Hack the System

[jarandhel]

"It's unnatural. It goes against God's plan. It wasn't designed to do that. It wasn't designed to be used that way."

You've heard the arguments before, right? Gay marriage, and the ever-attendant reaction to "sodomy", is always in the news these days. Particularly in an election year. And, predictably, there is the reactionary outcry against such "perversions" which usually cites exactly the above reasoning.

It occurred to me, suddenly, that reasoning sounds familiar (and not just because of the repitition). Particularly the last two. And I found myself thinking: who cares about what it was DESIGNED to do, we care about what it CAN do!

There it is. Welcome to the new cyber-morality.

If you haven't figured out where I'm going with this yet, this will probably go over your head, but let me put it simply: human bodies are systems, right? Who is it that specializes in figuring out ways to make systems work in ways other than they were designed? Who is it that finds ways to make systems do things their makers may not have intended? Who is it that cares less about what a system was made to do than about what it can do? Who is it that cares less about the rules imposed by the maker of the system, and more about freedoms afforded by the way they can make the systems actually work in their hands?

By now, I'm pretty sure a good set of my friends already have their hands raised going: "We do!" And they'd be right.

Food for thought, huh? Besides, there's a certain coolness factor in being able to say with perfect honesty that making love to your boyfriend is a really sweet hack.

Comments

[dogemperor.livejournal.com]

*LOL*

I like this. I *REALLY* like this :3 (And interestingly, I've heard of body modification (the more radical stuff like people getting full-body tattoos and such) described in similar fashion--as a form of body hackery (in the geekly sense). :3)

[lyssabard.livejournal.com]

Maybe the next thing we need to introduce you to is Transhumanism. ;)

Lys - Hacking her favorite fuzzy britches.

(Btw--I miss you. I must see you soon.)

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

*grins* Already familiar with it, actually.

And yes, you must. I miss you guys too. :) Assuming I can get the apartment cleaned up, and Dusk's not got anything planned this weekend (I will need to check with him on this) would you and Bryce like to come over to my place on like friday night or saturday? I'd kind of like to get a group together and hang out, been missing everyone since I didn't make it up to Thresholds.

[tlttlotd.livejournal.com]

Sure. Let's see how things go this weekend.

[animelily.livejournal.com]

I do believe there are things that are past the line of unnatural however. Past God's plan. Most which have to do with the nebulous concept of "humanity". Compassion, dignity, love...when I hear "unnatural", I think of things that have lost these traits.

But you're not going to hear me complaining about cyberization. Tachikoma number one fan here. Oh no. No complains about that.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Who is it that specializes in figuring out ways to make systems work in ways other than they were designed? Who is it that finds ways to make systems do things their makers may not have intended? Who is it that cares less about what a system was made to do than about what it can do?

Sadly, even though I knew where you were going, the thought "politicians who want to subvert the Constitution!" came to mind and would not leave.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

Hmm... now you have me thinking about writing an essay comparing bad politicians to some of the more negative strains of black-hat hackers...