ewf@ihuxr.UUCP (01/24/84)
To: ihnp4!harpo!seismo!rochester!jss Subject: Re: Hacker. A definition. References: <4544@rochester.UUCP> Something that is illegal as hacking is ought to be slandered. If you think hacking is something decent, you need some legal advice as to what is right and wrong. How would you like it if some computer break in artist (hacker) messed up all your files or added $10K to your phone bill! Hackers are criminals just like cat burglars so don't give me any of that stuff that says your not really hurting anyone.
agk@ihuxq.UUCP (01/24/84)
I've always thought that "hacker" was a negative term. Something like calling a surgeon a "butcher". A "hack" is an ugly cough (smoker's hack). A "hack" is a slovenly chauffeur (cabbie). A "hack" is an untalented author (hack writer for a cheap paperback house). To "hack" wood is very different from whittling it or carving it or sawing it. A machete "hacks" through the forest, leaving a ragged trail. My Webster's New Collegiate shows "hack" derived from "hoc", Old English for hook. The principal definitions from a series of entries are: (vb) to cut with repeated irregular or unskillful blows; (n) an implement for hacking; (n) (from hackney) a horse let out for common hire; (later: a horse worn out in service); (adj) working for hire especially with loose or easy professional standards; (vt) to make trite and commonplace by frequent and indiscriminate use. Not a label I would use on myself, except in a confessional. -andy ("Bless me, father, for I have hacked") kegel
wyse@ihuxq.UUCP (01/24/84)
I hate to rehash, but hacker did not mean someone who breaks into computer systems until the press, in its infinite wisdom :-), misused the word to mean that. Neal Wyse ihnp4!ihuxq!wyse
jsq@ut-sally.UUCP (01/24/84)
Seeing as there's no copyright on it, I think I'll start posting this everytime somebody admits in net.general or net.followup that they don't know any definition for hacker but the one the media have tried to hang on it in the wake of the recent publicity about computer breakins or something they've dredged up from a random dictionary. The jargon file maintained at Stanford and MIT for many years via the ARPANET contains the following definitions. Note that the media use of hacker corresponds only to the "password hacker" of definition 6 of HACKER below, and that that definition is explicitly excluded from the correlation of the other five definitions. HACK n. 1. Originally a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well. 2. The result of that job. 3. NEAT HACK: A clever technique. Also, a brilliant practical joke, where neatness is correlated with cleverness, harmlessness, and surprise value. Example: the Caltech Rose Bowl card display switch circa 1961. 4. REAL HACK: A crock (occasionally affectionate). v. 5. With "together", to throw something together so it will work. 6. To bear emotionally or physically. "I can't hack this heat!" 7. To work on something (typically a program). In specific sense: "What are you doing?" "I'm hacking TECO." In general sense: "What do you do around here?" "I hack TECO." (The former is time-immediate, the latter time-extended.) More generally, "I hack x" is roughly equivalent to "x is my bag". "I hack solid-state physics." 8. To pull a prank on. See definition 3 and HACKER (def #6). 9. v.i. To waste time (as opposed to TOOL). "Watcha up to?" "Oh, just hacking." 10. HACK UP (ON): To hack, but generally implies that the result is meanings 1-2. 11. HACK VALUE: Term used as the reason or motivation for expending effort toward a seemingly useless goal, the point being that the accomplished goal is a hack. For example, MacLISP has code to read and print roman numerals, which was installed purely for hack value. HAPPY HACKING: A farewell. HOW'S HACKING?: A friendly greeting among hackers. HACK HACK: A somewhat pointless but friendly comment, often used as a temporary farewell. [The word HACK doesn't really have 69 different meanings. In fact, HACK has only one meaning, an extremely subtle and profound one which defies articulation. Which connotation a given HACK-token has depends in similarly profound ways on the context. Similar comments apply to a couple other hacker jargon items, most notably RANDOM. - Agre] HACKER [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe] n. 1. A person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs enthusiastically, or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable of appreciating hack value (q.v.). 4. A person who is good at programming quickly. Not everything a hacker produces is a hack. 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; example: "A SAIL hacker". (Definitions 1 to 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) 6. A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to discover information by poking around. Hence "password hacker", "network hacker". -- John Quarterman, CS Dept., University of Texas, Austin, Texas jsq@ut-sally.ARPA, jsq@ut-sally.UUCP, {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!jsq
jbray@bbncca.ARPA (James Bray) (01/25/84)
I will reiterate: we hackers will still be hacking long after the word has dropped from the Great Mindless Time-and-Newsweek ("Read Time and Understand") tribe's vocabulary's rather limited working-set.
guy@rlgvax.UUCP (Guy Harris) (01/25/84)
The complaint the author of the original article was making was that the term "hacking", which has in the past referred to, well, frenetic late-night *legitimate* software development (or, at worst, game software development) has been redefined by the media to mean breaking into computers. So he was not saying that breaking into computers was legitimate; he was saying that referring to breaking into computers as "hacking" was illegitimate. Guy Harris {seismo,ihnp4,allegra}!rlgvax!guy
sr@u1100a.UUCP (01/26/84)
I have lately seen the term "hacking" used in a way not previously referred to by articles I've seen on the net. I was reading an article in New Jersey Outdoors (yes, Virginia, there is such a mag) about the work done to re-establish eagles. Eggs are taken from the nests in the wild and the eggs are incubated in a shelter. The re-introduction of the hatchlings into the wild is called "hacking". Steve Radtke CSO at Piscataway {houxm|ihnp4|pyux*}!u1100a!sr
ken@ihuxq.UUCP (01/29/84)
---- hacker /hak' er/ n. 1: Someone who keeps this ridiculous discussion going months after it ceased to be interesting. 2: ENOUGH ALREADY!! -- *** *** JE MAINTIENDRAI ***** ***** ****** ****** 29 Jan 84 [9 Pluviose An CXCII] ken perlow ***** ***** (312)979-7261 ** ** ** ** ..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken *** ***
ews@hammer.UUCP (Ed Sznyter) (01/30/84)
> From: ewf@ihuxr.UUCP (Gene Foster) > Subject: Re: Hacker. A definition. > > Something that is illegal as hacking is ought to be slandered. > If you think hacking is something decent, you need some legal > advice as to what is right and wrong. How would you like it > if some computer break in artist (hacker) messed up all your > files or added $10K to your phone bill! Hackers are criminals > just like cat burglars so don't give me any of that stuff that > says your not really hurting anyone. O.K., I can ignore the unparsable first sentence. I can even tolerate the blatant misuse of the word "hacker". But let's get something straight about the words "moral" and "legal". My dictionary (Websters New Collegiate) defines moral as ... of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior ... ... sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment ... and defines legal as ... conforming to or permitted by law or established rules ... Now, are you suggesting that one's sense of right and wrong is determined by the law? Such naivety is so refreshing in these cynical times! Would that everyone subscribed to that point of view -- but what would become of net.women and net.auto. No more abortion discussions. No more 55 MPH tirades by owners of Cadilacs(?) who don't use seat belts. Why, we could legislate morality itself, if only more people were willing to let Congress think for them. Ed Sznyter President Society For Moral Values of Pi
ignatz@ihuxx.UUCP (Dave Ihnat, Chicago, IL) (02/02/84)
Gene, Tch,tch. You certainly responded *far* too forcefully, when you really don't understand the debate. The argument is that <those> people who are engaged in criminal computer activities are certainly criminals; the problem is that to many, the use of the word 'hacker' is an unwarranted appropriation by the ignorant press of a word which had no such negative connotation before. No one is disagreeing that criminals are criminals; they are disagreeing that the term 'hacker' is appropriate, or should be applied. Please know the issue before you flame. Thank you. Dave Ihnat ihuxx!ignatz
holmes@dalcs.UUCP (Ray Holmes) (02/02/84)
[] I think that the paper in question should be sued. 'Hacker' is one of the most skilled and honorable professions known to mankind. Ray Holmes
dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman) (02/04/84)
Furthermore, it shouldn't be assumed that "hacking" in the sense of breaking into computer systems is illegal. It depends on the laws of the particular jurisdiction. In Canada today it may not be illegal. (New legislation is pending and may be passed this year.) Dave Sherman -- {allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave
aeq@pucc-h (Jeff Sargent) (02/07/84)
On the flip side of the issue, I have always thought that "hacker" in the original computerese sense of the word was a pejorative term, meaning one who was obsessed with machines, often to the exclusion of people (superficial socializing with those who are also obsessed with machines does not count as really relating to people!). Hackers are those who are unable to cope with real life (what's a favorite hacker pastime? Fantasy games!). I bade fair to become a full-bore hacker myself in my earlier years (and I still keep hacker hours)--so I KNOW that it was largely because I had difficulty relating to people, because I had one of the weakest egos this side of the Hudson. I suspect that this may be one of the general underlying causes of the hacking syndrome in many cases. Putting on my asbestos gloves (gotta protect those guitar-playing fingers) and my asbestos lab coat (I am known as "Dr. Blotto[*]" locally)... -- Jeff Sargent/...pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq [*] "Blotto" is a trademark of the Purdue University Computing Center.
neal@denelcor.UUCP (Neal Weidenhofer) (02/09/84)
************************************************************************** >On the flip side of the issue, I have always thought that "hacker" in the >original computerese sense of the word was a pejorative term, meaning one who >was obsessed with machines, often to the exclusion of people (superficial >socializing with those who are also obsessed with machines does not count as >really relating to people!). This is all true except that it's not regarded as pejorative. Regards, Neal Weidenhofer Denelcor, Inc. <hao|csu-cs|brl-bmd>!denelcor!neal