You're conflating CS with the overall startup/hacker scene. I think hackers are being asked this question because of the pedestal many of them have put themsel

You're conflating CS with the overall startup/hacker scene. I think hackers are being asked this question because of the pedestal many of them have put themselves on. pg, whom I'm guessing most of us here respect quite a bit, compares today's hackers to the original Renaissance men. pg's comparison largely holds true in my book. But, it can only be healthy to take a step back and get some big picture perspective on your work--especially if you read "Hackers and Painters" thinking "that should be me".