[free-sklyarov] Hacker or Not?

[Ilya V. Vasilyev]

Hi, Andrew!

> It is up to talented and aware writers like you Declan to inform the world
> that hackerdom is not composed of l33t h4k0z.

> Hackerdom is composed of the guys who can read the blinking lights,
whistle
> data at 2400 baud, make your computer run 3 times faster, and smell a
> penetration attempt 2 days before it happens.

I agree with your position and against misuse of the word
"hacker" by mass media.  I have translated esr's "Helping
Hacker Culture Grow" message:

http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/Appendix-C.html

to the Russian language.

But I am against of risking Dmitry freedom for teaching
the world the correct use of the term "hacker" just now.
Its not for hackers to pay too much attention for identificator,
risking the whole program to do the Wrong Thing:

http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/Wrong-Thing.html

Computer fellows must help each other, no matter,
who of them is called "hacker", and who is not.

> When I look at the names and accomplishments in hackerdom, from Alan
Turing
> to Rear Adm Grace Hopper to Richard Stallman to Steve Wozniac to Dimitry
> Sklyarov I am humbled and proud to be able to name myself "HACKER".

I never heard Dmitry told about himself "hacker".  Never
heard he wanted someone this to be told, especially
in public mailing lists.  Thats why I avoid of useing
this term to Dmitry.

Dmitry is computer security specialist, that study
mathemetics and computer science the whole
his life and never wanted to do something illegal.
If mass media publish him as a "hacker", the message
will go wrong.

You know this from computeing -- the same constant
or message means different things for different device.
/dev/J_Random_Newspaper_Reader can't accept
information, you want to transmit, if you use "hacker"
message.  You must translate from computer
speech to mass media speach first.

Hacker isn't like "murder" -- the label, that you put
on someone, who don't want to be labeled.

- - -
Ilya V. Vasilyev
Civil Hackers' School
Moscow Center +7(095)162-4767
http://server23.net/user/ath/