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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Hackers and others take note
Message-ID: <568@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 01:13:00 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.568
Posted: Mon Dec 10 01:13:00 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Dec-84 06:37:33 EST
References: <2612@dartvax.UUCP> <519@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
Lines: 21

If you really want to correct the bad image of the term "hacker" that
started when Dan Rather did his series and has continued since, why
not write a polite letter to Sandza (possibly with a CC to Rather)
explaining the difference?  Such people are in the best position to
straighten out the public image.  It might even make a good story for
them.  (And I'll bet Sandza would appreciate getting some NICE mail
from hackers for a change!)

I've always thought the term "hacker" stood for someone who was obsessed
with the use of computers, to the exclusion of nearly everything else.
Some hackers break into systems.  Others do useful work and put it into
the public domain (or just use it themselves.)  A few do both.  So calling
those intruders "hackers" was correct, it just gave the wrong impression.

For those of you searching for a new word for the bad guys, I think the
last time this came up, the discussion finally settled on "cracker."

If someone has a (paper) address for Sandza, would you please post it?
I don't suppose we can reach him electronically.

	Mark Horton