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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekchips!teklabs!davidst
From: davidst@teklabs.UUCP (David D. Stubbs)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: hackers and other changing terms
Message-ID: <2534@teklabs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Oct-83 12:46:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: teklabs.2534
Posted: Thu Oct  6 12:46:24 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Oct-83 04:39:44 EDT
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 32

I've been following the "help wanted" ads in Portland's The Oregonian
for the past few days: it seems "key punchers" are extinct as a species.
They are now variously called: VDT Operators, CRT Operators, Data Entry
Clerks, Word Processors (who is the processor and who is the
processee?), and Data Entry Technicians.

Perhaps those of us who described ourselves with one of the friendlier
(softer) definitions of "hacker" and lament its passing could now
become "key punchers":  those lovable galoots* who sometimes write
programs just for the fun of it and don't much care about the pronouncements
of pedants. Being a "key puncher" would have some of the same low-key charm 
the "cow punchers" of American Mythic History [have|had] (until NEWSPEAK
decides key punchers are brave-new-world Luddites and destroy terminals).

Regards!

David Stubbs

* If you can find a proper spelling for this word - and maybe a definition -
I would appreciate a note. My Webster's is no help.

uucp:		{ucbvax,decvax,pur-ee,ihnss,chico}!teklabs!davidst
CSnet:		teklabs!davidst@tek
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USPS:		David Stubbs
		Electronic Systems Laboratory, MS 50-383
		Tektronix, Inc.
		PO Box 500
		Beaverton OR 97077
Phone:		503-627-2627
-- 
David D. Stubbs