--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion…" description: "\"A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.\" — Scott Westerfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png" --- # A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and… ![“A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.” quote by Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png) > “A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.” [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens techno‑geek rebellion to essential, risky freedoms like file sharing and free speech, highlighting its necessity and danger. **In simple terms:** Tech‑geek rebellion is as vital and risky as sharing files or speaking freely. Key Takeaway Recognize the power and risk of digital activism. Themes technology rebellion freedom risk activism Mood defiant urgent Type motivational critical When to use this quote - online activism - grassroots movements - policy advocacy Key Concepts digital rights censorship social change Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do tech rebels have? - How can we protect essential freedoms without causing harm? A Different Perspective Balancing safety with impact can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottled water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottled-water/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [File sharing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/file-sharing/) [Files](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/files/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Geek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek/) [Geek Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek-rebellion-2631853/) [Necessary Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-dangerous-2631855/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Rousing Tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rousing-tale-2631856/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Techno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/techno/) [Techno Geek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/techno-geek-2631854/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“To use language is to enter into the territory of categories, which are as necessary as they are dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/to-use-language-is-to-enter-into-the-territory-of-categories-which/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [Today, we see some "file sharing" sites that rely on fans uploading cracked copies of ebooks, and which then make money off those books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/today-we-see-some-file-sharing-sites-that-rely-on-fans-uploading/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. It's so pathetic, it's almost funny. Imagine if the radio people would have lobbied for a federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/the-criminalization-of-file-sharing-is-pathetic-it-s-so-pathetic-it-s/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file-sharing networks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-download-scientific-journals-and-upload-them-to-file/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Non-commercial file sharing should of course become legal and protected, and must re-think copyright all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/non-commercial-file-sharing-should-of-course-become-legal-and/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [New generations have unprecedented power to make great changes. Take the music business for example. The new generations have toppled the music industry by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-generations-have-unprecedented-power-to-make-great-changes-take/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The only people who are afraid of file sharing are the people whose albums are so dull presentation-wise that nobody cares about owning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/the-only-people-who-are-afraid-of-file-sharing-are-the-people-whose/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [My sense is that file sharing started in predominantly white, middle- and upper-middle-cl ass young people who were native-born, who felt they were entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/my-sense-is-that-file-sharing-started-in-predominantly-white-middle/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [It's hard for us to talk about how we disdain file-sharing when in fact it probably has been a great resource for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/it-s-hard-for-us-to-talk-about-how-we-disdain-file-sharing-when-in/) [Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/) > [We need to take information, wherever it is stored, make our copies and share them with the world. We need to take stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-take-information-wherever-it-is-stored-make-our-copies-and/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [The 'solution' to file sharing was never centralizing content control back to a few entities - that was the struggle we were fighting for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/the-solution-to-file-sharing-was-never-centralizing-content-control/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [I like to think that the Internet and file sharing, if utilized properly and embraced, and I emphasize properly, is a high-powered marketing design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-like-to-think-that-the-internet-and-file-sharing-if-utilized/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [The fact that file sharing goes on, and is as popular as it is, is an incredibly positive thing for the music industry. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rowntree/the-fact-that-file-sharing-goes-on-and-is-as-popular-as-it-is-is-an/) [Dave Rowntree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rowntree/) > [Young people should investigate where the filmmaker stands on the issue of file sharing, before they spend money on them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/young-people-should-investigate-where-the-filmmaker-stands-on-the/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [They also can combine voice with instant messaging and online file sharing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/they-also-can-combine-voice-with-instant-messaging-and-online-file/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) ## More by Scott Westerfeld > [“She thought of the orchids spreading across the plains below, choking the life out of the other plants, out of the soil itself, selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/she-thought-of-the-orchids-spreading-across-the-plains-below-choking/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [But it's always taking a risk, when you ... kiss someone new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/but-it-s-always-taking-a-risk-when-you-kiss-someone-new/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [The Rusty Ruins were the remains of an old city, a hulking reminder of back when there'd been way too many people, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-rusty-ruins-were-the-remains-of-an-old-city-a-hulking-reminder-of/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [High school wasn't a trial by fire or some ordeal that had to be survived. It was all a big joke. You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [And you've actually watched it yourself?' I asked. 'Willingly?' Sure. I had to see it, you know? Besides we should be safe. Only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/and-you-ve-actually-watched-it-yourself-i-asked-willingly-sure-i-had/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Sure, zombies can “be a metaphor.” They can represent the oppressed, as in Land of the Dead, or humanity’s feral nature, as in 28…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sure-zombies-can-be-a-metaphor-they-can-represent-the-oppressed-as-in/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“You don't look very happy." Tally tried to smile. David had shared his biggest secret with her; she should tell him hers. But she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-don-t-look-very-happy-tally-tried-to-smile-david-had-shared-his/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Weird, even for one of us. Or maybe she's worse." "Worse how?" "Normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/weird-even-for-one-of-us-or-maybe-she-s-worse-worse-how-normal/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Tally smiled. At least she was causing trouble to the end. "I'm Tally Youngblood," she said. "make me pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/tally-smiled-at-least-she-was-causing-trouble-to-the-end-i-m-tally/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Out here, you find out that the city fools you about how things really work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/out-here-you-find-out-that-the-city-fools-you-about-how-things-really/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Growing up like rewriting is simply admitting how clueless you were not so long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/growing-up-like-rewriting-is-simply-admitting-how-clueless-you-were/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“The beauty of the world…has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. —Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-beauty-of-the-world-has-two-edges-one-of-laughter-one-of-anguish/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Explore all 321 Scott Westerfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## More Bottled water quotes > [“But there’s more. When I was on my way to the event today, Carolyn texted me and told me that Steve and Eve got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-morrisx/but-there-s-more-when-i-was-on-my-way-to-the-event-today-carolyn/) [Linda Morrisx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-morrisx/) > [“New Rule: You don't have to put the cap back on the bottled water after every sip. It's water, not a genie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-you-don-t-have-to-put-the-cap-back-on-the-bottled-water/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Drink lots of water, and nap. I've made some really big messes along the way, whether on the academic side or on the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/drink-lots-of-water-and-nap-i-ve-made-some-really-big-messes-along/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [The marketers can compete with free; it just has to be better. Look at bottled water if you don't believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-potter/the-marketers-can-compete-with-free-it-just-has-to-be-better-look-at/) [Jonathan Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-potter/) > [“In the summer of 2002, Biden was pushing his RAVE Act, an absurdly broad law that would have made venue and club owners liable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radley-balko/in-the-summer-of-2002-biden-was-pushing-his-rave-act-an-absurdly/) [Radley Balko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radley-balko/) > [I like that Brita makes tap water taste good, so you don't need to spend money or waste plastic with bottled water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-like-that-brita-makes-tap-water-taste-good-so-you-don-t-need-to/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [“Bottled water is not better than tap water. As you can tell, I’m quite passionate about water being your beverage of choice. So let’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-besser/bottled-water-is-not-better-than-tap-water-as-you-can-tell-i-m-quite/) [Richard Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-besser/) > [They got rid of bottled water. We got thermoses that say 'Grey's Anatomy Season 4' with our names on it. Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-smith/they-got-rid-of-bottled-water-we-got-thermoses-that-say-grey-s/) [Brooke Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-smith/) > [Public service announcement: In case of a terrorist attack, bottled water and duct tape are not going to do a damn thing. So do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/public-service-announcement-in-case-of-a-terrorist-attack-bottled/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“You in the mood for a movie tonight?" Kate asked him a couple days later. Matt was working, and she was sitting on her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-wade/you-in-the-mood-for-a-movie-tonight-kate-asked-him-a-couple-days/) [Becky Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-wade/) > [Portland can put the champagne away and get out the bottled water, 'cause that's all they're gonna drink on their way home!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/portland-can-put-the-champagne-away-and-get-out-the-bottled-water/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [Forget bottled water; tap water is just as good! Pour it into a reusable water bottle, and always have fresh water on the go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/forget-bottled-water-tap-water-is-just-as-good-pour-it-into-a/) [Ashlan Gorse Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlan-gorse-cousteau/) > [“Remembering is my only job and it's hard work. 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That's increasingly the case in Los…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/in-much-of-the-rest-of-the-world-rich-people-live-in-gated/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) [Browse all 59 Bottled water quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottled-water/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Westerfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottled water" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/scott-westerfeld-928_bottled-water_a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion_1877662.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and…” — Scott Westerfeld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Scott Westerfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```