Use of the term "hacker" [LWN.net]

Use of the term "hacker"

Posted Sep 10, 2003 20:20 UTC (Wed) by dwalters (guest, #4207)
In reply to: Raymond and Perens respond to SCO by minichaz
Parent article: Raymond and Perens respond to SCO

This is a point I too have pondered when reading press releases that are meant for public consumption containing the word "hacker".

On the one hand, I think legitimate programmers would like to reclaim the word, but at this point, in the eyes of the general public, the term "hacker" seems to have been lost to the black-hats.

For press releases aimed at the programmer community, most people will understand what is meant by the term hacker. But for the general public, I fear it simply conjours up the image of a criminal cracker.

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Use of the term "hacker"

Posted Sep 10, 2003 22:57 UTC (Wed) by Baylink (subscriber, #755) [Link]

> On the one hand, I think legitimate programmers would like to reclaim the word, but at this point, in
the eyes of the general public, the term "hacker" seems to have been lost to the black-hats

This reminds me of a comment Robert Heinlein made in the interstitial material in his compilation
_Expanded_Universe_. He noted that it was a good idea in converations with Russians to introduce the
word "democracy" as an *antonym* for "communist countries" -- since that's how they described those
countries behind the Iron Curtain.

We're in the same situation. I've always avoided calling myself a hacker in public -- mostly because I
considered it a bit self-important, given my apprehension of the term. But I'd be honored to be called
that, and I believe it's important to our community to have that term available, and that it's important
to defend it.

And no, I don't think it's impossible to defend it.

It's just not going to be easy.

Use of the term "hacker"

Posted Sep 11, 2003 11:21 UTC (Thu) by minichaz (guest, #630) [Link]

It is a term that I would also like to defend but this letter is not the place to do so. It is more important that the information gets to Joe Public in a clear and unambiguous (from the his/her perspective) form.

Use of the term "hacker"

Posted Sep 11, 2003 13:31 UTC (Thu) by ccchips (subscriber, #3222) [Link]

I don't think it's impossible, either. But then again, I don't think it was ever impossible for socialists to defend their views against massively-wealthy press operators in the United States and in England. Does anyome remember the way people wrote about leftists in the 1950's?

I'd like to reclaim that word from the mouths of the beast myself, but I think if we really want it back, we're going to need enough allies in the press.

Let's look at it another way: How many words did people with African ancestors have to float by the Caucasian-dominated American press, before they felt comfortable with the way that American press presented them? I can think of at least four.

On the other hand, I do believe we need to defend ourselves. Socialist failed so badly at it here in the U.S. that common workers very well may lose their overtime pay. So, yes, we should defend our honor. But how?