SPEECH ANALYSIS: GOOD HACKERS, GOOD CITIZENS 1

Speech Analysis: Why good hackers make good citizens

Nick Beals

University of Kentucky
SPEECH ANALYSIS: GOOD HACKERS, GOOD CITIZENS 2

Abstract

This is a speech analysis of a TED talk given by Ms. Catherine Bracy. It is an analysis of her

argument as well as what she used, rhetorical device wise, in her argument, and what I could do

to improve her argument. Overall, she opened my eyes tremendously when it came to what a

hacker really was. Catherine Bracy is really good at constructing a persuasive argument and she

knows how to appeal to a multitude of audiences without having to drastically change her

argument. This paper doesn’t really give the actual speech complete justice considering it is just

an analysis.

Keywords: hackers, good citizens, Benjamin Franklin, Catherine Bracy

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Speech Analysis: Why good hackers make good citizens

Introduction

It seems like every single day you turn on the news and another company has been hacked.

Accounts, data, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and even whole identities stolen.

The companies that get hacked blame these data breaches on glitches in their system or

backdoors, mainly programs and bugs that they never knew were there. Before listening to the

TED Talk by Catherine Bracy, this is what I thought hackers were. I am going to explain what

hackers really are, her uses of rhetorical devices and ethos, pathos, and logos, and then explain

what I would do to improve her argument. Here is her speech.

Bracy, C. (n.d.). Why good hackers make good citizens. Retrieved January 25, 2018, from

https://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_bracy_why_good_hackers_make_good_citizens/transcript

What exactly is a hacker?

A hacker, by definition, “a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.” But,

Catherine Bracy explained that hackers are more than just that dictionary definition; hackers are

people who cheat the system, or who innovate inventions. They find ways to basically cheat life.

Most all hackers act the way they do for the greater good of the citizens of the world. In relation

to modern day society, the term “hacktivism” was coined by a cult of hackers named Cult of the

Dead Cow. Hacktivism “is the subversive use of computers and computer networks to promote a

political agenda or a social change.” Most good citizen hackers are “hacktivists” and use their

skills to promote change. One of the most influential hackers I have ever heard of is a guy named

The Jester. The Jester describes himself as a “grey hat” hacktivist, which, is in between good and

bad hacking. He does much more than just hack. According to blog posts, news articles, and
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Wikipedia, The Jester “is an unidentified computer vigilante who describes himself as a grey hat

hacktivist.” The Jester is unknown to the public; however, one of his laptops is currently on

display in the International Spy Museum (the exhibit is appropriately called Weapons of Mass

Disruption). Now, this is the type of hacker that deals with computers, the ones you hear about in

the news. Here is a picture of the Jester’s laptop in the International Spy Museum.

Weapons of Mass Disruption [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.spymuseum.org/exhibition-experiences/exquisitely-evil/weapons-of-mass-

disruption/

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Catherine, right off the bat, uses ethics to appeal to us. She immediately connects hacking to

Benjamin Franklin, stating his inventions and innovations and then using logos to explain why

he should be considered a “hacker”. She says: “He was one of America's most prolific inventors,

though he famously never filed a patent, because he thought that all human knowledge should be

freely available. He brought us bifocals and the lightning rod, and of course there was his
SPEECH ANALYSIS: GOOD HACKERS, GOOD CITIZENS 5

collaboration on the invention of American democracy.” She also goes on to mention Steve Jobs,

who, of course, was the founder of Apple. And, she also mentions the Wright Brothers, or the

creators of the airplane. She also mentioned the Underground Railroad being a hack which could

also be pathos because of the emotion attached to slavery and the underground railroad. She

basically reinforced her ideas by citing historical and personal experiences (logos) that most of

everyone can relate to in at least one way.

Improvements to her Argument

I don’t have anything to improve with her argument. She made me think of hackers and see

things from a unique point of view. The only thing I can probably improve with her argument is

not about the argument itself but about delivery. She kind of lost me at times because she was

moving rather fast and not really letting me process what she was talking about or what she was

doing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, an argument can be more effecting when using rhetorical devices, specifically

ethos, pathos, and logos. Every argument should retain some sort of rhetorical device because of

the way they strengthen your argument and your writing. Being able to appeal to your audience

in ways that they can relate to strengthens your argument.

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References

ΔCTUAL³³º¹, J. %. (2017, March 16). JΞSTΞR ✪ ΔCTUAL³³º¹, Author at JestersCourt.

Retrieved January 25, 2018, from https://jesterscourt.cc/author/th3j35t3r/

The Jester (hacktivist). (2018, January 24). Retrieved January 25, 2018, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jester_(hacktivist)