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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!hou5h!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!3363ewf
From: 3363ewf@houxm.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.nlang
Subject: Re: Changing meaning of term "hacker"
Message-ID: <544@houxm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Sep-83 10:32:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxm.544
Posted: Wed Sep 14 10:32:44 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Sep-83 00:27:14 EDT
References: houxa.242, <2084@tekecs.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 19

A qoute from this article follows
Mr. De Sando's definition is the first real evidence I've seen of a
trend which bothers me no end: the use of 'hacker' to refer to computer
break-in artists.  This casts a severe shadow on those of us who are
hackers (in the older sense of the term: people who enjoy fooling
around with computers) and have used the term to refer to ourselves in
the past.

You have got to be kidding.  The older meaning of the word
is cab driver, it has absolutely, positively nothing to do
with people who use computers.  The English language has suffered
enough with incorrect usage of words.  If you don't know what
the meanings of the word hacker are then use your dictionary.
Don't make up your own definitions.  How would you like it if
I decided that the word dipstick now refers to all computer
programmers?  Stop using the word hacker for your own purposes.
Please! Out of respect for the English language. Thank you.
                                    Gene Foster
                                    houxm!3363ewf