Nate: There was a political subtext there, sure. Stick it to the man. But for the most part, it felt like kids being kids, with a whole lot of criminal activity worked in for good measure. But phreaking as he knew it has disappeared.

Alex: True. If anything, The Hacker Crackdown reinforces the notion that hackers never have a reason; they're just doing it because they can. And because they can, they attract hangers-on and groupies.

Alex: (And tech journalists, which are basically the same thing.)

Nate: I call "hanger on."

Alex: I've never made any secret of being a Google groupie. Eric Schmidt can take me home any time he wants.