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When other people call you a "Hacker", then you are a "Hacker".... until then you are a "Software Developer".

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
oscardelben 17y ago
I would say, when other hackers (or computer programmers) call you hackers, because normal people don't even know what an hacker is.
ax0n 17y ago
I wholeheartedly agree with the first part of this statement. I've been called a "hacker" plenty of times, and once that happens, I say it's fair to call yourself one, but not before. No one would have ever called me a software developer. There are many kinds of hackers, and not all of them are coders or developers.
- seven 17y ago
  I whole heartedly disagree with the first part of your statement. I considered me to be a hacker long time before I got called 'hacker' by my peers and clients. As I already wrote, I do tell some people that I am a hacker. Most of the times this a result of the question: 'So you are a hacker?' After I explained what I do. Saying you are only a hacker if your peers call you that just raises the mystery around the term hacker. Last part of your statement I fully agree to. Hacking at first has nothing to do with software or hardware. For me it is using stuff in a way that is was not intent to be used. Being in Africa right now, I see a lot of clever hacks, where people use for example climate control devices to get more or less clean water, reusing garbage to build new stuff and so on. I am more concerned about the phrase 'expert'. This is imo something you can not label yourself. And even if.. it sounds always kind of strange to me.
  - ax0n 17y ago
    ++ on "expert" But seriously, it seems "hacker" is thrown in self-reference too much. While anyone can do something clever to perform "a hack," to actually be a "hacker" takes a mind-set, not an accomplishment. People can become hackers by taking on that mind-set, and they may very well be a tenable hacker without having been gifted the label by another. I'll agree with many other comments though, in saying that "hacker" is a label that should only be used among folks who you are relatively certain already understand the concept. Example: Calling yourself a hacker over a business lunch with non-technical investors? Bad idea. Always. Even if you really are one. Either way, critical thinkers should be able to condense their function to a single sentence without pulling out stigma-laden memes. They should also recognize that "What do you do?" deserves a response more four words long.
jfb 17y ago
It's like being called "cool" -- you cannot apply it to yourself. When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I program computers.
dryicerx 17y ago
Totally agree. The closest level you can call your self is Software Engineering Ninja

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]

I would say, when other hackers (or computer programmers) call you hackers, because normal people don't even know what an hacker is.

ax0n 17y ago

I wholeheartedly agree with the first part of this statement. I've been called a "hacker" plenty of times, and once that happens, I say it's fair to call yourself one, but not before. No one would have ever called me a software developer. There are many kinds of hackers, and not all of them are coders or developers.

seven 17y ago
I whole heartedly disagree with the first part of your statement. I considered me to be a hacker long time before I got called 'hacker' by my peers and clients. As I already wrote, I do tell some people that I am a hacker. Most of the times this a result of the question: 'So you are a hacker?' After I explained what I do. Saying you are only a hacker if your peers call you that just raises the mystery around the term hacker. Last part of your statement I fully agree to. Hacking at first has nothing to do with software or hardware. For me it is using stuff in a way that is was not intent to be used. Being in Africa right now, I see a lot of clever hacks, where people use for example climate control devices to get more or less clean water, reusing garbage to build new stuff and so on. I am more concerned about the phrase 'expert'. This is imo something you can not label yourself. And even if.. it sounds always kind of strange to me.
- ax0n 17y ago
  ++ on "expert" But seriously, it seems "hacker" is thrown in self-reference too much. While anyone can do something clever to perform "a hack," to actually be a "hacker" takes a mind-set, not an accomplishment. People can become hackers by taking on that mind-set, and they may very well be a tenable hacker without having been gifted the label by another. I'll agree with many other comments though, in saying that "hacker" is a label that should only be used among folks who you are relatively certain already understand the concept. Example: Calling yourself a hacker over a business lunch with non-technical investors? Bad idea. Always. Even if you really are one. Either way, critical thinkers should be able to condense their function to a single sentence without pulling out stigma-laden memes. They should also recognize that "What do you do?" deserves a response more four words long.

jfb 17y ago

It's like being called "cool" -- you cannot apply it to yourself. When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I program computers.

dryicerx 17y ago

Totally agree. The closest level you can call your self is Software Engineering Ninja