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Thirding what my sibling commenters are saying, just for the additional data point. The article was about hackers, the set of outcasts that self-identify based

Thirding what my sibling commenters are saying, just for the additional data point. The article was about hackers, the set of outcasts that self-identify based on rough consensus and running code and merit. The article wasn't about hackers, the buzzword that is good to have on your meetup and LinkedIn profile. Such is the extent of the appropriation of hacker culture--there is this weird notion that workplace professionalism (whatever that is) somehow now has to be embraced by people claiming to be hackers. It's bullshit.

spiritplumber 12y ago
That's why I moved to "maker" if I absolutely have to pick a one-word label. So it goes.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  I was and still am involved in the "maker culture" thing and from what I see, the term "maker" is already dead as well. Media found it, it became a popular label, and now everyone who knows which side of duct tape is sticky is a "maker". And don't get me started about the events. What do startups showcasing their newest commercial 3D printers have to do with "making" again?
  - spiritplumber 12y ago
    http://www.theonion.com/articles/us-dept-of-retro-warns-we-may-be-running-out-of-pa,873/ http://www.theonion.com/articles/us-dept-of-retro-warns-we-m... Appropriate onion article if you change some nouns :) Can't disagree with you, sadly.
cmsj 12y ago
In general: If you're an outcast and you don't ostracise yourself from a community that has grown large, you are not really an outcast. In detail: Hackers can't complain that their movement has grown and developed facets they don't like. Hackers are mischievous, hackers are smart, hackers are always ahead of the pack discovering and inventing cool new things. Therefore, hackers, by their very self-definition, can't be called hackers anymore, they must have moved on elsewhere and developed new labels for themselves. If they haven't, and have become complacent and jaded with newcomers, they have ceased to be true hackers. (I use "they", because one should never self-apply the term hacker :)

spiritplumber 12y ago

That's why I moved to "maker" if I absolutely have to pick a one-word label. So it goes.

TeMPOraL 12y ago
I was and still am involved in the "maker culture" thing and from what I see, the term "maker" is already dead as well. Media found it, it became a popular label, and now everyone who knows which side of duct tape is sticky is a "maker". And don't get me started about the events. What do startups showcasing their newest commercial 3D printers have to do with "making" again?
- spiritplumber 12y ago
  http://www.theonion.com/articles/us-dept-of-retro-warns-we-may-be-running-out-of-pa,873/ http://www.theonion.com/articles/us-dept-of-retro-warns-we-m... Appropriate onion article if you change some nouns :) Can't disagree with you, sadly.

cmsj 12y ago

In general: If you're an outcast and you don't ostracise yourself from a community that has grown large, you are not really an outcast. In detail: Hackers can't complain that their movement has grown and developed facets they don't like. Hackers are mischievous, hackers are smart, hackers are always ahead of the pack discovering and inventing cool new things. Therefore, hackers, by their very self-definition, can't be called hackers anymore, they must have moved on elsewhere and developed new labels for themselves. If they haven't, and have become complacent and jaded with newcomers, they have ceased to be true hackers. (I use "they", because one should never self-apply the term hacker :)