WE ARE ANONYMOUS - AND SO ARE YOU - KNOWLEDGE IS FREE !

[kpete]

Open Letter from ANONYMOUS - 17/12/2010
FREE-THINKERS, HYPERBOLEANS, BUILDERS OF THE FUTURE,

We are ANONYMOUS. Because many of you seem to think the very fact of our existence is indeed rather confusing, we would like to take this opportunity to elucidate to you what it is ANONYMOUS is and does exactly - what it means we are ANONYMOUS, what it is we're aiming at, and what is our ontological status.

Now first and foremost, it is important to realize that ANONYMOUS - in fact - does not exist. It is just an idea - an internet meme - that can be appropriated by anyone, anytime to rally for a common cause that's in the benefit of humankind.

This means anyone can launch a new ideological message or campaign under the banner of ANONYMOUS. Anyone can take up a leading role in the spreading of the ANON-consciousness.

Whether or not these appropriations are legitimate is decided by the rest of the internet citizenry : If the majority of the public agrees with a proposed appropriation, then the public will act - If the majority of the public disagrees with a proposed appropriation, then the public will protest and label the message in question as illegitimate and thus not representative of the values of ANONYMOUS.

This makes ANONYMOUS the first truly democratic endeavour in the world. It is a bee-hive where the queen is missing - yet buzzing with activity in every possible form, direction, shape and colour one could possibly imagine.

This does not mean, however, that there can't be 'bad' actions presented as coming from ANONYMOUS. Just as with 'bad' speech though, we believe the solution to these issues is not less speech, but more speech - not less (or restrictive) action, but more (and constructive) action.

ANONYMOUS believes the only legitimate form of power is that power which rests on widespread public consent, and so there is not one person or group of people who can ever claim to be ANONYMOUS.

Anonymous is not a political current, nor is it based on a political current. Some may say that it's anarchism, liberalism, communism, libertarianism, etc. - others say it's nothing but a bunch of twelve-year olds from 4chan having fun on the internet. Anonymous is none of those - yet it encompasses elements of all these things and many, many more.

ANONYMOUS is the people and the people is ANONYMOUS. ANONYMOUS is anything and everything, anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere.

Moreover, anyone taking part in the actions of ANONYMOUS endeavours to defend an idea through anonymous collective action, and not to promote themselves as some kind of hero or saviour of the world. ANONYMOUS, therefore is not about personal achievement and recognition. It is about accomplishing goals for the betterment of humankind - together - as a species.

The Internet has changed the way we look at each other and the world. New technology has enabled people to communicate faster and more often. ANONYMOUS realizes that this freedom of information makes people more free to decide what they like or disagree with.

This freedom of information has forever changed how society perceives consensus, democracy, transparency, and freedom itself. Never before has society been able to have these debates twenty four hours a day, at all locations at the same time.

ANONYMOUS applauds these developments and will defend humanity against anyone willing to take this new-found freedom away. We do not forgive censorship, and we do not forget that knowledge is free. Moreover, we are legion, so we will not be denied.

The more they repress us, the more we will fight back. Because we are more than one. Because they can find and persecute one man or woman fighting for a cause - but not hundreds of thousands of people all across the globe, fighting for a more just and transparent society.

Now please take up your personal responsibility !

Show the world some loving and be ANONYMOUS !

WE ARE ANONYMOUS
- AND SO ARE YOU

KNOWLEDGE IS FREE !
VIDEO: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/14/944354/-Open-Letter-from-ANONYMOUS

[RandomThoughts]

1. The whole concept of 'anonomous' putting out a press release is rediculous.

Think about it, if they are hackers, or whatever, the concept that someone would speak for them makes no sense.

Someone could say they are part of some group, but that group being anonymous makes no sense saying someone is part of it.

The entire logic of that type of post makes no sense.

[The Doctor.]

4. Hehehe... then perhaps you didn't read it.

I was about to comment on how obvious it is, by the radical differences in style we've seen here, that there is no one person putting out messages.

Instead, you've left a perfect opportunity (even though you might have been a bit sardonic) to comment on exactly what 'Anonymous' is....

"Nobody".

"Everybody".

"Anybody who gets the philosophy".

Welcome to the Cyberpunk Revolution. It will be streaming.

[RandomThoughts]

6. Good point.

I understand distributed models of communication and correlating them.

Although just like in everything else there is good and bad, and some label traps in much of that. Also why the credibility has to be in the comment, and how you see it.

Thanks for pointing out it could be looked at as a distributed model. A label trap blocker, and a secrecy blocker, kept me from seeing that.

[The Doctor.]

7. Oh, but you are certainly not wrong... discerning vision is crucial.

You see, any credibility-bearing emulation is overtly suspect. Prima Facie, of course. The model should stand, but watch for duplication.

Better than a Spyderco you are.

[JackInGreen]

13. Live...

from 20 minutes into the future.

Expect us.
:D

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

[snagglepuss]

3. K & R nt

[The Doctor.]

5. As a long-time William Gibson/GITS fan, I am so loving this.

It's truly wonderful to see something I thought of as inexorable decades ago proving itself so.

I almost feel guilty that I'm kind of a computer clod.

K+R. Wear good shoes on Black Ice.

[gateley]

8. I LOVE this shit! Empowering! nt

[OneGrassRoot]

12. +1000! :) n/t

[Bryn]

9. Here's a tweet from one of them

"For anyone who hasn't figured it out yet: calling Anonymous "hackers" is like calling the people working at a construction site "welders".

[Electric Monk]

10. ...or maybe that's just what Greybeard wants you to think...

Saviour barcodes, or save your barcodes? Time will tell.

[Buddyblazon]

11. I really wish...

these guys would go after the health insurance companies. These organizations, at the very least, need to be brought down a whole bunch of notches.


On edit: moved a comma

[pmorlan1]

14. Wonderful!

Divide and Conquer does not work with anonymous.

[Wednesdays]

17. It's like trying to "divide and conquer" air.

nt

[yodermon]

15. my favoriate "appropriation" of anonymous was the anon poster at TPM and

CREW back in 2007, in regards to the DOJ/Rove/Gonzolas/RNC Email scandal.

DU's own L. Coyote chronicled it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1669387&mesg_id=1669387

[Occulus]

16. Anonymous.

We do not forgive. We do not forget.

[arikara]

18. I get it...

Anonymous is cyber-water. Small drops join to create streams, rivers, waterfalls, oceans. Water has more strength and force than anything else on earth. Storms, floods, tsunamis, erosion, all agents of change.

[PatSeg]

20. Great analogy

It provides a powerful visual to the whole concept.

[Hissyspit]

19. Look at how much THIS:

"This does not mean, however, that there can't be 'bad' actions presented as coming from ANONYMOUS. Just as with 'bad' speech though, we believe the solution to these issues is not less speech, but more speech - not less (or restrictive) action, but more (and constructive) action."

...sounds like THIS:

"I dream of a new age of curiosity. We have the technical means for it; the desire is there; the things to be known are infinite; the people who employ themselves at this task exist. Why do we suffer? From too little: from channels that are too narrow, skimpy, quasi-monopolistic, insuffient. There is no point in adopting a protectionist attitude, to prevent 'bad' from invading the 'good.' Rather, we must multiply the paths and possibilities of comings and goings."

- Michel Foucault, "Politics, Philosophy, Culture"

[DaveJ]

21. Whatever -- They'll be mutilated

Corporations and government will have no problem with this.

Every coin has two sides.

It seems to me, basically ANONYMOUS gives hackers a legitimate reason to hack those who deserve it. That's fine. But what will also happen is, people will get tired of working for nothing, and governments and corporations will find ways of channeling this public talent to serve their own agendas. Just like all the guys who were hackers and later started working for security companies. The majority sells out, all they need is another cause to rally behind. Marketing geniuses love challenges like this.

[NuclearDem]

22. "We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we connect your calls, we drive your ambulances"

Do not fuck with us.

[mdmc]

23. ..