ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA (08/23/85)
Richard et al, *** FLAME ON *** You know, I'm getting bloody tired of the misuse and abuse of the term "hacker". I worked hard to learn enough to hopefully be considered a member of those illustrious ranks, and do NOT like being associated with vandals, delinquents, criminal elements, and the like. The journalists are mainly responsible for the recent misuse, and delight in calling any computer-related crime or incident the work of "hackers". Perhaps a few thousand irate letters to editors, etc., would change their misguided vocabulary. I would suggest the use of the word "crasher" (as was recently used in a book, "The Inner Circle", so I was told) to apply to the destructive or criminal elements. Hacker should remain a descriptive term of those who love computers and programming for their own sake. *** Flame Off *** David Kirschbaum Toad Hall ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID
res@ihlpl.UUCP (Rich Strebendt @ AT&T Information Systems - Indian Hill West; formerly) (08/26/85)
> You know, I'm getting bloody tired of the misuse and abuse of the term > "hacker". I worked hard to learn enough to hopefully be considered a member > of those illustrious ranks, and do NOT like being associated with vandals, > delinquents, criminal elements, and the like. Sorry, regretable as it is, but the word "Hacker" is now in the public vocabulary permanently (well, maybe only for a couple of hundred years to come) with a pejorative connotation. Those who aspire to the title Hacker in a non-pejorative connotation are going to have to coin another word to use as an illustrious title. Bitching and moaning and castigating the journalists is not going to help. Somehow, also, the new title has to be fed to the press in contrast to the Hacker image and popularized. As one who could probably lay claim to that "illustrious" title, I find it repugnant. It brings to mind an image of someone holding a bloody meat axe. Rich Strebendt ...!ihnp4!iwsl6!res