Re-Code - Enabling Consumer Theft

Under the heading of "better let 'em know about this one", we proudly infowarn you about sites like this. While John Perry Barlow might not have a problem with Re-code.com, and I am not sure he doesn't, he certainly should. Learned behaviour - to the max.

Before things got a little too hairy, this website allowed users to enter information about the swag they had purchased at say, Walmart, into a database. The database uses the bar code number on the product to create a new bar code, which you could then print and placed over new merchandise. In other words, it's like going to a Sylvan Learning Center and taking a three card monte class. The goal here is to get a new plasma TV at 12" black and white prices. Of course no one ever 'learned' to do this on the site. People are all preprogrammed to steal, je suppose. Freedom without responsibility - now that sounds wicked, dude!

The site claims that pressure from 'corporate types', meaning people who made the thing in the first place, forced them to shut down their bar code generator, but of course they tell you where to find another one; and no one really needs these guys' video on how to switch stickers on a Louisville Slugger. But, what is most interesting is now the guys (and we are sure they are guys) are asking us to help them. You see, they want to tell their story of harassment. Harassment by the likes of the Associated Press and other media outlets (like us) who picked up the story and have been asking questions. Please help them defend themselves. This is our chance to really do something good for the world and help these folks. I mean really, come on, can't a brother spare a hacker? Are there no phone phreaker support groups anymore? And where have all the cowboys gone?