290 DEAR HACKER

290 DEAR HACKER

CNA information in it never arrived and my subscription started sev- eral months later with naturally a different issue. After several more months, I wrote to you at 2600 on two separate occasions to request your help. I never received so much as a postcard, much less any help or the missing issue. I did, however, receive three of the four issues of 2600 where the last two issues reminded me to pay up for next year. Of the three issues that did arrive, two were so badly mangled that they were almost unreadable. While I am aware that the responsibility for this mutilation can be attributed to our wonderful postal service, I want to point out that other magazines replace mutilated issues when notified. 2600 never did. The fourth issue never arrived. I tried calling your offices. While I am not satisfied with the exorbitant rates NYNEX charges, I am even less pleased by the devious manipulation by 2600. I refer to 2600 leaving a very lengthy outgoing message on its answering machine. Ostensibly, this was done to be informative and helpful to the caller while in reality encouraging the caller to become a party in your scheme to defraud the telephone company in not paying for the incurred overtime charges. All the while maintaining its “plausible deniability”. (I wonder how many pay telephones have been removed from service and lives made more difficult because of such behaviors?)

I know the alternatives are to: 1) pay NYNEX its outrageous rates (which I’m also opposed to) or 2) attempt the impossible and try to leave a coherent yet highly compact message in the microscopic time you have left available before the NYNEX overtime message activates. Writing to you is pointless and only serves to litter the streets after you have discarded this letter. No mention or provision is ever made on the 2600 outgoing message about when an actual human being is present and your answering machine is not screening your calls.

The final action that repulsed me was that subscription money was used to essentially pay for the editor’s personal vacation to Holland thinly disguised as a reporter on a fact-finding trip. This is as shady an action as those you describe on the radio. But this last part is all a matter of deniability and perspective. I offer the following illustration. If the point of view is first taken from that of a taxpayer, then illegal payoffs from that tax revenue are reprehensible. If the point of view is then taken from the recipient of the same payoffs, then it’s a job

OUR BIGGEST FANS

“perk” is being taken “ for the greater good.” What’s next, getting Ed McMahon’s picture on a 2600 subscription gimmick?

In short, 2600 has taken on the tactics of the corporations it professes to fight. Ultimately, I have decided to fight fire with fire and take up your tactics. I’ve decided to vote with my dollars and: 1) not renew my subscription to 2600 (yes, I know you are disappointed); 2) listen to you on my Walkman whenever I can free of charge on WBAI and not subscribe to them either. A copy of this letter will end up there; after all, there’s nothing like using a little pressure from both ends as you know; 3) encourage others to follow my example; 4) tell them of my experiences. In case you decide to read this on your show or to publish it in 2600, I suggest you do so in its entirety and comment if you feel so moved after you have presented the facts as fairly as you are able.

Please note that I am purposely omitting my return address to avoid any further complications.