of knowledge that dictates the capabilities for abuse as it is the creative abilities ( be it good or bad ) of the mind. knowledge is power to the mind that knows how to use it.

Oh, and I may have abused my programming position SLIGHTLY to make things run better and make my life easier - but it is no way harmful to others. :roll: