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From: CSvax:Pucc-H:Pucc-I:ags@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.nlang
Subject: Re: Changing meaning of term "hacker"
Message-ID: <143@pucc-i>
Date: Thu, 15-Sep-83 10:05:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: pucc-i.143
Posted: Thu Sep 15 10:05:46 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Sep-83 04:54:11 EDT
References: houxa.242, <2084@tekecs.UUCP>, <544@houxm.UUCP>
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 16

I always thought a cab driver was a "hack," not a "hacker."  Please be
more precise in your use of language, Mr. Foster.

Not long ago (I believe it was in Psychology Today), there appeared an
article called "The Hacker Papers", which contained some interesting
insights on the people who call themselves hackers.  It was widely
discussed on the net.  I believe our current usage of the word "hacker"
derives from the older meaning:

   "An inept person who constructs furniture with an axe."

Thus, "hacker" once applied only to inept or clumsy programmers.  More
recently, many programmers have adopted the label with pride.

				Dave Seaman
				pur-ee!Pucc-I:ags