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Sgt Grizzly · 2011-05-03, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by LordReaver

It's 2011 and you are still using the old nerd stereotype? Honestly, how is being knowledgeable about computers any different than being knowledgeable about say, cars or football?

just for arguments sake because I'm bored and the servers are down...

yes, in fact, I think the stereotype is true. Computer Programming or whatever it takes to hack is generally reserved for the more academic, less sociable, and more intelligent segment of society - nerds. Emphasis on "generally" since there are always exceptions to every rule. Likewise the demographic that enjoys football could also be lumped into a stereotype - a classification of society people hate to admit exist because of its tie to discrimination and racism. But in fact the two are mutually exclusive as the former is merely an observation and not a reason to dislike someone.

Nothing wrong with being a nerd. The word is often used as a pejorative but it does, however, signify someone who is often beyond average intelligence and that's a good thing. But somewhere along the way, most were blessed with good brains and awkward social skills making them appear strange or just annoying because of things like their insistence on accuracy which can lead to a break in the flow of an easy going conversation by turning it into a fact fest.

I'm 32 and have worked jobs since I was 17. I've seen a lot in my life and the weirdest, uncleanest(yes sadly that needs to be mentioned. Even our rule book felt the need to mention that showers were required of employees at least 3 times a week), most socially inept group of people I have ever worked with were computer nerds at a game testing company. I literally worked next to Morpheus.

Except he was white and had a receding hairline...

TRex · 2011-05-03, 04:26 PM

I dunno , we have a whole group of people laid off at soe . We have this whole debacle of sony security suddenly appear . Maybe 2+2=5 but I get the feeling some disgruntled ex-employee(s) with security clearance laid some groundwork before they left. Clutching at straws I must admit but the thought obviously crossed my mind.

NUBLERT · 2011-05-03, 07:59 PM

I blame the parents.

LordReaver · 2011-05-04, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by Sgt Grizzly

just for arguments sake because I'm bored and the servers are down...

yes, in fact, I think the stereotype is true. Computer Programming or whatever it takes to hack is generally reserved for the more academic, less sociable, and more intelligent segment of society - nerds. Emphasis on "generally" since there are always exceptions to every rule. Likewise the demographic that enjoys football could also be lumped into a stereotype - a classification of society people hate to admit exist because of its tie to discrimination and racism. But in fact the two are mutually exclusive as the former is merely an observation and not a reason to dislike someone.

Nothing wrong with being a nerd. The word is often used as a pejorative but it does, however, signify someone who is often beyond average intelligence and that's a good thing. But somewhere along the way, most were blessed with good brains and awkward social skills making them appear strange or just annoying because of things like their insistence on accuracy which can lead to a break in the flow of an easy going conversation by turning it into a fact fest.

I'm 32 and have worked jobs since I was 17. I've seen a lot in my life and the weirdest, uncleanest(yes sadly that needs to be mentioned. Even our rule book felt the need to mention that showers were required of employees at least 3 times a week), most socially inept group of people I have ever worked with were computer nerds at a game testing company. I literally worked next to Morpheus.

Except he was white and had a receding hairline...

I think what you experienced were just people who were more into a given field than you were used to seeing. How often do you see people doing for fun, what they do for work? The more into a field, the more you have to sacrifice elsewhere. Most of the time, social activities (and hygiene, since those two usually go hand in hand) are the first things to go. Why spend time with other people, when you can spend that time doing what you love? Unless that field is a social activity anyways, like sports, dancing, or whatever, you will probably come out looking like a "nerd". Wouldn't matter what you are doing, be it computers, automobiles, or marine biology.

People in upper tiers of a field, look strange to people who are not into the same field. Computers, happen to facilitate people getting to those upper tiers more easily than pretty much any other field. This is due to the explosion of computers in daily life. So you will see a higher quantity of them. Although, the more people there are, the more diluted the effect becomes. This is why I feel the old stereotype is outdated and irrelevant in today's world.

I do agree that the people who did the hacking, are highly skilled. Intelligence could be debatable, they did just land themselves as enemies of a massive corporation, homeland security, and the FBI after all. That being said, I do not see any indication to their social behaviors at all.

Nephilimuk · 2011-05-04, 01:52 AM

homeland security, and the FBI

hey dude if you live anywhere else in the world (those other colours on the map of the world) the above really do not mean very much.

Not a lot we can do no point arguing - I am pissed that it could happen but thats a Sony reputation hit. If online is your core business and something like this happens I am sure you have a lot of disappointed employees. You have also just broken the covenant between yourself and your user base which is never a good thing. I hope they fix it quickly and provide an accurate overview to what has been taken and the extent of the hack. The last part I doubt will happen.

(oh penetration testing by an external company every month ftw)

Sgt Grizzly · 2011-05-04, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by LordReaver

I think what you experienced were just people who were more into a given field than you were used to seeing. How often do you see people doing for fun, what they do for work? The more into a field, the more you have to sacrifice elsewhere. Most of the time, social activities (and hygiene, since those two usually go hand in hand) are the first things to go. Why spend time with other people, when you can spend that time doing what you love? Unless that field is a social activity anyways, like sports, dancing, or whatever, you will probably come out looking like a "nerd". Wouldn't matter what you are doing, be it computers, automobiles, or marine biology.

People in upper tiers of a field, look strange to people who are not into the same field. Computers, happen to facilitate people getting to those upper tiers more easily than pretty much any other field. This is due to the explosion of computers in daily life. So you will see a higher quantity of them. Although, the more people there are, the more diluted the effect becomes. This is why I feel the old stereotype is outdated and irrelevant in today's world.

I do agree that the people who did the hacking, are highly skilled. Intelligence could be debatable, they did just land themselves as enemies of a massive corporation, homeland security, and the FBI after all. That being said, I do not see any indication to their social behaviors at all.

Nice someone chill I can have a discussion with...

My experiences stem primarily from my group of friends and their friends. I'm actually friends with quite a few nerds. My best friend is arguably one though much better at the social game than most - in any field. However, this wasn't always the case as he was certainly an awkward guy growing up and came across as uber annoying to the average joe because of his insistence on factual accuracy and general inability to conduct a good interpersonal relationships. That is, picking up on cues like when someone is tuning out of your conversation or when you may have offended them. Generally those with good interpersonal skills do extremely well in position of sales - a job that requires a high degree of social ability because the mood of your client will affect your sales. In computers, it's project orientated so your focus is on the task and not the reaction of another sentient being. Herein lies the major difference. And yes, you're right that will probably be true for any field that is also project orientated like playing an instrument.

Your point regarding the diluting effect may in fact be true. I guess we'd have to do some research to prove it, but I'm willing to concede that my generalization may in fact be too general for contemporary times.

It isn't really my point but there is a loose logical leap between the anti-social behavior of criminal actions and what I was referring to in terms of social ineptness. Both result in annoying behavior that has an impact on others due to an inability to conduct proper interpersonal relationships which builds empathy, which if they had any, they wouldn't have done what they did.

As someone who has faced retaliation from the state(I'm being ambigious for obvious reasons) I hope to god these boys get caught. It'll humble them...

Lazza · 2011-05-05, 05:16 AM

Just a thought and im not sure if anyone has mentioned it already but could it be ex soe employees. they would have the motive and knowledge i would assume.

Nephilimuk · 2011-05-05, 07:36 AM

Sony has long done the bare minimum and now it looks like that's biting them

No offence but can you add some substance or evidence to support that statement?

I don’t mean to be an @rse its just none of us know what was or was not done unless we work for that company. Normally no one goes out of their way to get hacked and very rarely if it was a coordinated attack does it fall into the category of negligence. Complacency is more common when you think your complying with security best practice.

The top and bottom is in most cases if someone has the resources and the incentive they will find a way.

Madcow · 2011-05-06, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by Nephilimuk

No offence but can you add some substance or evidence to support that statement?

I don’t mean to be an @rse its just none of us know what was or was not done unless we work for that company. Normally no one goes out of their way to get hacked and very rarely if it was a coordinated attack does it fall into the category of negligence. Complacency is more common when you think your complying with security best practice.

The top and bottom is in most cases if someone has the resources and the incentive they will find a way.

Sephirius makes the points I would make. I don't know what their network security was like. I only know how the company treats the other pieces of their business and it's more than likely to carry over into the parts that aren't public.

You can say that if people have the resources they can find a way, but if somebody is looking for credit card information they'd be a WHOLE LOT better off trying to hit Blizzard. The thing is, that's a company with pretty amazing reputation in the public area which makes you think they probably do a better job behind the scenes as well.