Oh man, does this bring back memories. I loved BackOrfice. I installed it on the network at the University where I was a student. I had a friend call me on a payphone from a vantage point where he could view the layout of the computer terminals being used by students doing research. At first, I would open the cd trays of a couple of the computers and he described the students confusion as they kept closing the trays that would open again moments later. After sharing a good laugh, I popped up a dialog on one of the computers with a message similar to:
> Hey, I am the guy at station #7. I think you are really hot. Want to go out tonight?
Then, I sent similar messages to other stations until we were nearly in tears laughing at the chaos we caused. Ahh, those were good memories.
The internet was different back then. We used to put trojans into image files which we distributed through a fake dating site peofile. For shits and giggles. We never did anything “serious” just stupid things like opening CD rom drives or moving their mouse around. We’d UDP “nuke” teacher computers. We’d use open networks, and download warez… all sort of silly stuff.
Looking back on it… well a lot of it obviously wasn’t cool at all. I’m just happy that my “teenagers do stupid things” happened in a time where the internet crime was basically not taken serious unless you hacked a bank.
It wasn't meant as bullying and certainly wasn't seen that way back when I did this. It was mischevious practical jokes that people laughed at. The world we live in now is not as happy of a place. I feel bad for youth of all ages growing up in the world we have now.
Labeling practical jokes as bullying really kind of waters down the idea of actual bullying, where emotional or physical harm is caused to someone over a long period of time. Let's not let bullying be the new "trauma."
> Hey, I am the guy at station #7. I think you are really hot. Want to go out tonight?
Then, I sent similar messages to other stations until we were nearly in tears laughing at the chaos we caused. Ahh, those were good memories.