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The hacker ethos didn't change. The software developer gold rush happened, bringing in an influx of people who are only coding for the big paycheck corporation
by ThrowawayR2 5y ago
The hacker ethos didn't change. The software developer gold rush happened, bringing in an influx of people who are only coding for the big paycheck corporations provide, and that watered down who was considered a "hacker". There's no interest among them in exploring what one can do with computers, no interest in code elegance (the hallmark of the old-school hackers), and certainly no interest in any ethos other than "Greed is good".
- realce 5y agoIt's very plain in the progression of BTC to me... Invention: Fuck the gov't, have fun buying all the drugs on earth! Mass-adoption: We can lock JPEGS in a box you have to pay to unlock!
- junon 5y agoThis is 100% exactly what happened. Being a hacker was the un-sexy thing, done out of passion. Then people realized it paid a ton of money and now we have... whatever mess it is we have today.
- ethbr0 5y agoIt's the same thing as Eternal September, and complaining about cultural dilution by a mass of developer immigrants will do as much good. What is productive is being a respectful evangelist for the ethos you want to inculcate in the next generation. What's forgotten about enculturation of newcomers is that most of them have no strongly held beliefs about the new domain. Which is an opportunity for education and pursuasion, with a little elbow grease and diplomatic effort.
- blhack 5y ago>no interest in code elegance (the hallmark of the old-school hackers. We know different old school hackers.