isis@utzoo.UUCP (n) (12/12/84)
"Hacking" is a troublesome term for myself and my friends. When used
within context of other "hackers" it is understood as the pursuit
of interesting tidbits of knowlege about the operating system or language
varient being used. The other meaning I'm NOT terribly fond of, since
it implies an malicious intent while "learning" a system. However
it is a meaning that the "PUBLIC" that can understand. A person just
does not play with a system because they like to play, it must be
that the person playing is really after something else.
The larger question raised here is one of a ethical nature. What
are the ethical rules that a curious hacker follow? Are they rules
totally based on the hacker's desire to learn about and from the machine?
What are the motivations and justifications for the set ethical rules?
I have my own thoughts of a persons motivations and justifications
for both sets of "hacking." I am interested in finding out what others
have to say about a set of "hacking ethics", if there is such an animal.
Please send me mail on this and I will summurize and post.
------------
...!allegra!utzoo!isis Bill McLean
curious - adj. 1. desirous of knowing 2. prying or meddlesome 3.
odd or strange.