I find it embarrassing, but I chalk it up to a lack of experience. I always assumed that "hacker", as a term of regard and a social signal, could only be grant

I find it embarrassing, but I chalk it up to a lack of experience. I always assumed that "hacker", as a term of regard and a social signal, could only be granted by others -- it was gauche to use it to refer to oneself. Me, I write programs.