Basically, it all boils down to owning up to your actions. If you get caught attempting to hack/crack someone else's system, end of story...done. No whining, complaining, making excuses. As far as violating a hacker/crackers rights or "stalking" them? Everyone assumes that they are the exception to the rules. Bullshit. If I find someone attempting to rob my house, not only will I follow him home, but I will also kick his ass in his front yard.
As a network administrator, alot of my energy is spent on security issues. This is because there are those out there who believe that if you don't lock something up - tight - then it's an implied invitation. I firmly believe that if I create something - a file, program, whatever- it belongs to me. We all know right from wrong, we are just trying to ignore that fact and citing technicalities in order to do so.