Difference between revisions of "Talk:1494: Insurance"

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I disagree that this is a sequel to ''UV'', it may relate, but as mentioned in that comment it's not even close to legal to burn a house then get fire insurance. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:24, 5 March 2015 (UTC)
 
I disagree that this is a sequel to ''UV'', it may relate, but as mentioned in that comment it's not even close to legal to burn a house then get fire insurance. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:24, 5 March 2015 (UTC)
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Also, isn't [[Hairy]] the insurance agent? Should the transcript be updated to name him? [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:29, 5 March 2015 (UTC)

Revision as of 19:29, 5 March 2015

Well...suck for you. 108.162.215.57 05:17, 4 March 2015 (UTC) RobotGoggles


Incomplete tag? I know it's pretty early, and the explanation is bound to be rewritten, but the current explanation is a little confusing, and makes a couple jumps that I wouldn't necessarily make. Maybe the incomplete tag shouldn't be removed yet? I'd do it, but I don't really know enough about actually editing the explanations to feel comfortable doing it yet. ARoseByAnyOtherName (talk) 08:52, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

I mean, I had written an explanation I'd say was a bit clearer (if a bit more complicated), but some unregistered user removed most of it... Makes me a bit grumpy. The newly added Lifehacks vs. IT hacks section brings up most of the things that person removed, though, so this should be complete enough. Obskyr (talk) 09:44, 4 March 2015 (UTC)
Well, for what it's worth, I liked your version better. --RenniePet (talk) 10:47, 4 March 2015 (UTC)
Not only that. The new version was so bad I decided to revert to Obskyr's. [1] 108.162.221.201 13:54, 4 March 2015 (UTC)
Any meaning to conveyer?

The spelling error in the alt text seems like a simple typo.

Lawyer? I assumed it was a salesman or HR guy. --RenniePet (talk) 08:50, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

Insurance agent. Not exactly a salesman; agents have multiple hats. You don't get fire insurance from HR.Taibhse (talk) 09:34, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

This is probably a reference to those youtube videos of life hacks of questionable legality. Eg signing up for one flight to take another108.162.219.100 16:44, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

I guess this might also relate to that (from my experience) programmers tend to like to break things (anything claimed to be "secure" seems to attract lots of people wanting to test out how secure) or find workarounds for things? Pinkishu (talk) 10:11, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

Hacking

Please read On Hacking. I think the term you're looking for is cracking, or at least black hat hacking. Hacking a system would mean getting a system to do something unique and/or interesting. Or interacting with the system in a way that wasn't predicted. 108.162.238.191 10:19, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

You're right. But there is at least a second common usage for the word hack that is described by wikipedia as "an inelegant but effective solution to a computing problem". When the insurance guy speaks about "cool hacks", he's probably not refering to Stallman's definition. Nytux (talk) 09:41, 5 March 2015 (UTC)
Hard hacks

Things like lock-picking is often also seen as physical equivalents of hacking, not necessarily illegal but still something most people would look on with suspicion.108.162.254.98 10:21, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

Agree, this is excellent example on "hacking the computer": there is nothing illegal on lock-picking itself. Even if you use it on someone's else door without permission, it would not be crime unless you actually ENTER the door (or damage the lock). Locksmiths MUST know how to do it. But ... first thing you think about when hearing lock-picking is that thiefs do it. -- Hkmaly (talk) 11:37, 4 March 2015 (UTC)
Before coming down into the comments, and seeing the last set of comments, I felt it necessary to make an edit to highlight just such an issue regarding the confusion about 'hacking'. As a historical sideline, note also the term "cracksman" as used for those who illegally open safes (and others skilled with locks and barred entranceways, in a criminal manner), which predates all the above computer-era terminology. But I didn't want to add too much more to the explanation. 141.101.98.181 17:25, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

I think part of the point of today's comic is to point that contracts are somewhat similar to a computer program (both have definitions and rules by which the system must abide), but lack the strict rigor of the latter. So, when programmers read a legal contract they immediately start searching for bugs or vulnerabilities or even syntax optimizations. 188.114.98.29 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Why is it illegal to do things allowed by the contract?

Why is it illegal if the insurance company agreed that the "fraudulent" maneuver was accepted, by signing the contract allowing it? 199.27.128.172 23:22, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

Uh, why doesn't it mention life hacks at all in the "lifehacks vs IT hacks" section? Especially since I remember some lifehacks actually advocate for plain fucking stealing, like e.g. one which suggested that if you need a free umbrella, go to a restaurant and say you lost a black umbrella. 141.101.89.224 01:56, 5 March 2015 (UTC)

I absolutely agree with this point. The comic appears to suggest that programmers apply the conditioning that comes from their jobs (that code exploits are cool, and that the system must be designed to prevent exploits) to life (where exploiting a system's vulnerabilities may look cool but is very probably illegal). The airport luggage registration and screening system allows anyone to walk out the door with any item of luggage, but it is quite simply theft to do so. Likewise, exploiting a loophole in a contract is generally acceptable in order to avoid work or liability, but when you do it to obtain material gain then it is quite simply fraud. It would appear that much of the explanation currently misses the point... 108.162.229.50 13:35, 5 March 2015 (UTC)
Checking the luggage

Seems like someone already tried this. I flew to Saigon last week and they check your luggage against your lost&found tag, before you may leave. --108.162.222.156 15:54, 5 March 2015 (UTC)

I disagree that this is a sequel to UV, it may relate, but as mentioned in that comment it's not even close to legal to burn a house then get fire insurance. Djbrasier (talk) 19:24, 5 March 2015 (UTC)

Also, isn't Hairy the insurance agent? Should the transcript be updated to name him? Djbrasier (talk) 19:29, 5 March 2015 (UTC)