Hacker: Difference between revisions

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imported>Eric M Gearhart
(Law category? Is that correct? Is there something equivalent to Criminality?)
imported>Larry Sanger
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Generally in society today asking someone if they are a '''hacker''' can either be construed as a compliment or it is a loaded question.
Generally in society today asking someone if they are a '''hacker''' can either be construed as a compliment or it is a loaded question.


=Two sides of the Coin=
==Two sides of the Coin==
==Hackers as criminals==
===Hackers as criminals===
The media have generally painted hackers as [[computer security]] [[criminals]].
The media have generally painted hackers as [[computer security]] [[criminals]].


==Hackers as Knowledge Seekers==
===Hackers as Knowledge Seekers===
The original meaning of the term hacker when applied to the realm of computers was someone who had great technical knowledge. A hack was something to be proud of, usually described as pushing something beyond its design limits.
The original meaning of the term hacker when applied to the realm of computers was someone who had great technical knowledge. A hack was something to be proud of, usually described as pushing something beyond its design limits.
"One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations."<ref name="The Jargon File: Hacker">{{cite web
"One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations."<ref name="The Jargon File: Hacker">{{cite web
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


=References=
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


=See Also=
==External links==
[http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html How To Become A Hacker] by Eric S. Raymond. Describes how to become a hacker in the "traditional sense" - someone with "technical adeptness and a delight in solving problems and overcoming limits"
[http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html How To Become A Hacker] by Eric S. Raymond. Describes how to become a hacker in the "traditional sense" - someone with "technical adeptness and a delight in solving problems and overcoming limits"



Revision as of 16:30, 9 April 2007

Generally in society today asking someone if they are a hacker can either be construed as a compliment or it is a loaded question.

Two sides of the Coin

Hackers as criminals

The media have generally painted hackers as computer security criminals.

Hackers as Knowledge Seekers

The original meaning of the term hacker when applied to the realm of computers was someone who had great technical knowledge. A hack was something to be proud of, usually described as pushing something beyond its design limits. "One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations."[1]

References

External links

How To Become A Hacker by Eric S. Raymond. Describes how to become a hacker in the "traditional sense" - someone with "technical adeptness and a delight in solving problems and overcoming limits"