On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Jack wrote:
--- "D. Hageman" [email protected] wrote:
On another side note - If a person calls themselves a hacker - they aren't a hacker. It is like a person calling themselves sexy or the best thing out there. It is a term that has to be given to you by another. I just put in this side note as I have had two people call themselves that in the past week in conversation with me. Hubris. Yuck.
I disagree with this comment. While it's possible that anyone who calls themselves a hacker is not necessarily a hacker, it does not preclude a real hacker from calling oneself one. Hacking is the art of taking things apart (and putting them back together) to figure out how things work. That's all it means, there is no elite person that confers hacking status on someone. Hacking is an old term that never gained widespread public knowledge until relatively recently. I have been hacking cars, radios, computers, software, and all manner of electromechanical devices (not necessarily in that order) since I was 7 (that's before Woodstock '69). I take exception to your attempt to promote yourself as the giver of Hackdom.
Oh! I am misunderstood again! I guess this is yet another example of ... well hell - read my post to Jonathan Hutchins.
I don't believe I stated anywhere in my original message that I am the giver of said title. I didn't even say there is some elite person that 'confers hacking status on someone'. I do have some reverence for the title as it was given to people who had done a good hack. You don't go around telling people that you were hacker ... as well ... that would just be bragging.
I love your definitions though ... If you get a moment, stop by a book store and pick up a 2005 dictionary and see if the they agree with you. ;-) They are the language experts ... not me. :-)
//========================================================\ || D. Hageman [email protected] || \========================================================//