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From: jpm@bnl.UUCP (John McNamee)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: hackers
Message-ID: <825@bnl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 14:43:11 EST
Article-I.D.: bnl.825
Posted: Thu Dec 13 14:43:11 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Dec-84 03:42:36 EST
References: <361@wxlvax.UUCP> <17762@lanl.ARPA>
Lines: 17

> I still can't figure out why any legitimate computer user would use the
> term 'hacker' to describe himself (herself).  'Hacker' has ALWAYS been
> a derogatory term in the computer industry; refering, as it does, to
> a computer trickster who is not interested in learning the discipline
> or techniques required to program professionally.

Maybe `Hacker' has always been derogatory where you are, but its quite
different where I've been. Maybe you define `professional programming
techniques' as the ability to work well in large groups. Hackers are too
creative for that, and they dont work well in that environment. The hackers
get called in (at great expense) when the large group has screwed the
project up and it all needs to be rewritten.
-- 

			John McNamee
		..!decvax!philabs!sbcs!bnl!jpm
			jpm@Bnl.Arpa