LEGAL AND SECURITY ISSUES

IF YOUR CHILD IS CLEVER AND LIKES COMPUTERS HE’S PROBABLY A CYBER-TERRORIST AND YOU SHOULD SQUASH THE THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND FREEDOM OUT OF HIM BEFORE HE TURNS INTO THE NEXT AARON SWARTZ OR EDWARD SNOWDEN! :O

I understand the validity of this video, but it’s too broad and heavy-handed. Programmers mostly just want to solve problems. The smartest, most motivated programmers solve societal and environmental problems. I believe free societies will increasingly need to rely on smart, inquisitive, self-motivated people who don’t fit into the traditional model of education. Not giving these people the freedom to explore and experiment is certainly a bad thing overall.

I took this quite personally as I didn’t do well at school, and being a slightly autistic introvert, I mostly kept to myself; I’ve spent countless hours at my computer and it’s earned me my first high-skilled job, not a life in cybercrime. We’re supposed to be investing in children with an interest in STEM fields (especially women btw), not making them scared they’ll go to jail.

Last point: I mentioned Aaron Swartz, a man who was bullied and forced into suicide by his government for sharing educational materials; and Edward Snowden, who released information on secret and immoral practices used by an ostensibly democratic government. As computing becomes more ubiquitous, and as those in power use it to their advantage, we need more people like Aaron and Edward. We need to remember that there’s a difference between legality and morality.