Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bnl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!wjh12!talcott!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!sbcs!bnl!jpm 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