28 May
2004
28 May
'04
5:48 p.m.
On 28 May 2004, R. D. Davis wrote:
Getting back to "hacker"... I'm somewhat
surprised that this word came
into being in connection with computers, electronics, etc., given it's
already bloated list of definitions: hacking at something with an axe,
hacking as in hack horse and hack riding ("hacking about"), what an
RCDA or recda driver does, etc. Perhaps another term would have been
better unless someone can clarify how hacker came into being as we
know it to be used. Anyone care to offer a good explantion as to why
we should continue to call hacking "hacking"? Surely there must exist
a good reason.
Idunno. When my old man called me a "hacker", and what I was working on
"hackwork", it was certainly not complementary, and had nothing to do with
my (to date) unexpressed (complete lack of) skill with computers.
Circa 1950s.
Bill