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the most common meaning of the word, the one that 99% of all people who read it are going to think is computer criminals. Perhaps PBS should cons
by ronnoch 16y ago
the most common meaning of the word, the one
that 99% of all people who read it are going to
think is computer criminals. Perhaps PBS
should consider the power and pervasiveness of
the common tongue before writing articles.
Sadly, I agree. Outside certain subcultures--the ones that dominate HN, for instance--hacker means cracker. You really can't blame the average PBS watcher or Facebook user for not knowing this.
- shortformblog 16y agoTotally with you on this, sadly. I bet if I told some non-techie type that I read/posted on a site called "Hacker News," I'd get seen as some sort of nerdy deviant.
- ortusdux 16y agoIf you ever need to win over a non-techie, just remind them that macgyver was a hacker. And then get them free cable.
- younata 16y agoDoesn't work with people younger than twenty. I've tried.
- shortformblog 16y agoJust replace MacGyver with MacGruber. Problem solved.
- blhack 16y agoI get this once in a while if I have it up on my screen while somebody walks into my office. "OMG hacker news? So do you like...break into banks and stuff?" sigh.
- lotharbot 16y ago> "You really can't blame the average PBS watcher or Facebook user for not knowing this." No -- but you can blame them for: 1) failing to read the article, which is about development rather than breaking into things 2) insisting that their definition is correct even after it's been pointed out that PBS wasn't using the word that way 3) getting defensive/upset that other people would dare correct their ignorance