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Comment by digitalengineer | Hacker News Reader

A good talk, but I feel it's not smart to use the 'Army' definition, espacially because you're non-violent. You're definitely not an army, see Wikipedia: An army (from Latin "arma" “arms, weapons”) in the broadest sense is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or state.

The way this 'game' is played it's not even possible to defend yourselves (by design). And with regards to you're rights, I'm reminded of George Calin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgj4ARfAqI0 (from 4:23).

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I see your point, but "Army" in context here doesn't seem threatening. I.E. Salvation Army. Of course, that wouldn't stop those who insist on taking things out of context to fight dirty, which is inevitable.

This was a lot of pent up frustration with not only lawmakers, but also with the rest of us who were blissfully obvlivious.

You are absolutely correct, but this is bigger than people with computerknowledge. The use of language is a (PR) tool of the how you are being framed and how the public will see you. Words like 'hacker', 'Lone wolf', 'Army', 'Anonymus'play right in to the 'other side's' cards.

I've always seen a clear distinction in hacktivism between legal fighters (EFF, GNU, democracynow) and crackers. We could not think of EFF doing anything illegal, for example.

This article/speech is interesting because it seems to be dropped right in the middle. I can't help but think this army vocabulary is precisely aimed at making both joining.

Let see what comes out of this.

Well, I don't like the army thing much myself. But, government does like a "war" on this, that and everything. Perhaps its language government might understand, hell, may even respect.

Maybe too, its sort of beefs up the geeks. I get the impression that the government / corporate cartel treat tech folk like harmless meek geeks. Perhaps language like this helps change that image a bit?

That aside, what a brilliantly put article. It sums up in words what so many feel but cant fully articulate.

I see what you're saying. I remember the different treatment by the police between people protesting/marching in Washington. One was peaceful and non-violent (Occupy), the other peaceful and 'don't-tred-on-me' (Teaparty). Hackers build this world and they can fight back as well and they know it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/12/1025512/-Police-Vio...

Dumbledore's Army comes to my mind.

Also Dad's Army http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Guard_(United_Kingdom)

Freedom fighter

Freedom fighter is a synonym for terrorist, so that'd have some unfortunate effects.

More of an antonym really but you're right that the meaning of the phrase is a little confused these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipszh14WPFY

This makes me feel old, because the first thing that came to my mind was Kiss Army.

I thought it was an homage to Dumbledore's Army, didn't occur to me it could be anything else.

Gandhi called his fellow nonviolent activists a Shanti Sena, or Peace Army.

there is something in our nature that stirs at a call to arms despite our civilisation.

Salvation Army on line 2 would like a word.

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