I deliberated considerably on how to start this page and what to put on it. I especially pondered how to start it. How was I going to indtroduce the cyber rebellion movement, and what was I going to say about it? Suddenly, on 19 SEP 96, the answer stuck me like a ton of microchips. Actually, the answer didn't strike me so much as I read it. On 18 SEP 96, a group of hackers from Sweeden hacked into the C.I.A.'s web site and performed some petty vandalism, most notably changing the name to "Central Stupidity Agency". While this act of cyber vandalism may seem senseless, and is indeed uncreative, it nevertheless establishes the point, at least for me. The mere symbolism of a group of hackers breaking into the website of what is generally regarded as one of the world's most secure and powerful security agencies sums up the idea of cyber rebellion. Rebellion against technology (as in its control over our lives ala "Big Brother") via technology is what the rebellion is all about. However, it is worth noting that the rebellion does not support nor does it condone freelance hacking, senseless and damaging computer vandalism, or any of the other myriad crimes that hackers with too much time and too little creativity perpetrate. I also frown severely on this. The original idea of a computer virus--a petty inconvenience which reminds us of our role versus the machine--is the type of expression which is in keeping with the rebellion. It is a disservice to the rebellion and to hackers in general to perform vandalism that damages systems and information. Perpetrators of such crimes well deserve the punishments they receive. The cyber rebellion is much like an online version of the tried and true method of passive resistance. It is important that people be reminded of their role versus the machine, but it is pointless to inconvenience them or to damage their systems or data. Cyberpunk literature certainly reminds people of the machine, and their role in relation to it, but too few people read it, and sometimes it is necessary to take the message to the people. Here, then, is the essence of the cyber rebellion. None of the Sweedish hackers damaged anything on the C.I.A. site (although the C.I.A. was forced to take the site offline for a few days to repair it, so perhaps this can be construed as too much of an inconvenience, but it is hard to find a perfect example), and the message was certainly gotten to the people (either directly to those lucky enough to have visited the site before the C.I.A. discovered the break in, or by the thousands of news reports it generated in the media) who undoubtedly got a small chuckle and a swift reminder out of it.

Not all of us are hackers, and even if we are, there are many methods short of nefarious computer hacking which support the idea of the cyber rebellion. I have compiled a list of methods by which anyone can participate in the rebellion:

You may wish to print this so that you can later refer to it without the assistance of your computer.

Turn off your computer. Yes, you can do it. I'm sure that if you think hard you can remember where the power switch is located.

After you have turned your computer off, give yourself a few moments to deal with the shock and to adjust to the new, pixel-free environment.

Now, leave the area in which your computer is located. Don't worry, it will be o.k. without your supervision.

You may begin to feel quesy and unsure at this moment, and you may be finding yourself hesitating to leave your computer. GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF! Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself that you can do this.

I recommend at this point that you undertake any of a number of non-computer-related activities. If you have not yet become a vampire or other form of undead creature, you may try going outside, smelling the fresh air, and looking at the natural (non RayTraced) world. My personal recommendation is that you read a book. You might also try talking to an old person, and askng them what life was really like before the invention of the silicon wonder-device. An old person is also an excellent source of suggestions for non-computer-related activtes.

Assuming that you have survived to this point, congratulations! You have just participated in the cyber rebellion. One of the key points to remember about the cyber rebellion is that it is designed to show us that we are the masters of the machine, and we are the ones in control of our lives and destiny, not a silicon based device. Regularly remind yourself of that, and spread the word to as many people as you can. If we refuse to let the machine control us, then we will no longer be its slave.