Traditionally a "hacker" was someone who was obsessed with mastering computers to the extent that it was the most important thing in their life. I once had a fr

Traditionally a "hacker" was someone who was obsessed with mastering computers to the extent that it was the most important thing in their life. I once had a friend complain about the time wasted in eating, sleeping and having sex, time that could be better spent in recreational programming. I once had an instructor that partially solved that problem by subsisting entirely on 7-Up (a type of soft drink). He almost died as a result. So using that definition, being a hacker is a type of seriously negative affliction. No one chooses the hacker lifestyle. The only good aspect occurs if you "recover" and find you can make a living programming for others. Pre-recovery, hackers often deliberately work in low level non-technical professions. There is a sort of low level legend that straight women are immune to this sort of condition. Interesting if true. Such a revelation could result in some much needed reverse discrimination. There is nothing worse than accidentally hiring someone with a hidden overriding agenda for a programming position.