Hacker Perspective: You

In the Spring issue, we sent out a survey sheet with a non-stamped envelope to all of our subscribers as well as anyone who subscribed between the Spring and Summer issue release dates.

Over 15 percent of the people responded and around 86 percent of them were in the United States.  We want to thank those of you who took the time to send in a response and even pay the postage which is further proof of your dedication.

We realize that the survey was only sent to a fraction of our readers and if you pick us up at a newsstand, you didn't have a voice this time around.  We have yet to figure out a good way to do this online while being confined to those who actually buy the magazine, however we are considering several options for the future.

So these numbers should not be considered scientific.  But we feel they do represent a good cross section of our audience.  As always, your comments and feedback are welcome.  And now, let's look at some of the results.

First off, the average age of our readers is 36.  We were surprised by the number of people who read us well into their 70s and beyond.  85 percent of the people are civilians with around 2.5 percent each being in the military or in a prison.  The remaining 10 percent were either "other" or didn't answer.

Nearly 60 percent of our readers who are in school are at college level with another 27 percent at grad school level and 14 percent in grades 9-12.  That's of the 29 percent who chose to answer the question in the first place.  15 percent of respondents are college dropouts and less than 1 percent are high school dropouts.

Just under half of the people have heard of 2600 through the Internet or friends.  Just over a quarter have heard of 2600 through bookstores or newsstands.  Almost nobody has heard of us through family.

The average subscriber has been with us for just under five years.  And a shocking 92.3 percent have never been to one of our conferences while a staggering 92.6 percent don't go to 2600 meetings in their area, most of whom stated they didn't go simply because they didn't exist where they lived.  Around 32 percent listen to Off The Hook, our weekly radio show.  Nearly 96 percent of our readers have Internet connectivity.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 2600 overall weighed in at 4.42.  Other ratings:

• Price: 4.45
• Covers: 4.35
• Editorials: 4.26
• Articles: 4.12
• Marketplace 3.41
• General Layout & Design: 4.08
• Payphone Pictures: 4.21
• Puzzle: 3.61
• Columns: 4.34
• Letters: 4.13
• Back Cover: 4.32.

Of the changes people would like to see, many expressed a desire for less technical content, illustrations, and diagrams.  People were split right down the middle on whether or not we should have advertising or whether we should continue to print code in the magazine.  However the people who were against these items were very passionate in their opinions.  Nearly everyone who answered said their subscription does not arrive on time.  (Thank you, U.S. Postal Service.)  Most people found the website and online store to be good overall while our customer service approached the excellent rating.  There was strong interest in a book or other projects in the future.

Nearly everyone had additional things to say, all of which we read and will consider.  We can only print a fraction of the comments here but we want to thank all of you who took the time to fill this out and provide us with much valued feedback.

Here is some of it:

• Nothing stands out as a "favorite" but I've read every magazine cover-to-cover since about 1986.  Can't say that about any other magazine.
• Continue to offer a diverse range of articles and topics.  For every one article that doesn't interest me, there's five that do.
• You see my age (61).  Your type size is too small.  Sure, you get more info per page but it's a real pain to see.
• You're close to being an above the board, respected journal.  But not quite.
• I greatly enjoy the editorials and letter columns.  Articles about nationwide franchise systems are also quite interesting.
• You guys are great.  All the prisoner ads are kind of disturbing.  I wish I was smart enough to write something to get published.  Maybe some day.  For now I will keep reading.  You guys have the #1 spot in my magazine rack by my toilet.
• Stop throwing politics into the mag.  You're a technology zine (whether or not you like it).
• I love the mag.  I love the editorial slant.  I feel like there is no tech subject matter missing.  I feel very inspired and very motivated to boost my skill set when I read 2600.
• I would like to see more about hacking around the world (Asia, Europe, Latin America, etc.)  Sometimes it's too U.S. specific.
• I laugh when you guys complain about the prison sentences of thieves who steal over the net.  Those guys are common criminals.  They just use an uncommon method to steal and deserve the time they get.  Don't treat them differently (better) than other thieves.
• Really, cut down on the letters to the editor.  Some months there seems to be more letters than signal.
• I really like 2600 and enjoy the articles.  The website is a little weak.  I completely understand that most of your efforts go into the great publications but the website needs a little more "umph."
• The magazine content is excellent.  Sometimes the "Letters" section is a bit tedious but even there you do some clever editing.  Technical articles are great!
• I think you provide a great service to all of us in the fields and to everyone by "taking one for the team" when it comes to fighting to uphold our Bill of Rights.  Keep the faith.  I help you behind the scenes at every chance.
• There has been a lot of concentration on computers - specifically network security issues.  But hacking can encompass far more than this.  I remember a good article some time ago about genetic engineering.  It would be good to see more articles on these less archetypal forms of hacking.
• More telecom.  I'm interested in how the entire phone system operates.
• A few more pages maybe?
• Keep out the advertising as long as you can.  I know sooner or later you aren't going to be able to exist without it but hang in there.
• The last 2600 I received (24:1) had some heft to it.  Makes it seem more "worth the money" especially if you're buying at a newsstand.
• Every once in a while, an article appears that is very relevant.  The letters section is wildly entertaining.
• Presume your readers are smart enough to figure out who are the good politicians and who are the evil control freaks.  Stop bashing one party or the other.
• I love the magazine and look forward to reading it in full when it arrives.  It has an important and much needed point of view that cannot be marginalized or ignored.
• I am not a technical person, but the articles on social engineering are the best to me.
• Regarding article content, I have a problem with short, obscure topics.  A made-up example: "Here's how to hack the pricing gun found only in three stores in mainland China."  If that article is only four or five paragraphs long, who really cares?  Short articles should be topical enough that many people can relate, "obscure" articles should be long enough to make me care about the details and what a cool hack is being described.
• You guys are doing a superb job.  I enjoy reading articles about security flaws in programs and companies.  People report these flaws and the companies/people don't think it's important.  It kills me to think people do not care about security until it directly affects them.  I would enjoy more beginner articles for us older beginners.
• I'd like less ultra-technical gibberish that only engineers understand.
• Would like to see more RF stuff.
• Less editorials.
• Less beginner type articles.
• Why in the world is this not an electronic survey?  You dedicate a paragraph to stamp prices yet you choose not only to make us pay postage but you will have to pay someone to transcribe this chicken scratch!
• Improvements in layout and binding much appreciated.  Many times "paths of action" or "tricks" described in content is either too hacker-babble or not communicated in a way that could make it fun for me too.
• Less politics.  There seems to be an obvious pull to the left at times.  I'm part of the VRWC.  Keep the politics out.
• I love the mag.  The lifetime sub was the best decision I've made.
• I like just about everything about computers (phones less so).  Your magazine's awesome.  Don't ever lose a multi-billion dollar lawsuit and be wiped off the face of the Earth or something.
• No advertising!
• Keep up the good work!  If you feel you have to change, I hope you stay focused on "hacker spirit" type stuff - semi-licit exploration - rather than beginner articles or personalities.
• I enjoy articles/columns which exhibit cleverness and balance.  I also enjoy those which highlight abuses which could jeopardize our constitutional rights and freedoms.
• Usually totally agree with your editorials.  Read articles mainly to see a fresh approach to the world.  Just like in medicine, the suits often have little concept of what is important.
• Maybe it's me becoming an aging curmudgeon, but the content seems to be slipping into older news, rehashed news, and kid culture news.  Don't get me wrong.  I love you guys and I realize the Internet has changed the rag readership over the years.  But the spirit of sharing the novel and arcane now seems more often focused on gaining the attention of the trivial MTV/MySpace/YouTube generation.
• I like the payphone photos and opinion pieces.
• Less responses to letters from clearly stupid people.
• Please don't let my subscriber information get out to anyone.
• It's practically impossible for me to say if you should change or stay the same.  I've been a reader for almost 20 years and I would say you've kept pace just fine.  So don't "change for the sake of change" and don't "stay the same because everyone says so."  Your writers, many of whom are younger in years than me, are writing interesting articles and I enjoy them all.
• Please, less of the anti-Bush, anti-government rhetoric.  Not what I buy your mag for.  I can find that stuff in all other media.
• I support 2600 because I believe in freedom of speech and American ingenuity.  Hack the universe!
• I favor the editorial commentary in the front.
• Just keep evolving with the times and I'll always be a subscriber!
• Less code and phone stuff.
• More hacks for products, electronics, and consumer gear.  Less pages and pages of code.
• More "how to" articles, less self-serving rants!
• More political issues for hackers - can't get enough of them!
• This isn't the best place to request this, but higher quality Brain Damage episodes, and maybe bring back "The Tripods" in podcast form (the TripodCast?).
• The content is great and I love the editorial policy that brings me views, code, and input from people from all walks of life.  I even think that the generally execrable layout has its charms, but I do think that it's time to tidy things up just a bit.  When I bring a magazine article or research report to the CIO or CFO of the company I work for to illustrate or advance a point, or to use as supporting evidence for an investment or procedural change I want the company to make, it's best if the journal in which the article was published does not itself look like a bomb threat.
• More political content, more technical content.  The new binding makes it hard to read.  Keep being 2600.
• More scanner info and electronics.  Less back cover telephones.  Enough now.
• Way too much political ranting.  Not everyone in the government is out to destroy you.
• Those letters from prison are pretty intriguing, but they all sound the same.
• About the only thing I want sometimes is more in-depth information on how to do what the article is written about.
• As a (really old-school) technology geek, I appreciate your consistently good-to-excellent publication.  You have mostly the right ideas.  As a U.S. citizen that is very concerned about the future of our country, I can only hope that more responsible freethinkers will come forward to help keep tyrants at bay.  I do remember the reigns of Hitler and Stalin.  It can happen here!
• More how-to's for the novice, radio related articles, and telephone related info.  Less rants against the U.S. government, puzzles, and political statements.
• I like the way you have evolved 2600 over time.  I've been reading since 1990 or so but started the subscription at HOPE Number Six.  I like the fact that you fight for what you think is right.  And you have the fortitude to see it through.  That above all earns my respect.
• A better structured organization of your readers/listeners would not result in a terrible loss of free thought, but rather would help establish a more powerful political influence.
• Give more stuff away.
• Less paranoia.
• More tech, bigger print, less marketplace.
• I can't help but wonder how egos haven't caused you guys to fail from within like all other organizations.  Thank you for being so humble.
• Less cable articles, lockpicking, phreaking.
• I like the magazine so far.  Maybe some photos to accompany the articles.  No puzzles - those are stupid.
• Less whining about black helicopters and social engineering.
• I tend to like the hardware hacks and political/social insight.  Not so interested in stealing people's Facebook accounts.
• I love that you are independent and opinionated.  I love that you have no ads and only members can put stuff in the marketplace.
• As silly as it sounds, 2600 is all the more appealing because it's in digest format.  I like 2600 more than any other magazine, even though it isn't perfect.
• Looking forward to the image that is appearing on the new flat spines of the cover - top work!
• Less of those Cap'n Crunch whistles in the marketplace.  They have only had a few left for years.
• I really like the consistent feel to editor comments in the letters sections.
• More advanced articles, political articles, hacktivism articles.  Less beginner articles.
• Less kids showing off their useless social engineering gimmicks under the impression that they're hackers.
• Any information regarding petitions or other reasons to contact our political representatives would be nice.  This could be helpful in preserving some of our rights and keeping our voices heard.
• More First Amendment, less techie.
• I like the new bindings and the puzzles.  And I like the new layout.  The constant hacktivist rhetoric gets a bit old.
• The magazine is definitely one of a kind here in the U.K.
• Continue forth with your manifest destiny!
• I really love getting 2600.  I get very happy when it comes.
• I like the stretchy feeling my mind gets when I try to read the articles that are very technical.  I really like the physical size of 2600.  Stay funny.
• More non-technology hacking, exploration.
• Tell me more about issues, security flaws, Big Brother, etc.  Please spare me the "I hate my former employer - here's how to fuck them over."
• Like the outlook - progressive, but not blindly so.  Keep it up.
• I know that space is limited in a magazine your size but I sure would like to see a little larger print.  My eyes aren't what they used to be.
• 90-95% of the stuff I read in 2600 is over my head.  But I still enjoy it, believe it or not.
• I haven't been "getting" the covers lately.  But I also haven't put any thought into them.
• Every issue has at least one article of interest.
• I like the fact that the articles are complete and I don't have to go to the back to continue.
• Thank you all for trying to keep "hacker" from becoming a "scarlet letter."
• Less justifications for illegal activity.
• I don't get much value from crafted packet SQL web injection exploit code and complex Java stuff.
• More tech articles, accurate articles, political analysis. Less stupid rants, letters without sarcastic comments from editors.
• I read to see what's on fellow 2600ers' minds, not so much to learn tech stuff.  I generally like the current mix - even the dumb articles have a certain place as humor pieces.
• More discussion of current issues regarding citizens' privacy and rights.  Less highly technical stuff.
• Been reading since I was 13.  Your mag has changed my life and motivated me for years and I hope for years to come.
• More social/political/legal articles and/or commentary.
• Why is there only a conference in New York?
• You guys are a breath of fresh air on a planet with no oxygen.  Thank you.
• I love the Telecom Informer.  What a great look into a niche most don't get to see.