Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvax1!okunewck From: okunewck@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu (Phil OKunewick) Newsgroups: alt.hackers Subject: Re: The word 'hacker' Message-ID: <*s7Gio?&1@cs.psu.edu> Date: 7 May 91 01:02:41 GMT References: Sender: news@cs.psu.edu (Usenet) Organization: Random, at best Lines: 34 Approved: Absolutely not. This will not be allowed. Nntp-Posting-Host: psuvax1.cs.psu.edu jon%vector0@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Dazed N. Confused) writes: >subbarao@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Kartik Subbarao) writes: > >> [doesn't mind use of hacker as cracker] Obviously not a hacker. Most hackers I know distinguish between themselves and crackers, though it's kind of fun knowing that people wrongly think you're one of "them". > I mind, since I like saying 'hacker' and not having to explain >what I mean. But cracker isn't the right word for a criminal hacker, >since cracker has other uses also (ie, one who breaks copy protection >on software, esp. games). You lose. Breaking copy protection and copying stuff is illegal. However, just about every hacker has tried it at one time or another, usually as an exercise rather than for personal profit. > I think we need a new word for a g0dlike hacker, then everyone >will be happy. So what will the lucky word be? Nope, no new word needed. "Guru" is already in use. >> P.S (I'm a EE :-) ) Yeah, it shows too. ObHack: (Remember guys? We're supposed to post a hack here.) I turned a bunch of thickwire ethernet tranceivers into thinwire transceivers just by replacing the vampire connector with a BNC. True, it's simple; even trivial. But it saved the department a couple thousand dollars.