🚀 go-pugleaf

klm@gozer.UUCP (Kevin L. McBride) writes:
>Yes, I know that "hacker" is now the commonly accepted (by outsiders
>who don't know any better) term for net.criminals, but only because we
>let it happen, right?

Sigh.  This is like the current raging debate over the word "queer" in
the lesbian/gay/bi community.

The English language changes from year to year, and word connotations
change even more frequently.  My own hackery dates back to the time
when 'hacker' had only positive connotations, but somehow I don't really
have such a strong attachment to the word that I can't still use it in
its original sense.  And it is in that sense (hacker == person who
likes to use computers) that I used it in my posting.  I may not be
thrilled about the current connotation (hacker == person who likes to
trash computers), but somehow I think there are more worthy battles
to be fought.

-rich