working with script kiddies

I have a guy at work that boasts he had "hacked"(cracked?) social networking sites like facebook and claims he knows more about "hacking" than anyone else at the office. When I asked what language he used for this "hacking", he thought for a while and replied "HTML".
When I asked if it was JS, he insisted that it was pure HTML.

Has anyone here encountered such script kiddies?. How do you deal with them?.

Ignore it?

Originally Posted by stevesmithx

I have a guy at work that boasts he had "hacked"(cracked?) social networking sites like facebook and claims he knows more about "hacking" than anyone else at the office. When I asked what language he used for this "hacking", he thought for a while and replied "HTML".
When I asked if it was JS, he insisted that it was pure HTML.

Has anyone here encountered such script kiddies?. How do you deal with them?.

Get half a dozen of your co-workers at the edge of the kid's earshot and have a really good laugh over it. Usually the only thing these types understand is embarassment.

Tell him that the ML in HTML means Markup Language, and that, in fact, HTML can't do anything but describe web pages, not change them or anything like that. Then he'll either confess or squirm while he attempts to change what he said. It will be fun while it's happening , but you may want to consider how it may affect office relations. You are going to have to be around the guy everyday. Do you want to spend your day with someone who thinks you're a know-it-all that likes to rub it in? Than again, if he's really that naive, I doubt he'll be around for long.

I would definitely not recommend what CommonTater suggested. That level of humiliation could take the situation from that guy being mad and turn it into an office shooting. Remember that if only you know, he can still think there are others in the office who respect him, and whom he doesn't want to kill.

Originally Posted by stevesmithx

I have a guy at work that boasts he had "hacked"(cracked?) social networking sites like facebook and claims he knows more about "hacking" than anyone else at the office. When I asked what language he used for this "hacking", he thought for a while and replied "HTML".
When I asked if it was JS, he insisted that it was pure HTML.

Has anyone here encountered such script kiddies?. How do you deal with them?.

Hahaha. Many of my friends will make reference to "hacking" other's Facebook accounts, when all they do is get on the same computer/phone after their friends forgot to log out. And I agree with anon, that's ignorance to such a degree, just grin and bear it, it probably won't take to long for the more reputable people around the office to find out he's a phony anyway.

I usually ignore these types because arguing with them is rarely worth the energy or oxygen required to do so.

I wouldn't tolerate such boasting. I would tell him you have his confession on tape and ask him whether he thought the best thing to do was for you to call the police, FBI, or homeland security on his ass right now. His choice. You don't tolerate working alongside criminals. By-the-way, has he gone through your company's background check and security screening?

Sorry, I have a personal bias against so-called hackers, even if they are just hot air.

Thanks for the responses, everybody.

Tell him that the ML in HTML means Markup Language, and that, in fact, HTML can't do anything but describe web pages, not change them or anything like that. Then he'll either confess or squirm while he attempts to change what he said. It will be fun while it's happening , but you may want to consider how it may affect office relations. You are going to have to be around the guy everyday. Do you want to spend your day with someone who thinks you're a know-it-all that likes to rub it in? Than again, if he's really that naive, I doubt he'll be around for long.

I tried this exact same reasoning with this guy cautiously(considering precious work relations), but he tended to ignore whatever I said, and kept on boasting about his pwning the facebook. Now I just ignore this guy as most of you've suggested(Whenever he says something stupid, I'll just act as if I am buying it). The only thing is, this hasn't stopped him blustering about his amazing 1337 acts. But then again, I'll just get used to it.

Originally Posted by stevesmithx

Thanks for the responses, everybody.



I tried this exact same reasoning with this guy cautiously(considering precious work relations), but he tended to ignore whatever I said, and kept on boasting about his pwning the facebook. Now I just ignore this guy as most of you've suggested(Whenever he says something stupid, I'll just act as if I am buying it). The only thing is, this hasn't stopped him blustering about his amazing 1337 acts. But then again, I'll just get used to it.

You could raise the stakes and ask him to explain, in detail. With specific questions, you could guide the explanation towards the questions you know have no answer.

In the end, this route could only end two ways, that I can see: He realizes you know a crapload more than him, but never admits to lying (which is fun), or he realizes you know a crapload more than him, and admits to lying (which is more fun).

Originally Posted by stevesmithx

Has anyone here encountered such script kiddies?. How do you deal with them?.

Slap them.

Originally Posted by C_ntua

Slap them.

I'm pretty sure OP's not a woman. He should back hand, not slap.

Originally Posted by User Name:

In the end, this route could only end two ways, that I can see: He realizes you know a crapload more than him, but never admits to lying (which is fun), or he realizes you know a crapload more than him, and admits to lying (which is more fun).

Unless he decides to complain to management about you "victimising" him. Appealing to a higher authority when caught out is a fairly common response. Unfortunately, all too common responses by upper management involve presuming you are guilty unless proven innocent, and also acting on such complaints without checking they are substantiated.

Unfortunately, we have to live in the real world.

Better to ignore him.

Originally Posted by User Name:

I'm pretty sure OP's not a woman. He should back hand, not slap.

Naah. Being slapped by a guy is more belittling than being punched.

Originally Posted by grumpy

Naah. Being slapped by a guy is more belittling than being punched.

To back hand is to slap with the back of the hand. It's a lot less feminine than slapping.

Although possible, it's really hard not to look like a b**** while slapping.

You miss my point, User Name.

A slap is a physical attack that does not seek to hurt all that much, and involves little in the way of defensiveness - at least compared with other physical attacks. It is more about deliberately demeaning the person being slapped.

Originally Posted by grumpy

You miss my point, User Name.

A slap is a physical attack that does not seek to hurt all that much, and involves little in the way of defensiveness - at least compared with other physical attacks. It is more about deliberately demeaning the person being slapped.

I didn't miss the point. I was one-upping you.

Have you ever seen someone back handed? It's just as physically painful as a slap. backhand is just more demeaning. It's sole purpose is to assert dominance.

Urban Dictionary: backhand

2. a pimp slap with the backhand across a face especially a ho's

By backhanding, you assert that you are his pimp, and he is your ho.

Urban Dictionary: pimp slap

well...it really don't matter how many fingers you use. just remember that it's the back of the hand. not the palm. using the palm is the b***** slap. the back of the hand is the pimp slap.

Does OP want to be the b**** or the pimp of this correspondence?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin..........%20slap

Contrary to most definitions, the “b****” is describing the “slap” rather than the destination.

A .......... Slap is a sharp, openhanded, stinging, yet generally benign slap – similar to being slapped by a ........... When you “.......... slap” someone, you are slapping him or her like a woman would! Scratching, hair pulling, cursing, and crying generally follow a well-placed .......... slap.