The Mentor's manifesto rings ever true, I can remember reading it when I was yet an infant on the net, in some archive somewhere. This statement was my first view into the world of hackerdom and showed me that hacking wasnt just some fancy GUI like on Hackers the movie. It should be updated someday, and maybe someone will.

It expresses alot and reveals the hacker psyche uniquely, and would be an excelent tool for sorting out ones problems(not that I have any of course , lol)

The "baby food when we desired steak" is the part I can most relate to right now. I was lucky and learned at least some basic DOS and QBasic that was "pre-chewed and tasteless", but at least it wasnt just the Mac OS <<dont remember the version #>> GUI or Windows 3.1/95 stuff that is easy as pie compared with anything else.

I was offered QBasic and Windows, when, even though I was un-aware, I craved Linux and C/C++. (In fact I prefered Mac to Windows back then too... it was simply cooler somehow... and yes I remember the ][e days, well the tail end anyway. I made a robot move with scripts on ][e...

Then I was introduced to HTML simply by clicking on "View->Source" in Netscape. I copied what I saw on the screen and could manipulate the browser window to do several basics from pictures to. It was sweet. The only limitations I had were my knowledge of the scripting language that I later found out was much bigger than I could imagine at that time. Why there is now DHTML, XML, XUL, JavaScript, etc.. cool, I still dont konw it all! ...yet Thanks AL.

And I can definately feel what he means by ..."This is it... this is where I belong..."

Finally a place where I am judged by the things that are done or said, not what I look like, how many "friends" I have, who I have on my arm...

My status is determined by what I know, and what I share with others. I like that. "I can make it do whatever I want, and if it screws up, its my own fault. Not because the guy down the hall doesn't like my shirt, punks stole my homework, or that teacher just doesn't like my attitude." (And d*** why won't Mary go out with me?!?... lol)

A final bit of wisdom: To quote the master - "Freely you have recieved, freely give."
<eof>

Edit: Ive only posted 9 times?? I better get some content up...
Here's the url that started this rambling...-->http://www.phrack.org/show.php?p=7&a=3