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Should Hackers Get Their Own Logo?

Ridgelift writes "Eric S. Raymond is proposing a new logo for Hackerdom. 'The Linux folks have their penguin and the BSDers their demon. Perl's got a camel, FSF fans have their gnu and OSI's got an open-source logo. What we haven't had, historically, is an emblem that represents the entire hacker community of which all these groups are parts. This is a proposal that we adopt one - the glider pattern from the Game of Life.'"

965 comments

  1. I thought they already had one.... by zentigger · · Score: 3, Funny

    H4x0r3z

    --

    the above is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of the little voices in my head

    1. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Carnildo · · Score: 1, Insightful

      That's the cracker logo. We hackers need something more dignified.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    2. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, no... this is it.

    3. Re:I thought they already had one.... by KanshuShintai · · Score: 2, Informative

      /\/0 j00 ll4/\/\4!!!! 17'$ "h4xX0|2z."

    4. Re:I thought they already had one.... by WTFmonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dude, he just called you a llama. You gonna take that?

    5. Re: I thought they already had one.... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      I use a picture of a double-headed axe, or a chainsaw for the big jobs.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    6. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, that's the one for dorks. I'm sure they're welcoming you to the club right now.

    7. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I thought this was the cracker logo...

    8. Re:I thought they already had one.... by pi+eater · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hmm.. Animals seem to be pretty popular logo material.

      How about a pig?

      geek gear n stuff

    9. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTFA. You are talking about geeks. Hackers are those people in the IT community that try to be constructive. I think that this is a fabulous idea. It allows the community to to tell who has bothered to write code so you don't have to.

    10. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The title shot from the movie "Hackers" would suffice.

    11. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Ossadagowah · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I orginally had designed some ASCII art for submission, but slashdot didn't think that was such a hot idea. Fair enough, I guess.

      --
      anata sekai o kakumei surush ga nai deshou? Anata no susumu michi wa yoi shite arimasu.
    12. Re:I thought they already had one.... by cujo_1111 · · Score: 1

      Now that is funny.

      Nice work :)

      --
      If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
    13. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Illbay · · Score: 2, Funny
      "The Game of Life"? Isn't that the one where you start out with the yellow, red, blue or orange car and one little Parcheesi guy in it, and by the time you're done you have the car full of little Parcheesi guys representing your wife and kids?

      Sorry, I remember the cars, but I don't recall the GLIDERS at all!

      --
      Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
    14. Re: I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Double headed chainsaw...Very cool...Darth Maul would be proud.

    15. Re:I thought they already had one.... by dtolton · · Score: 5, Informative

      Interestingly he's not referring to Hackers as the term is commonly applied.

      He is referring to the original sense of Hacker.

      Read his articles:
      How to be a Hacker
      A brief history of hackerdom.

      I think the logo is a great idea. Yes a lot of people who don't deserve to have the logo will display it, but then that won't change anything from how it is today.

      --

      Doug Tolton

      "The destruction of a value which is, will not bring value to that which isn't." -John Galt
    16. Re:I thought they already had one.... by MindNumbingOblivion · · Score: 1

      "The game of life" is a program that uses an n x n matrix, rules for "survival", "reproduction" and "death", based on the number of adjacent "live" cells (haha, cells- matrices/simple organisms(!), get it? haha...oh, nm) being processed. If a cell is adjacent to a certain number (I think three usually), it spawns a new adjacent live cell in a previously unoccupied one. There is a minimum of two adjacent cells required for survival (I think...been awhile since apcs), and a cell dies due to overcrowding if all adjacent cells are live. This creates several interesting patterns, such as the glider. I've seen equilibrium reached once, as well as complete cell death.

      I miss the good ol' game...

      --
      #define CLUE 0
    17. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Dahan · · Score: 1
      A matrix? The "squares" you move on aren't even square (or rectangular)... No, it's like what Illbay was describing... Here's a link describing the history of the game, and they even have a scan of the rules online.

      I miss the good ol' game...

      I think it's still being sold... you can be a winner at the game of life! :)

    18. Re:I thought they already had one.... by teameco · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I think so but if that were to happen all the script kiddies of the world will want there own logo. Every 12 year old with a linux box in there parents basement will have there own logo. I do think that large groups ie cult of the dead cow have there own logo. But I don't know if anyone would have taken Kevin Mitnick for the person if he was if he had a flying pig for a logo. That is just my 2 cents.

      --
      TheOne [ECO] http://www.TeamECO.com Team Leader
    19. Re:I thought they already had one.... by kbeast · · Score: 1

      haha! you gotta mod that up! I actually went back to read the l33tness to get the punchline :)

      --
      Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
    20. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the logo is a great idea. Yes a lot of people who don't deserve to have the logo will display it, but then that won't change anything from how it is today.

      So what is the point?

    21. Re:I thought they already had one.... by cpghost · · Score: 1

      Absolutely. Since hackers like recursive acronyms, why not invent some kind of "recursive logo"? How would a recursive graphic look like? Hmmm...

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
    22. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Afrosheen · · Score: 1

      I can see it already. Just like all the Ricers with a Type R logo on their Civic DX, you're gonna have Lifers with no hacking skills with these shirts on.

      Defcon 2k4 is gonna be full of Lifers.

    23. Re:I thought they already had one.... by cyb97 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A mandelbrot is recursive, some people might even argue they are pretty ;-)

    24. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Finuvir · · Score: 1
      you're gonna have Lifers with no hacking skills with these shirts on.

      I realise most people won't have read the proposal, so here you go:

      What will I be saying if I display it?

      When you put the glider emblem on your web page, or wear it on clothing, or display it in some other way, you are visibly associating yourself with the hacker culture. This is not quite the same thing as claiming to be a hacker yourself -- that is a title of honor that generally has to be conferred by others rather than self-assumed. But by using this emblem, you express sympathy with our goals, our values, our way of living.

      --
      Why is anything anything?
    25. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Illbay · · Score: 1
      Ahem! There's only one thing worse than a nerd.

      That's a nerd without a sense of humor!

      --
      Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
    26. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Andrewkov · · Score: 1

      Your talkin about the wrong Game of Life, check out this one: Game of Life.

    27. Re:I thought they already had one.... by dipipanone · · Score: 0

      Anyone who reads here regularly could be forgiven for thinking that the one true hacker logo could be this.

    28. Re:I thought they already had one.... by j0e_average · · Score: 4, Funny

      No logo will be more recognizable than the existing pocket protector and high-water pants.

    29. Re:I thought they already had one.... by deblassc · · Score: 1

      I like the smiley face jolly roger from defcon better. but then again this is from someone that wanted to take that logo and sail around on a 14' sailboat in the local resevoir and raid partyboats looking for "loot" (sandwiches, beer, etc.....hey... when your the pirates of a lake you gotta take what you can get).

    30. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://natsci.eckerd.edu/~smithcj/hackers.png

    31. Re:I thought they already had one.... by RichardX · · Score: 1

      Yet again my modpoints run out unused about 10 minutes before I find a post worthy of modding up. Ah well. Please accept this authentic replica diamondique incrusted goldette +1 Funny, as seen on the shopping channel.

      --
      Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
    32. Re:I thought they already had one.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Hasbro name is a registered trademark... oooooo... i'm tellin!!!!

    33. Re:I thought they already had one.... by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I hate to say it.. but since the common public and the press continue to slaughter the term Hacker... Maybe its time to come up with a new terminology.... After all.. Listing Hacking as a hobby on a resume is not good these days... But its one thing that should be able to be listed with no negitive connotations.

      --
      Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
    34. Re:I thought they already had one.... by MindNumbingOblivion · · Score: 1

      [points to posting id]

      That says it all...ah well, any of the unwashed who have questions have their answer now...

      need sleep...and caffeine...

      --
      #define CLUE 0
    35. Re:I thought they already had one.... by 1337573v0 · · Score: 1

      ...the glider is recursive...that is the basis for the game of life...

  2. Interesting by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I like it.

    I figure a lot of people are going to say something along the lines of "to hell with this, we don't ALL need a logo", but IMHO it's just a cool little thing that could easily be embedded (or hidden) in things like logos or programs (being just a 9x9 matrix).

    Though I think it would probably be best and easiest represented as pixels rather than circles on a grid.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:Interesting by IdleTime · · Score: 1

      One word: Ugly!

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    2. Re:Interesting by forand · · Score: 1

      I think you mean 3x3 matrix. You did RTA didn't you?!

    3. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Welcome to Slashdot! We're happy to have you join our community.
      One thing you should keep in mind is that most people don't read the articles.
      Keep up the good work, champ!

      The Slashdot Staff

    4. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I've been doing some thinking about this. Perhaps the colour scheme should be pink to fit in with the average geek's sexuality.

      Don't flame me for saying this, San Francisco is the gay capital of the world and is also home to Silicon Valley. Coincidence? I think not!

    5. Re:Interesting by TheSpoom · · Score: 1
      >_<

      I did... my brain apparently died when I started typing however. Seems to do that often...

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
    6. Re:Interesting by Neurotensor · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I like it too.

      I once submitted a simulation of Conway's Game of Life to a science fair. Didn't win of course, some stupid tidal calculator (read: lookup table) won.

      Plus it looks OK as ASCII art on fixed-font displays (but maybe not on Mozilla viewing /. for some reason? I used the PRE tag, honest!):
      .*. ..* ***
      Fits perfectly on a three-line sig. If only I had a sig ;)

    7. Re:Interesting by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Perhaps you mean this :^)

      .*.
      ..*
      ***

      (select Code as the post type)

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
    8. Re:Interesting by TwistedGreen · · Score: 1
      010 001 111

      I love easily ascii-able logos, but:
      Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted! Reason: Your comment looks too much like ascii art.
      Wow, that's dumb.
    9. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hacker!

    10. Re:Interesting by smallfeet · · Score: 5, Funny
      Wait, isn't the game of life all about reproduction? What the hell does that have to do with hackers? Is this suppose to be ironic?

    11. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey Ass Clown,

      How does one embed a matrix in something that is pretty much a long string of bytes?

      And it's a 3x3 Matrix! 9 Elements.

      Idiot Children,
      --El Duderino

    12. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Quick,

      Run out to the DMV.
      Get you new plate: 010 001 111

      I didn't need to get pissed that Hackerz was allready taken,
      --El Duderino

    13. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I figure a lot of people are going to say something along the lines of "to hell with this, we don't ALL need a logo"

      I would agree that a logo for everything is appropriate, but according to the page "who should not use this logo" is denying crackers (subset of hackers) from using logo, which doesn't make sense.

      Either a logo to cover everyone or not. You gotta take the good with the bad.

    14. Re:Interesting by Gonoff · · Score: 3, Interesting

      010 001 111

      How about 217 then? Nice and easy to remember - like when I chmod something...

      --
      I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
    15. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. I imagine that ESR is concerned about the possible negative connotations that might be ascribed to the logo if 'crackers' started using it... well too bad.

      What if a group of hackers who worked for China/US/Russia/Al-Qaeda started using the logo? Just because you don't like what one group of '(cr/h)ackers' is doing you should not deny them the rights that you let the people you do like have.

      ESR doesn't like crackers so he says they can't use the logo... I hope he doesn't start dictating who else can and cannnot use his precious logo. Today crackers, tomorrow hackers who only hack on SCO platforms, (it could be possible... maybe).

    16. Re:Interesting by zsau · · Score: 1

      I initially liked it too. Then I realised that instead of pushing the boundaries further, it just stops when it reaches them and becomes a square! Is that the image we want to project?

      --
      Look out!
    17. Re:Interesting by pi+eater · · Score: 0

      How about using an identity matrix instead?

      Oh yeah.. hackers, not math geeks. whoops

      geek gear n stuff

    18. Re:Interesting by TheSpoom · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I realized that earlier. But it's fun to see the flames that come of something like this :^)

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
    19. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's eht ogol fo xes, nrop, sehsitef ailihpodehp 8=o

    20. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      8=0..
      #1# .
      #2## .
      #345# .
      #678# .
      #901# .*.
      #234# ..*
      #567# ***

    21. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sashes have already been done, and they look ghey.

    22. Re:Interesting by Arthwollipot · · Score: 1

      Um, no. The Game of Life is not about reproduction at all. If you want reproduction, check out Primordial Life. The Game of Life is about complex patterns and behaviour emerging from simple rules and structure. Not the same thing at all.

    23. Re:Interesting by $0.02 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes it is a game of reproduction .... in which gliders do not reproduce. Think about it.

      --
      If enithin kan gow rong it whil. (Murfey)
    24. Re:Interesting by BarryJacobsen · · Score: 4, Funny

      How about 217 then? Nice and easy to remember - like when I chmod something...

      Exactly WHAT are you chmoding 217???

    25. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People who don't read articles are poorly understood. The fact is - they are doing it for you. Sites would only get slashdotted faster if everyone read the articles. People who don't read articles do it so that you can!

    26. Re:Interesting by exick · · Score: 1

      This so should be modded up. Hilarious.

    27. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      his pr0n

    28. Re:Interesting by Russellkhan · · Score: 1
      "... I hope he doesn't start dictating who else can and cannnot use his precious logo."

      He already has:

      If you either promote somebody's product for money or break into other peoples' computers, those of us the emblem was invented for do not want you displaying it. Go invent your own emblem. We'll find some way to shame and reject you publicly if you mess with ours.


      I'm disallowed, since I currently work as a salesman. I probably wouldn't wear/display it anyway, since I neither feel I'm enough of a hacker to deserve recognitioon nor feel insecure enough to try to get the recognition from wearing/displaying some "exclusive" logo.
      --
      Information doesn't want to be anthropomorphized anymore.
    29. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A symbol for life appropriated by a group of people without one IS interesting, in a psychological kind of way.

    30. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      010
      001
      111

    31. Re:Interesting by mirko · · Score: 1

      how about a new smiley : "8f" which is the hex value of your oct 217 ?

      --
      Trolling using another account since 2005.
    32. Re:Interesting by itsari · · Score: 1

      A good logo but I think it needs some revision.

      Shouldn't historians be recording history instead of making it? Wouldn't his recollection be baised?

    33. Re:Interesting by sql*kitten · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I figure a lot of people are going to say something along the lines of "to hell with this, we don't ALL need a logo",

      No, I say I don't particularly want to be associated with ESR's ideas of being a hacker which, as that page shows, amount largely to taking credit for other's work.

    34. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      LOL! On the same note, here's a quote from ESR's How to Become a Hacker page:
      If you aren't the kind of person that feels this way naturally, you'll need to become one in order to make it as a hacker. Otherwise you'll find your hacking energy is sapped by distractions like sex, money, and social approval.
    35. Re:Interesting by kbeast · · Score: 1

      I thought it was the one when you get the car and you get all those kids and have to stuff 'em in the trunk cause they don't fit..and if your not careful, you could spin the spinner right off the board and take someone's eye out!

      do not pass go, do not collect $200.

      --
      Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
    36. Re:Interesting by kbeast · · Score: 1

      ...see, no matter what, a hacker will always try to make something better than originally intended to serve as.

      --
      Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
    37. Re:Interesting by AdEbh · · Score: 1

      being just a 9x9 matrix

      It's a 3x3 matrix.

      - ebh

    38. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think my steel travel mug has any pixels. Whenever I apply power, it sparks and blow the fuse in the pwoer supply.

      Where do I find the pathc to fix this hardware misfeature??

    39. Re:Interesting by CoolVibe · · Score: 1
      static int logo[3][3] = {
      { 0, 1, 0 },
      { 0, 0, 1 },
      { 1, 1, 1 }
      };
    40. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When searching/talking about it it has to have a good name... I mean... "the glider"... come one, that kinda sucks...

      I think it should be called Hogo.

      http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?search. x=0&search.y=0&define=hogo
    41. Re:Interesting by orasio · · Score: 1

      Maybe some tarpit resource?

    42. Re:Interesting by Haeleth · · Score: 1

      s/shows/asserts/

    43. Re:Interesting by bahamat · · Score: 1
      I had a similar idea that I e-mailed to Eric but using + and -, which naturally convey binary values, which is what the game of life is all about.
      - + -
      - - +
      + + +
      Then of course there's always 0217, 143, 0x8F, and 010001111. Hex is my favorite.
    44. Re:Interesting by nickos · · Score: 1

      Crackers are not a subset of hackers.

      Someone should invent a logo for the crackers - otherwise all the script kiddies will start using our one, and they'll be more of the usual hacker/cracker confusion.

      What are the chances we start seeing web site defacements with this logo soon?

    45. Re:Interesting by Neurotensor · · Score: 1

      Fine. Go ahead and prove me stupid ;)

      .*.
      ..*
      ***

    46. Re:Interesting by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

      Unless there's just the right arrangement of a dozen or so of them, and then you get an infinite number over time.

      Eugh

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
    47. Re:Interesting by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

      The Hacker Ethic includes the use of pre-written small tools to do one particular job, well, rather than either creating solutions from scratch or the use of monolithic behemoths.

      The script kiddie ethic includes the use of pre-written small tools to do one particular job, well, rather than creating solutions from scratch.

      Ain't so different. The difference is mostly in what you're trying to achieve. I don't think ESR's polar differentiation between hackers and crackers is particularly true either. Hackers create, crackers destroy is as meaningless as shit like men/mars women/venus. Hackers may create, but every act of creatively hacking that one I've known has involved phases of destruction in order to have the raw materials or ideas used for the creation.

      I probably destroyed 10 wind-up alarm clocks when I was a kid. I managed to rebuild the 11th.

      If the crackers _feel_ that they're achieving something (e.g. defacement = sucessful propagation of a message), then some will feel justified in using the 'hacker' logo.

      There'll be no difference in the argument over the image than there is in the argument over the word.

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
  3. Non-conformists by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You want a group that has been, historically, non-conformists to agree on something so singular as a logo?

    Here's a cup, there's the hoover dam. You'll have better luck.

    btw, I think it's more fitting that hackers do not have a logo, personally.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    1. Re:Non-conformists by Felonius+Thunk · · Score: 5, Funny

      Remember that you're unique, just like everybody else.

    2. Re:Non-conformists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not your fuckin khakis.

    3. Re:Non-conformists by ConsumedByTV · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      With such unique retorts like that, you clearly aren't ;-p

      --


      "Not my manner of thinking but the manner of thinking of others has been the source of my unhappiness." - M
    4. Re:Non-conformists by e.colli · · Score: 0

      And who is really an hacker? It will be very misused including by crackers, lammers & co.

    5. Re:Non-conformists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Counter-cultures do conform, just not to the culture they're revolting against.

    6. Re:Non-conformists by DynaSoar · · Score: 1

      grasshoppa sez: "You want a group that has been, historically, non-conformists to agree on something so singular as a logo?"

      The group that is the most actively and purposefully non-conformist has one. The Church of the SubGenius has J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the guy with the pipe found in the traditional screensaver in Slackware. If they can manage, you can too. If it's still a problem, just stand over there with the large crowd of other non-conformists, all making the same complaint.

      Why yes, as a matter of fact I *am* a SubG preacher. How could you tell?

      --
      "I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
    7. Re:Non-conformists by cerebralpc · · Score: 0

      Your all individuals

      Not Me!

    8. Re:Non-conformists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Excuse me, I'm not.

    9. Re:Non-conformists by Otter · · Score: 1

      Yes, I'd have figured that the people who find tedious, interminable Usenet humor funny would be the ones who wouldn't be embarassed to flash a "hacker logo".

    10. Re:Non-conformists by pavon · · Score: 1

      You want a group that has been, historically, non-conformists to agree on something so singular as a logo?

      Which is why this is a perfect logo for geeks:

      -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
      Version: 3.12
      GCS/FA d- s: a--- C+++ UL++ P++ L++(+++) E W+>++ N+ o+ k? w !O M@ V? PS+@
      PE Y PGP->-(++) t+@ 5@ X+@ !R !tv() b+ DI+ D++(----)>++++$ G e>+++$(*) h-
      r-- z-
      -------END GEEK CODE BLOCK-----

      which reminds me, I haven't updated that in a while.

    11. Re:Non-conformists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ROFL. SubGenius. Fucking faggot.

      you guys are douchebags.

    12. Re:Non-conformists by lee7guy · · Score: 1

      You want a group that has been, historically, non-conformists to agree on something so singular as a logo?

      Exactly. My bet is that the only ones using this logo will be 12 - 15 year old script kidz.

      --
      Ceterum censeo Microsoftem esse delendam
    13. Re:Non-conformists by AchmedHabib · · Score: 1

      One could go as far as saying that those who use the logo have proven that they are not hackers.

    14. Re:Non-conformists by curne · · Score: 1

      Well, I would think back to the good eighties, when the original true non-conformists in modern time (the hippies were just riding the post-war peace-craze), the Punks had they're... well, time.

      The whole idea of being a punk is to wreck the conformist and turn non-conformism into an ideal. Since punks share this common ideal it is natural for a very few symbols to become common, for instance the anarchy symbol.

      I can certainly identify with having a common goal, which is not to have the same goals as everyone else. "Hackers, Unite!" is an idiotic statement but "Hackers, Identify!" I can understand.

      --
      All interpreted languages are abstractions over Lisp
    15. Re:Non-conformists by QBobWatson · · Score: 1

      Good point -- who decides whether or not to accept the logo, anyway? Should we have a Slashdot poll? (I can see it now -- our logo will be a picture of CowboyNeal.) Or maybe after all of Slashdot's icons get turned to the game of life symbol, THEN it's the new hacker logo.

    16. Re:Non-conformists by 12KANG3 · · Score: 1

      besides the fact that most hackers might resent being generalized under one logo, there remains the fact that this particular logo is a piece of crap. it looks retarded, that's all there is too it.

      i'm all for creating a logo for everything, throw in a theme song and maybe even a letter head, water mark, whatever. But please, at least make it something non-retarded.

      i can also understand that most "hackers" are not artists, so i'll cut em some slack, but at least get someone more visually adept to come up with something cool. maybe if it was cool enough, the script kiddies might start using it :)

      -KANG!

  4. Do it then. by spudchucker · · Score: 0

    If you want one, just make it. Another dumb topic

  5. Hrmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the Borg Bill Gates is a better choice honestly...

  6. It's my job to think of these things. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's my job to think of these things...

    Nice to see he is so full of himself

  7. how about a secret handshake instead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    0) why the heck does a disparate group of computer enthusiasts (excuse me, hackers) need any logo
    at all? so we can "recognize each other"? I don't get it. seems creepy.

    1) it needs color

    2) doesn't need the grid lines, looks too much like tic-tac-toe. keep just the
    dots.

    3) how can it not be copyrighted or trademarked? if it's really in the public
    domain, how can ESR assert that hackers (excuse me, crackers) and
    advertisers aren't supposed to use it?

    4) does anybody really care what ESR thinks any more?

    1. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by cmallinson · · Score: 5, Insightful
      1) it needs color

      if a logo "needs colour" it wasn't designed well. If you're making a logo for something, first design it in b&w, make sure it look good, then add your colour. That way, the logo will still be effective when photocopied, faxed, or viewed by those with less than perfect colour perception.

    2. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by DeborahArielPickett · · Score: 3, Interesting
      1) it needs color

      2) doesn't need the grid lines, looks too much like tic-tac-toe. keep just the dots.

      You mean like this (from a 2001 conference)?

      Some ideas just happen spontaneously, I suppose.

    3. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by SuchiRu · · Score: 0

      That may be true with most logo's, but this one is very distinctive(sp?). Even when resized and such it will be very obvious what it is. So, ya...

    4. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by boots@work · · Score: 1

      Oh, now that's cool. Subtle: no grid, no explanation, good colors, and no self-importance.

      If you're going to popularize a meme you need to just get it out there without a self-conscious official announcement. I guess esr's ego wouldn't let him do that.

    5. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by Psychic+Burrito · · Score: 4, Insightful
      first design it in b&w, make sure it look good, then add your colour

      This rule can be broken and has in fact been broken many times in the past. Before you brake it, you need to know your audience and the channels that you reach them.

      Example: Google. When you photocopy it, what you get is just the word in a not-very-exciting font (besides colors, the 3D effect and the shadows can vanish too). But since the Google logo will be seen almost exclusively through color monitors, that's no problem.

      Bascially, that's the old way of designing logos, like Paul Rand did it. This school of logo creation also means that a logo can have no direction (think arrows), because it would look strange when you print it on both sides of a truck and it inevitably points backwards on one side.

      Anyway, to close my post: There might be rules for logos, but these rules are moving. And Logos that work only in color might be ok today.

    6. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by joe_bruin · · Score: 1

      1) it needs color

      hackers are almost entirely male. about 10% of males are colorblind. however, in the hacker population, it's more like 25%. i've taken surveys at a few places i've worked and i've been surprised by the number (not being colorblind myself). i've read that colorblindness often leads to a better concept of depth and spatial understanding, and that leads to a more mathematical/engineering oriented mind. seems like a valid explanation to me.

      err, point is, it doesn't need color. but it does need to print well in ascii.

    7. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by Asprin · · Score: 1


      Dude, it needs to be in TEXT MODE.



      (...and you call yourself a h@XoR!)

      --
      "Lawyers are for sucks."
      - Doug McKenzie
    8. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by hopews · · Score: 1

      So you want text mode huh?

      Its kind of hard to get slashdot to accept such things because of the freaking lameness filter, so forgive my verbose lead-in...

      +-+-+-+
      | |0| |
      +-+-+-+
      | | |0|
      +-+-+-+
      |0|0|0|
      +-+-+-+

      Please use less junk characters? What the heck is this useless filter babbling on about. Whoever wrote this should be forced to post ascii art with every post they make.

    9. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by caluml · · Score: 3, Funny
      it would look strange when you print it on both sides of a truck

      Aah yes, that well known hacker-fleet that drives around :o) Could cover war-drivers I suppose.

    10. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      /Logos that work only in color might be ok today./

      I disagree. Over 10% of humans have some problems with colour perception. Design a logo without taking that into account and you are a fool.

    11. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by Gunzour · · Score: 1

      1) it needs color

      It has color: black. The official hacker color.

      Add color and it would look like a bunch of Skittles :)

    12. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by Willard+B.+Trophy · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Also, proper logos have only a single colour. It's short for logotype, which is a single piece of type, and thus only inked in the one colour.

      Yes, I used to work in dictionaries ...

    13. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by mason127 · · Score: 1

      Wait a minute... thats our thing!

    14. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by jargoone · · Score: 1

      Amen to that. I know 3 people who are colorblind. Not only that, but a vast majority of those with colorblindness are men (due to genetics), the group most likely to be a subject of this specific logo.

    15. Re:how about a secret handshake instead? by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      if a logo "needs colour" it wasn't designed well. If you're making a logo for something, first design it in b&w, make sure it look good, then add your colour. That way, the logo will still be effective when photocopied, faxed, or viewed by those with less than perfect colour perception.

      Don't forget about all of us who are viewing these logos on our black and white tv's!!

      C'mon, raise your hand everyone if you still have a black and white tv!!

      oh.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
  8. Um... by r_glen · · Score: 4, Funny

    In the chance that ten years from now hackers everywhere will refer to this slashdot article as the origin of their symbol, I just wanted to post in it.

    ...but I kinda doubt it.

    1. Re:Um... by Cliffy03 · · Score: 1

      It should be printed out and called "The Sacred Parchment"

      --
      In Soviet Russia, Nigel makes plans for you!
    2. Re:Um... by sharph · · Score: 1

      Me too.

    3. Re:Um... by Bobulusman · · Score: 1

      As will I.

      I'm also going to save that pic, just in case...

      --
      Cogito ergo sum in Slashdot.
    4. Re:Um... by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      Hey, pass me some of that parchment, theres no toilet roll left!

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    5. Re:Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Me too. (Anonymous Cowards UNITE!)

    6. Re:Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "As God as my witness...I thought turkeys could fly"

      Uh, you mean 'as god IS my witness'.

    7. Re:Um... by djcapelis · · Score: 1

      In the tradition of the horrific bastardazation of Usernet by AOL, allow me to say. Me too!

      --
      I touch computers in naughty places
    8. Re:Um... by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is Taco REALLY the leader?

      Of this chapter. There are chapters all over the web, and the Sacred Parchment has prophesised that one day a Chosen One will...

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    9. Re:Um... by sharkey · · Score: 1
      In the tradition of the horrific bastardazation of Usernet by AOL

      What is this "Usernet" that you speak of?

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    10. Re:Um... by damiam · · Score: 1

      If this symbol ever takes off, I suspect people will refer to ESR's page as the origin, not the /. article that merely linked to it.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    11. Re:Um... by r_glen · · Score: 1

      "If this symbol ever takes off, I suspect people will refer to ESR's page as the origin, not the /. article that merely linked to it."

      You'll go down in history as the pessimist :)

    12. Re:Um... by lpontiac · · Score: 1

      Me too!

    13. Re:Um... by Mad+Marlin · · Score: 0, Troll
      In the chance that ten years from now hackers everywhere will refer to this slashdot article as the origin of their symbol, I just wanted to post in it.

      Along the same lines, let me take this opportunity to denounce this symbol, and the word "hacker" before the internet. There are two groups who refer to themselves as "hackers." The first are whiny little "31337 h4x0rs," and the second are whiny little "erudite hackers" like E. S. Raymond or R. M. Stallman. Somehow, the first group annoys me less than the second. I'm not a hacker, I'm a computer scientist, dammit!

    14. Re:Um... by Xpilot · · Score: 1

      In the chance that ten years from now hackers everywhere will refer to this slashdot article as the origin of their symbol, I just wanted to post in it.

      Even though I think the logo is a dumb idea, I thought I would too.

      --
      "Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." -- Linus Torvalds
    15. Re:Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Remove the stone of shame.
      Attach the stone of triumph.

    16. Re:Um... by ultrabot · · Score: 1


      Me too!
      </AOL>

      --
      Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
    17. Re:Um... by tibsss · · Score: 1

      one more time

    18. Re:Um... by dekashizl · · Score: 1

      Your attempt to grasp some minor element of fame in the distant future is pathetic. How about posting something productive and contributing to the discussion instead of acting like one of those morons who wave in the background of television news reports?

      By the way, if you are reading this in 10 years, then check it: 2003 r0x0rZ YO b1atch3s 2013 wish you were h3re futur3 h4ckrz b@$taRdZ! w0rD!

    19. Re:Um... by d3faultus3r · · Score: 1

      yeah well I saw the original irc conversation that started it. So ha!

      --
      read my blog
      musings on politics and technol
    20. Re:Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hello world!
      le_jfs

    21. Re:Um... by ectoraige · · Score: 1

      But if you do that, so will everyone else, and that would be sad.

      Doh!

      --
      Vs lbh pna ernq guvf, ybt bss abj. Tb bhgfvqr. Syl n xvgr.
    22. Re:Um... by stm2 · · Score: 1

      me 2 :)

      --
      DNA in your Linux: DNALinux
    23. Re:Um... by djcapelis · · Score: 1

      Lol! We all have our off days. :-\

      --
      I touch computers in naughty places
  9. esr again? Oh no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful
    Hands up everyone who thinks esr is getting ridiculous.

    Maybe all the drone "hackers" should adopt a picture of a clown as a logo. Or a picture of esr... No wait, that's the same thing.

    1. Re:esr again? Oh no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
      No shit. I think ESR should add this to his how to be a hacker

      • Be self a self righteous prick
      • Be a total dick


      Anyone read that crap? What a fucking cock.
    2. Re:esr again? Oh no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damn. Just damn.

    3. Re:esr again? Oh no by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1
      Hands up everyone who thinks esr is getting ridiculous.

      You've got my vote if you drop the word `getting'...

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  10. News Flash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck cares

  11. Bleh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has no character.

    The game of life and hacking today have hardly anything in common. Might as well be a punchcard.

    1. Re:Bleh by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 1

      ya, I'm a graphic designer... and I agree. That logo's weak.

      --
      "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
    2. Re:Bleh by Read+Icculus · · Score: 1

      How can you say that about all the hard work ESR put into designing this amazingly wonderful logo? I for one hope it gains the same level of popularity as the term "Gandhicon".

      --
      Anti-social? My code is just platform-specific.
  12. Not sure a hacker symbol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But this would work well for quite a few slashdot posters.

    1. Re:Not sure a hacker symbol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You'll forgive us for having our fingers ready to pounce on alt+f4.

  13. lame, but ok... by sinucus · · Score: 1

    I don't see the reason why you need one, as even the term "hacker" has been so badly butchered. But why not just a skull and crossbone? Maybe a nuke exploding behind a windows logo. But wait, then they would be in violation of IP, guess we'll have to sue those pesky hackers.

  14. Er... by Chromal · · Score: 0, Troll

    It's cool and all, but sort of obscure. I understand hackers were really into it in the 70s, but how do you anthropomorphize a bunch of dots? Maybe that's a statement about the hacker persona, though... ^_^

    1. Re:Er... by Chromal · · Score: 1

      Wow. A troll moderation is completely unfair. I'd love to hear the rationale for that by whoever thought this was flamebait.

  15. I'd prefer by HBI · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...a snatch shot with a bottle of beer embedded inside.

    Woops, wrong group, sorry.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    1. Re:I'd prefer by mbourgon · · Score: 1

      Sure, I'll adopt it... but you have to post a link to a picture.

      --
      "Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
    2. Re:I'd prefer by RedBear · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of the preview I saw of "Stuck on You" (Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear)

      Doing a crossword: "What's a four-letter word for 'snatch'?"

      "Grab."

      "Oh... Oh yeah [chuckles to himself while using his eraser]"

      Funniest "innocuous" joke I've heard in years.

    3. Re:I'd prefer by SmackCrackandPot · · Score: 1

      It's a cool logo, but it makes me think of A.I. programming techniques, rather than hacking. For some reason, a picture of an ice-pick seems to come to mind quicker.

    4. Re:I'd prefer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.redhotnude.com/bizarreinsertions/images _big/15.jpg

      I even fought my instinct to post a really, really ugly woman...this one is quite attractive.

      If you can't figure it out from the url, not safe for work.

    5. Re:I'd prefer by Wolfrider · · Score: 1

      --Or in SM3:

      JMC: "What does the cow say? 3 Letters..."
      PA: "Dude!"
      JMC: "Yeah, Dude!" (scratches ear with toe)

      --Funny stuff. Too bad that's the only scene they're in, I think JMC could have carried the whole movie.

      --
      .
      == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
    6. Re:I'd prefer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sure that's not a realdoll or something? There's no sign of intelligence in those eyes. Of course, it could just be her crack-induced haze...

  16. I've Got One by Rod76 · · Score: 1

    A Black and White stripped guy with a Ball and Chain attached....

    --
    Die First, Then Quit
    1. Re:I've Got One by flossie · · Score: 2, Funny

      Stripped or Striped? Just wondering if this is a YRO or an XXX post.

  17. The emblem of emptiness... by anaphora · · Score: 0

    I have an emblem. I leave it on every system. It's that eerie feeling you get when you know someone's been in your room, but you can't pinpoint it. Something's not right. Something's changed. My emblem is on your walls, on your bed, on your floor. You can't see it, but it's still there. No amount of searching will lead to you finding my emblem, nor will any amount of searching lead you to believe there was no emblem. So you search, you search, and you search. My emblem is that of a computer so weary from searches that it no longer processes. That is my emblem. That is how you'll know I've been lurking.

    1. Re:The emblem of emptiness... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's so deep, I don't fucking know what's real anymore!

  18. Pointing down? by chroma · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That glider is pointing downward and will eventually crawl off the bottom right corner of the screen.

    The glider should be going up, to symbolize progress.

    --

    Your design to a real part online: Big Blue Saw
    1. Re:Pointing down? by mark-t · · Score: 1

      That's irrellevant. In conway's life, the "playfield" supposedly stretches forever in all directions.

    2. Re:Pointing down? by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

      The psychological implication of a logo is hardly "irrelevant," regardless of the mechanics of Conway's game.

      --
      We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
    3. Re:Pointing down? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you missed the other posts.. but most of the people who would use this logo knows the top-left corner is 0,0.

      So while going up may "make more sense" to some people, most hackers would probably rather go in the positive direction on both axes.

    4. Re:Pointing down? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That thought hadn't occurred to me. Good point!

    5. Re:Pointing down? by anothy · · Score: 1

      This is ESR, remember? Progress isn't the point.

      and yes, i've got the Karma to burn. :-)

      --

      i speak for myself and those who like what i say.
  19. seems like more self righteousness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so let me guess. he gives it to himself first.

  20. blerch by Bender_ · · Score: 0, Troll

    ... Just let the madman talk ...

  21. Dumb idea.. by EggMan2000 · · Score: 0
    I got to say, that's pretty dumb. I don't like it one bit at all. I have never heard of the Game of Life, nor would that image apply to me, whether or not it first appeared in Scientific American before I was born.

    I propose the following: NetHack Logo

    .........
    ..@d.
    .........

    It's ASCII and easy.

    --
    what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
    1. Re:Dumb idea.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't like it one bit at all. I have never heard of the Game of Life, nor would that image apply to me, whether or not it first appeared in Scientific American before I was born.

      Sounds like it doesn't apply to you because you're not a hacker, and therefore should have no say in this.

    2. Re:Dumb idea.. by jumpingfred · · Score: 1

      You are not a hacker if you have not heard of the game of life.

    3. Re:Dumb idea.. by KillerHamster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You've never heard of the Game of Life? You're right then, a Hacker Emblem doesn't apply to you.

    4. Re:Dumb idea.. by cmacb · · Score: 1

      I think the nethack logo is too complex. Go compare with logos for corporations and other groups, they are universally very simple graphics that can be recognized from across the room.

      Sorry that you missed the game of life, but for many of us it represents the first really interesting program we wrote when we were getting started. It was the subject of SA articles for years after its introduction.

    5. Re:Dumb idea.. by EggMan2000 · · Score: 1

      Hmm.. I guess your right. And all this time...

      Oh well, I guess it's time to find another hobby.

      --
      what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
    6. Re:Dumb idea.. by plover · · Score: 1
      I'll second that comment. My first interesting "structured" program was a Conway's Life game on an Apple ][ in ApplePascal. Optimized it to make it run really fast (like two or even three frames per second.)

      <ObAppleDis>God, I hated the Apple's hi-res graphics mapping. I think that must have been the catalyst for a lifelong hatred of Apple, and a tendency to nitpick on their crap, even when they might otherwise have a "mostly good" product.</ObAppleDis>

      Anyway, yeah, Life was teh bomb.

      --
      John
    7. Re:Dumb idea.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean gay hacker.

    8. Re:Dumb idea.. by larry+bagina · · Score: 1
      I propose the "brown ring of quality". It can be made by placing a coffee mug on a piece of white paper.

      It may also be called the "brown orifice" to honor goatse.

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    9. Re:Dumb idea.. by LucidityZero · · Score: 1
      You've never heard of the Game of Life? You're right then, a Hacker Emblem doesn't apply to you.


      Absolutely 100% true.

      I'm a young one (21), yet I've known what the game of life is since I was about 6 or so. This doesn't even have anything to do with age, which is why I think it's so cool. If you're a hacker, you know what the game of life is. (And probably at some point in time spent hours figuring out how to produce super-gliders).

      I, for one, think I'm going to go put this on my webpage right now. I like the idea, and it'll only catch on if we start using it.

      Here I go!

      --
      Sig.i>
    10. Re:Dumb idea.. by todu · · Score: 1

      IANAH, but:
      How could the parent post get "Score:5, Insightful"? What is insightful about that mean comment? As I've been reading the discussion so far, I've been thinking about what situations the symbol would be used in. If the parent post is an example of that, and /.-ers in general don't find that post a troll, I know at least I will choose to not associate myself with the symbol.

      A hacker would provide a link to more information about "The game of life". A hacker would not say "you are not a Hacker".
      I haven't read the below link myself. But Wikipedia is usually good at explaining these sorts of things.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway's+Game+of+Life

      And to the original poster: Don't "change your hobby" just because some mean person tries to discourage you. If you enjoy hacking, you should continue to do so. Don't care about what other people call you. If you hack, you're a hacker.

    11. Re:Dumb idea.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A hacker who has never heard of the Game of Life is culturally illiterate. He would be like an astronomer who has never heard of Galileo. And while, technically, he could still call himself an astronomer, his ignorance would put him somewhat outside of the community of astronomers. And that's what this logo is about -- identifying oneself as a member of the hacker community.

    12. Re:Dumb idea.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great - encouraging more of the same class-separation and elitism we claim to despise in others.

      But oh, when we think it makes us look somehow superior to others, then we're all for it. Gee, aren't we a bunch of fucking hypocrites.

      I think I hate us.

  22. hackers, indeed by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the page: "Here is a snippet of XHTML you can paste into a page.

    <a href='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/'>
    <img src='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/glider.png' ></a>"

    Note that this isn't valid XHTML.

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
    1. Re:hackers, indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      xhtml
      <img src="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/glider.png" alt="h4x0r5" />
      Good thing it's png...
    2. Re:hackers, indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      No, the alt tag is a good common practice when used correctly. It should be used for alternate text when the user is unable or unwilling to view images. In this case, it would be something like "hacker logo." Title is used to give an image a mouseover title (or however your browser renders it) to provide more information on the image.

    3. Re:hackers, indeed by martin-boundary · · Score: 1

      Great, increase catb.org's Google rating. No thanks. If you're a real hacker, you can easily make your own png. And if you're a web monkey, you can always steal the png.

    4. Re:hackers, indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    5. Re:hackers, indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      actually this was a test, and you just failed.
      real hackers use text/plain.

    6. Re:hackers, indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanking you!

    7. Re:hackers, indeed by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 1

      Why would you want to use their image anyways? A true hacker would just use the source code they provided. Extra hack points if you didn't need the source code either.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

    8. Re:hackers, indeed by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 1

      Well, I tried it. The results were very Tetris-like. Anyone know what I did wrong?

      Command: cat hacker_logo.pic | pic2graph | cat > hacker_logo.png

      I'll probably leave it as-is, as a tribute to my complete poserhood.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

    9. Re:hackers, indeed by Feztaa · · Score: 1

      Most of ESR's page doesn't validate as XHTML anyway, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

      Besides, his other contributions have been worthy enough that I'm not going to chastise him for forgetting a single slash.

    10. Re:hackers, indeed by DeltaSigma · · Score: 1

      Well he didn't say that snippet was XHTML Strict...

    11. Re:hackers, indeed by yerricde · · Score: 1

      The results were very Tetris-like. Anyone know what I did wrong?

      You forgot to do drugs.

      --
      Will I retire or break 10K?
    12. Re:hackers, indeed by aridhol · · Score: 1
      cat hacker_logo.pic | pic2graph | cat > hacker_logo.png
      Damn. That's an entry for the Useless Use of Cat Award.

      pic2graph hacker_logo.pic > hacker_logo.png
      --
      I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
    13. Re:hackers, indeed by swillden · · Score: 2, Funny

      Note that this isn't valid XHTML.

      s/valid/well-formed/

      Wannabes and their imprecise language...

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    14. Re:hackers, indeed by TKinias · · Score: 1

      scripsit swillden:

      Note that this isn't valid XHTML.

      s/valid/well-formed/

      Wannabes and their imprecise language...

      `Well-formed' is a concept that applies uniquely to XML -- the example in question is, indeed, not well-formed XML.

      Non-wannabes, of course, are aware that the concept of validity is still, um, valid for XML applications like XHTML. If it passes validation against its DTD, it is valid. It can be invalid XHTML, though, and still be well-formed XML.

      ESR's fragment is also invalid as XHTML (there is no XHTML DTD against which it would validate), not just not well-formed as XML.

      --
      In principio creauit Linus Linucem.
    15. Re:hackers, indeed by swillden · · Score: 1

      ESR's fragment is also invalid as XHTML (there is no XHTML DTD against which it would validate), not just not well-formed as XML.

      If the img tag were ended properly, I wouldn't have any problem with it. He describes it as a snippet to paste into an XHTML document, rather than as a complete document itself. Fix the img tag, embed it properly into a valid XHTML document and you'd still have a valid XHTML document.

      Actually, I don't have a problem with it anyway. But it is fun to pick nits on nitpickers :-)

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    16. Re:hackers, indeed by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 1

      Between that and the end result, I think my new logo is an appropriate symbol for hacker wannabes everywhere.

      It's an honor to be nominated for this prestigious award.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

  23. Hacker Logo by mschaffer · · Score: 1

    How about this:
    A cowboy hat that is half black and half white.

    1. Re:Hacker Logo by Helter · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't a fedora be more appropriate?

  24. They can surely do better than that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess it all depends on which definition you are going by too.

    Why would some dots would be a symbol for hackers?

    Are refering to people who just spend a lot time programming or doing other non-illegal type of things with computers or are you talking about people who have been convicted or likely will be convicted of computer crimes?

    1. Re:They can surely do better than that. by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Since ESR decided on it, it's white-hats. (Read "How to Become A Hacker" - he HATES crackers being called hackers.

  25. New logo proposition by r_glen · · Score: 1

    Wouldn't this be better served as a slashdot poll?

    1. Re:New logo proposition by benna · · Score: 1

      I wonder what the CowboyNeal option would be...

      --
      "It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists." -Ludwig Wittgenstein
    2. Re:New logo proposition by Saltrix · · Score: 1

      that ia a very good idea, i wish they would put it as a poll, but what would other options be?

  26. Help the lawmakers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Seeing as how certain people within government would like us all branded, all this seems to acheive is to further that goal for them.

  27. While we're at it... by HungWeiLo · · Score: 1

    While we're at it, how about a eye-patched Johnny Depp logo for any news related to RIAA, CD-R's, or DVD encryption? Or an icon for political matters with a Pinochio nose piercing through the US Constitution parchment?

    --
    There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
  28. -1, Troll; by mookie-blaylock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This seems kind of ridiculous and pointless. Sure, it's an interesting idea, but it seems like a kind of needless branding of an identity/concept. Plus, you'll see all the least qualified latching onto it first, to prove that they're so plugged in to the culture.

    And then in three months, it'll show up on peoples' resumes. And business cards. And we'll all die a little bit.

    Speaking of which, time to update my resume, this may be the key to getting my hyper-1337 job.

    --
    I am not Herbert.
    1. Re:-1, Troll; by Our+Man+In+Redmond · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ah, but that's precisely the beauty of the concept. We'll be able to identify ourselves by seeing who doesn't use the logo!

      Kind of like being able to tell if someone is pretending to have been a Navy SEAL because they're talking about/displaying their medals.

      --
      Someone you trust is one of us.
    2. Re:-1, Troll; by mookie-blaylock · · Score: 1

      Good point, I hadn't thought of it that way. :)

      --
      I am not Herbert.
    3. Re:-1, Troll; by armando_wall · · Score: 1

      "And then in three months, it'll show up on peoples' resumes. And business cards."

      It's no different from the fact that many people use big companies' logos in their resumes, business cards, websites or advertisment, to show that they are experts in the products such companies offer (or other titles like "Eng." or "MSCP"). Some of those people are a "fiasco", and cautious employers, buyers, contractors, etc, know that.

      So the problem is people misusing the hacker logo, not the logo as such.

      I don't think I'll put a hacker logo in my resume; but it will be cool to wear a t-shirt with the logo on it, and have friends ask about its meaning (or even better, to receive greetings from fellow hackers when walking down the streets!!).

    4. Re:-1, Troll; by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 1

      Technically, ESR only said he would like to see it used to display a love for hacker culture. Using it isn't meant to say "Hey, I'm a hacker. Look how cool I am."

      I like it. It's not cute like Tux, but then Tux doesn't get much love from the BSD crowd. There should be a "geek pride" symbol that's all-inclusive. This one seems to be on the right track.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

    5. Re:-1, Troll; by Slime-dogg · · Score: 1

      Eh. I don't think it's such a bad thing.

      First of all, it would be a tool to spread awareness of the hacking culture to the ignorant, and there are plenty of those people. People will be curious, they'll ask, and you'll say that it's the emblem of a group of people that provide some of the highest quality software on Earth.

      Of course, they'll think that it's a company or something, maybe even think that it's a new MS logo or something, but then you clarify... "And get this, it's all free and open!" People get a little surprised at that type of thing.

      Now, if only we could get them to remember those tidbits that you drop at work when they get home after work. Most people I know, if I tell them about a great OSS tool and what it does, even if I demonstrate it, they'll come to me in a week and wonder what the same thing is. This might just be fixed if they saw the logo around.

      Yeah, I think that this logo could become the "flare" of the 2000's, but that's when subversion comes into play (and not the new repository thing). We just need some 1337 H4X0R to post a site with a "fake" hacker logo, and then they'll glom onto it. Of course, this logo has to be complicated, involve lots of color, and look really cool on a T-shirt. Then, all you real hackers and hacker supporters can sit back and chuckle, and be content with your own little sublime logo.

      --
      You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the Restart button.
    6. Re:-1, Troll; by Plugh · · Score: 1
      When I first read the article, I agreed out of hand. I thought, "That damnable attention-seeker ESR! After proclaiming he was worth a gazillion dollars back in the bubble days, you'd think he'd learn to just shaddap!"

      Then I actually read (well, skimmed) the webpage. Quoth ESR:

      Why from you?

      Because I maintain the How To Become A Hacker document, A Brief History of Hackerdom, the Jargon File, and am more or less the hackers' resident historian. It's my job to think of these things.

      Well, damn. That almost seems reasonable. Okay, buddy (I get to call you "buddy" cause you've made yourself a public figure). In this case, damn you, you seem to have a good idea and a reasonable reason why you should be proclaiming it thusly.

      Therefore... count me in! When do the Life-Hacker iconized coffee mugs appear in ThinkGeek?

    7. Re:-1, Troll; by Plugh · · Score: 1
      Quoth Slime-dogg:


      Of course, they'll think that it's a company or something, maybe even think that it's a new MS logo or something, but then you clarify... "And get this, it's all free and open!"


      Damn. I cannot believe I am about to do this...

      Ahemm... well, I guess I'll be the first Logo-nazi (think "grammar-nazi"). The term "Hacker" is defined in the Jargon File in such a way that it has nothing to do with open-source, GNU, or for that matter software at all. Go ahead, look it up, I'll wait.

    8. Re:-1, Troll; by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that there perhaps are a little more prestige in being a SEAL, going through some fairly intense training for instance.

      Personally, I think being associated with this ugly logo will be one reason more for not calling myself a hacker.

    9. Re:-1, Troll; by jargoone · · Score: 1

      The term "Hacker" is defined in the Jargon File in such a way that it has nothing to do with open-source, GNU, or for that matter software at all. Go ahead, look it up, I'll wait.

      Not all hackers are involved in open source. But I think it would be a safe assumption to say that all of those who are authors of open source software qualify as hackers. So the parent's statement is correct: hackers do supply open source software.

    10. Re:-1, Troll; by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      Ah, but that's precisely the beauty of the concept. We'll be able to identify ourselves by seeing who doesn't use the logo!

      Let me guess, you are from Soviet Russia? Or do hackers use YOU as a logo there? ;-)

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
  29. Why this one? by Viking+Coder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Look, there are 8 gliders like this - 4 directions, and 2 states, if I remember right.

    Why on earth did he pick one that goes DOWN?

    Why not pick one that goes up and right?

    Crackers should have one that goes DOWN.

    --
    Education is the silver bullet.
    1. Re:Why this one? by flynt · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why on earth did he pick one that goes DOWN? Why not pick one that goes up and right?

      I think it might symbolize a flaccid penis since according to his FAQ, you aren't to think about sex if you are a hacker.

    2. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because the enemy's gate is DOWN.

    3. Re:Why this one? by mindriot · · Score: 2

      True. I'd be for an upward one, and without the tic-tac-toe raster. Maybe a little more dynamic as well. Maybe a little bit like this.

      But, in any case, by branding yourself with a single logo you promote stereotypes and generalizations. Which I'm not so sure we'd want. You'd have to fight one hell of a fight to get people to associate the right things with your logo (i.e., with You)... that may work for, say, Nike and the Swoosh (unfortunately), but Hackers just don't have a marketing department. By the time we'd all be equipped with that logo somewhere, it might already have been picked up by the media the wrong way, marking us all with an image we don't want.

    4. Re:Why this one? by Suppafly · · Score: 1

      Look, there are 8 gliders like this - 4 directions, and 2 states, if I remember right.
      Why on earth did he pick one that goes DOWN?
      Why not pick one that goes up and right?


      I agree, the one that goes up is way cooler.

    5. Re:Why this one? by MQBS · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My guess would be asthetics. The human eye travels left to right, and to balance the white space of the upper left quadrants you need something. Now, I don't know, maybe there are other gliders that are more asthetically pleasing, but this one seems to fit all of the right 'rules'.

      With that aside, yeah it'd be a fun thing to stick into a document with o's but I think its doomed to 31337ness, at least as a public symbol. Now, if he had kept it private and just used it to sign documents, that would be cool.

      --
      The dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind. That is the horror of life- the terror of art. -Franz Kafka
    6. Re:Why this one? by m3000 · · Score: 1

      I really like that picture. Is there any way to get a sticker of that?

    7. Re:Why this one? by MrWa · · Score: 1
      Going down and hackers probably don't mix too well either, then.

      More to the point, though, is that the symbol will not identify those that we think it will. The "hackers" that will most likely take on a symbol will not be those that pre-date the Perl-mongers or Linux fans. I imagine it will be those, that upon seeing the symbol being used in conjunction with "hackers", will hijack the symbol for script-kiddies and wanna-be's. Fun.

      It would be nice, sure, for there to be a way to easily identify those that have been in computers, or the "hacker" scene (whatever that is), since the early days, but that is usually done through knowledge - not some arbitrary symbol. For example: when a few people are talking about computers and on mentions Linux, for example, the sub-group is easily identified by who continues along those lines. Same thing for those in the BBS-scene, or those that used Sparcs, or those that did or are interested in whatever. Having a "hacker" symbol would be good to identify those covered by a broad range of interests but, at the same time, that broad range of coverage would tend to make it a weaker association.

    8. Re:Why this one? by taernim · · Score: 1

      Crackers?!

      Always trying to keep the man down! What ever happened to equality?!


      ... yes, I know he didn't mean that type of cracker.

      --
      "PC Load Letter? What the $@#% does that mean?!"
    9. Re:Why this one? by glenebob · · Score: 1

      He was confused. He accidently posted the one he had setup for SCO. Going... doooowwwwwwnnnnnnn? mwahahahahahaa!

    10. Re:Why this one? by Chuq · · Score: 1

      1. Put a sheet of stickers in your printer
      2. Press print

      Oh ok then, if you insist...

      3. ???
      4. Profit

      --
      - Chuq
    11. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it might symbolize a flaccid penis since according to his FAQ, you aren't to think about sex if you are a hacker.

      Which is funny coming from the author of Sex Tips for Geeks.

    12. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oooh, that's *very* good. Wonder what percentage of readers will get it?

    13. Re:Why this one? by zobier · · Score: 1

      Nice,

      Flip horizontally and it's like a ?!

      --
      Me lost me cookie at the disco.
    14. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I did. Not that I'm bragging or anything. As far as I'm concerned, reading Ender's Game is minimum-standard-competency stuff. And reading anything else of Card's is a violation punishable by a stiff fine.

    15. Re:Why this one? by mindstrm · · Score: 1

      There are also many other gliders, of various sizes and complexities, including some really wondeful looking constructs.

      This is the simplest, however, and can be discovered very simply by seeding the field with random data and then watching..

      As for direction, direction is irrelevant..there is no up/down in a 2 dimensional world.

    16. Re:Why this one? by Read+Icculus · · Score: 1
      The human eye travels left to right


      What about native readers of Hebrew, Chinese, and Japanese to name just a few of the non left-to-right languages?

      My Japanese Aunt gave me quite a few Japanese comic books and other reading material that is read starting at what we Americans consider to be the "back" of the book.

      The way that we read and the directions that our eyes travel when doing so are dependant on cultural norms. There is nothing instinctual or natural about the left-to-right viewing convention as far as I know.

      Although since as ESR says all hackers must learn English I guess the whole cultural bias thing doesn't matter much.

      Also we must all read sci-fi and go to conventions dealing in the same... at least if we want ESR bonus points.
      --
      Anti-social? My code is just platform-specific.
    17. Re:Why this one? by gribbly · · Score: 1

      Ugh, that's really ugly and generic. Sorry, just being honest. I like the original proposal much better.

      grib.

      --
      maybe
    18. Re:Why this one? by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      I'm assuming you meant 'Heinlein' and not mere generic sci-fi...

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
    19. Re:Why this one? by Read+Icculus · · Score: 1

      Let me refer you to HOWTO Be a Hacker courtesy of ESR.

      "Read science fiction. Go to science fiction conventions (a good way to meet hackers and proto-hackers)."

      This is under the "Bonus Points for Style" section of the HOWTO. I see nothing about 'Heinlein' mentioned there. Simply a command to go to sci-fi conventions and read sci-fi. The majority of which just plain sucks. Most of the books of that genre I read just outright bite. I won't even get into how much I hate David Weber and some of the other hacks. Of course the diamonds in the rough in this particular genre make it worthwile for me to read it.

      My comment was merely a ribbing of the arrogance and ridiculousness of ESR's whole deal. The guy is on a major power-trip.

      --
      Anti-social? My code is just platform-specific.
    20. Re:Why this one? by curne · · Score: 1

      I mean no offense, but my first response was also, "ewwghghggh" and rapid eye-brow twitching.

      ...or maybe I just have a phobia of those sixties' "soft shapes".

      --
      All interpreted languages are abstractions over Lisp
    21. Re:Why this one? by Enucite · · Score: 1

      As has been mentioned before, that glider goes in the negative direction on both axes...

      In most arrays the top left is 0,0. The original design makes more sense as its position increases on both axes rather than decrease.

      But I guess some people may prefer going backwards...

    22. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Why on earth did he pick one that goes DOWN?

      Well, if they can't get a girlfriend to....

    23. Re:Why this one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As somebody already noted, for most graphics hackers this direction is called 'UP', since is the positive direction of the screens non-contignues axis (Y) on most systems.

    24. Re:Why this one? by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      You're right, but ESR in particular fancies the imagery promoted by Robert Heinlein, a SF writer who spins up a whole utopian fantasy world that has many cultish followers. People who look closely will see that a significant body of Raymond's ideology comes from the work of Heinlein. The whole 'Church of All Worlds' thing. Heinlein can and has been likened by some as a similar but less successful L. Ron Hubbard.

      Then again, this particular Scientology-clone cult seems to have MANY followers in the geek community. This whole comment may end up being branded as flamebait.

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
    25. Re:Why this one? by nickos · · Score: 1

      That's cool but it's going the wrong way round - do us a favour and rotate it would you...

  30. How can it be ANYTHING but this? by adambehnke · · Score: 1
    Since, as we all know, hackers are all computer invading, bandwidth stealing, dmca violating, evil geeks that live in their mother's basement it has to be this:

    Hacker's Logo

    Right?

  31. Spelling 101 by MavEtJu · · Score: 4, Informative

    and the BSDers their demon.

    That's a daemon for them.

    The BSD Daemon
    Daemon not demon

    --
    bash$ :(){ :|:&};:
    1. Re:Spelling 101 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's even made it to the dictionary. I always liked it because it looked so greek with that ae thing.

    2. Re:Spelling 101 by Kashif+Shaikh · · Score: 1

      Just so people know...

      Daemon stands for Disk And Execution MONitor.

    3. Re:Spelling 101 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "anal-expulsive", not "anal-retentive"

      Sheesh

    4. Re:Spelling 101 by Read+Icculus · · Score: 1

      That's what it stands for now. When the term daemon was first invented it was merely in reference to the mythological form of use. As in a daemon lurking in the background waiting to do something, or doing it behind the scenes.

      The adoption of "disk and execution monitor" was a rationalization of the term, as computer geeks always need to do things like that.

      Quoth the Jargon File - "[from Maxwell's Demon, later incorrectly retronymed as 'Disk And Execution MONitor'] A program that is not invoked explicitly, but lies dormant waiting for some condition(s) to occur."

      --
      Anti-social? My code is just platform-specific.
    5. Re:Spelling 101 by Matt+-+Duke+'05 · · Score: 1

      Not sure where you got your information from...

      The Jargon File contains this for the appropriate entry: "[from Maxwell's Demon, later incorrectly retronymed as 'Disk And Execution MONitor']."

      Moreover, Tanenbaum, whom I would tend to lend a bit more credence to than ESR, but that's another discussion, claims in Modern Opeating Systems that daemon is merely "a variant spelling of 'demon,' which is a self-employed evil spirit."

      --
      -Matt
      Duke '05
    6. Re:Spelling 101 by DavidTC · · Score: 1
      Tanenbaum is wrong. A daemon is the latin spelling of demon, and was simply a spirit, not evil. It stood halfway between the Gods and humans.

      Which actually works fairly well if you replace 'Gods' with 'the kernel'.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  32. Well, why not? by Big+Mark · · Score: 0, Troll

    Teach me how to troll, fucknuts.

  33. Rule 30 by sleepingsquirrel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I personally think rule 30 would be a better logo, but may we should pick something from the Game of Real Life.

    1. Re:Rule 30 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice psuedo-scientific reference there buddy. I'm sure you got to page 10 of that book and now feel compelled to let the world know how smart you are.

    2. Re:Rule 30 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That kinda looks like midgets fucking.

    3. Re:Rule 30 by AbraCadaver · · Score: 1

      actually, I think rule 90 would be a better representation, for a few reasons: The design is a fractal triangle, which represents both order and mystery the closer you examine it. It is also associated with the logical XOR operation, which is a subtle reference to encryption/decryption fun :) And finally, the design is both visually pleasing and mathematicly beautiful.

    4. Re:Rule 30 by LesPaul75 · · Score: 1

      I like the idea! But I suggest rule 110, instead of rule 30. Rule 110 (and its inverses) is the only example of "class 4" behavior in Wolfram's 1D automata. It develops into discrete structures that move around and interact with each other, whereas rule 30 is just an example of "class 3" behavior -- it generates apparent randomness.

      Or, we could always just use the goatse guy.

    5. Re:Rule 30 by Nerodias · · Score: 1

      I have to agree that rule 110 would make a better logo for the reasons just cited by LesPaul75. . .

      and because it resembles a B-2 bomber, which everyone knows just looks kewlh.

    6. Re:Rule 30 by EMiniShark · · Score: 1

      actually, considering that you can use gliders (along with a few other GOL building blocks) to create circuits, and ultimately a computing machine that has been proven to be a universal computer, I think that gliders are way cooler and more appropriate for hackers than rule 30. random numbers are great, but how often do we hackers like to make computers pop up where they were least expected, or learn to 'program' something no one really thought to be programmable?

  34. Why don't we carve by duffbeer703 · · Score: 4, Funny

    A giant statue of Mr. Eric Raymond out of Mt. Hood or something. It seems like this man has an insatiable ego that cannot be fulfilled.

    --
    Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
    1. Re:Why don't we carve by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      agreed. i can not stand this guy.

    2. Re:Why don't we carve by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about a statue of Eric Raymond and Jaime Zawinski with opposite ends of a double dildo in their polished assholes?
      Granted, JWZ is no Eric Raymond, but they have a similar ego-to-merit ratio, and nobody can stand either of them.

    3. Re:Why don't we carve by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Agreed. And as for this, from his "FAQ", where he describes why he's just the man to invent The Hacker Logo(tm):
      Because I maintain the How To Become A Hacker document, A Brief History of Hackerdom, the Jargon File, and am more or less the hackers' resident historian. It's my job to think of these things.
      Um, no. If you are the (self-appointed) historian, then do what historians do. Historians do not design flags, chart courses, and such. Historians keep the history. Lately, I'm not even sure of ESR's ability to do that properly. The way that he adds his own pet phrases to the Jargon File bugs the crap out of me.
    4. Re:Why don't we carve by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because that would be unfair on the birds in that area.

  35. A Permanently Flaccid, Short Cock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nuff said

  36. No logo by dcobbler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Call me old school, (okay, a lot of you will call much nastier things than that) but I just don't like the idea of another logo. Notice that on Raymond's little proposal page there almost as much space devoted to who should *not* use that logo than to what the logo is actually supposed to represent. This starts to make me feel that the purpose is to draw lines on the ground and say "you can come in but you "others" have to stay out".

    Cheers, Dcobbler.

    1. Re:No logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/dancing.html

      Read that essay, it will explain much.

    2. Re:No logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whoa. Indeed it does.

      "I became a respected priest, elder, and bard. I developed something of a reputation as a ritual designer and theoretician. And out of me flowed poetry and healing and inspiration, and by these signs I knew and others knew that the Gods moved and lived within me."

      I do not begrudge anyone the right to practice whatever crazy religion they want to. Be it thinking that Gods live inside you or that the son of God dies for your sins. But I cannot respect the fact that a person like ESR tries to be one of the leaders of the "hacker" culture. He can be a part of the culture sure, but he is irrational. Anyone who believes in God(s) or the Horned One is by definition irrational. Not something I want from my leaders.

      The hacker culture is built upon the acceptance that logic, knowledge and science are the true "Gods" of our religion. If I cannot prove it, if I cannot detect it, if I cannot compile it, touch it, see it, I do not believe in it. His kind of religion flies in the face of everything that I hold dear.

      "Have no fixed beliefs, and find your own light."

      A strange quote from someone who joined the Wiccan religion and practices magic.

      "I am implacably hostile to Christianity in particular"

      Have no fixed beliefs, but feel free to be implacaby hostile to whatever you were pissed at in your childhood.

      End all superstitions and organized religions.

    3. Re:No logo by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

      Excellent points.

      I also think that this goes against the entire point of being a hacker. The true hacker is shown by the strength of his ideas and code, not by having a stupid logo. Then it turns into an issue of identity, blah blah blah.

      The only person I can see who would directly benefit from this would be ESR, who gets something famous out (like those journalists who try as hard as possible to coin phrases and words) as well as giving himself a more focused community to have influence over.

      Dammit, I want to think "ESR, author of fetchmail", not "ESR, guy who made some stupid pop culture logo". If ESR wants to make an Open Source logo, well and good. He can do that. The Free Software people have their stoned gnu that Stallman pushes (which, by the way, is an exceedingly unappealing logo), and ESR sorta-kinda is the lead representative of Open Source.

      Plus, most of the people I can think of that refer to themselves as "hackers" (I just like the term "techie") in the sense that ESR likes are middle-aged, and really couldn't care less about some logo.

    4. Re:No logo by Helter · · Score: 1

      Traditionally a hacker was just an inventive and resourceful problem-solver.

      "The hacker culture is built upon the acceptance that logic, knowledge and science are the true "Gods" of our religion. If I cannot prove it, if I cannot detect it, if I cannot compile it, touch it, see it, I do not believe in it. His kind of religion flies in the face of everything that I hold dear."

      That's all well and good, so long as you recognize that such a belief will always limit you to being yesterdays news. There was a time that even air did not meet those criteria, let alone atomic particles, magnetic fields, electricity...
      Your rules present a good and concise representation of deductive logic, but deductive logic does not present any new truths, only distillations from what is already known. You pretty much disclude inductive logic in that, which is what we use to advance ourselves.

    5. Re:No logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Traditionally a hacker was just an inventive and resourceful problem-solver.

      Traditionally a hacker is a hard-core coder and computer geek. If you want to drag the MIT sense of the word into the definition then fine, but as ESR is using the term and symbol to describe a group it pretty much means computer geeks who code on *nix systems who know what they are doing.
      so long as you recognize that such a belief will always limit you to being yesterdays news

      Correction, it will limit what I know to be true to that which can be proven in some manner. This does not mean that I think that wormholes and various explanations of dark matter or alternate dimensions are not interesting and should not be investigated to the maximum extent possible. Quite the contrary. I just do not believe in wormholes until I have proof of their existence. I investigate numerous things that are not proven, this doesn't clash with my beliefs at all, it is an extension of them.

      I seek proof of that which is not known and that which will advance knowledge. I just do not blindly accept that something exists because it would tie together my Theory of Everything. Inductive logic is used to find areas of unknown knowledge that can be proven to be true. It is irrational to blindly accept that some new particle exists, but that does not mean that I cannot test and experiment to the utmost.

      Did the person who discovered magnetic fields just accept that magnetic fields existed and then the knowledge started spreading? Or did they have some type of hypothesis that they then tested and found out that they could detect said fields and thereby prove that was the cause for the actions of a compass?

      This belief in that which can be proven does not hold me back at all. It just keeps me from being an accepting fool. I disclude only that which is clearly false. And even then I recognize the limitations of how we can currently determine such things. I am open to everything, but I demand evidence before I accept it to be true. It is called science, and I find your assertion that my demand for proof before acceptance somehow limits me to be patently false.

      I have smoked the potent "hallucinogen" DMT. I have deep knowledge about other chemicals such as LSD and mescaline, so I know what a hallucination is. While under the influence of DMT I experienced things that are beyond any current reality, even an LSD-soaked reality. Things were more-faceted and dimensional than anything that can be explained. I saw "entitiess" of some form that I cannot even begin to describe. I know what I experienced was not in the realm of what we know drugs and hallucinations can do. It was something beyond any experience I have ever had. It revealed possibilities and truths that could be amazing. However I do not believe in the entities that I communicated with. I do not believe in the possibilities that were revealed. I do however think that it is more than worth exploring and examining. I have theories, but I do not blindly accept anything.

      My demand for proof does not stop my advancement of knowledge at all, it keeps me rational, and keeps me from being among those who have faith in that which does not exist.
  37. Simple but niice... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Simple, but very nice! But will SCO or Microsoft sue? Who cares... we will just ship it off shore when it gets to legally tangled.

    Long live the dots!

  38. MS Hacker logo by baggins2002 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those of us that work on MS Windows would like something depicting lemmings going off a cliff or maybe lemmings landing head first on the rocks below.

    1. Re:MS Hacker logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you actually work for MS you're probably going to get fired tomorrow.

    2. Re:MS Hacker logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lemmings don't willfully commit suicide. :-(

    3. Re:MS Hacker logo by sharkey · · Score: 1

      Because you like flagrant falsifications?

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  39. That's really crap... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can get you in checkmate in one move - not what you want from a hacker logo.

  40. goatse.cx? by camusflage · · Score: 1, Funny

    I think that regardless of what we choose, goatse.cx should be stricken from the list immediately!

    --
    The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
    1. Re:goatse.cx? by MAXOMENOS · · Score: 1
      It would, on the other hand, make the perfect symbol for the Bush administration.

      (In all seriousness: I think this is a candidate for the worst photograph ever taken.)

    2. Re:goatse.cx? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You meant Barney Frank, didn't you?

    3. Re:goatse.cx? by LowTolerance · · Score: 0

      oh, you bastard... i am so pissed that i fell for that...

    4. Re:goatse.cx? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Umm... it's a straight Goatse link that ANNOUNCES that it's a Goatse link. So, just keep saying that you "fell for it."

    5. Re:goatse.cx? by LowTolerance · · Score: 0

      i had never heard of goatse...so i really did fall for it

  41. I'm not sure this really works. by Exmet+Paff+Daxx · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    Admittedly, the "glider" was cool. Everybody played life, everyone knew that crosses were stable and gliders would fly till they impacted - it's a universal identifier for a lot of people.

    But the BSD logo and the Linux logo are brands, they're symbols for a codebase, not a loosely and contentiously organized group which most people off the street would mistakenly identify as a word for computer criminals. This really doesn't make any sense- what are you branding yourself as? Are you an ESR/hacker? What if by some fluke you just never played life?

    Anyway if we are going to give someone the responsiblity of branding an entire MOVEMENT, I'm not sure it should be some gun crazed wack job that would scare most moms out of the day care center.

    --
    If guns kill people, then CmdrTaco's keyboard misspells words.
    1. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful
      On the contrary, I think a gun crazed wack job that would scare most moms out of the day care center is an ideal candidate.

      However, this argument neatly sums up why you can't apply a logo to all of hackerdom, I think.

      The ultimate argument against the usefulness of such a logo is that you aren't a hacker because you get recognition, you're a hacker because you enjoy hacking. If you're doing it for some other goal, you are a hacker in the sense of one who hacks, but not a hacker in the sense of one who would be most aptly described by 'hacker'.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Ridgelift · · Score: 1

      This really doesn't make any sense- what are you branding yourself as? Are you an ESR/hacker? What if by some fluke you just never played life?

      That's the whole point. I never played the "Game of Life" before, so I read the FAQ and looked it up. Now I'm going to look into the game a bit because a well-known hacker has eluded to it, and hacker and waanabes (like me) are interested in such things. Thats _really_ what a hacker is; someone who wants to understand how the Wizard runs Oz, and gets in behind the scenes to figure out how stuff works.

      The word "hacker" has become a shibboleth, as does the glider logo, which lends itself to help hackers know who other true hackers are. That's not to sound elitist, it's just that non-hackers don't care about such boring drivel.

    3. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "The hackers' resident historian" ??

      - a scary psycho, more like.

      Maybe this GCWJ can represent the small-penised denizens of the Deep South of the USA, but I think the rest of the world's hackers will want to find more, ahem, balanced individuals to properly relate our history and chose our logos.

      If you don't mind.

      <shuffles to one side, glancing back>

    4. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by stox · · Score: 1

      "I think a gun crazed wack job...."

      So, I take it you actually know ESR. ;->

      --
      "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
    5. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by osxadvocate · · Score: 1

      ...not a loosely and contentiously organized group which most people off the street would mistakenly identify as a word for computer criminals. This really doesn't make any sense- what are you branding yourself as? Are you an ESR/hacker?

      Who ever said groups which produce "brand items" are only allowed to have logos? I see clubs and organizations all the time creating different ways to express self identity. And the one thing they all have in common is a purpose and a general goal. On the contrary to your claim, I believe an identity symbol such as the logo presented by ESR is perfect to counter effect the images of hackers brought on by media. It is simple, meaningful, and understandable. The symbol is most likely opposite of what the general public would expect from the hacker community and therefor has potential to change the hacker image. I am furiously exhausted of ignorant people thrashing, tearing and brutalizing the word to the point where it no longer convenes the passions and values the hacker community holds so dearly.
      Attacking ESR's physical characteristics carrys no support or justice for your argument (Which at this point seems so....pointless). He's dedicated, GIVING, and holds for many of us a path and guide to become the best contributor we can be to the community. It is obvious he has earned his right to be in the position he is in. If you want to call his dedication and love for this great and valuable cause to be only of an ESR/Hacker, then fine. Call it what you want, but you'll be labeling an entire empowered community.

    6. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Deep South of the USA

      ESR isn't from the south - he's from Malvern, Pennsylvania. PA is in the middle of the country, but there are a lot of gun owners there. ESR is also "handicapped" (though being a right-winger I'm sure he hates political correctness, so in honour of that, I will simply call him a "cripple"). Anyway, while ESR the crip surely uses his gun to make up for the shattered remnats of his genetically-malformed phallus, it is unfair to paint southerners as doing so.

    7. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by osxadvocate · · Score: 1

      If you're doing it for some other goal, you are a hacker in the sense of one who hacks, but not a hacker in the sense of one who would be most aptly described by 'hacker'. You make this statement without clarifying what a hacker is. Simply saying a hacker is one who enjoys hacking doesn't cut it. Those two sentences didn't make one bit of sense to me. Keep it simple:To hack, is to be a hacker. No sense in adding senses especially when they appear to be insignificant and irrelevant.

    8. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should first look into a dictionary, not game of life.

    9. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh yea, he likes guns so he must be a wack job. A little word to the wise, just because you happen to enjoy and use firearms does not mean you are crazy, any more then if you enjoy and use cars or planes or boats or skis, etc. Its just a tool man get over it.

    10. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is "liking" something, and then there is obsessing over something so much that you get off over it. Read the guy's rants on the subject, see how many damned photos he takes of himself with guns... now think about his adoption of martial arts and his attempts to become a leader in Wiccan religion as well as the self-appointed historian of hackerdom and a "leader" like Perens or Torvalds. It's obvious that it's all about power and trying to gain recognition/stroke his ego.

      Look at the guy. He was a weak, nerdy, ugly kid with cerebral palsy. I'm sorry to offend but obviously there are some very intense psychological implications in all of that. He was once powerless and picked on/beat up by his peers, as well as being a weak person. His love of things that now give him a taste of the power he lacked in all ways previously is disturbing. We all know that the guy is on a major ego trip.

      What object symbolizes raw power more than a gun? The power over life and death itself, able to be held in your hands and fired in an act of self-empowering catharthis. To be displayed and brazenly raised in front of one's self when others see images of you. To show others that you are a man, that you have power, that you are not a weak and sorry excuse for an alpha-male.

      Now he chooses to come up with the logo for all of hackerdom, or at least all of hackerdom that he has decided to bless as a Wiccan priest in that manner. Remember, you must not crack to be a hacker, you cannot be a hacker if you use Windows, you must give your code away under an open source license to be a hacker, you must - you must. He is seriously fucked up in the head and trying to gain yet more power in our community by dictating the behaviors that we must follow.

      Throw ESR out on his fat ass, just as we did to the Horned One all those thousands of years ago. There is no place in our community for those who would rule us. Even if such rule is mainly benevolent, it harms us all to be forced into a fixed pattern.

      Let us find our own path ESR, we do not need suggestions from a fat retarded-looking power-hungry maniac. Have the self-control to do more than refuse all types of drugs other than your beloved tea. Refuse to let yourself become a mockery of the human form. Refuse to give in to the temptations to seek power at the cost of the respect that others once held for you.

    11. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      To go so far as to adopt a hacker logo and utilize it regularly is to make a statement that you could perhaps best be described as a hacker, that the thing that differentiates you most from humanity is that you are more hackish than they are.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    12. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by 4ntifa · · Score: 1

      Hear hear, check out the pic link on the parent! Take a careful look. Now, imagine that HE is giving "sex tips" to geeks. Yikes!

      Actually, I'm quite convinced that the whole sex tips thing and the slogan "Sex, software, science-fiction, politics, and firearms. Life's simple pleasures..." on his extreme-right whacko blog page (http://armedndangerous.blogspot.com/) are a crude attempt to lead people believe that ESR has actually had sex. Which, judging from the picture, is very unlikely!

      --
      -=- 4ntifa -=-
    13. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by osxadvocate · · Score: 1

      No, you're missing the obvious picture. The whole point of symbols is represent something (A cause, goal, blah blah blah). What is so unjustly about making a symbol to represent the freedom to learn, change, adapt and and efficiently evolve computer software? I see no harm in doing so. You see, I see the exact opposite of segregation... see communion. This has some potential to introduce new people into the open source community, allowing them to see what the REAL hacker culture is about. The only real segregation this will bring is the segregation between Angalina Jolie and the contributers of the LDP.

    14. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by todu · · Score: 1

      I am more of an RMS than ESR follower but still I have to disagree on your "gun" argument.
      http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/attack.htm

    15. Re:I'm not sure this really works. by jenkin+sear · · Score: 1

      In view of ESR's 2'd amendment stance, I'm surprised he picked the glider over the Glider Gun!

      --
      What a strange bird is the pelican, his beak can hold more than his belly can.
  42. Re:A better idea for a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Excellent choice

  43. Looks like the game of Go by Icepick_ · · Score: 1

    It looks very similar to a portion of a go game diagram.

    Since hackers and go players are an overlapping segment of the population, there is some room for confusion.

  44. Skull and Crossbones... by quizwedge · · Score: 2, Insightful

    is what I thought was more traditional. But while on the subject, what group is this for? The original hackers? Crackers? Script Kiddies? Phone Phreaks? All of the above? It seems to me that before you can give a group a logo, you have to actually define that group first. On the site, they do seem to have a statement of beliefs or whatever, but I think the guy has a little bit big of a head to act like is the authority on hackers.

    --
    I have no .sig
    1. Re:Skull and Crossbones... by bhtooefr · · Score: 1
      What Is a Hacker?
      The Jargon File contains a bunch of definitions of the term `hacker', most having to do with technical adeptness and a delight in solving problems and overcoming limits. If you want to know how to become a hacker, though, only two are really relevant.

      There is a community, a shared culture, of expert programmers and networking wizards that traces its history back through decades to the first time-sharing minicomputers and the earliest ARPAnet experiments. The members of this culture originated the term `hacker'. Hackers built the Internet. Hackers made the Unix operating system what it is today. Hackers run Usenet. Hackers make the World Wide Web work. If you are part of this culture, if you have contributed to it and other people in it know who you are and call you a hacker, you're a hacker.

      The hacker mind-set is not confined to this software-hacker culture. There are people who apply the hacker attitude to other things, like electronics or music -- actually, you can find it at the highest levels of any science or art. Software hackers recognize these kindred spirits elsewhere and may call them "hackers" too -- and some claim that the hacker nature is really independent of the particular medium the hacker works in. But in the rest of this document we will focus on the skills and attitudes of software hackers, and the traditions of the shared culture that originated the term `hacker'.

      There is another group of people who loudly call themselves hackers, but aren't. These are people (mainly adolescent males) who get a kick out of breaking into computers and phreaking the phone system. Real hackers call these people `crackers' and want nothing to do with them. Real hackers mostly think crackers are lazy, irresponsible, and not very bright, and object that being able to break security doesn't make you a hacker any more than being able to hotwire cars makes you an automotive engineer. Unfortunately, many journalists and writers have been fooled into using the word `hacker' to describe crackers; this irritates real hackers no end.

      The basic difference is this: hackers build things, crackers break them.

      If you want to be a hacker, keep reading. If you want to be a cracker, go read the alt.2600 newsgroup and get ready to do five to ten in the slammer after finding out you aren't as smart as you think you are. And that's all I'm going to say about crackers.


      Does that help at all? If it's ESR's logo, and he wants it applied to hackers, here's his definition of a hacker...
    2. Re:Skull and Crossbones... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a) He's maintainer of the Jargon file, which provides definitions for various things like "hacker" that are generally well accepted.

      b) He's author of a few very influential papers on how Free Software hackers do better than their closed-source contempories (e.g. Netscape cited his paper in their reasoning to open-source Mozilla).

      I think the guy's got a big head too, but I do think he's in a good place to provide a definition of "hacker", as he is already doing so for the jargon file.

  45. Two words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jolly Roger

  46. live long and prosper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can pass this secret symbol to your geek friends by making Spock's live long and prosper vulcan hand symbol and rotating it 90 degrees.

    1. Re:live long and prosper by pyrrhonist · · Score: 1

      Then all they see is the side of my hand. Oh wait...

      --
      Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
  47. It has to be the Black Hat. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anything else is fucking lame.

  48. what? by PhreakOfTime · · Score: 1

    While this is a nice idea for someone to come up with after putting down the hooka...is it a joke?

    A logo for hackers? Sure why not, these are the kinds of people just looking to attach themselves to some sort of social structure, because they care so much what other people think of their social standings.

    Your kidding, right?

  49. If some people get their way by Anonymous+Crowhead · · Score: 1

    The hacker symbol will be this

    1. Re:If some people get their way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it'll be a statue of a skinny white guy with glasses braiding some nigger's hair.

  50. Another ESR's egomaniac idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is another one in the series of ESR's egomaniac projects. GNU has their own logo, and Linux has its own, but those logos were chosen by the important people in those projects. Now ESR is trying to signify his position among hackers by proposing a logo. So what if ESR's is maintaining the 'revisionist' version of jargon dictionary? If there would be a logo, it certainly shouldn't be from ESR.

    Last month it was 'the art of unix programming', what's next in ESR defines the world series?

  51. I've always liked this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  52. My proposal by rolux · · Score: 2, Funny

    The amazon.com shopping cart, inverted and appropriately rotated...

    --
    My next comment will be ready soon, but moderators can beat the rush and mod it up early.
  53. Re:A better idea for a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "popping" is right! yee haa!!

    but a little too explicit. I propose a large solid black disk .. when someone asks, what does that it mean? tell them "it is all, and it is none. it is goatse" and speak no more of it.

  54. I propose by ModernGeek · · Score: 1

    a middle finger sticking up, or somthing very absured and not accepted by the masses, so it will appear on hacked computers, etc. Anything except the goatse guy.

    --
    Sig: I stole this sig.
    1. Re:I propose by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      somthing very absured

      So wait a minute, how do you absur something, and how does having been absured make it a better choice of a logo? The very thought of having a logo which was absured, in fact, sounds to me downright absurd.

  55. Hobbyists rarely have logos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The Linux folks have their penguin and the BSDers their demon. Perl's got a camel, FSF fans have their gnu and OSI's got an open-source logo.

    However people who like cats don't have a logo, neither do people who wear their jackets backwards, people who do woodcarving in their spare evenings, cigar smokers, or people who dye their hair green.

    Hobbyists rarely have logos.

    1. Re:Hobbyists rarely have logos by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Amatuer Radio enthusiasts have logos, though.

  56. obvious by McAddress · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the need for a logo is obvious. After all, /. was forced to use the linux logo for this.

    1. Re:obvious by anothy · · Score: 1

      wow, "Insightful" takes less and less all the time, doesn't it?
      in case you missed it, slashdot makes up "logos" for most of their categories. if they want to do the same here, great, but it certainly doesn't become a standard logo for the product or community in question. or do you really think all the microsoft groupies out there proudly display the "bill of borg" logo?
      of course, if i had read this without the points or mod type, i'd have assumed you were trying to be funny, and if this were 3, Funny, i wouldn't be upset at all.

      --

      i speak for myself and those who like what i say.
  57. a logo for you. by JDizzy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hrm.......

    I would sugest a cluttery desk with dirty ash trays, lots of empty half crushed soda-pop cans, O'reilly books of various pedigry and colors spewn around the room and book shelves. Pillow hair, coffee cups, the abient glow of a monitor, and half eaten pizza. Combine these things into one logo and it would rule all other logos.

    --
    It isn't a lie if you belive it.
    1. Re:a logo for you. by Michael+Hunt · · Score: 1

      You scare me.
      You just described my room.

    2. Re:a logo for you. by t4b00 · · Score: 1

      You just described my "office" all the way down to the pizza.

  58. IAWTP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I agree with this post.

  59. Hello Kitty! by jeanettewilder · · Score: 1

    Hey boys, The rest of the world has been using the Hello Kitty character as a semi-offcial "Hacktivist" logi for years. Here's a cute link where you can enjoy Neo-Jacobians Federales whining about the evils that dear little Hello Kitty bodes: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTI CLE_ID=19097 Enjoy! -- J

    1. Re:Hello Kitty! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ummm, no. But thanks anyways...

      Might as well use Winnie-the-Pooh (I'm more of a Tigger man myself).

      But what was that evil thing that attacked Kitty? I'd go for that...

  60. Anarchist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is just more evidence that ESR is not really an anarchist.

    Anarchists believe de-centralization is best as a rule of thumb, so having every hacker represented under the one (read centralized) banner is just plain anti-anarchist.

    All the logos mentions (tux and others) will do just fine to represent those already decentralized (yet networked) groups.

    1. Re:Anarchist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ESR is a Libertarian. Libertarians are expected to allow governance, yet the governance is constitutionally alligned with being voluntary. Such as, asking FCC to rate a product rather instead of the FCC being the defacto organization that limits what products can and can't enter the market. The Department of Food and Drug, IIRC for example, doesn't allow any medication to enter the market without 10 years of extensive testing. Many people are angered that they don't want to wait for a product to be screened and authorized; all they want is an "opinion" and still reserve their right to utilized the medication in question and at their freedom.

      Anarchist is a stretch of the word "sovereignty", and both are somewhat alike but different. Anarchy is an event that exists within a government, while sovereignty is defined as "the lack of any governance by a *foreign* power". People should be verry afraid when they discover that the United States, as a corporation by and of itself, is Sovereign and only by convention and economic manipulation can it be manipulated. Not even "We, the People" can manipulate the "United States". For you to know, the "United States" was created by Abraham Lincoln with his support on the Congressional "Act of 1871."

      Anarchist: against governance in an already-established government.
      Sovereign: immune to governance from a Foreign agency.
      Libertarian: less governance, more self-governance (governance invested in the people), somewhat like a sovereign but more governance.

      All the logos mentions (tux and others) will do just fine to represent those already decentralized (yet networked) groups.

      Using someone else's logo is a Bad Thing(TM) because it means you imply governance from someone by the use of their Intelectual Property. I suggest that everyone use their own Logo and not express it visualy

    2. Re:Anarchist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anarchy is an event that exists within a government

      NO. Anarchy means without-rulers (an-arch).

      A ruler can be anything from a fascist tyrant to a greedy capitalist to a rapist.

  61. Question/Suggestion by theantix · · Score: 1
    "If you either promote somebody's product for money..."
    Er, what the fuck? Anyone who is involved in sales is ineligible to use this logo? If he means "If you use this logo to promote somebody's product for money" he should say it, otherwise it's just confusing.
    --
    501 Not Implemented
  62. alternate logo ideas by krulgar · · Score: 1

    How about a finger above the "Yes, I'm sure!" key
    or the "any" key?
    or above a 2-key keyboard with a "1" key and a "0" key?
    How about the caffeine molecule?

    Now... who starts the organization and management of the votes?

    -Not it!

  63. Hmmm... by geekster · · Score: 1

    I know what "game of life" is but that logo reminds me more of tic-tac-toe ... that's how it's spelled right? Toe?... aaah what ever, next post!

  64. yin-yang by 10am-bedtime · · Score: 1

    people will mod this down as cliche (it is, admittedly), but what other almost-universal symbol addresses the balance of the act of hacking? the project unmaintained rots until a new maintainer picks it up (balance). the interesting bits are explored until they are no longer interesting (balance). one hacker's romp on the net is another's security breach (balance). one anal admin's lockdown is another's challange (balance). and always, in the ashes of a {failed, successful} project is the inspiration for the next {success, failure}.

  65. Easy, draw what every hacker has in common. by MongooseCN · · Score: 1

    So how do you draw a virgin?

    1. Re:Easy, draw what every hacker has in common. by flynt · · Score: 2, Funny

      So how do you draw a virgin?

      Trace this picture?

    2. Re:Easy, draw what every hacker has in common. by metlin · · Score: 1

      ... or this picture? ;-)

      (just kidding, yeah I know he has a girlfriend or something like that)

  66. validation by MSG · · Score: 1

    Here is a snippet of XHTML you can paste into a page.

    <a href='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/'>
    <img src='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/glider.png' ></a>


    The astute will notice that the above is not valid XHTML. It should be:

    <a href='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/'>
    <img src='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/glider.png' alt='Hacker logo' /></a>

    1. Re:validation by squibix · · Score: 1

      And, he really should be using instead of !

    2. Re:validation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, that's for the pedant.

  67. Here's my candidate by Our+Man+In+Redmond · · Score: 4, Funny

    Take a look

    Functional, yet stylish. It gives us a connection to those hackers who have gone before us.

    (Note to the humor impaired: This is supposed to be funny. Laugh, or at least try to.)

    --
    Someone you trust is one of us.
    1. Re:Here's my candidate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not humor impaired, but I still don't find it funny. And you're thinking of nerds, not hackers. Nerds are neat and fastidious. Hackers are notoriously unkempt, bearded, and T-shirt-wearing. Most T-shirts don't even have pockets.

  68. "Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Ridgelift · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you don't know what a glider is, or why it would make a good emblem, or if you're dubious about having an emblem at all, read the FAQs page

    The word "hacker" has become a shibboleth. It's a word that seperates people in-the-know from people who are not. Back in biblical times, a town was named "Shibboleth" which non-native people would mispronounce. If a guard or other authority wanted to know if someone was native to the town or a possible outside threat, he would have them pronounce the name of the city. If they could pronounce "Shibboleth" properly, they were in. If they couldn't, they were sent on their way.

    Why the history lesson? Because the word "hacker" has gained a lot of baggage and is now a shibboleth. Once used to describe people who were true geeks who wanted to understand how things worked, it now carries the negative connotation of someone who breaks into computers.

    I like the word "hacker" because true hackers understand what it means. I also think in that same vein the logo Eric's chosen is a good one, because people "in-the-know" will understand what it means. The fact that I thought the "Game of Life" referred to the Milton-Bradley game shows I still have more to learn. So now I'm reading up on the history of the actual game, which shows my desire to really learn and understand.

    Which is what a "hacker" wants to do anyway...

    1. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by jdfox · · Score: 3, Informative

      If they could pronounce "Shibboleth" properly, they were in. If they couldn't, they were sent on their way.

      Um... actually they were dragged away and killed, as usually happens in Bible stories: Judges 12:4-6

    2. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

      If a guard or other authority wanted to know if someone was native to the town or a possible outside threat, he would have them pronounce the name of the city. If they could pronounce "Shibboleth" properly, they were in. If they couldn't, they were sent on their way.

      In case you're curious, the way that they would mispronounce "Shibboleth" is "Frisco."

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
    3. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Ridgelift · · Score: 3, Funny

      If they could pronounce "Shibboleth" properly, they were in. If they couldn't, they were sent on their way.

      Um... actually they were dragged away and killed, as usually happens in Bible stories: Judges 12:4-6


      Right. That's what I said. I just happened to say it in Microsoft-eze.

    4. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Crimson+Midget · · Score: 1

      If they could pronounce "Shibboleth" properly, they were in. If they couldn't, they were sent on their way.

      Yeah, I saw that episode of "West Wing" too.

    5. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Back in biblical times, a town was named "Shibboleth"

      Nope. "Shibboleth" is an ancient Hebrew word for "stalk of grain," or possibly "flood water."

      which non-native people would mispronounce.

      Also nope. The story is from the book of Judges. In it, the Ephraimites were identified by their accents. They had trouble with the "sh" sound, and tended to say "sibboleth." Thus were they separated from the Gileadites.

      It's not that crazy an idea. In World War II, the Nazis identified Russian Jews by the way they pronounced kukuruza, the Russian word for "corn."

    6. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

      I like the word "hacker" because true hackers understand what it means. I also think in that same vein the logo Eric's chosen is a good one, because people "in-the-know" will understand what it means.

      And I *don't* like it, because I think precisely the sort of person who cares about being "one of the ones in-the-know" about what "hacker" means is exactly the sort of person that *isn't* a hacker.

      A technical conversation will suffice. If you have good input, you are technically knowledgeable. Good person to chat with.

      There's no need for the artificial threshold you're implying. You aren't in the club or out, a hacker or not, able to claim rights to ESR's little Life organism or not. You are progressively more logical, inventive, and technically knowledgeable.

    7. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Fortyseven · · Score: 1

      Won't work, though. When dealing with anything like this, you have to always consider the skr1pt k1dd1e factor. "Hay!! if I just stick this l1nux thing on my machine, and put this awesome logo on my 31337 warez/h/p/a site, EVERYONE will know I'm the real deal h4ckerman!@#!"

      You get the idea. Everyone will put it on their site once it gets around that it's "the badge" for 1337'ness. It's just a futile thing.

      Badges? BADGES? We don't need no... uh, none of them...there...things. ;)

      (Besides, if I had to theoretically pick a 'symbol', I'm afraid Steven Levy already kinda left me with the thinking that a wizard-themed logo would be the way to go...)

    8. Re:"Hacker" is now a shibboleth by Helter · · Score: 1

      yeah, I thought the thing was a guitar chord when I first saw it.
      Until I realized it didn't have enough strings that is.

  69. Just for that comment... by Ignominious+Poltroon · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... you can't use the icon.

  70. RMS - Message + Ego = ESR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    take RMS, a yammering looney with bad facial hair, a big ego, and a strong resounding belief in software and freedom.

    now take away the "strong resounding belief" bit, and you've got...

    ESR!

    they were separated at birth, I think.

    1. Re:RMS - Message + Ego = ESR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you forgot the enormous ammounts of crack he's obviously been smoking.

    2. Re:RMS - Message + Ego = ESR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you forgot the enormous ammounts of crack he's obviously been smoking.

      "Smoking Crack" is a negro slang for excessive Poon-Tang; next after next, after next, after next, until you've hammered every ugly bitch on your ghetto block.

      ESR can't Smoke Crack. According to ESR's "Hacker HOWTO", we Hackers aren't allowed to think of SEX. However, no defenition of SEX was given. ESR's use of the word "SEX" could mean anything.

      ESR is married too. She might not be the cutest crab in Tuna Town, but by-God she eats red meat every day.

  71. Re:A better idea for a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is no goatse.

    http://www.there-is-no-spoon.net/

  72. Because... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hackers long to have something go down on them and this it there best chance? :)

  73. no thanks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's just not sufficiently obvious or universal. You might as well propose:

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/586b/

    -Cam

    1. Re:no thanks by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Hmm... that could work, seeing as that symbol is most often on power buttons of computer equipment than anything else (most other stuff uses I / O)...

  74. Life. Don't talk to me about life. by David+E.+Smith · · Score: 1

    If the first thing you thought of when you saw this article was this Game of Life, you are automatically disqualified. :-)

    1. Re:Life. Don't talk to me about life. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can I get in the wild card slot if I thought of the MB game first, but realized my error BEFORE reading the article?

  75. I thought they all were hacker logos? by k98sven · · Score: 1

    I don't see what's wrong with any of the existing logos?

    Those of us who are geeks don't have a problem identifying them.. Sure, if you want to make yourself identifiable to non-hackers, a common logo is a good idea. But why would hackers want that?

    I saw a GNU sticker on a stoplight the other day.. for me, it was obvious "There be hackers here!"-message. Naturally it's just a wierd animal-sticker to most people.. but that's kind of the fun, isn't it?

  76. Eric S. Raymond is a moron by JohnwheeleR · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    First he pushes his stoopid python based kernel config, now a gay logo. Why doesn't he do something useful and quit reaching for more fame...

  77. Yeah right... by Ryan+Amos · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Hackers can't even agree on the definition of the word "hacker," why would they agree on a logo? Hell, they can't even decide the name of an operating system, hence the GNU/Linux BS. The logo should, nonetheless, be something that all hackers can identify with. That's why I propose the logo for hackerdom should be a hand, because it is a lifelong love partner for most of them.

  78. j00r barking up the wr0ng tr33!!! by SpongeScrodSpareCock · · Score: 0



    Th3y ain't n0 hax0rz h33r! N0 on3 on d1s 5ite has 3vr d0n3 5uch a t1n6 aZ hack0r. j00 b4rkin6 u|* d4 wr0n6 tr33 m4te!!! N0th1ng to s33 h33r. M0ve al0ng.


    --


    |*l33z kOm3nT in m4h j00rnehl
  79. Definately Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This guy has the right idea about what a hacker is, and I think emblem is spiffy

  80. mod up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    1. Re:mod up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then it wouldn't be flaccid, would it?

  81. Re:A better idea for a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's more like a large bloody red disk.

  82. ESR, you don't speak for me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a pretty hard core developer and computer hacker I must say:

    ESR!!!! STOP SPEAKING "ON MY BEHALF!" You sound like a fool and you tarnish my reputation with your attempts at social engineering. I don't need a logo, and I don't need your daydreamy ideas to legitimize who I am or what I do. And anyone who does needs REAL help, not sloganeering.

    For fucks sake, more logos/slogans/branding is the LAST thing this world needs more of.

  83. There already is one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is hidden.
    When you become a real hacker,
    you will see it.
    Kinda like one of those random posters where you cross your eyes to see the hidden image.

    Goodluck on your quest!

    1. Re:There already is one by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

      Kind of like this?

      By the way, don't click on that link.

      --
      We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
    2. Re:There already is one by pyrrhonist · · Score: 1
      By the way, don't click on that link.

      Don't click on the link, huh? Well, since you said not to, by default, I have to.

      *click*

      AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!! MY EYES!!!!!!

      --
      Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
    3. Re:There already is one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, and I hope you're NOT using IE and DON'T click on this link...

  84. Whats the need? by ireallylovelinux · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If your a hacker your probabally with a group or something that has a logo.

  85. In a word, no by mhesseltine · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hackers don't need nor want a logo. Does ESR really think that most hackers are just dying to put logos on their coffee cups, hats, shirts, etc? If a hacker wants to express himself, he'll do it through hacking.

    If we do have a logo, I think it should be a vector rendered shilouete of a fat, unwashed, unshaven hacker sitting in front of a PC.

    --
    Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
    1. Re:In a word, no by dr_dank · · Score: 1

      Does ESR really think that most hackers are just dying to put logos on their coffee cups, hats, shirts, etc?

      Damn right. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night without my bedsheets emblazoned with CowboyNeal in a toga.

      --
      Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    2. Re:In a word, no by mhesseltine · · Score: 1
      Damn right. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night without my bedsheets emblazoned with CowboyNeal in a toga.

      In another word, eeeewww!!!

      Although, CowboyNeal would be a good model for the vector rendering. Hmmm....

      --
      Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
    3. Re:In a word, no by martin-boundary · · Score: 1
      If we do have a logo, I think it should be a vector rendered shilouete of a fat, unwashed, unshaven hacker sitting in front of a PC.
      I'd prefer a silhouette of a fat, unwashed, unshaven hacker using sodipodi to create a logo of a vector rendered silhouette of a fat, unwashed unshaven hacker using sodipodi to create a logo of a vector rendered....

    4. Re:In a word, no by mhesseltine · · Score: 1

      I hadn't thought of that. Of course the logo should be recursive, it matches all the other recursive names (GNU, GNOME, RPM, etc.)

      --
      Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
    5. Re:In a word, no by Otter · · Score: 1
      Hackers don't need nor want a logo...If a hacker wants to express himself, he'll do it through hacking.

      To put it precisely -- anyone who uses this logo is a complete and total loser.

    6. Re:In a word, no by ahaning · · Score: 1

      Don't want a logo?

      I've got a logo for you!

      Actually, I'd vote some sort of raccoon. Smart, great at getting around access controls, love to go dumpster-diving. Raccoons are hackers.

      (For that matter, those monkies using sticks to fish out termites could be considered hackers as well, but I still think raccoons seem cooler.)

      --
      Withdrawal before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called "parents."
    7. Re:In a word, no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Atleast i can see this will be a great gig for marketing folks and wannabes. Stop hacking code for change hack someones wallet

    8. Re:In a word, no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fat, unwashed and unshaven? I only need one guess as to who you are thinking of. The only thing I can't figure out is if the S in the middle is for "Shithead" or "aSshammer".

    9. Re:In a word, no by azuretek · · Score: 1

      oh my god! you just described me! but I bathe regularly, I'm just a little unshaven and husky.

    10. Re:In a word, no by Helter · · Score: 1

      conversely, even the thought of that will probably prevent me from sleeping at night.

    11. Re:In a word, no by curne · · Score: 1

      I'm not calling you an idiot or anything, but exactly how is the acronym RPM recursive?

      --
      All interpreted languages are abstractions over Lisp
    12. Re:In a word, no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pah, the little crippled faggot blowhard is just pumping his pathetic ego trip.

    13. Re:In a word, no by Ninja+Programmer · · Score: 1
      If we do have a logo, I think it should be a vector rendered shilouete of a fat, unwashed, unshaven hacker sitting in front of a PC.
      Well how about a bitmapped one to start with?
    14. Re:In a word, no by mhesseltine · · Score: 1

      Well, I apparently am an idiot. You're right, RPM isn't recursive. Oh well.

      Any other recursive acronyms that you can think of?

      --
      Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
    15. Re:In a word, no by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      Hackers don't need nor want a logo. Does ESR really think that most hackers are just dying to put logos on their coffee cups, hats, shirts, etc?

      No we want to put them on our shitty honda civics with coffee can exhaust and ground-scraping ghetto suspension work. oh yeah, and our shitty plastic wings that we glue onto the trunk.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
    16. Re:In a word, no by mirabilos · · Score: 1

      The logo is not exactly for hackers.
      It's for people who associate themselfes with
      our culture (not excluding real hackers though)
      in general.

      Damn, I'm already making up complicatedly-winded
      English sentences again. (Does this give you a
      hint as to where I am from? Just curious.)

      --
      My Karma isn't excellent, damn it! (And /. still does not get UTF-8 right in 2012. Wow.)
  86. Here is what I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I appreciate this guy very much, he contributed to the open source and had an influence, but please, who is a hacker?

    Even here, people use the terms like "true hackers". Who are these guys? Am I a hacker? I have spent lots of times in the source code of various programs to accomplish certain things. It was part of curiosity, part of intelligence, being able to understand code, etc..., but I would hardly call myself a hacker, cause it is not a career option for me. It is not a community either. Is this a special club where you join? Are you in linux club or BSD club? Oh I am in both clubs, I am also a hacker?

    I think this is a useless stuff.

  87. Raise your Hand if This Fulfills an Inner Need.... by globalar · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "...that is a title of honor that generally has to be conferred by others rather than self-assumed."

    Like that's gonna happen. If this does catch on, it will be plastered on every wannabe's website. It will be abused and misapplied, just as the name hacker is treated.

    Perhaps hackers are unique, even among themselves? Perhaps a logo does not represent all (or most) hackers? Perhaps claiming to have a logo that represents all hackers (or hackers in general) is presumptuous?

    "It's my job to think of these things."

    Again, perhaps this is presumptuous? Historians (like say, of American history or what have you) don't tell us what our symbols should be. (Well, if they do no one is listening).

    More importantly, hackers do not necessarily need a symbol. Hackers aren't all in the same group and they certainly are not out to advertise themselves and get people to associate an image or idea with them. I would say they probably don't care what the general populous thinks, let alone if they know what a hacker is.

  88. Now how to vote on this? by Irvu · · Score: 5, Funny

    I For one suggest that we take a vote on this preferably with Diebold Touchscreen machines. Thas way the truly determined hackers will win.

    1. Re:Now how to vote on this? by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      I think the script kiddies will win that one.

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  89. The Wrong Logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Sorry ESR, that's the wanker logo, not the hacker logo.

    Surely hackers are content to just get the job done, and don't need a logo to be 1337 ?

  90. Even anarchists have a logo by dstone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You want a group that has been, historically, non-conformists to agree on something so singular as a logo?

    Sure. Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!

    Hackers are a rich subculture, and it's been that way for decades. Hackers share common life views, activities, and experiences that are different than the mainstream. So they're distinctive and weird, not unlike peace-activists, republicans, christians, motorcyclists, masons, homosexuals, etc. They've all got their logos that some wear with pride and others choose not to. But if you do choose to fly the flag, at least there's a community understanding of what it means.

    One problem I see with a logo though, is that hackers tend to hate posers (since hacking is more about competence than simply attitude). And it's easier to pose with a logo.

    1. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by cmacb · · Score: 5, Funny

      "(since hacking is more about competence than simply attitude)"

      Oh. Then I propose a new logo for us incompetent hackers. It's a much more meaningful symbol...

      * *
      ***
      * *

      The leter H which in the game of life disolves into nothingness after 6 generations. Just like most of my programs.

    2. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by autopr0n · · Score: 1

      Hackers are a rich subculture, and it's been that way for decades. Hackers share common life views, activities, and experiences that are different than the mainstream. So they're distinctive and weird, not unlike peace-activists, republicans, Christians, motorcyclists, masons, homosexuals, etc.

      Oh pulleez. Maybe in the most idiotic geek-pride soaked delusional ESRist mind. Not even peace-activists, republicans, Christians or motorcyclists are really that similar.

      --
      autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
    3. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 4, Funny

      The leter H which in the game of life disolves into nothingness after 6 generations.

      Not quite appropriate ... most hackers will dissolve into nothingness at the end of the first generation.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    4. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by GuyZero · · Score: 1
      Sure. Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!

      Right - and real anarchists use it too. Sure.

    5. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by stephanruby · · Score: 1
      You mean the chaos symbol?

      Chaos =! Anarchy

    6. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not even peace-activists, republicans, Christians or motorcyclists are really that similar.

      The point being made was that even nonconformist and minority groups commonly adopt a logo for their community. Not all use it, but it's usually there for those that want to fly it. The peace symbol, the donkey (or is it an elephant? well, the insiders definitely know, and that's the point), the Christ fish, the mason's symbol (whatever it is, it's meaningful to insiders).

    7. Re: Even anarchists have a logo by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      > Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!

      They just can't agree on what it is!

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    8. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by sco08y · · Score: 1

      The leter H which in the game of life disolves into nothingness after 6 generations. Just like most of my programs.

      And, of course, H stands for "hentai."

    9. Re:Even anarchists have a logo by Haeleth · · Score: 1

      > And, of course, H stands for "hentai." ...or rather, probably did originally.

      Unfortunately "H" is now a word in its own right, translated simply "sex", or as an adjective "sexy" - in the purely mainstream sense. It's therefore associated more with actual men and women actually having sex than with kinky cartoon porn. Unfortunately that means it's not quite so appropriate for hackers...

  91. One Small Problem With The Logo ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It`s utterly crap.

  92. Super-conformist Powers: ACTIVATE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look, if they don't decide on a logo, I don't know what to look for when shoping for my poser gear.

    It's branding. And if it's not done right bad mimicry can be difficult. Won't someone *please* think of the posers?!

  93. Not logo, New Name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What hackers really need is a new name. We've lost the cracker/hacker debate. A new logo will not help. The life-glider is a good idea, but it makes me think of virus writers. We need a name for white hat hackers, since we far out number the black hats.

    1. Re:Not logo, New Name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why ya gotta be bringin' color into this?

  94. Re:Looks like the game of Go by Bingo+Foo · · Score: 1
    Since hackers and go players are an overlapping segment of the population, there is some room for confusion.

    Since hackers and confused people are an overlapping segment of the population, there is some room for go playing.

    --
    taken! (by Davidleeroth) Thanks Bingo Foo!
  95. Emergent phenomena? Hardly. by Laetor · · Score: 2, Insightful
    In the Game of Life, simple rules of cooperation with what's nearby lead to unexpected, even startling complexities that you could not have predicted from the rules (emergent phenomena).

    Don't think so. The rules behind the simple game of Life are very easily enumerated. Every single "phenomenon" that arises is not emergent, it is clearly and totally predictable from the rules. Emergent phenomena are those that cannot be predicted. It's even better when they violate the rules that start them in motion to begin with.

    Just because some things happen that are really cool when you smear a bunch of bits to "on" and start the game up, does not mean you're witnessing emergent phenomena. It just means you lack the brainpower or patience to follow the rules through and predict the outcome of your smears or shapes, before starting the game up.

    1. Re:Emergent phenomena? Hardly. by Fnkmaster · · Score: 1
      Your definition makes no sense. Cannot be "predicted" by whom, with how much computational power and how exact a state of knowledge of the universe? In other words, by your definition, the only thing that can be called "emergent" is quantum-level phenomema that are truly non-predictable, no matter how much computational power is at your disposal.


      Generally people use the phrase "cannot be predicted" to mean "cannot be predicted by a reasonable person without a complete and accurate simulation of the system being described". Sure, you can predict them all if you simulate the system, but that's not an analytical prediction from the rules themselves, that's the application of the rules to simulate the system.

    2. Re:Emergent phenomena? Hardly. by Laetor · · Score: 1

      You've made my argument for me. Because this system is so easily simulated (being an incredibly simple simulation itself) the phenomena are not emergent. What happens in Life is exactly what's put in -- nothing about the game of Life is greater than the sum of its parts (or application of its very simple rules). The term "emergent phenomena" is misused in this case -- emergent phenomena are phenomena that cannot be explained by the sum of the parts of the system, their existence is not reducible to the system that they came from, the rules of the system they come from cannot explain the phenomena themselves. This is not true of things like sliders, collapsers, eaters, propellers, and other "creatures" in the game of Life.

  96. Excellent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Another chance to post this incredible, incredible achievement: A Turing machine implemented in Conway's Game of Life (no, really).

    http://rendell.server.org.uk/gol/tm.htm

  97. Think about the audience by panaceaa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can't open source hackers have ONE THING that goes down on them???
    Geez, it's not like they're getting girls to do it.

    1. Re:Think about the audience by pyrrhonist · · Score: 1
      Can't open source hackers have ONE THING that goes down on them???

      They can develop on Windows. I hear it goes down a lot.

      --
      Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
    2. Re:Think about the audience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So maybe the logo should be a flasher rather than a glider?

  98. This is hella-lame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Linux is a product, BSD is a product, open-source is a group of products...hackers are individuals .

    Besides, everyone knows that this will only be used by script-kiddies, and other talentless hacks (funny how leaving out the er in hackers gives you an antonym of it). It's no different than the jackasses bragging about the CS program at their school...but couldn't even program their VCRs. Or the dumbass that puts 30 stickers on their car, but has never even opened the hood...you get the point.

    A true hacker needs only to point to ones own work...they don't need some lame logo to prove they have skills.

    1. Re:This is hella-lame by Wyzard · · Score: 1

      The idea isn't a stamp of approval showing that you have skills -- it's to show affiliation. Wearing clothing with a sports team's logo doesn't tell people you're a member of the team; it tells people that you like the team. Other fans of the team can see the logo and recognize your common interest.

      I'd display the logo as a statement to others that I support and approve of hackish skills and principles. Doing so doesn't make any claim about my skills in particular -- I don't claim to be a hacker -- though others familiar with the logo may rightly conclude that I value such skills.

      Don't think of the logo as a seal of approval that hackerdom confers upon you; think of it as a seal of approval that you confer upon hackerdom.

  99. Good Life example with java applets by Salamanders · · Score: 1

    http://www.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.htm l

  100. Thinkgeek Conspiricy? by Borg_5x8 · · Score: 2, Funny

    How long before the clothing is out?

  101. "Hand Grasping Penis" by FatSean · · Score: 1

    Easy to draw too.

    --
    Blar.
  102. logo idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a shovel/pick axe
    (because we DIG, discover, patch and cover)

  103. blah by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 1

    worst. idea. ever.

  104. Different Symbols by Wired+In+Blood · · Score: 1

    Well the problem is, most hacker groups tend to make their own logo's, like Cult Of The Dead Cow used a ASCII picture of a cow's head with X's for eyes. Most groups seem to use a ASCII picture-istic version of their group name, or other ASCII images. Thing is with the use of hacker symbols is that different groups seem to want to make a name for themselves so each do something different to make their's stand out. I was going to post a few of the symbols but due to so many white spaces in the pictures, it wouldn't let me post them

    1. Re:Different Symbols by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damn good point!

      I was on a site a few months ago that had some software to generate 3d world images in ASCII. If memory serves me right ... They were going to try to port a version of Quake to the platform.

      Aparently they did and it was quite easy. Also did one for UT:
      http://icculus.org/~chunky/ut/aaut/
      http://w ebpages.mr.net/bobz/ttyquake/ss/

      How about a 3d, rotating, flaming logo, all done in ASCII? Now what commercial had I seen that on?

      Melting ASCII ... Matrix'esc?

      --El Duderino

    2. Re:Different Symbols by Wired+In+Blood · · Score: 1

      Your talking about ASCII Quake right? I remember hearing about that, it was only for Linux though. Replaced all images and models with ASCII images, and yes, Matrix uses alot of ASCII images in Matrix 2. I think hackers use ASCII images because they are alot smaller to reproduce and can be easily embedded into any document, including .txt files which are pretty much universal

    3. Re:Different Symbols by Wyzard · · Score: 1

      Actually, it just uses AA-lib to draw the "pixels", rather than a conventional framebuffer. More info (and screenshots) here.

  105. Have one?! by novakane007 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I thought Hackers/Crackers were represented by "the hat" You can even buy one at thinkgeek

    --

    WURD!!
    1. Re:Have one?! by cujo_1111 · · Score: 1

      How gay are they... Do you see lots of them in San Fransisco?

      --
      If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
  106. With the "little dot" logo... by Charlie+Bill · · Score: 1

    It looks like the international symbol for man attempting to perform autofellatio than the life glider. What system did ESR play on? All mine used blocks.

  107. Perl's got a camel? by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1
    From the page that was linked to,
    "O'Reilly & Associates maintain the trademark on the use of camel in association with Perl."

    It appears that Perl doesn't have anything. O'Reilly has got a nice little logo for their Perl books and the fact that people believe the camel is the logo, can only help sales.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  108. Diebold (N/T) by Little+Brother · · Score: 1

    No silly-willy that was supposed to be Diebold (No Text) not a merger between microsoft's old server software and a voting machine that is as secure as a paranoid scitzophrenic during a bad acid trip.

    --

    Little Brother, watching the watchers

  109. bad idea by mcguyver · · Score: 1

    Part of being a hacker is being a rebel. It's about being unique, anonymous and non-conformist. Sure OSI has it's own logo, so does linux, and so does perl. Most of those logo's are trademarked. This is a bad idea that's going going to get laughed at...

  110. Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    1. Re:Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by SoupaFly · · Score: 1

      WTF is that she's cramming in there? Muff Dive Barbie?

    2. Re:Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdoted. Please provide mirror.

    3. Re:Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      This is what she's using.

    4. Re:Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is it just me or did part of her snatch fall off?

    5. Re:Warning! Siren may sound if at work!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dont understand why a comment like this isn't modded up. It is not offtopic from the storyline and also provides the average slashdotter with some jerkoff material. Come on fellas, do your job!

  111. new logo by Jpauls104 · · Score: 1

    cool

  112. Enough inventing "hacker culture" by Jonah+Hex · · Score: 0
    Why from you?

    Because I maintain the How To Become A Hacker document, A Brief History of Hackerdom, the Jargon File, and am more or less the hackers' resident historian. It's my job to think of these things.
    Hacker culture invents itself, and while he's done a good job of chronicling the hacker world, seems like everything I hear from ESR lately is pushing his view of things. I'll support a unviersal hacker symbol from him once he removes "Aunt Tillie" from the Jargon file.
    Aunt Tillie: n.

    [linux-kernel mailing list] The archetypal non-technical user, one's elderly and scatterbrained maiden aunt. Invoked in discussions of usability for people who are not hackers and geeks; one sees references to the "Aunt Tillie test".
    For those who don't recall, ESR is the only one to have ever referenced "Aunt Tillie" in a msg. I myself prefer "Joe User" or even "Joe lUser", both of which aren't in the Jargon file, although just plain old "luser" is.

    Did anything ever come of a forked Jargon file that removes the ESR "questionable" entries, IIRC on wardriving or somesuch.

    Jonah Hex
    1. Re:Enough inventing "hacker culture" by Tet · · Score: 2
      ESR is the only one to have ever referenced "Aunt Tillie" in a msg.

      I'm not convinced about this. While I may not always agree with ESR, I think he's innocent here. From memory, Aunt Tillie was originally coined by David Woodhouse on LKML. ESR picked it up and ran with it, sure (adding a nephew, Melvin, his girlfriend Penelope, and other characters for no apparently good reason), but he didn't originate the term.

      --
      "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
  113. this is by far the most horrible idea ever by heff · · Score: 1

    I'm willing to burn karma on this,

    When they look back at slashdot, and talk about the point where it "jumped the shark"

    this suggestion/news item/post will definitely be considered.

    --

    --

    |-_-| . o O ( bEef!)

    1. Re:this is by far the most horrible idea ever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. Slashdot can't jump the shark. You see, the creation of Slashdot was the jumping of a shark.

  114. I get it by tsm_sf · · Score: 1

    You know, it really resembles a hand flipping someone off viewed from the side. Not bad

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  115. Yo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Word Life.

  116. But...but...but.... by Masque · · Score: 1

    I really want to make a sarcastic, scathing comment.

    I really want to go on about how much this bothers me and why it's wrong.

    I REALLY want to mock this.

    The trouble is, I really like it.

    Which makes me hate it even more!

  117. What "glider pattern"? by jdfox · · Score: 1

    I've searched my copy, but can't find that logo.
    Are you sure you're using the same version as I am?
    Is yours endorsed by Art Linkletter?
    Well now. I didn't think so.

  118. hackers already have a logo ! by netnerd.caffinated · · Score: 1

    I can see where Eric is headed on this one. 1 logo which would unite the hacker community. A little bit like a new world order, instead of having BSD vs. Linux ect. But we already have one. its called /.

    --


    You tried your best, & you failed miserably,
    The lesson is:
    Never Try
    1. Re:hackers already have a logo ! by Kirellii · · Score: 1

      I agree /. is the logo

  119. Eric S. Raymond: are you the "Federal" hacker gov? by zealotasd · · Score: 1

    Brother Raymond doesn't need to make a logo for all of us. I wear a logo that nobody can see...the logo of Jesus Christ.

    Didn't anyone learn that the federal government (aka United States, a corporation) will only usurp the smaller man-made institutions? Eric S. Raymond's proposition will only do the same. You don't see state flags anymore, just the corporate United States flag. It will be the same way with Hacker flags.

    Eric, you're brilliant as Thomas Jefferson, but please don't feel rejected if a number of "hackers" don't organize under your flag. Most already have a flag. If we were all aware that the original 13th ammendment to the "Constitution for the united States of America" was still in effect, then the by-laws overlayed by the "Internation Hackers" flag would only ussurp the many already-existing "Hacker" flags that many already hold-dear.

    Again I ask, has everyone forgotten about the Federal ussurpation?

    Become one of the freemen! ;-)

    --

    Secured Party, Without Prejudice, UCC 1-207: Creditor
  120. No no no no no no no! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does this bunch promote such stupid ideas,

    I've got to tell you I'm a bit sick of everyone trying to call me a "hacker", "programmer", or even "software developer".

    First off, "hacker" doesn't mean at all what it used to mean. The media has twisted it into some sort of buzz word for "thief". Not that the original meaning was that beloved. Originally the word applied to people who "didn't" have any real skills. It applied to people who liked to "tinker" with computers. Tinker with computers!

    Perhaps, tinkering can lead to knowledge and more understanding. Maybe hacking is part of the learning process. I have to tell you that I've been in Software long enough that I wouldn't want to be considered a perpetual "newbie"!

    Hackers are not the superset that these other groups belong to. No more then all High School Students are Freshmen. No indeed, just as Freshmen are a subset of High School Students ... Hackers are the newbies of the Software Industry.

    What is this group of people called? What is the name of the superset. I don't know! We're not that organized yet. The industry is at it's earliest stages.

    And that doesn't mean that Microsoft should come along and try to "name" and "certify" us either.

    Damed idiot children,
    Playing with Warp Drive no less,
    -- El Duderino

    1. Re:No no no no no no no! by EnormousTooth · · Score: 1

      I see your point of view. However, what I consider "hacking" IS tinkering with computers. Having skills is a side effect. As with the "newbie" aspect, I would consider a lot of non-hackers to be newbies in the software world. Tinkering with computers does make you understand them, and that makes you pretty much adept. I wouldn't say that everyone that considers themselves a hacker is skilled, but I would respect that claim. "Hacker" is just a group that people like to place themselves in. I personally don't care if the media interprets that as malicious, or if that automatically gives people the idea that I'm lower than trained "professionals." More and more of people that aren't really hackers as I view them are calling themselves that. I'm not sure I want hackers to turn into some big organization. Sorry about the disorganized writing, I'm kinda tired.

      --
      I don't use Emacs; it uses me.
  121. You're Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    People should not sell things, it is against freedom to charge for products of any kind. The GNU ethic is to make things for free, because in a world where everything can be gotten gratis, there is no more reason to fight amongst each other. This would allow us to focus on the greater good of mankind and advance morally, technologically, and perhaps even making the next step in evolution of mankind.

    So thaentix, you need to get with the GNU program because you can't oppress us. We are free both idealogically and in price. ESR is a great wise man who will lead us to greater freedom.

  122. Yeah... by Aldric · · Score: 1

    Why? What's the point?

  123. Logo idea good, glider bad by pstreck · · Score: 1

    I like the idea of having a logo to represent the community, but the glider from life? It's well, a little lifeless. I'm a bigger fan of animal type logos, and something with some damn color! That's just my 2 cents though.

    --

    Later,
    Phil
  124. Quick... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone put this madman in a padded cell before he manages to do more damage.

  125. ESR already using the logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It looks like Eric Raymond is already using the logo to represent hackerdom. Look at the jargon site here.

  126. Seems a bit arrogant... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and pretentious for someone to christen themselves the "resident historian" of anything, much less something as nebulous and border free as the "hacker movement."

  127. Good thinking by Wyzard · · Score: 1

    Three troll replies and one intelligent one. Good thinking. :-)

  128. Hackers, crackers, it's all the same by hajejan · · Score: 1

    Hackers? gimme a break. To most of the world, hackers are still a bunch of people who try to destroy websites and commit VISA-card fraud.

    You.. hell.. WE don't need a hacker-logo. We don't need a bloody company profile or unified PR campaign. You know why? Because we aren't a unified unit. Nobody can say "hackers think that..." because no two hackers are alike.

    A logo implies a common good. The penguin-people are all Linuxfans. The apple-people are all arty-farty designfreaks (I can say that, I'm writing this on my iBook from my bed on wifi). The problem is that Microsoft has hackers. Linux has hackers. FreeBSD has hackers. Apple has hackers. And there is no way any one of those groups can represent any (far less ALL) of those other groups - hence - a single unified logo is a bad idea.

    Haje

    --
    The Mini Repository - more links
  129. I LOVE IT! by mfarah · · Score: 1

    Mod me down as redundant if necessary, but I HAVE to say it: I LOVE the idea, and I love the logo.

    --
    "Trust me - I know what I'm doing."
    - Sledge Hammer
  130. maybe not.. by pbjones · · Score: 1

    Do I want to be known by a logo or known by my works? my work is my logo.

    --
    There was an unknown error in the submission.
  131. nice idea by fuckfuck101 · · Score: 0

    I kinda like the idea, and I always wonder if the guy next to me is a hacker (though most are fat, rough beards and with some form of skin condition).

    But, what gives this guy the right to choose what logo represents 'hackers'?

    Anyways, wearing the demon or penguin etc kinda shows that you're into all that jazz anyway.

    --
    Comment: Yes I realise the username 'fuckfuck101' makes me sound intelligent, no you cannot buy it from me.
  132. Hackers don't need a logo... by jxliv7 · · Score: 1
    .

    We need a symbol...! I suggest the middle finger salute.

    An official motto: Up yous, too...!

    An official OS: Linux or maybe one of the BSD's.

    An official enemy: Micorsoft/Bill Gates/DCMA/The Patriot Act.

    And an official title: geek.

  133. great idea! by Suppafly · · Score: 1

    This is a proposal that we adopt one - the glider pattern from the Game of Life.'"

    Since I could really care less, I say we adopt your idea. Make sure it's an opensource/ copyright free graphic though.

    1. Re:great idea! by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Since it's a mathematical pattern, it's free anyway (at least in the US - maybe not over in the EU).

  134. Circle wins! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (Tic-tac-toe) :D

  135. Well... by krsjuan · · Score: 1

    all i got to say is.. NERDS!!!!

  136. The idea is good....BUT... by madmarcel · · Score: 1

    but...the logo is rather unimpressive.

    ((Disclaimer - I am an amateur graphics-artist/designer, and I have done a number of courses on design, including design of logos. I consider myself a hacker and nearly fell of my chair when I read 'A Portrait of J. Random Hacker' ;))

    1) From a design point of view it simply lacks...impact. It's lost on a page. Compare it to the penguin or the bsd daemon. It just doesn't have the same appeal or impact. A bit of colour could make a big difference. Perhaps something a little less abstract.

    2) I can understand ESR's reasoning, and I known what the game of life is, but I do not associate it with hacker culture. I'd say that freedom of choice, a can-do-attitude, and enormous diversity are more symbolic of hacker culture. Oh, and late nights playing games/coding/swigging coffee ;)

    Whenever I think of the game of life, I see little bacteria and virii crawling allover the place, taking over the world. Not a good thing to be associated with.

    3) A caffeinated beverage? Dammit, already been used :( (See Java)

    4) My suggestion would be to come up with a number of alternatives and let people choose for themselves. Don't say: "Here it is, let's all use THIS". Giving people only one choice contradicts hacker culture IMHO :) Naughty ESR, practise what you preach.

    5) Don't like it? Make your own then. I know that programmers/hackers are generally speaking not artists (and from experience -> good artists loathe programming/hacking ;o) but it would seem the best (and most appropriate) course of action.

    Oh well...just my 20 cents.

    1. Re:The idea is good....BUT... by nagora · · Score: 1
      but...the logo is rather unimpressive.

      Funnily enough I thought the opposite: silly idea but when I saw the logo I thought "actually, that's rather good".

      As the page itself hints, this is because the glider was a key moment in many people's hacking lives: the realisation that something you didn't put into a program can arise from it and surprise you. It's just dots but...it walks!

      Seeing that little glider took me back to those days, when it was all new and no one was sure if home computers would take off, copyright didn't cover computer programs and everyone was in their own little way working together. Kids today? Pah!

      Sorry, drifted off there. Anyway: simplicity has it's own quality.

      TWW

      --
      "Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
    2. Re:The idea is good....BUT... by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

      "Anyway: simplicity has it's own quality"

      Absolutely.

      I stuck it on my pages, and it did't shove itself down my gob as I looked at it. Perfect.

      YAW.

      --
      Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
  137. Re:Looks like the game of Go by adamy · · Score: 1

    Yeah, but that is not a very strong go position.

    Perhaps Life from Go:
    +++++++ This line is all blank
    ++OOOO+ This line is the top
    +O+O+O+ This line is the middle
    +OOOO++ This line is the botttom
    +++++++ And the board goes on

    --
    Open Source Identity Management: FreeIPA.org
  138. bumps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It means capital-Z in Braille.

  139. Sure... by devphaeton · · Score: 1

    Why don't we just mash them (gnu d00d, bsd's charlie, linux's tux, etc) all together, or just switch out body parts, or something....

    Legos are geek toys too, right?

    --


    do() || do_not(); // try();
  140. Re:Eric S. Raymond: are you the "Federal" hacker g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Again I say WTF are you talking about,

    Are you a damned tree hugger?
    Jesus Christ?
    Thomas Jefferson?

    WTF?

    You must have been a little too damn close to your personal flag. I think it's cracked you in the skull!

    --El Duderino

  141. Considered Silly... by billstewart · · Score: 1
    If hackers want an emblem, it's "A black T-shirt with some random geekish logo on it, losing extra points unless it's one you actually worked on rather than a vendor tradeshow giveaway." (Or if it's a band T-shirt, then it should be a band you were/are actually in, or at least one that's really really obscure.) Or a penguin that you've modified yourself.

    But no, there's really no point, and it's a silly idea.

    ..

    OTOH, yes, the Game of Life was cool. But still no thanks.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
    1. Re:Considered Silly... by Short+Circuit · · Score: 1

      It still is cool. :) There's all sorts of research centered around it.

  142. Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by Atario · · Score: 3, Interesting
    In many computer graphics systems, the X/Y coordinate system starts in the the upper left and goes up in the right and down directions. So, in a way, the glider would be going "up" both ways. ("Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we hold dear are only true from a certain point of view.")

    Also:
    It could be varied, combined with other emblems, or modified and infinitely repeated for use as a background.
    If you tiled them (with no extra space, or even with a one-cell margin between, probably), they'd cease to glide. Which brings up a great, though CPU-draining, and possibly annoying, possibility: a huge life-game running as your wallpaper.
    --
    "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
    1. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

      a huge life-game running as your wallpaper.

      Webscripted versions of the game of life are good for this. I use this as a wallpaper from time to time.

      --
      We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
    2. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      You DO realize that Active Desktop is why your computer isn't running quickly (unless KDE or GNOME have some features I haven't heard of before...), don't you?

    3. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      CPU draining? 1 cell of life takes about 12 operations per iteration. 1600x1200 cells would eat what, 1% of your 2.4GHz of processing power?

    4. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      KDE allows you to run an app on the desktop -- xearth or whatever. You can run Xscreensaver the same way in the regular X root window. Not sure about GNOME...

    5. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by bnenning · · Score: 1
      CPU draining? 1 cell of life takes about 12 operations per iteration. 1600x1200 cells would eat what, 1% of your 2.4GHz of processing power?


      As it happens, I've solved the problem of insufficient CPU usage by having the Life board rotate in 3d. If you run OS X, grab these screensavers, and then use this program to run LifeSaver as your desktop background. (Or as a transparent foreground if you're especially insane).

      --
      How to solve most of our problems: 1.Lots of nuclear plants. 2.Cure aging.
    6. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      In Soviet Russia:
      3. Profit!
      2. ???
      1. Imagine a Beowulf cluster of sigs, you insensitive clod!

      Wow. If you can find a way to include Natalie Portman, Hot Grits, and MEEPT!!! you'll have rendered every other post in Slashdot's marvelous history redundant.

    7. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      xlock -inroot -mode life

    8. Re:Depends how you look at it; also, tiling? by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      --
      In Soviet Russia:
      3. Profit!
      2. ???
      1. Imagine a Beowulf cluster of sigs, you insensitive clod!


      Now you know this guy spends waaaay too much time on /. with a sig like that.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
  143. Can hacking even be institutionalized? by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 1

    Could hacking even be institutionalized or a coherent enough group to be given a logo? I propose a black flag with a white system font "10101" centered on it. That is a lot closer to what a hacker would really understand... these are not the cool, clean-logo wearing poser hackers that need a logo... it's the ones that are really actually interested... the ones that used a TRS-80, that deserve the pirate flag logo. BUT, who could decide who gets to use the logo? A super-hacker consortium of some kind? If so, I hereby claim juniority: I am not at all the best hacker, but I have used a TRS-80 for evil...

    --
    stuff |
    1. Re:Can hacking even be institutionalized? by djeaux · · Score: 1

      I might offer, sir, that certain government agencies are very keen to institutionalize hackers. In their view, the standard hacker "uniform" would be an orange jumpsuit with a number on it.

      --
      "Obviously, I'm not an IBM computer any more than I'm an ashtray" (Bob Dylan)
  144. What is wrong with this? by edalytical · · Score: 1
    --
    Win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP Guitar from the Deftones: http://def-tag.com/?r=0008781
  145. Is that supposed to be a logo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Could it possibly be any more gay?

  146. no thanks by epyT-R · · Score: 1

    Yay, let the social acceptance of 'hackerdom' as he puts it, begin! Any real hacker would not want to be associated with an emblem or symbol of any kind, especially one that signifies 'chic'ness of any kind. It would find it downright offensive. Let the 'culture' stay counter, kthx.

  147. Hackers of the world unite!! by Cowboy+Bill · · Score: 1

    Perl Hacker -> Camel on a Glider
    Python Hacker -> Python on a Glider
    BSD Hacker -> Demon on a Glider (not that it would do him/her too much good)
    Linux Hacker -> Penguin on a Glider

    Well yeah you get the idea. The point is you are a hacker when you wear a camel T-shirt or for that matter any of those logs above and a thousand more! Hacking is a frame of mind.. more like zen and like zen, there are so many ways of expressing this. Hence so many symbols. Well it makes some sense to call yourself a "generic" hacker. But today I might be coding away on my mac and voila tomorrow I am a Linux hacker or a clueless wannabe hacker looking at my car's 710 lights :-). As far as the glider in the game of life goes , it pretty much can mean anything and everything. In that sense that might substitute for a Hacker logo. On an imaginative day, I can make it sound cool. The idea is good but I bet, there will be a hundred more out there before you can say Glider !

    --
    --> Your Wisecrack Here
  148. Re:Looks like the game of Go by baka_boy · · Score: 1

    No confusion necessary -- it's a damn strong Go position, as well, so even the mis-interpretation gives a positive impression.

  149. How about... by EverDense · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The caffeine molecule, a substance that permeates hacker culture.
    It even symbolises some of the humour that hackers are known for.

    --
    http://jesus.everdense.com/
    1. Re:How about... by Dirtside · · Score: 1

      Because some of us don't use caffeine. :) Like someone else pointed out, independence is a strong aspect of hacker culture. Let's all show our independence by wearing a logo!

      --
      "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
    2. Re:How about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then you aren't a hacker, you're just a hanger on.

  150. A small suggestion by nado · · Score: 1

    I would rotate it 90 degrees clock-wise. That way, the 'L' stands for "loser" and the extra dot represents hackers' malformation.

    Otherwise, great idea.

  151. but we do need a mark for muggs by ciaran_o_riordan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I would have thought 5ux0rz would be more appropriate for most people that call themselves hackers, especially ones that think it would be c001 to have a logo :-p

    1. Re:but we do need a mark for muggs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "it would be c001"

      Don't you mean "it would be 1337"?

    2. Re:but we do need a mark for muggs by pauljlucas · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I'm a hacker, but I don't consider mispelling words "cool." (I don't see how anybody over the age of about 14 could.) I prefer clarity, simplicity, and elegance.

      I'm not a hacker either because it's cool or I choose to call myself such. I am one because I am: I write software that "scratches an itch." Whether somebody else considers me a hacker or cool because of it is irrelevant. I couldn't care less.

      Somebody who calls themselves a hacker because they think it's cool probably shouldn't be one.

      --
      If you reply, do so only to what I explicitly wrote. If I didn't write it, don't assume or infer it.
    3. Re:but we do need a mark for muggs by essreenim · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. And the terminology has become messed up. Misbehaving, idiot script kiddies might call themselves 'crackers'. Crakers used to be people who factorize impossibly fat integers...

  152. We're not elistic by jabbadabbadoo · · Score: 1
    I think ESR has to much time on his hands.

    Hackers are hackers because we like to hack. We want to be isolated unless playing a different role (like a normal person going to movies and stuff...) We like to be on the bottom of technical things - not beeing part of elistic society with a logo of his own.

    So ESR: go stuff your glider up you "# and shut up.

  153. the hacker "way of living" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "But by using this emblem, you express sympathy with our goals, our values, our way of living."

    heehee, this looks good, hackers need all the sympathy we can give them. :-)

  154. Wait... by 222 · · Score: 2, Funny

    you mean to tell me that this flying window thing isnt the hacker logo?

  155. hmm by smash · · Score: 1
    An axe, or a hacksaw.

    Not that I think its required.

    smash.

    --
    I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
  156. Um let me see . . . No! by PalmKiller · · Score: 1

    its all in the subject

  157. Not simple enough. by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

    The fault with the GNU, Linux, FreeBSD, and Perl logos is that they AREN'T FRIGGING LOGOS. They're mascots.

    Logos should be much, much simpler than that. The OSI logo is good in that regard. The only reason you have no idea what the OSI logo looks like is because it never gets used, because OSI people are not zealots, and they don't have advertising dollars (</flamebait>).

    This logo is almost simple enough. I like the glider idea. Ditch the grid around it. Just the five dots is fine. If you like the reference to pixels, then make it five pixels. But no grid. Think of the CitiGroup logo. Or Nike. Or Amazon. So simple that they could go anywhere, in any ad, and all of a sudden you know that it's for Citi, Nike, Amazon.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  158. Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...for Losers

    "1'm k3wl. 1 c4n d0wnl04d 0th3r p30pl3's skr1pts 4nd run th3m! 4nd 1 c4n typ3 l1k3 4 f4g!"

    Yeah - you guys are real leet, yo. Why not actually learn how things work?

    1. Re:Their logo should be "L" by welsh+git · · Score: 1

      Why not actually learn how things work? Why not learn the difference between "hacker" and "cracker" ? :-)

      --
      Sig out of date
    2. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Why not learn the difference between "hacker" and "cracker" ?

      h4x0rs don't concern themselves with differences like that, yo.

    3. Re:Their logo should be "L" by darxyde · · Score: 1

      You are mistaking script kiddies and crackers for professional, talented, dedicated coders.

      --
      Hey relax fella, you need a rest, guy.
    4. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are mistaking script kiddies and crackers for professional, talented, dedicated coders.

      And you are mistaking professional, talented, dedicated coders with childish, liberal Losers who want to brand themsleves as "hackers" and try to elevate themsleves above the "crackers" and "script kiddies" that they themselves are no better than. Maybe it wasn't always so, but it is now. The term "hacker" is tainted. Professional, talented, dedicated coders know this and wouldn't try to make such ignorant distinctions.

    5. Re:Their logo should be "L" by intertwingled · · Score: 1

      A "hacker" is an "explorer of systems".
      a "cracker" is a criminal.

      Comprende?

      --
      -- SKYKING, SKYKING, DO NOT ANSWER.
    6. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just to be a pain, I agree with the parent. Hacking was actually always more of an academic pursuit; Anybody who works/ed at MIT understands this. Infact, I personally know several old-school 'hackers' who would quite happily shoot your somewhat childish remarks down in flames. You are right, it is tainted; but only by the media and talentless gits who find amusement in ripping copyrighted goods and exploiting unprotected systems. There is great honour in being labeled a 'hacker'; And the more you succumb to the idea that 'hackers' == 'crackers', the more we misunderstand the roots and culture of our industry.

    7. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      You fucking idiot. The historical revisionism of idiots like Eric Raymond and Steven Levy has you brainwashed. Do a little research yourself into the history of crackers and you'll see that calling script kiddies crackers is just as wrong as calling script kiddies hackers. In other words: Your ignorance is astounding and the hypocrisy of people who should know better, like Eric Raymond, makes me fucking sick...

    8. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Infact, I personally know several old-school 'hackers' who would quite happily shoot your somewhat childish remarks down in flames.

      old-school == dumb, moronic, close minded old men who are set in their ways.

      You probably think downloading music isn't a viable market. Or is that too new-school for you? Maybe you're among the generation that thought piano scrolls were going to ruin the music industry.

      Times change old man. Get a clue. Hackers are either a bunch of a 1970's acid dropping, pot smoking hippies, or kids of acid dropping, pot smoking hippies who think they're cool. Er, sorry, who think their "kewl".

      The lesson to be learned here is that drugs are for Losers. And, accordingly - the Hacker logo should be "L".

    9. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The children of this generation are so... angry. Man.

    10. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The children of this generation are so... angry.

      Not angry. We're just smart enough not to fry our brains with drugs.

    11. Re:Their logo should be "L" by darxyde · · Score: 1

      I find it ironic that you throw around diatribe like 'ignorant distinctions' and yet proclaim that 'hackers' are 'liberal losers'. In discrete mathematical circles this would be labeled a universal generalisation; The existance of which typically proves an argument tautologically untrue. I also noticed furthur in the thread that you label older coders as 'drug users', quid pro quo - furthur confirming that you are, indeed, the king of ignorant distinctions.

      Nice work, poindexter. Good luck which the whole 'arrogance' thing.

      --
      Hey relax fella, you need a rest, guy.
    12. Re:Their logo should be "L" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lay off the drugs man. They're bad for you.

  159. O'Reilly by magiluke · · Score: 1

    Hackers can have their own logo/animal once O'Reilly publishes a book on hacking.

    --
    -Magiluke

    Earl Grey, Hot.

  160. How pathetic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Little Eric wants to become exactly what he (stupidly) accuses Bill Gates of wanting to be in his retarded commentary on the "Halloween documents" - he very much wants to be "god's gift to hackerdom". Well shieeet.

    Maybe he should get back to writing code. Oh, no, wait... *sendmail*

  161. Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base... by namespan · · Score: 2, Insightful


    Sure. Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!


    Are we talking about the "peace sign"? If we do get a logo, it will become trendy, probably in a way worse than all-your-base and "profit!" and the like and then...

    One problem I see with a logo though, is that hackers tend to hate posers (since hacking is more about competence than simply attitude). And it's easier to pose with a logo.

    Exactly. It will become like 1337 speak -- something that people who think they're on the inside often use, something posers flaunt.

    Penguings and Devils aren't about some obscure, fleeting concept as a movement or culture. They belong to some useful pieces of software. They're different than the obscure concept ESR wants to give a visual brand to.

    (Although I'll hand it to him, if there was anything that'd do it, that'd be it.)

    --
    Libertarianism is rich wolves and poor sheep playing gambler's ruin for dinner.
  162. Eric! You're a genius! by Ridgelift · · Score: 1

    Although I read ESR's How to Become a Hacker, it wasn't until I read his post on the new hacker logo.

    I think I'm finally starting to think like a hacker. My wife asked me to stop programming for awhile and help her make dinner. So while helping her make Stroganoff Meatballs, I was able to keep thinking like a hacker.

  163. I thought it was already decided by paiute · · Score: 1

    seems like most hackers here already voted for the goatse logo.

    --
    If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
  164. blahblahblah by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

    It's not cool. It's commie bullshit!

    --
    We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
  165. Wow, nice logo! by Psychic+Burrito · · Score: 1

    Best design so far!

  166. SEAL by GQuon · · Score: 1

    And if you're pretending to be SEAL, you go around humming but refuse to sing.

    --
    Irene KHAAAAAAN!
  167. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Sure. Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!

    Are we talking about the "peace sign"?


    Ha...

    No, the A with a circle around it...

  168. Some problems.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Two thoughts:

    (1) Haxors generally believe in anarchy. That will make it hard to unite behind one logo identity.

    (2) The logo will get "appropriated" by some company for commercial purposes.

    1. Re:Some problems.... by AvengerXP · · Score: 1

      You mean like the punk haircut and the punk bands? Of course they'll take the logo and be commercialized, they're all just looking for the same thing, belonging. Even if it costs their individuality, they will do it.

      --
      Trolls dont like to be Flamebait, because they burn so well. Protect our Troll heritage!
  169. Re:Looks like the game of Go by adamy · · Score: 1

    Well, the L SHape is not considered too strong. You are right in that it would takea bit to capture. I guess the relative strength or weakness would depend on the rest of the board. To me it looks like "Thickness"

    --
    Open Source Identity Management: FreeIPA.org
  170. Multiple logos by f1ipf10p · · Score: 0

    Lamer: A loudspeaker

    Script Kiddie: A Baseball Bat

    Developed Kiddie: Pinky the Ghost

    Semi-Elite: Casper the Ghost

    Elite: Invisible logo

    -Emanual Goldstien

    --
    ~8^]
  171. Sweet, just the thing we need by TLouden · · Score: 1

    I'd like to post this redundant and useless comment to say that I'm just one more person in support of this.

    --
    -Tim Louden
  172. Thinkgeek? by sahonen · · Score: 1

    How long before Thinkgeek makes a T-shirt?

    --
    Make me a friend and I'll mod you up
  173. Won't say THAT by mabhatter654 · · Score: 1

    buy I think a "Cat Herding" logo would be in order!

  174. I think if you concoct it through Slashdot... by Cranx · · Score: 1

    I think if you concoct it through Slashdot, it automatically becomes as uncool as can possibly be, but go ahead and sport the logo if it twists your cinnamon bun. Ignore the snickering.

  175. Crass Commercialism by soliaus · · Score: 1
    --
    Speaking at Defcon 12 - Credit Card Networks Revisted: Pen
  176. If everyone starts wearing T-shirts with a glider by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... I'm going to wear one with a glider gun. A stationary form which shoots gliders is much cooler than a glider by itself.

  177. Think Geek wants one also...... by VonSnaggle · · Score: 1

    Think Geek would like a unified logo so they can sell the crap out new t-shirts with a new logo.....

    I see what your thinking OSDN.....

    --
    if common sense was common, wouldn't everyone have it?
  178. I would never wear it if... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    ...it made people think I was associated with ESR.

    Thanks, Eric, but no thanks--I really don't want to be part of your "tribe".

  179. 1337 by Valar · · Score: 1

    *
    *
    *
    **

    I g07 t3h h4ckz.
    (I'm kidding. If you think this post is motivation enough to flame me, go right ahead.)

  180. Looks like a... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like a staple gun to me.
    How about a drain snake instead?
    [you've been rooted, for the pun-impared]

  181. I vote for... by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

    ...a chair in the process of being carved out of a solid block of wood, with an axe embedded in it, a la the original definition: "someone who makes furniture with an axe".

    That meme is well ingrained, myself being familiar with it before ever using a modem, and lends itself well to imagery and iconification.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  182. Proper credit by bigdavex · · Score: 1

    It should be

    GNU / *
    *
    ***

    [This comment violated the "postercomment" compression filter. Therefore I added this useful gibberish at the end.]

    --
    -Dave
  183. Re:Looks like the game of Go by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

    I've often wondered if a cellular-automata program of some kind would be an effective Go opponent. There are some interesting (if trivial) similarites between the two.

    --
    We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
  184. ESR by pyrrho · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    is an elitist asshole. Every time I agree with him I feel dirty.

    God I hate it when some marginalized group of people gets all excited... hey, maybe we can be the new elite and treat them like they treated us... yes, JUSTICE!

    Jesus: the noble "hacker" term has to be applied by others. Uh, no, you can apply it to yourself after spending time alone with your computer, in the dark, for a long time.

    But ESR thinks is a social thing. Hacker culture.

    You know the hacker's I like (I are one!), the one's that said, to hell with needing approval, fuck it all I'll like what I want, Nih!

    Like all writers of dictionaries, ESR believes he commands the language for having recorded it passably well.

    fneck!

    --

    -pyrrho

  185. Maybe I'm not geek enough... by Jubii · · Score: 1

    But when they said "the game of life" I instantly thought of the Hasbro Game of Life that I played as a kid. Did anyone else ever sell their family members at the end of the game for extra cash?? Anyone?? Anyo... Maybe I have bigger problems than just not being geek enough.

    --

    I planned on inserting something witty here but never got around to it.
  186. GNU logo by krokodil · · Score: 1
    gnu and OSI's got an open-source logo

    GNU have their own logo!

  187. Wrong place to bring up this subject by sirtimbly · · Score: 1

    If you wanted to have a logo for only the true hackers, those that fulfilled all the ideals that hackerdom is supposedly based around, then you wouldn't post it on slashdot. As soon as something is on slashdot it is torn apart and disseminated to every wannabe and poser on the net for them to regurgitate any time they want recognition.

    --
    Sir Timbly of Cannatuna, offical Knight of the Heptagonal Table
    1. Re:Wrong place to bring up this subject by logical1010 · · Score: 1
      Of course.

      We need to sell wannabes and posers more awesome (and expensive) shwag that will tell everyone how cool they really are.

      --
      There is something wonderful in seeing a wrong-headed majority assailed by truth. ~John Kenneth Galbraith
  188. What about "foo"? by mooman · · Score: 1

    Foo is pretty much the canonical metavariable, it predates the "life" symbol by decades, and it's something that any hacker (that really is a hacker) will instantly recognize.

    All we'd need is some stylized rendition of it (which in itself would be another challenge on par with herding cats) but I think it captures the hacker membership a little more cleanly...

    --
    In the Portland, Ore area and like card games? Check out: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/portlandgames/
  189. Worthy of a tattoo? by chiph · · Score: 4, Funny

    The big question is, would you tattoo it on your arm like Charles Petzold and his Windows logo?

    Chip H.

    1. Re:Worthy of a tattoo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm gonna puke. Man, that was worse than a link to tubgirl.

    2. Re:Worthy of a tattoo? by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

      That's kind of disgusting, actually.

    3. Re:Worthy of a tattoo? by FunkyLinux · · Score: 1

      FWIW the weenie doesn't even us his own product!

      HTTP/1.0 200 OK
      Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 20:59:21 GMT
      Server: Apache/1.3.26 (Unix) FrontPage/5.0.2.2623
      Last-Modified: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 15:10:23 GMT
      ETag: "10bef86-dfd-3f253cdf"
      Accept-Ranges: bytes
      Content-Length: 3581
      Content-Type: text/html
      Age: 95

      BTW the logo is okay too.

      --
      [unclesam@usa /]$ rm -rf /bin/laden
    4. Re:Worthy of a tattoo? by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 1

      The big question is, would you tattoo it on your arm like Charles Petzold and his Windows logo?

      I think he might be legally retarded.

      --
      I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.
  190. Next step... by windside · · Score: 1

    Is a Hacker's Union. God help us all when that happens.

    Look out, Ma, those boys are from Local #0xf00f...

    --
    ...Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
    Churchill
  191. You said the "F" word. by c.emmertfoster · · Score: 1

    Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.

    --
    We can neither love nor pity nor forgive. If you make a slip in handling us you die!
    1. Re:You said the "F" word. by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 1

      That was my joke.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  192. dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by joe_bruin · · Score: 5, Funny

    #|O|#
    -+-+-
    O|#|#
    -+-+-
    O|O|O

    1. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

      It may not be the logo, but that'd still glide in the game of life, it'd just head in a (-, -) direction instead of (+, -).

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    2. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by randyest · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I love the "dyslexics of the world: untie!" joke, but I must ruin your variation by pointing out that the flyer object represented in the proposed hacker logo has the same "flying" (moving) qualities regardless of symmetry (vertical and horizontal flips, and/or rotations in any direction by 90 degree increments yields a virtual object with the same behaviour). So it wouldn't really be dyslexic at all to have the little arrow formed by your flyer point to the lower-left, as opposed to the arbitrary orientation in the proposed logo.

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate. :)

      Seriously, I'm still not sure about the whole logo idea. On one hand, I really don't care -- those that like it should feel free to use it and, in time, it may garner some respect. If not, those who embraced it will be ridiculed for an appropriate length of time and intensity. On the other hand, it sucks because, well, because it's a logo. And a contrived one, specifically chosen to try to be cool, which is, of course, as un-cool as you can get. If a logo for the hacker community just sort of happened accidentally, as the result of some odd, unexpected, unifying event or meme, it might stick. But I think a contrived logo, even with a reference as cool as John Conway built in, is unlikely to catch on.

      But, on the bright side, R'ing TFA led me to this funny hacker FAQ that I hadn't seen before. Very accurate, if a bit too condescending. Regardless, my boss is getting a copy of this right now -- not that he really needs is, but he'll laugh for sure and maybe learn a little.

      --
      everything in moderation
    3. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Zigg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate. :)

      Look more closely. It's wearing a little tinfoil hat. :-)

    4. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sunk my battleship!

    5. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate. :)

      I guess pointing to the left would be to close to meaning gun control....

    6. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by kbeast · · Score: 1

      yup, no matter what format, still looks like a game of Othello to me.

      --
      Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
    7. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by ghmh · · Score: 1
      Actually, that looks more like a game of noughts and crosses that 'o' just won.

      You didn't happen to start a global thermonuclear war did you?!

    8. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by beggarstune · · Score: 1
      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate. :)
      It's phalic - his dick lays to the right.
      --
      (S+C) x (B+F)/T = V
    9. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 1

      RTFM!! What?!? I don't need no Stinking M I am a Hacker! We do it with Bugs :)

      --
      Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
    10. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate.

      English, and almost all programming languages, are read left to right, and top to bottom. The glider is just going with the flow.
    11. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by mikehoskins · · Score: 1

      Dno't yuo maen tihs?

      X|O|X
      -+-+-
      O|X|X
      -+-+-
      O|O|O

      Nauhgts adn croses, anynoe?

    12. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by AlecC · · Score: 1

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect). Then again, you might say the vertical element sort of leans left, so that would be appropriate. :)

      How about because left-to-right and top-to-bottom are the way we normally read, and that is the way the glider is headed? You don't have to see politics in everything.

      --
      Consciousness is an illusion caused by an excess of self consciousness.
    13. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by RocketSHE · · Score: 1

      >Which makes me wonder why ESS picked this ESR, Eric S. Raymond

      --
      ~==>RocketSHE
    14. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by RocketSHE · · Score: 1

      Ah well. Tried to fix another person's typo and I did one myself. I meant:

      >Which makes me wonder why ESS picked this

      Eric S. Raymond is ESR

      --
      ~==>RocketSHE
    15. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Java+Ape · · Score: 1

      I like this orientation better, it kind of looks like a little slashdot!

    16. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which makes me wonder why ESS picked that particular direction/orientation. Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect).

      I've tried to work out what you mean and the closest I cna get is that you think ESR is politically on the left. This is rather disturbing as I think Gengis Khan would have considered ESR to be a raving right winger and I have to wonder what sort of position you start form to see him as being to the left.

    17. Re:dyslexic hackers UNTIE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Surely the choice was not politically motivated, since the arrow points to the
      right (lower-right, yes, but definitely not left as one might expect).

      Actually, ESR would be considered a right-wing libertarian. Left-wing libertarians (Anarchosyndicalists, libertarian socialists like Noam Chomsky, &c.) hold different views from ESR's. (I don't want to go into particular detail here, you can research it yourself.)

      So maybe it's not all that unpolitical afterall.

  193. some hacker I am... by jkczyz · · Score: 1

    I thought he meant the board game. :(

    1. Re:some hacker I am... by Aussie · · Score: 1

      Man, I used to love that game 20-30 years ago. The playing board that ambles around everywhere with the built in wheel for spinning your turns.

  194. A Better Logo by spectecjr · · Score: 1

    Personally, I think a better logo would be quite simple, but sum up hackerdom nicely.

    All you need to show is a round hole, a square peg, and a large mallet.

    --
    Coming soon - pyrogyra
  195. Absoultely Agreed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You don't get a logo till you have an organization that it represents.

    as such while there are organizations of hackers, there is no hacker organization.

    It's like comming up with a logo to represent people who are political.

    1. Re:Absoultely Agreed. by Spoing · · Score: 1
      You don't get a logo till you have an organization that it represents.

      So, why do anarchists (or some of them if you want to argue) have a logo?

      --
      A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
    2. Re:Absoultely Agreed. by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure I would call it a 'logo.'

      Maybe a 'tag' or what-not.

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
  196. It's absurd by Alethes · · Score: 1

    The fact remains that ESR is wasting a lot of time trying to control his environment and prevent "Hacker" from taking on the negative meaning that it has today. Sorry, Eric, but it's time to move on to more meaningful debates instead of spinning your wheels on an issue that is next to meaningless. Let's just call ourselves "developers" or something be done with it. It sure would help with the marketing of OSS.

    1. Re:It's absurd by pyrrhonist · · Score: 1
      Let's just call ourselves "developers" or something

      Back off man, I'm a scientist.

      --
      Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
    2. Re:It's absurd by EverDense · · Score: 1

      Let's just call ourselves "developers" or something be done with it. It sure would help with the marketing of OSS.

      "Developers, developers, developers, developers!"

      Dude, I DON'T think so.

      --
      http://jesus.everdense.com/
    3. Re:It's absurd by Helter · · Score: 1

      Hey man, I'm a consultant.

      don't know what *you're* talking about.

  197. Connect Four by CptnKirk · · Score: 1
    Upon seeing the new proposed hacker logo, my girlfriend asked, "I love Connect Four, but what does it have to do with Hackers?".

    Connect Four

  198. exfuckingxactly by pyrrho · · Score: 1

    he talks about if you use this brand you are giving a gang sign, but don't think you are in the gang till your peers tell you your da coolist.

    yeah there is a hacker culture and ESR comes across as one of it's hoary hanger on embrace and embicile.

    this isn't coming off as a rant is it? I mean, I'm a hacker, I wouldn't want to lose my standing by upsetting my peers. What is the status quo, I need to be with that.

    Over the years ESR has gone from maintaining a funny and slightly correct jargon file to creating a mythos of hackers so complete and fucking rigid it's like a god damned GURPS module.

    Hey... I know, how about a bison logo!?

    --

    -pyrrho

  199. How about a glider *gun* by darkatom · · Score: 1

    If the Life theme is desired, why not a glider gun instead of just a glider. For example, Gosper's -- seems more apprpopriate. The logo could be a depiction of a state where a new glider was just emitted.

  200. Kiss of Death by Harlow_B_Ashur · · Score: 1

    Yeah, go for it. Maybe you'll even get an interview on NPR.

  201. How ABout by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IIIII

  202. Oh, geez! by SpacePunk · · Score: 1

    'Hackers' all have their own individual logos. A 'unified logo'? Only lamers and script kiddies will use it, and that might not be a bad thing. At least it will mark that group for immediate exclusion.

  203. Re:Eric S. Raymond: are you the "Federal" hacker g by spir0 · · Score: 1

    stfu godboy

    go smack your head against some concrete.

    repetitively.

    --
    The reason girls and Windows users don't understand UNIX is because all the documentation is in Man files.
  204. Re:hackers, indeed -- alt tag by Vinson+Massif · · Score: 1

    perhaps 317, --wx--xrwx, or 10.1.111 would be more appropriate|weird as text.

    --
    "Remember, any tool can be the right tool." -- Red Green
  205. but... by pyrrho · · Score: 1

    if he doesn't know, how would he know.

    besides, you enjoyed it didn't you?

    --

    -pyrrho

  206. This is me being a douche by AELinuxGuy · · Score: 2, Funny
    Where is the station wagon full of pink and blue round-tipped sticks? Oh...not talking about that that Game of Life. I've never played Conway's Game of Life, but I think if it had a snappy commercial gingle it might go a little something like this:

    You can't be a winner if you've ever played Conway's Game of Life

    Yea...I'm pretty much a jerk.

  207. Wow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    The fact that they even need a logo speaks volumes about their psychological "characteristics".

    steve

  208. -1 Sig Comment by pyrrho · · Score: 1

    WKRP?

    --

    -pyrrho

  209. Re:hackers, indeed -- alt tag by Vinson+Massif · · Score: 1

    aack. Ignore the ipaddr, I'm an idiot.

    --
    "Remember, any tool can be the right tool." -- Red Green
  210. No. by JeffHunt · · Score: 1

    It would be a great idea, except:

    1. "Hackers" do not operate as a "group". They're just people who like to pick things apart and learn more. "Hackers" are disenfranchised people with different goals.
    2. ESR is false in thinking that he can be the mouthpiece for the "Hackers" of the world.

    <esr mouth="shut" />

    --

    "It was hell!" recalls former child.

    1. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > <esr mouth="shut" />
      I should warn you, this leads to
      <rms mouth="open" />

      They are a switch.

    2. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RMS & ESR flip flopping around ? Disgusting.

  211. whatever the logo is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it should be always rendered as a Magic Eye picture that looks just like static, totally meaningless to most people

    besides, that's how the thing took off (big fad in the mid-90's), hackers had put together a few programs that generated them.

  212. What does this suppose to mean? by patmc · · Score: 1

    From http://www.catb.org/~esr/hacker-emblem/index.html

    Who should not use this emblem?
    If you either promote somebody's product for money or break into other peoples' computers

    WTF?

  213. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Short+Circuit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Isn't it good enough to be able to flaunt your support of something? Even if you're not particularly good enough at it to be considered a useful part?

  214. Tick tack toe! by CAIMLAS · · Score: 1

    It looks like the zeros win again! ... hey, is that supposed to illustrate something?

    --
    ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
  215. Logo Suggestion by NimitzTreeCat · · Score: 1

    How about this whistle I just dug out of a box of cereal? I don't need it for anything...

  216. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Peace sign? Well I guess we know that you were a total dork in high school, and after it as well.

  217. This is extremely stupid by g8oz · · Score: 1

    I don't think we need a logo to prove who we are.

  218. PhenomenaE Merge by jefu · · Score: 1
    Odd.

    I've been hearing "emergent phenomena" used to describe behavior of systems that appears to be systematic but arises from the simple rules that govern the system in a non-obvious way.

    So the emergent aspect has nothing to do with "violate"-ing the rules that start things in motion and more to do with the fact that the behavior comes about because of those rules, but is not something that an observer would easily anticipate or derive from considering the rules at a low level. (See, for instance this page in which "emergent phenomena" are defined as those best predicted through simulation. )

    But, its always possible that the phrase has taken on a different meaning in the last few weeks, so I'll have to go find out.

  219. what the hell? by azuretek · · Score: 1

    You cant make a logo for "hackers" because most of these "hackers" dont even know what a "hacker" is!

    I dont know, I bet you dont know either! I hack code to make it work how I want, but am I a hacker because of that? I guess not since some people say I have to break into stuff to hack. Maybe I'm just being stupid but I really think a logo is quite a stupid idea. No one even knows what hacking is anymore so it would be pointless to "unify" them if they each have different goals and ethics.

    Anyway! TROLL ME :D

    1. Re:what the hell? by Valafar · · Score: 1

      **Off Topic**

      Interestingly enough, I blame this confusion on "Wired" magazine. In the 70s and early 80s, "Hacker" was someone who hacked at code, changing it etc. Late 80s, early 90s the term morphed to mean "someone who 'hacked' a system. It makes sense, as the people who were 'hacking' systems were following the same sort of intellectual curiosity that their predecesors had with code. During this same time period (80s-early 90s) "crackers" were people who ripped copy protection out of software. Then in '92 I believe, Wired magazine was born and published articles about 'hackers' and 'crackers'. Of course, being journalists(!) instead of technology monkeys, they started confusing and mixing up all of the lingo. Fast forward a few years. They consistently used the "mixed" terminology and a new generation of people came up all confused. Some people have tried to revert to the old style lingo (ESR comes to mind), but the reality is that it's too late as it's been assimilated in to our culture.

      Oh well.

      Apologies for the impromtu history lesson.

    2. Re:what the hell? by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      I just use white vs. black hat instead of hacker vs. cracker... BTW, the international sign of a white hat (aka hacker) should be... a white hat (maybe the redhat logo, except with a white hat).

    3. Re:what the hell? by Anusien · · Score: 1

      I would love to just accept "white hat" and "black hat" hackers, but I can't for a couple of reasons. 1) I have a healthy ego, and if I can stay set in my ways and not admit I'm wrong... *shrug* But more seriously: 2) When you stop making the distinction between hacker and cracker you essentially give up. You say, okay, so hackers are bad. But there are SOME good hackers (hopeful look). Personally, I'd like to be able to call myself a hacker in good conscience, and not be associated with the kinds of people that write viruses and malicious code. Also, there is so much culture and, well, folk lore, associated with the term "hacker" that there is no reason to change it for the dumb news media. We had it first, and we're not changing. The White Hat Hacker Ethic doesn't sound as good. Kernel White Hat Hacker?

  220. That's the dumbest logo I've ever seen.... by onetrueking · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Maybe it'll grow on me, maybe it won't, but at the moment, right now without any thinking on a purely emotional level, I think it's an incredibly stupid logo.

  221. braille code by ownedbybill · · Score: 1


    Anybody notice that ESR's suggested logo is a lot like braille? It could be "AZ" for instance.

    http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/braille/index.html?id=Vb muIbgr
    1. Re:braille code by ownedbybill · · Score: 1

      Actually, "Capital-Z" is a better fit in braille. It kinda fits with the mundane nature of the logo as well ;-)

  222. Game Of Life? by Psychor · · Score: 1
    I think the logo is very poorly designed, it doesn't look much like I remember the Game Of Life being. I mean, I guess the circles are supposed to represent the spinners, but I don't any Life Tiles, career cards, or money featured. It used to be a lot more colourful too.

    I'm not entirely sure there was a hacker career either, although it's a while since I've played it. There's possibly an updated version which features the FBI cybercrime squad, instead of the police officer player.

    1. Re:Game Of Life? by Anusien · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure whether you're being ironic or you're just not familiar with it. No links handy, but the game of life is about the interaction of different cells, and different patterns emerge.

    2. Re:Game Of Life? by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      oh, *that* game of life. I thought you meant the one where a doctor yanks you out the smelly end of a yelling woman & you blunder about for a few decades until you finally lose.

  223. Glider? by jefu · · Score: 1
    Might a glider gun be better?

    More complex certainly, but more fun to watch.

    Then too the glider gun might be a better logo for the GPL, expressing the "viral" nature of the license by showing it firing "infectious bullets" around at all and sundry.

  224. good news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    cool, now all wannabe hackers will display the logo with pride!!!

  225. Sigh... by el-spectre · · Score: 1

    The day we all start following a flag is the beginning of the end folks. The strength of the 'community' of computer/electronic geeks comes from its diversity, not its 'branding'.

    Besides, is this _really_ the flag bearer you want? Not for me...

    --
    "Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
  226. It'll be official when... by shadowbolt · · Score: 1

    ...ThinkGeek starts selling "glider" tee-shirts, caps, and coffee mugs. Maybe a brand of highly-caffeinated beverage bearing the glider logo. That's how we'll know it's been accepted as the logo of hackerdom.

  227. Re: the H4X0R's logo is of always ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The logo is the flag of the poisoned man.

    Like the pirates.

    open4free

  228. Logo? was thinking brand. by spidergoat2 · · Score: 0

    As in, cattle.

  229. Here is your International Hackers Logo by zealotasd · · Score: 1

    It isn't ugly, but it isn't pretty either.

    Interntional Hackers Logo.

    --

    Secured Party, Without Prejudice, UCC 1-207: Creditor
  230. I'm in favour of a logo, but... by Captain+Rotundo · · Score: 1

    I hate ESR. I think hes a pompous windbag. I have no interrest in his suggestion for a logo. His interview in "Revolution OS" explains it all as far as I'm concerned, and lest we forget the insanity with the jargon file. A year from now he'll start promoting a new meaning for the logo and say everyone who has the old interpretation is out of touch.

    ESR may have some technical skill, but his "Cathedral and Bazaar" paper is woefully overrated. Simply put it seems like all he does now-a-days is run around trying to act like a "leader" or some amorphous group. He writes things as if he was this great genious that invented the concept when all he did was put it on paper (see his Unix progamming crap)

    Quite frankly every time I see something by ESR I get a little taste of what other people claim to see in RMS (pompous, doesn't do anything but stump for his on promotion anymore... etc) While I admit I do not agree entirely with that assessment of RMS, I would gladly take Free Software over "Open Source Software" any day.

  231. looks like a go board to me by Aeonsfx · · Score: 1

    Looks like a go board to me. Cool. Love the game. --Tim

  232. The Reason for a centralized Logo? by el+pedro · · Score: 1

    I think the reason hackers don't have a specific logo is that they are a diverse group of people, who aren't the type to want to hang out in crowds.

    I think the reason for the lack of one is there isn't a large company/organization behind hackers, and thus they'll never be able to adpot (as such) a formalized figurehead. At least all of the logos mentioned in the first post had something backing the logo.

  233. Gimp's is my favorite. by unassimilatible · · Score: 1

    The original post should have included it. I'm not sure what a Gimp is, but they look playful, like they would make good pets. Then again, one would think the cute Nibbler would make a nice pet, until it started to swallow things.

    --
    Slashdot "libertarians": Small government for me, big government for those I disagree with. -1, I disagree with you
  234. kekek by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A crossed out penis?

  235. Re: the H4X0R's logo is of always ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    what's the logo of Cr4ckX0r5?

    1 anonymous of 6'000'000'000

  236. dotted.. by dave1212 · · Score: 1

    Don't think it's dotted (yet) but here's the text anyway..

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Glider Emblem 29 Oct 03

    Glider pattern from the Game of Life

    What is the emblem?

    The graphic at the top of the page is called a glider. It's a pattern from a mathematical simulation called the Game of Life. In this simulation, very simple rules about the behavior of dots on a grid give rise to wonderfully complex emergent phenomena. The glider is the simplest Life pattern that moves, and the most instantly recognizable of all Life patterns.

    Why have an emblem at all?

    To some hackers, having an emblem might smack too much of groupthink. But the hacker community is, in fact, a community, knit together by trust bonds over the Internet. One thing we've learned since 1991 is that visible emblems of community are just as valuable to hackers as they are to other kind of human beings. They help us recognize each other, help us affirm common values and cooperate more closely. They're useful social engineering.

    Using this emblem means something a little different from just presenting yourself as a Linux fan, or a Perl-monger, or a member of any of the hacker subtribes that have become so successful since the mid-1990s. These are relatively recent developments in a tradition that goes back decades.

    The hackers, in the broadest sense, are the people who built the Internet, and Unix, and the World Wide Web; our dreams of freedom have changed the world everybody lives in. See How To Become A Hacker for an in-depth look at what that means. If you find yourself nodding in agreement as you read that document, you are one of the people who should be using this emblem.

    Why this emblem?

    The glider is an appropriate emblem on many levels. Start with history: the Game of Life was first publicly described in Scientific American in 1970. It was born at almost the same time as the Internet and Unix. It has fascinated hackers ever since.

    In the Game of Life, simple rules of cooperation with what's nearby lead to unexpected, even startling complexities that you could not have predicted from the rules (emergent phenomena). This is a neat parallel to the way that startling and unexpected phenomena like open-source development emerge in the hacker community.

    The glider fulfils the criteria for a good logo. It's simple, bold, hard to mistake for anything else, and easy to print on a mug or T-shirt. It could be varied, combined with other emblems, or modified and infinitely repeated for use as a background.

    Why from you?

    Because I maintain the How To Become A Hacker document, A Brief History of Hackerdom, the Jargon File, and am more or less the hackers' resident historian. It's my job to think of these things.

  237. Re:Eric S. Raymond: are you the "Federal" hacker g by zealotasd · · Score: 1

    What is your problem?

    ESR agrees upon the constitutional "...consent of the governed" clause.

    As much as I may sound like a thorn in somebody's side, ESR has not provided any oath of office or Supreme Executive Power(TM) to provide any form of logo to be representative of a union of organizations.

    Why are you militant? I don't mean to offend anyone. If anyone is willing to unite to ESR's logo, for which he is the Master and Creator (God, Father, etc) of such logo, then by their voluntary and willfull act you choose ESR's logo. I hope that logo does not become an obligation...

    --

    Secured Party, Without Prejudice, UCC 1-207: Creditor
  238. Intruder alert! by Infonaut · · Score: 1
    Whoa there! Who let you in here? Designers are not supposed to be able to think like hackers, and hackers aren't supposed to be able to think like designers!

    Now I suppose you'll want a logo for designers who are also hackers. And maybe another one for hackers who are also designers.

    Get back in your tidy category, dammit!

    --
    Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
  239. Bah!!! by swordgeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    First thing I thought is, "who the FUCK would come up with such a lame, pathetic, anti-hacker mentality idea as this?" I missed the ESR reference.

    Can't say it surprises me though.

    A logo? A LOGO? Hey Eric, how about everyone who meets qualifications (do you need to qualify to be an official hacker? ) get team jackets? Oh, oh yeah, and we could all listen to the same hacker music, and play the same hacker games, and and...

    Last I remember, any non-derogatory definition of hacker included (or at least implied) a strong sense of independence. Let's all show our independence by wearing a logo!!!

    Bah.

    --

    "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
    1. Re:Bah!!! by MxTxL · · Score: 1

      A logo makes your group that much more credible. And real credibility makes your group one step closer to having that one thing that every group really wants: corporate sponsorship.

      It might start off small, the team jackets would have only a small "Eat at Lou's" on them. Before long they are bright orange with the Home Depot logo as well as the flyer logo.

      Yup, after a bit like that, it's just a matter of what price the group will sell out to Microsoft for. And let's be honest, that's the real goal here.

  240. Re: beautiful logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Niceful dangerous logo, hehehe.

  241. coding it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the logo is cool but then I'm not a real hacker. I wrote the Game of Life on a 128 K Mac in 1985 using MS Basic. Man, was it slow. It took about 5 minutes for each generation.

  242. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Lobo93 · · Score: 1

    Take it easy on the kid, he most certainly mistook the all-singing, all-dancing bomb-throwing gangsta-crews roaming his 'hood for anarchists. Go figure. ...faintly heard in the distance... "Peace, brotha!"...BLAM, BLAM!

    Anarchy != Chaos (contrary to common indoctrination)

    Anarchism == Cooperation

    --

    --
    "The only clear view is from atop the mountain of our dead selves." - Peter Carroll
  243. lame by muckdog · · Score: 1

    It looks like someone badly attempting to cheat at tic tac toe

    1. Re:lame by Anusien · · Score: 1

      Not only can you not cheat at Tic-Tac-Toe but are you familiar with "Life" which is the source material? A glider gun is one of the replicating patterns.

  244. Creation of logos by Daetrin · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I probably don't qualify as a hacker, but if i were one i would be annoyed by the conceited way in which this guy has decided to assume this task.

    "It's my job to think of these things."

    I can't think of a worse way for a group of people such as hackers usually are to pick a logo. Sure, Anarchists have a symbol, but i doubt it was dreamed up by the self apointed "Anarchist Historian" who ran the idea past a few focus groups before prclaiming it to the community.

    What exactly does a penguin have to do with Linux? Or a cammel with Perl? Donkeys and elephants with Democrats and Republicans? No think tank sat down and analyzed what would be the most symbolic logo to represent those things. Some guy thought it was cool and used it, and other people agreed and went along. Symbols really _should_ be groupthink, not personthinkandgroupgoesalongwithit.

    If hackers really want a symbol, a real symbol will fall out of the collective. If they want to promote such a process then there should be some kind of forum where hackers can suggest all kinds of symbols that they think would be cool as a method of priming the pump. Instead of then voting on said symbols, everyone should then sit back and see which survive best in the enviroment.

    The best symbols are the ones that survive competition with other symbols, not ones that are created with the intent of being "meaningful." A committee could come up with a more "meaningfull" symbol than the Darwin Fish, but the Darwin Fish is what you see plastered on cars all over the place.

    Maybe the glider would survive best in such a process, but the arrogance of the way in which it was proposed really annoys me.

    --
    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    1. Re:Creation of logos by brianosaurus · · Score: 0, Troll

      Yeah. I've kind of always thought in the back of my head that ESR was just an arrogant asshole, but having never read his article about flea markets (or whatever), I kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt.

      But this clinches it. This is HIS emblem. He's trying to further his cause (whatever that is) in the same sort of was as adding his own personal terms to the Jargon file. Yeah, he maintains the Jargon file, so he can put whatever he wants in it, but one would hope for some amount of integrity from a self-proclaimed "resident historian."

      Then again, I prefer to let history speak for itself. If I'm a part of it, that's fine. If I'm not, I won't be going out of my way to impose emblems and dictionary entries on my peers in order to make myself relevant.

      What a jackass.

      (and this is NOT a troll. Any mod who labels it as such better have ESR's dick in his or her mouth when they click the button.)

      --
      blog
    2. Re:Creation of logos by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      Best.

      ESR.

      Slam.

      Ever.

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
    3. Re:Creation of logos by DavidTC · · Score: 1
      One person did think of the penguin logo.

      But, of course, that person was Linus.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  245. MOD PARENT UP +1 INSIGHTFUL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  246. Re:Should Hackers Get Their Own Logo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This idea is either really stupid or really brilliant

  247. The zen of Hacker by Doug+Merritt · · Score: 1
    You are not a hacker if you have not heard of the game of life.

    Hmm.. I guess your right. And all this time... Oh well, I guess it's time to find another hobby

    You're missing the point. Many people (such as ESR, at the linked story) say that "hacker" isn't a title you claim for yourself, it's the way that other people describe you.

    Therefore, it's not to the point whether you're a programmer or not. The vast majority of programmers aren't Hackers...nor even understand what it means.

    Consider the term "cool" (which goes in and out of style, but never mind that). People who think they are cool may or may not be; it doesn't tend to really be true unless other people think they are cool. Otherwise it's just egotistical.

    It's even partially true that "Hacker" is the "cool" of programming, but that doesn't capture it completely and is not entirely correct. It's also partially a community thing.

    Here's another example. I have worked with professional programmers who never heard of Turing. I was stunned, but they certainly were programmers -- they also certainly weren't hackers. Nothing about Turing came up in their CS degree program. But a hacker would have found out eventually after leaving school, you see. Or lets say it's very likely, anyway.

    Hackers tend be familiar with a lot of the contents of The Hacker's Dictionary that ESR maintains because they "learned it on the street". Wannabes learn it from the book. :-)

    Anyway, despite what jumpingfred said to you, is it possible to be a hacker and to have never heard of the game of life? Sure. It's just vanishingly low probability. And since you haven't heard of it, how could you have an informed opinion one way or the other? :-)

    On the positive side, although some hackers have lives, it's more likely in the case of people who are just programmers but not hackers, so count your blessings.

    --
    Professional Wild-Eyed Visionary
  248. where's Kevin? !!!!!!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Another logo is from the film Hackers: pacman, :), rabbit, ..

    We want the freedom of Kevin !!!

  249. good bad idea by soimless · · Score: 1

    well there is a flags for nations not logos but i think a symbol would be good and finaly show there is a diffance between hackers and crackers but i dont aggree with some of his points he has in "How To Become A Hacker" like the not useing " Don't use a silly, grandiose user ID or screen name." IDs are away to show its a one person. but that is just my opion

    1. Re:good bad idea by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Especially when one has become known by their handle... Of course, it's bad when you only use it for two reasons:

      * Because you're too lazy to come up with something better
      * Because if it says that the username is already registered, you know it's you who did it ;-)

  250. I'm Glad ESR . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    . . . actually picked a symbol that was recognizable, universally understood, and easy to explain.

    Oh . . .
    . . . um . . .

  251. highly permutable by ScottSpeaks! · · Score: 1
    It's a nicely adaptable idea. Those who chafe at the uniformity that a logo implies... wouldn't have to.

    The discs could easily be replaced by (or contain) other logos, allowing hackers to identify their own personal hacking predilections. For example, someone into LAMP hacking might include a penguin, a feather, a dolphin, and their choice of a camel, <?>, or a python. A Win hacker (yes, Virginia) might color four of the boxes RBYG. An old APL hacker could substitute glyphs from his favorite programming language. Etc.

    For that matter, if anyone doesn't care for the particular pattern ESR chose, they can select one they prefer, without losing the essence of the design.

    So... any IP hackers want to volunteer to do the trademark search?

  252. A more appropriate logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    A Slashdot first!

    Finally a story where a reference to "goatse" is appropriate.

    I suggest the hackers adopt the "giant orifice" image from goatse as their logo.

    1. Re:A more appropriate logo by pyrrhonist · · Score: 1
      I suggest the hackers adopt the "giant orifice" image from goatse as their logo.

      It's already being used by someone.

      --
      Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
  253. I think everyone's missing the point. by schild · · Score: 1

    This is the use of Hacker as applied to a culture, NOT the elitist group of untouchables also given such a title. Sure, the 'hacker' himself still falls into the category but it should be said all 'h4ck3rs' (whatever, l33t-speak should be banned) are Hackers. Not all Hackers are 'h4ck3rs.' Whatever though, give it an icon. While we're at it let's make an icon for me too. I'd like it to be a can of guiness being poured over a woman's exposed breast. /schild

    --
    schild
    editor, f13.net
  254. One of the best left out. by polyphemus-blinder · · Score: 1

    And don't forget Apache's rainbowed feather. That's among my favorite.

    Truly, though, what the heck is the "hacker" group? There's no such thing. Way too amorphous a group to have a logo--that's why there isn't one. I feel kinda stupid responding to this actually, because it seems like a joke.

    --

    It's all going according to .plan.
    1. Re:One of the best left out. by Anusien · · Score: 1

      I think ESR meant it as a unifying forces - sometimes Linux v. BSD, Vi v. Emacs, and all the other holy wars divide us as a group. Raymond is saying: "Look, we're all pimply geeks who write/read code for a living!"

  255. More dangerous too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The logo is a lot of infected virus of the crackers or hackers : %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

    anyone remember who was the author of M$B145t3r? was he a cracker or an hacker?

  256. Subculture vs mass-selling T-Shirts by jdifool · · Score: 1

    I'm a lamer, i must warn you.

    But my advice is that the hacker community, even though it was certainly one of the most generous of its time, was built upon the feeling of US and THEN (tx Pink Floyd for the trick) ; that means exclusion of the others ; that means crude web sites with tiny green fonts on a night blue background. That means too that hackers were thought as a community that would have gained some momentum from the ever growing criticisms aimed towards it ; some kind of martyr, if you want.

    Careful ; i'm not insulting nor trying to offence anyone. I have such a deep respect for the hacker community. But it took me some time to understand that, paradoxically, hackers were known just because they were unknown. And one can't be allowed to believe that the logo (unlike anarchists, there are tools, which have been designed by you, internet and the likes, and that will be used against you... don't tempt irony) will not be exploited by fucking crackers or teenagers willing to find a brand new identity.

    "Wow, look man, i'm a hacker, i'm fucking your mummy!!"

    The goal of deposing a logo can be praised ; but it will not be used as its author wants it to be.

    I've red somewhere that hackers were ordinary people. Of course they are. But if you show the face of the ordinary people, you'll become talented programmers ; and the hacker community will become void.
    This doesn't imply the personal feeling of being a hacker ; this is just that the hacker community depends as much on the internal ties than on the public image it generates.

    Again no offence ; it doesn't jeopardize the goals, only the way you want to communciate who you are. I think it has always been that way with communities, even hidden ones. Anarchists too went trough it.

    See you guys,

    Jdif

    --
    Let's overcome our weakness.
  257. More efficient... by qtp · · Score: 1

    try this:

    ++++++
    +OOO++
    +O+O++
    ++O+O+
    ++OOO+
    ++++++

    Fewer stones, easier to achieve.

    --
    Read, L
  258. how about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how about some sort of wizzart type of guy, siamese twin, with 2 heads (bearded ones) one, with a white hat, and one with a black hat.

  259. How about the caffein molecule by gelfling · · Score: 1

    Isn't that obscure and/or leet enough?

    That or a shit throwing monkey.

    1. Re:How about the caffein molecule by Anusien · · Score: 1

      The point of a logo is not to be obscure or "leet", but to represent the group it symbolizes. Personally, I never went head over heels into life, I'm too young for that, but I think it fits. Although the caffeine model amuses, but there's no room to hack it.

  260. Don't be fooled by his Refinery wealth! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ESR has an insatiable ego and will stop at nothing to enslave the human populous using Open Source tools such as Perl, GIMP and Jagermeister. Read proof here!

  261. OK by midimonkey · · Score: 1

    I saw the movie, "Hackers"; do I qualify? I figure if I can attain some "nappy hair" (preferably dreadlocks), squat in a place that happens to be fully wired and score a "chick" who's really -groovy-like-, I'm more than halfway there. Dude.

  262. Like the bathroom tiles... by bluGill · · Score: 1

    How many hackers have done this: while sitting on the john comteplating what the next generation of the floor would look like? I spend a lot of time doing just that at work. Fortunatly I just have carpet in my office, so I get work done - it is only while nature calls that I can see a floor with those little tiles...

  263. Here's another proposal for the logo by armando_wall · · Score: 1


    A penguin and a daemon playing frisbee (with the shape of the OSI logo), and an image is captured when the frisbee breaks through a closed window.

    Eh? Eh?
    No?
    Ok.

  264. wtf... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Eric S. Raymond is not a H4xX0r.

    H4xX0rz d0 n0t h4v3 l0g0s dumb4zz.

  265. Very True... Mod Parent Up!! by cribcage · · Score: 1

    For those who are curious, here's the reference.

    --

    Please don't read my journal
    1. Re:Very True... Mod Parent Up!! by cherad · · Score: 1

      You know you're on slashdot when someone cites a page that anybody in the world can edit as a reference.

  266. I thought we already had that. by edunbar93 · · Score: 1

    Personally, I prefer this one.

    --
    "No problem. I have the capacity to do infinite work so long as you don't mind that my quality approaches zero."-Dilbert
  267. I drew rule 110 before 1983! by goldfndr · · Score: 1
    Whoa, introduced in 1983? Geez, I remember drawing that in my pre-Atari days (possibly late 1970's; definitely 1981 or before) - filled up a bunch of graph paper.

    But I don't think I can prove prior art. Oh, it was derived from Pascal's Triangle, changing odd to a dark spot and even to a light spot. I wonder if Wolfram came up with that explanation?

    --
    Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks: temporary loans from the Public Domain, not real property ("intellectual" or otherwise)
    1. Re:I drew rule 110 before 1983! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What you drew is rule 60, and yes, that is one of the many interpretations that Wolfram and others have come up with for the rule. But it's good you had fun with it.

  268. flying pigs by oo_waratah · · Score: 1

    After all my company wants me to fly pigs on a regular basis and I seem to manage some of them :-)

  269. Hmmm. by cgreuter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I can't really dispute the validity of the glider logo since, even if I never really got into the whole Game Of Life thing (my personal early-hacker obsession was fractals) but I don't really like the logo itself.

    I'd go with a design that replaces the circles-in-squares with rectangles, about twice as wide as high and with the "dead" sectors completely empty. Something like this.

    For black-and-white media, the red squares become whatever the foreground colour is supposed to be and if there are lots of colours available, the brightness of each rectangle could be adjusted to indicate the "aliveness" of that rectangle during some stage of the glider's life cycle.

    1. Re:Hmmm. by llauren · · Score: 1

      Uh, Rackspace?

      ~llauren

    2. Re:Hmmm. by cgreuter · · Score: 1

      Uh, Rackspace?

      I was thinking more along the lines of the old X11 screensaver. But it does look a bit like their logo, doesn't it?

  270. How about the mandelbrot set? by edhall · · Score: 1

    It's:

    1. cooler looking than a few dots
    2. probably consumed an equal or greater amount of CPU time over the years
    3. not likely to be confused with a board game
    4. a fractal -- you can make it as big as you want, and it gains detail
    -Ed
  271. A better idea by Theburritobandito · · Score: 1

    Maybe some of you would agree with me that this works better.

  272. we need a Cooler logo man! by ChrisZuma · · Score: 1

    that's pretty cool, but how about something original and slightly homorous, as the hacker comunity has a good sense of humor. How about a symbol kind of like the Anarchy symbol, but with an 'H' in a circle. That would be pretty sweet!

    --


    ~Chris Hammond
    1. Re:we need a Cooler logo man! by Ashtead · · Score: 1
      H in circle? As in Helicopter landing spot, as seen on ships and oil platforms or the like?

      The analogy to the circled A of anarchists might be nice, the circled C of Copyright is probably less so, and the circled R of registered trademark even less so...

      Never mind the circled N of the Norwegian laboratory of testing and approval of electrical equipment

      So methinks not. Besides, Heerema Group already has the H-in-circle logo.

      --
      SIGBUS @ NO-07.308
  273. Yeah! Me too! by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1
    I agree with you! So can I be part of your club? All the members could be given a unique number and bar code, each different, each an expression of our individuality!

    We could pin them on our team jackets, n' stuff!

    I MUST BELONG!!!!


    -FL

  274. Bad idea by Caiwyn · · Score: 1

    For two reasons:

    1. If you think it's cool now, wait until it gets embedded into the latest spread-by-Outlook email virus that's bringing the internet to its knees.

    2. Didn't anybody here see Grosse Pointe Blank? The whole thing about the main character not wanting to join the Hit Man's union that his friend is starting up? And he points out that it's the lone gunman lifestyle that he likes, that it's unnatural for the rogues to band together.

    Seriously, this is just silly.

  275. Re:Incompetent hackers by jabber01 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, that form of the letter "H", crapily formatted to not look like one, due to the assumption that HTML "knows what you mean", is the perfect logo for incompetent and ignorant hacker wannabes!

    I'm putting it im my sig lines and sig files right now, since, well, I'm not just the incompetent hacker club president, I'm also a client.

    --

    The REAL jabber has the user id: 13196
    What you do today will cost you a day of your life

  276. Is the logo really appropriate? by Brett+Glass · · Score: 1

    It seems to suggest that hackers go flying off spontaneously....

  277. Nah by wayne606 · · Score: 1

    People will think we're fans of Wolfram's "A New Kind of Science"... Basically he claims that "everything's a cellular automaton" and Life is the best known example of those.

  278. It would be useful in that. . . by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1
    all who wear the official hacker logo could be quickly and easily recognized as the weak-willed, wanna-be, babe-in-the-woods, "I-crave-acceptence" children that they are. And it should bloody well be tatooed to their foreheads.

    This story IS a joke, right? It's April out there, right?

    If you don't know why this idea is a top runner for the most ridiculous proposal EVER, then you would do the world a favor by falling on your sword. Logos are the pinacle of everything a true Hacker exists to defy.

    There is a balance, you see. . .

    When Chaos reins, the Hero is called upon to bring order. But when it is Order which threatens life, as it does today, it is the Thief, Hermit and the Vagabond we turn to for salvation, or we will surly perish.

    Heros don't use open source.


    -FL

  279. Re:Looks like the game of Go by Doug+Merritt · · Score: 1
    I've often wondered if a cellular-automata program of some kind would be an effective Go opponent. There are some interesting (if trivial) similarites between the two.

    A "cellular-automata program of some kind" could be Turing-complete -- that is, the right kind can compute anything that can be computed, so yes, there are theoretically some that could play perfect games of Go (not necessarily fast enough to finish before the universe dies, though; that's a different question).

    In a more down to earth sense, the similarities are not necessarily trivial. I would guess that a Go game played on a large enough board according to very complex rules governing each choice of moves might also be Turing-complete. I'm only guessing, but it seems possible, even likely.

    The game of Life can be set up to simulate a Turing machine.

    --
    Professional Wild-Eyed Visionary
  280. Some other ideas by Hecatonchires · · Score: 2, Interesting
    A black hat (for 'good' hackers')
    A white hat (for 'bad' cr^H^Hhackers)

    The actual type of hat could be modified geographically. Americans get a stetson, the English a bowler, Canadians a deer hunter, with the flaps, Moroccans a fez, etc etc. Us Aussies will take either an Akubra or a beanie.

    Another idea is just a big machete, or possibly an axe. ie: 'hacker' maybe put it in the hands of a maniac, like the guy from here

    --

    Yay me!

    1. Re:Some other ideas by bandy · · Score: 1

      Dude, watch some Westerns. White hat == good. Black hat == bad.

      --
      "You might as well get your son a ticket to hell as give him a five string banjo." -unknown minister
    2. Re:Some other ideas by praedictus · · Score: 1

      > Canadians a deer hunter

      I'm sorry, but Canadians wear toques eh!
      But then again the white hat would just blend in with the snow.

      --
      Watashi wa chikyubutsurigakusha desu.
  281. I love the idea but. . .the glider is well Ugly by Gerzel · · Score: 1

    Sorry guys, but well the icon is well to put it mildly boring, ugly and unappealing.
    I don't claim to really be an expert but I imagine that Tux and the bsd daemon are some of the best icons out there because they are cute and good looking as well as because they stand for good stuff. This glider icon, while I do get the significance is just too simple in my opinion. It uses three colors has no shading and just isn't easy on the eyes.
    A mascot works best if people want to look at it dangit!

    Gerzel

  282. Terrible Idea. by grub · · Score: 1


    When we are rounded up and shipped to death camps in box cars we they will make us wear pink triangles, yellow stars or "glider" patches.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Terrible Idea. by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      Does anybody know what they made the gypsies wear?

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
  283. Valid, accessible xhtml without webbug by nealmcb · · Score: 1
    It is a shame that this is presented as a webbug so eric can track who visits your site. So grab the
    image for your own server, add size info so it renders more quickly, add an alt tag for accessibility, and voila:
    <a href="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/">
    <img alt="hacker emblem" WIDTH=55 HEIGHT=55
    src="/images/glider.png" /> </a>
    --

    --Neal
    Go IETF!

    1. Re:Valid, accessible xhtml without webbug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, still neither well-formed nor valid.

      <a href="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/">
      <im g alt="hacker emblem" width="55" height="55"
      src="/images/glider.png" /> </a>

    2. Re:Valid, accessible xhtml without webbug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's still only well-formed, html genius guy. the dtd statement, root element, head, title and body elements are all required for actual validity.

      WINNAR!!1

    3. Re:Valid, accessible xhtml without webbug by I+am+Jack's+username · · Score: 1

      <a href='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/'><i mg src='http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/glider.png' /></a>

      <a href="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/"><i mg alt="hacker emblem" WIDTH=55 HEIGHT=55 src="/images/glider.png" /> </a>

      <a href="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/"><i mg alt="hacker emblem" width="55" height="55" src="/images/glider.png" /> </a>

      <a href="http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/" title="The glider: proposal for a hacker emblem."><img
      style="width:55px; height:55px; float:right;" src="glider.png" alt="The hacker emblem, a glider from the Game of life." longdesc="glider.html" /></a>

      Next!

  284. Black & White hats by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

    Like the happy-sad masks of the comedians and actors.

    I dunno, seems more appropriate than some random graphical element from some program.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  285. What a clown + :O) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did you read his justification for him to create a logo buecause que mantains a couple of lame files about hackers.

    On the other hands that logo only inspires a fetichism for butt beads.

    Weak brother weak......

  286. Do it in perl then by RealisticWeb.com · · Score: 1

    perl -e 'print "010\n001\n111\n";'

    --
    Sigs are out of style, so I'm not going to use one...oh wait..
    1. Re:Do it in perl then by GooTi · · Score: 1
      Ahh... too obvious! how are you gonna prove you're really a h4xx0r?
      #!/usr/bin/perl
      $y=1,$x=$y;map{if(!($m++%($y+1))) {my$n=$y+2;while($n){print(
      ($_>>--$n)&$y)?$y:$x; }}else{print}}split//,"2\0121\0127\012";
      That will be enough to convince anyone that I don't have a life!
      Am I l337 or what?!
  287. One Logo to rule them all... by Curt+Hall · · Score: 0

    Enough said.

  288. Re:Yeah! Me too! by omega9 · · Score: 1

    I AM different, you insensitive clod! Just like everyone else.

    --
    I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
  289. Count me out... by ls+-lR · · Score: 1

    See, the thing is, in the long run logos work because people LIKE them, not because someone comes up with them and then says, "This is what our logo is going to be." The BSD beastie is cute. Tux is cute. The perl camel almost has a cute expression that's at least a little bit interesting. Even the GNU has a smug expression that you can at least appreciate even if you aren't a Stallman fan. But this? A tic-tac-toe board with 5 dots? Wow, blow me away, I mean, shit that speaks to me on such a--<snoooooore>

  290. Pixels you said? by LucidityZero · · Score: 1

    Think it should be in pixels?

    I agree. Made a 60x60 version in square blocks for everyone. Feel free to grab here.

    I'm putting it on my webpage right now.

    --
    Sig.i>
    1. Re:Pixels you said? by 3D+Lover · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, to be a true hacker, one would make it as efficient as possible. In this case, you'd make it a 3x3 image and enlarge it with the image tag in the web page. For example this page

    2. Re:Pixels you said? by spongman · · Score: 2, Interesting
      efficient as possible? bah, your .PNG is 944 bytes.

      photoshop gives me a 2-color gif of only 45 bytes. and this one is 224 bytes inline:

      <style>.g .w{background-color:white;}.g *{height:20;width:20;}</style>
      <table cellspacing=0 class=g bgcolor=0><tr><td class=w></td><td/><td class=w></td></tr><tr><td class=w></td><td class=w></td></tr><tr><td/></tr></table&g t;
    3. Re:Pixels you said? by Dion · · Score: 1

      A properly encoded png is 85 bytes, granted it squanders 40 bytes, but it's still a lot better than 944 bytes:)

      If you want to go for minimum size then a pnm weighs in at 20 bytes, which is about as small as it gets in a normal image format.

      --
      -- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
    4. Re:Pixels you said? by kwoff · · Score: 1

      I'm stealing that one.

    5. Re:Pixels you said? by gr8_phk · · Score: 1

      Better still would be to use a table, then a browser need not fetch another file at all.

    6. Re:Pixels you said? by alib001 · · Score: 1

      Generate it on the fly with Javascript and XBM!

      small:

      <img src="javascript:'#define i_width 3\n#define i_height 3\nstatic char i_bits[] = {0x02,0x04,0x07}'" />

      enlarged:

      <img height="60" width="60" src="javascript:'#define i_width 3\n#define i_height 3\nstatic char i_bits[] = {0x02,0x04,0x07}'" />

      Or as an XBM file (78 bytes)

      #define i_width 3
      #define i_height 3
      static char i_bits[] = {0x02,0x04,0x07}

      Here's a simple scripted generator

      Incidentally, this is how I display my e-mail addresses on web pages.

    7. Re:Pixels you said? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only problem with this: how the heck do you link an entire table? The point with the logo being an image is that you can put it in an anchor tag, no? Then you can link to ESR's self-important puff of hot air, er, web page about what it means to be a hacker, right? And personally I think, given how much ESR keeps going on and on about this crap, that he talks so much because he can't actually hack worth a tinker's damn. I mean, look at his software page... anything in there strike you as being of fundamental importance?

      Whatever. I'm a geek. And if I wanted to display my geekiness (beyond the obvious method of wearing various t-shirts for geeky stuff like Linux distros and MegaTokyo), I'd use the Geek Code, which is not only indicative of geekiness, but informative about various aspects of that geekiness. So not only does it say "I'm a geek", but it slots me into the "community" in a way this "hacker" logo never could.

  291. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by G27+Radio · · Score: 4, Informative

    Are we talking about the "peace sign"?

    No, this. [image search]

  292. Meaning of Anarchy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anarchy means without-rulers (an-arch).

    A ruler can be anything from a fascist tyrant to a greedy capitalist to a rapist. Note that it also means you yourself is not a ruler too.

  293. Why not use R-pentomino??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    http://www.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.htm l

    The R-pentomino is the first pattern Conway found that defied his attempts to simulate by hand. In fact, the pattern eventually becomes "stable" or easy to predict, but this does not happen until 1103 steps have passed. Some of the earliest computer programs for Life were written to determine the fate of this small pattern. This was a challenging problem for many computers of that time, but a modern PC can run the complete sequence of steps many times in one second.

  294. Exactly by btb · · Score: 1

    Exactly why I would never associate myself with that logo.

  295. John Horton Conway invented Life by Jodka · · Score: 1

    I wonder what John Horton Conway thinks about this ?

    It is unfortuante that Raymond chose to appropriate that symbol without appropriate attribution.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature.
  296. Hack competition for Logo by openmtl · · Score: 1

    Oh no , the first hack will be for obscure programming languages like Brainfuck to create the shortest program that produces the logo as ASCII art.

    --

  297. no, he didn't by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 1

    But it doesn't validate as XHTML transitional, either.

    It doesn't validate as any sort of XHTML I'm aware of.

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
    1. Re:no, he didn't by DeltaSigma · · Score: 1

      Fine, fine, he's full of shit.

      I was thinking, maybe, technically, since XHTML is basically HTML 4 with a few additional rules (one of which being the very important termination of all elements), that one could basically say (with transitional as your excuse) that they were not including an alt attribute or terminating the image element due to some lesser-known piece of software that chokes on it that the author knows about. Which IS feasible, and DOES excuse such neglections, SORT OF.

      But I'm not going to actually sit here and defend ANOTHER person claiming they can write XHTML just because they read an XHTML book and managed to get something on the screen.

      "Web designers" (98% of them at least) are out of fucking control, and if you haven't already written a letter to him, perhaps I will.

      Now the question is, do I give him a snippet of his code tweaked just to validate under XHTML, or do I give him a snippet utilizing Fahrner Image Replacement just to confuse him?

  298. ESR sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ESR should spend less time being a hacker a more time actually hacking.

    This stuff is bullshit. Hackers don't need a logo. What the hell is it supposed to imply anyway?

    1. Re:ESR sucks by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

      It implies that he's envious of Linus. Linus (who didn't even *make* Larry's penguin logo, but gets it plastered all over him) gets all the glamour and media love. RMS and ESR are jealous as hell.

      The best thing is that Linus does an amazingly convincing job of not wanting media attention, and not using it as a soapbox to spout his opinions of the month. RMS couldn't do that if his life depended upon it.

  299. The glider: it's hackerdom itself by ktorn · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Even though I don't like the round cells in Eric's version (I made one with square cells) I have to admit the glider itself is a great choice for an emblem.

    However, it's not an emblem for all the hackers, and that's the beauty of it. Only those who want to gang up and work as a team should adopt this emblem.

    Individual hackers won't feel the need to use logos. In the Game of Life individual cells die anyway.

    The glider represents the effort of hackers that work as a team with the same objective. Remember, the previous cells of a glider also die as the glider moves forward (just as old hackers 'retire'), but the point is that new cells are created (new hackers joining in), in a cycle that makes an entity move forward (hackerdom itself if you will). Can't think of a better choice.

  300. Re:A better idea for a logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why did this get modded down? It's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Slashdot and I'm sure I speak for most of the silent majority of Slashdot that this represents our community.

  301. I propose... by Ira+Sponsible · · Score: 1

    A hatchet... I've got one with a hammer head opposite the blade. It's my generic-all-purpose hacking tool. I can hack anything with it: hack my pc, hack my car, hack your pc, hack the phone line, hack robots, hack trees, hack tree-huggers, hack friends, hack enemies, hack dogs, hack cats.... HACK THE PLANET!!!

    --
    1.Netcraft confirms:In Soviet Russia all your base welcomes a beowolf cluster of CowboyNeal overlords. 2.? 3.Profit!!1!
  302. Suggested Logo - "hello.jpg" by Compact+Dick · · Score: 1



  303. Anarchy for Sale! by afxgrin · · Score: 1

    "Sure. Even anarchists have a logo, for god's sake!"

    Thank you for pointing out to us anarchists how the capitalists have taken our symbol and sell it to teenagers who think "anarchy - ya cool - blow shit up.".

    Anarchy for Sale!!!

    As an anarchist myself I can barely identify with the circle A. It has lost it's meaning since so many people who are not part of the culture have appropriated it.

    Just wait til a fad takes off and anyone who made a webpage using Frontpage, or anyone who has made a Flash animation calls themself a hacker.

    Bah - fuck the logo. If we're truely libertarian in thought a logo would just compromise that belief.

    "Today a flag to unite our rich culture. Tomorrow we federate and form a nation! Self-Determination for Hackers everywhere!"

    1. Re:Anarchy for Sale! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It has lost it's meaning since so many people who are not part of the culture have appropriated it.

      Exactly. That symbol outlived its usefulness. It WAS useful. Things go in cycles and anarchists back in the day DID enjoy the symbol. It was spraypainted anywhere and everywhere "the system" wouldn't want it. Perfect. Now it's worn out and abused. That's to be expected.

      A hacker logo hasn't even been given a chance. If we need a new logo every 5 or 10 years, so be it.

    2. Re:Anarchy for Sale! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The black flag works better. It's a timeless statement of lack of attachment to any state. :)

  304. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

    Peace sign? Well I guess we know that you were a total dork in high school, and after it as well.

    You expect one to be an anarchist in high school...to be cool?

  305. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, computer hacking really needs your support. It wouldn't happen without you.

  306. Whatever by Rysc · · Score: 1

    Eh. When ESR finally starts his own religion, let me know and I'll sign up. Until then, I'm going to ignore this sort of thing.

    --
    I want my Cowboyneal
  307. Re:Looks like the game of Go by Icepick_ · · Score: 1

    Reminds me of a kuro5hin fiction piece:

    http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/9/9/224310/18 22

    Summary:

    Business decisions modeled as a game of go, solved by a near-dead angel.

    No, really, it's worth reading.

  308. What is next? by mlk · · Score: 1

    A luser logo?

    --
    Wow, I should not post when knackered.
  309. Different Character by Dlugar · · Score: 1

    I've always preferred

    OO
    OO
    O

    Dlugar

    --
    Computer Go: Writing Software to Play the Ancient Game of Go
  310. logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A logo? You guys need to get a life.

    1. Re:logo by kobold_beastie · · Score: 1

      yep

      --
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ http://www.YellowDogLinux.com +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
  311. no. by calcifer · · Score: 1

    Proposal Denied. Try again.

  312. Chaos symbol? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Anarchy symbol (in its day, at least) was the circle-A. What is this chaos symbol of which you speak?

    1. Re:Chaos symbol? by Hooded+One · · Score: 1

      The 8-arrowed symbol on the shield here. Michael Moorcock used this as the symbol of the forces of Chaos in his Champion Eternal series. There's a lot of really weird parallel universe and time travel stuff in there, but I enjoyed it anyway. What I read of it at least. I'm still not quite sure how many books there are and in what order he thinks they should be read. It... keeps changing.

      I've seen a few anarchists wear the Chaos arrow, but they mostly have the circle-A.

  313. i like it by cheezewiz · · Score: 1

    The logo is great, it fits, and its easy to subliminally put into things.

  314. Awesome idea by carcosa30 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I love this.

    Looking at that glider brought back so many memories. I remember reading about Life in Scientific American, many years ago-- I think 19 years. I remember typing in the text version on my Apple II, out of "Basic Computer Games" by Dave Ahl and Creative Computing, sometime in maybe 1983 or thereabouts, and being amazed.

    I remembered a program I wrote in the mid 90s where you could evolve rulesets, and all the bright colors and optimism that went along with the "Long Boom." All that came out of hackerdom, you know.

    I remembered my personal experience with Wolfram. (Overwhelmingly negative, by the way...)

    I think this is an excellent idea, I think it's a simple and graphically effective logo, and I can see it catching on. For me this was an iconically powerful image. Surprising what memories it evoked, taken in the current context.

    It's an icon of simplicity and stubborn singleminded progress.

    --
    Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
  315. It's a trick of the light. by pr0ntab · · Score: 1

    There is something like a black bar covered in velvet on the floor, or some other sort of obstacles, which is partially obscuring her dangling pussy-lips.

    --
    Fuck Beta. Fuck Dice
  316. Clearly ThinkGeek bought out ESR by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

    Think how much money ThinkGeek is absolutely *certain* to reap from this one. Suppose they offered ESR $10K to suggest a new logo? :-)

  317. Red Dwarf in action! by Denyer · · Score: 1

    Rimmer would be proud...

    --
    Ph-nglui mglw'nafh Gates M'dna wgah'nagl fhtagn.
  318. ESR's generosity by greygent · · Score: 1

    We should all be lucky that ESR has been gracious enough to appoint himself as the official spokesperson for the hacker community.

    Now, where do we build the bikeshed clubhouse?

  319. Jolly Roger by gumpish · · Score: 1

    Uhm, hate to break this to ESR and company, but the Jolly Roger is the traditional hacker emblem...

  320. Not a good emblem by evocate · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What is the emblem? A glider. Duh.

    Why have an emblem at all? What Eric says about community is true, but hackers recogize each other by their hacks (and posers, by the lack of). Not as easy as a logo, but authenticity is guaranteed.

    Why this emblem? A glider isn't appropriate. A glider is "startling and unexpected" for about ten seconds. But nothing new spontaneously emerges from a glider. It just monotonously churns along - no change in speed or direction - until it vanishes over the edge of the screen. Hell, why not use lemmings!? At least *sometimes* they don't jump.

    "Social engineering?" "mugs or t-shirts?" 3.Profit! anyone? I don't need a logo - I'm not being marketing. I don't need a "resident historian" - I don't care who used to live here.

    1. Re:Not a good emblem by IM6100 · · Score: 1

      My vote for a 'resident historian' would be the dude who wrote A Quarter Century of UNIX, or some other old timer, not someone who showed up late and copped an attitude.

      --
      A Good Intro to NetBS
    2. Re:Not a good emblem by Sciamachy · · Score: 1

      How about a fractal set, or a strange attractor then - unexpected results coming from simple beginnings - beauty through chaos, and order in disorder?

  321. the real question by Geno+Z+Heinlein · · Score: 1

    They help us recognize each other, help us affirm common values and cooperate more closely.

    Cooperate? To do what?

    It's not that there aren't lots of good causes and good reasons for cooperation, but why this and why now? I feel like there'a another shoe coming.

  322. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by freeweed · · Score: 1

    Hippies used the peace sign.

    Anarchists use a stylized A in a circle.

    Yeesh, doesn't everyone know this?

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  323. I like it. by bob_jenkins · · Score: 1

    I might even use it. But it wouldn't take much for me to decide to ignore it.
    . x .
    . . x
    x x x

  324. Re:Mod parent ^ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks for the three offtopic mods. Way to use those points wisely.

    In case you couldn't tell it was kind of a joke as well as noting that the parent was insightful. But thanks for making sure to take me down to -1 just for kicks.

  325. It doesn't matter whether or not you like it... by Jon_Sy · · Score: 1

    Logos brand entities. Products. Corporations. THINGS. Logos don't brand lifestyles alone...they can't.

  326. lacking in imagination, and fascination... by nous · · Score: 1
    ESR declares: It [game of life] has fascinated hackers ever since.

    There are some fascinating parts to game of life, but to claim that it has some special place for hackerdom is laughable at best. I can think of one recent good work on GOL worthy of hackerdom brownie points, and that is eppstein's searching for spaceships. Rest of hackerdom's fascination is negligible enough not to warrant the basis for this logo.

    Why not the ship from ancient spacewar, which was the reason for Ken's hacking unix? Why not something as imaginative as PJW face from Bell Labs? (oh no, bad suggestion: ESR may decide to deploy his own face as logo...)

    Hm. I have been designing logos on and off since 1976. Hacking since 1978. I suppose I have learned a thing or two about both over the years. Here is my somewhat educated assessment: I consider ESR's logo to be unimaginative, poorly balanced, devoid of energy, and not at all representative. In other words, It is really boring, one thing hacking is most certainly not. (one of my friends thought it was a stylized person sitting with his back against the wall, head down)

    ESR should have had enough respect to ask the community for input...

    (a remedial course on logo design may also help)

    nous.

  327. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No I expect that someone who was so insulated from the rest of his peers as to not know what the anarchy symbol meant was a total dork. Or the fact that he could think that the peace sign is the symbol for anarchists means that he was a fairly sheltered individual who did not go out of his way to learn about others and society at large. I wasn't an anarchist, but I asked the punks in my class what the symbol they were always scrathing into the backs of desks meant. And who said anything about cool? A dork is a whale-penis.

  328. thank you, oh wise one by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 1

    "Wannabes and their imprecise language..."

    Elitists and their insistence on pointing out how wrong everyone else is...

    Why don't you take it up with the W3C, who used the word valid repeatedly on their html validator?

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
    1. Re:thank you, oh wise one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Wannabes and their imprecise language...

      Anybody who would pick this nit without getting paid to has alot of nerve calling someone else a wannabe.

      > Elitists and their insistence on pointing out
      > how wrong everyone else is...

      What he said is correct though. Even if fetchmail-boy's fragment was well-formed, it still wouldn't be valid.

    2. Re:thank you, oh wise one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "Valid" means the elements nest correctly and that attributes have permissible values (among other things) according to the DTD. It's a term that HTML inherited from SGML.

      "Well-formed" means the markup itself follows the rules--each element is opened and closed, names use only permitted characters, attributes values are quoted (among other things). It's a term introduced by XML, because XML is designed so that validation isn't always necessary.

      <a<img></a> is not well-formed XML because the img element is never closed. However, it is valid HTML because the content model for IMG is EMPTY and a SGML parser can infer the end tag.

    3. Re:thank you, oh wise one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The DTD is not HTML, but rather XHTML.

      The SGML parser is not expected to infer end tags in XHTML. So, the code snippet is both malformed XML and invalid XHTML.

      You're in the clear if you use it in, say, an HTML 4.01 Transitional page... but ESR doesn't and isn't.

    4. Re:thank you, oh wise one by swillden · · Score: 1

      Elitists and their insistence on pointing out how wrong everyone else is...

      It's a joke, son.

      Why don't you take it up with the W3C, who used the word valid repeatedly on their html validator?

      As another poster pointed out, well-formedness and validity are separate but related concepts. Malformed XML cannot be valid, but the converse doesn't hold.

      The XML notion of well-formedness doesn't apply to HTML, but does apply to XHTML.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  329. But they already have one... by ColdGrits · · Score: 1

    ...a black hat.

    --
    People should not be afraid of their governments - Governments should be afraid of their people.
  330. So, when do we get the secret handshake? by Bakaneko · · Score: 1

    ...and the decoder ring, and the "Top Sekret: No girlz allowd" sign to put on the clubhouse?

    Note that I'm leaving the above sentence unvarnished and open for the obvious jokes for the rest of you wags to come in and riff off of at your convenience.

    1. Re:So, when do we get the secret handshake? by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      Is this Calvin's new G.R.O.S.S?
      Get Rid Of Slimey non-hackerS?

    2. Re:So, when do we get the secret handshake? by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      The Cyber-Geeks Secret Handshake:

      Geek A, extending right hand: "SYN"
      Geek B, extending right hand: "SYN"
      Geek A: "ACK"
      Geek B: "ACK"
      (shake hands)
      Geek A: "FIN"
      (opens hand)
      Geek B: "FIN"
      (opens hand)

  331. Might as well try to capitalize on it... by velocipenguin · · Score: 1

    http://cafeshops.com/gliderlogo

    CafePress is amusing. Buy products with ESR's logo before everyone forgets about this!

    --

    Move 'sig'. For great justice!
  332. My Opinion on the Matter by Threed · · Score: 1

    Just this:

    You have got to be fucking kidding me.

  333. hackers Have 3 logos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Black Hat White Hat and Grey Hat

    Yep it is status.

  334. How about... "The Patron Saint of Hackers" by the_tipper · · Score: 1

    Beaker from the muppets ;-)

    Beaker

  335. or maybe.... by Saltrix · · Score: 1

    ok ppl, are you tellin me that somebody can't be sarcastic? this guys says one sarcastic thing, and NONE of you took it that way, maybe you should think before you go blabbin about things.

    1. Re:or maybe.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It wasn't sarcastic dipshit. It was ignorant.

  336. ACK! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You fool! Those aren't meatballs, those are testicles! According to ESR's "Hacker HOWTO", you aren't allowed to think of anything sexual; you are not a hacker, you made testicles!


    Are those onions you put in those meatballs? They look tasty! Great looking meatballs dude! I'm happy I'm not the only one that can't stand to live on Jolt Cola or RedBull+MountainDew+TopRamenNoodles.

  337. Even better idea! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A Hammer and Sickle would look great!

    Hey, put those bricks dow.@#$@

  338. What about Harry Hacker? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We have always had a logo, the nobile monkey. He just needs a name, I prapose Harry Hacker. and Chris Cracker could be his annoying jacka$$ little punk brother who just doesent get it. Hell theres even room for Frank Furry the family pervert that noone talks about.

    -troy

  339. Here is the International Hackers Logo by zealotasd · · Score: 1

    It isn't ugly, but it isn't pretty either.

    Interntional Hackers Logo

    --

    Secured Party, Without Prejudice, UCC 1-207: Creditor
  340. The logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is so simple. An irate nerd stereotype, giving everyone the finger.

    ||
    ||
    OOOO
    | |
    \__/

    I cant make a good ascii birdy.

  341. moose with herpes are bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think it looks cool as a matrix.

    -statix-

    [_][#][_]
    [_][_][#]
    [#][#][#]

  342. Game of life?:/ by roman_mir · · Score: 1

    why? Why not this then:

    % cat
    Hello, world.
    ^D

    source

  343. Sad (or not?) by vericgar · · Score: 1

    I had no idea what the Amazon or CitiGroup logo looked like, so I pulled up thier website. I did recognize it, yes... but that I can't pull it out of my head based on the name shows how much I really pay attention to logos.

  344. Yahoo Weekly Newsletter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hello valued Yahoo eMail subscriber!

    We take great selective pride in having you, our valued proponent of Yahoo, use our service.

    <please see the following ELITE HACKER products from our advertisers>

    [SOME STUPID ADVERTISER.PNG]
    You must be a Hacker! Congratulations! You have been entered into a eXXXXXXtra supreme value Hacker Products database and Mailing list at no additional cost to you! Only the greatest of the elitest hackers have been given this time-honered gift, and you're one of them![PICTURE OF ESR'S LOGO.PNG]

    [ANOTHER STUPID ADVERTISER.PNG]
    Your computer is broadcasting an IP Address! Someone could be stealing your information if you don't buy our softwar! All elite hackers use our software, because obviously they choose the best! [PICTURE OF ESR'S LOGO.PNG]

    [AOL ADVERTISMENT.PNG]
    America uses AOL, why don't you? Buy our service, you reverse-engineering assh0le! We know you cracked our protocol, we just haven't found evidience yet! [PICTURE OF ESR'S LOGO.PNG]

  345. Re:hackers, indeed -- alt tag by kasperd · · Score: 1

    Ignore the ipaddr, I'm an idiot.

    Which ipaddr?

    --

    Do you care about the security of your wireless mouse?
  346. Hacker Attitude is assimilated by marketing droids by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And esr just wants some Free pretty pictures to sell his books, what a parasite!

  347. H4xX0r t3h p14n377777!!!!!!!!!11 by Lane.exe · · Score: 1
    I just wanted to say that I don't like the term "hacker" thrown in with this logo. Although real "hackers" would most likely use it, in the public's mind "hacker" = "cracker" = "criminal." That's not such a good thing.

    In other words, it'd be a goofy thing script kiddies placed on their websites and would bring horrible, negative publicity every time the evening news picked up one of them who'd just written MSBlaster 2.0 and was going to jail for it.

    "Next on Fox... teen hacker in latest virus scare apprehended... his website bore the famous "Hacker" logo that also appears on notorious "hacker-friendly" computer operating systems like Linux and *BSD. And now, a word from our sponsor, Microsoft! Proudly hacker-logo free since 2004!"

    --
    IAALS.
  348. Just my opinion by gribbly · · Score: 1

    I think it's cool!

    grib.

    --
    maybe
  349. say what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    our "leaders" have nothing better to do that suggest logos? um we've got problems folks.

  350. Lickable OS X version by andfarm · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Pixel art + hand-smoothing + OS X = glider.icns (screenshot for the OS X-impaired).

    I put this icon together in some 20 minutes or so. How's it look to you?

    --

    TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.

    1. Re:Lickable OS X version by braney · · Score: 1

      That's cool because it also contains one of the shapes from Tetris. How many hackers ever played Tetris?

      --
      Let me know if you have an open postdoc position. -braney
    2. Re:Lickable OS X version by andfarm · · Score: 1
      Oops... only just realized I was using the other morph of the glider. There are two forms of the glider -- the "proper" logo version:
      . # .
      # . .
      # # #

      and my version:
      # . .
      . # #
      # # .

      I guess both could work. Now there are not just eight, but sixteen different forms of the logo (eight versions of each - four rotations, and a mirrored version for each). Hurray for polymorphism!

      --

      TANSTAAFI: There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free iPod.

  351. sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about you guys spend more time defending our asses from the DMCA, RIAA, MPAA, Media Puppet Bought and Paid for Democrats, Free-speach Phobic Republicans, et.al. and less time coming up with a logo that defines the inner us?

  352. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck that... the Black Flag is all the symbol any anarchist should need.

  353. what a stupid idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    subject says it all. this guy has too much free time on his hand.

  354. Alternatively... by stmfreak · · Score: 1
    Not that hackers would ever agree on anything, but in ten years, if not already, there is one unifying thing that hackers share in common and recognize. Something the non-hacker community doesn't get exposed to (anymore) and won't recognize. I am of course referring to the prompt:
    **
    **
    **
    **
    **
    **
    **
    *********
    Geez, I hope that renders the same on everyone else's browser-of-choice...
    --
    These opinions guaranteed or your money back.
  355. Most stupidest artilcle ever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hacking has sold out

  356. I should have seen it coming... by maggotbrain_777 · · Score: 1

    It's not even remotely close to April 1.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,
    Slashdot had jumped the the shark, and it's not pretty.
    That's right, move alond. nothing to see here. move along. Dont' worry. We'll be sure to notify the next of kin.

    Jesus Christ, ESR just got his book reviewed here, and now he's offering a fscking 'hacker' logo to the community? What next, a 'preferred' OpenSource(TM) coffee blend?
    That's it, I'm outta here...

  357. Re:Stupidest article ever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Damn Nyquil.

  358. Ooops by Hecatonchires · · Score: 1

    Thats what I meant. I stuffed up.

    --

    Yay me!

  359. uhh by alexburke · · Score: 1

    How about a wrench? (Although physical hacking probably has more in common with a Dremel than a wrench...)

  360. Hmm... by LittleBigLui · · Score: 1

    actually there's a saying that goes like this:

    Someone who isn't a communist at the age of 18 has no heart. Someone who still is at the age of 30 has no brain.

    you could probably say the same about anarchists :)

    --
    Free as in mason.
    1. Re:Hmm... by nickos · · Score: 1

      "One who is not a socialist at 20 has no heart, and one who remains a socialist at 40 has no head," - George Bernard Shaw

  361. Er... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Have you ever thought about cleaning that shithouse, so the tiles look all the same?

  362. too brainy by rve · · Score: 1

    I want my hacker logo to be short, skinny, socially awkward and dressed in jeans and greasy t-shirt

    1. Re:too brainy by iapetus · · Score: 1

      I object to that stereotype! I consider myself a hacker, and I'm 6'2"!

      --
      ++ Say to Elrond "Hello.".
      Elrond says "No.". Elrond gives you some lunch.
    2. Re:too brainy by rve · · Score: 1

      Lanky spod! :)

  363. Raymond should get his own logo... by IM6100 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ....and quit posturing like he speaks for 'The Hackers.'

    Good god, that guy has ego.

    --
    A Good Intro to NetBS
  364. Re:Should Hackers Get Their Own Logo? by kbeast · · Score: 1

    well lets flip a coin then :)

    --
    Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right-- But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better
  365. Re:Incompetent hackers by IM6100 · · Score: 1

    Hey. It looks fine in Lynx, logged in on my VT-220 on serial port A on my SparcStation 10....

    It's not necessarily incompetence to not care what something looks like on a fancy bitmapped display...

    --
    A Good Intro to NetBS
  366. Identity by Praeluceo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Of course hackers are in need of a logo. We are a disparate group of loosely knit geeks who all have a common passion.
    I believe also that any true hacker will readily admit ESR's contributions to our community, and possession of the title of "hacker" himself, perhaps I'd even go so far as to call him an "Alpha-hacker".

    What's to prevent us from clinging to some logo that we can use to at least superficially identify other people as like-minded. If I'm sitting at a cyber-cafe and see a glider taped to some guy's laptop as he surfs some C, I'm going to recognize that I'm looking at someone who just might be a hacker. This is not a "status symbol" in the real world, in fact most people in the real world will never acknowledge ESR's hacker logo unless someone does something Really Big And Stupid while publically displaying it.

    And why not the glider? We're hackers, we all know who JohnConway is, and what fun his Game of Life is. I'm willing to bet half of us have had an infatuation with it at some point or another, and half of that has even written their own little implementation of the thing.

    If you don't like the logo, go for the spirit and choose a Up-Left glider, or a Cross (although that might be taken religiously), or you could be really cryptic and slap a 3rd-generation glider on the back of your T-Shirt (a 6th-generation "pump" looks pretty good too).

    Sure there will be posers, but as they say, "You will know them by their works". If the code doesn't back up the glider, then just laugh and show them what real "elite" hacking looks like.

    Just my 2 cents worth, I like ESR's logo, and will probably be putting a glider of some form on my website in the near future. Just to set myself apart that little bit more.

  367. Surprised by cock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A few hours ago, I learned that I am now (at least in theory) absurdly gay.

    I was at my machine, my 386 with 4 megs of RAM running Linux, masturbating to pictures of RMS, when I got an email congratulating me on the success of Slashdot. I was working on my latest small project-- a clever little text parser that takes input from the user and puts it in a little cartoon-style word balloon coming out of-- get this!-- a giant, erect ASCII penis's bulging head! Hahaha! It's called COCKSAY. You can download it here.

    "Congratulations? That's interesting," said I to myself. "I didn't think Slashdot was coming out until tomorrow." And I oughtta know; I'm on VA's Board of Directors, recruited by Larry Augustin himself, to be VA Linux's "corporate conscience," and it's public record that I hold a substantial share in the company's semen pool. I tooled on over to Linux Today, chased a link like it was a naked hippy's ass-- and discovered that Rob Malda had taken the fast action we had discussed at the last board meeting. Slashdot had come out first thing that morning with a headline on its own site-- and I had become the figurehead of the Gay Faggot Slashdot Empire while I wasn't looking.

    Well, that didn't last long. In the next two hours, 369 VA employees also disclosed that they had AIDS, leaving me with a bit of the proverbial semen on my face.

    You may wonder why I am talking about this in public. The first piece of advice your friends will give you, if it looks like you're about to come out of the closet, is: keep quiet! It's really nobody else's business-- you don't want to look like you're lusting for cock, though you may want to be deluged by an endless succession of men dressed up as Navy sailors demanding blowjobs from you; fat, hairy men (the bears) wanting to fuck you in the ass; and sweet, young, hairless boys offering you the beauty of their youth.

    Trouble with the "keep it quiet" theory is that I've always solicited gay male faggot sex in a very public way. When you're already a media figure, like myself, and your name is on the Faggot Manifesto your whole organization chose to use to come out, and email from friends and journalists starts coming in like crazy as the gayness of your empire breaks records even on the first day, playing it coy swiftly ceases to look like a viable option.

    But it wouldn't be fair to dissemble. I serve the gay community. I'm wealthy today because my efforts to spread faggotry and venereal diseases on behalf of that community helped infiltrate the business world and earned the trust of a lot of young, naive boys. Fairness to the twinks

    1. Re:Surprised by cock by dekashizl · · Score: 1

      I have to say, your post made me laugh. Overall it wasn't very funny -- just a bunch of somewhat obscene and lame gay references, but here were the funny parts:

      1. The subject "Surprised by cock". Heh. That's good. It made me click on it. It has a poetic (iambic) sound to it and could be the opening to an excellent piece of literature.

      2. The part about your program "COCKSAY". Post a link, please, I'd love to make use of that. It sounds great

      Yeah, and the rest of it wasn't that funny, just offtopic and obscene. You should try to focus on and expand the good parts and re-post it on another subsequent article in which it has no relevance.

  368. Confusion by dotwaffle · · Score: 1

    Am I the only person who seems to think hacker is a derogatory term now? Hackers and crackers are too often confused in the press, so to save confusion on who is the most evil, I suggest software hackers in the traditional sense (ie us) change our name to Fairy Godfathers. Both mob-like, and safe. And crackers? Maybe change their names to morons. Just an idea...

    1. Re:Confusion by Queuetue · · Score: 1
      Am I the only person who seems to think hacker is a derogatory term now?
      Yes. It's only you.

      Actually, I wonder if "mackers" (malicious hackers) wouldn't be better for crackers, since the press refuses to use "that word". Or bashers. Something they'll still consider cool and l33t, but doesn't step on hacker's toes...
    2. Re:Confusion by MadBurner · · Score: 1

      hmmmm, I must be confused also. It's always been a derogatory word for me too. I run a web site. Note to the F*uckhead who tried to hack me this morning. You pissed away time, effort, and I'm sure some critical brain matter and you still didn't get in. Practice bandwidth conservation play with your weener instead of a keyboard.

    3. Re:Confusion by dotwaffle · · Score: 2, Informative

      A macker is someone from the Middlesborough area of the UK. Technically Mackem, but it gets shortened a lot.

  369. Here's a stab at it in SVG by pb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    <?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?>
    <!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/1.1/DTD/svg11.dtd" >
    <svg width="64.0" height="64.0">
    <g fill="none" stroke="#808080" stroke-width="1">
    <rect x="0.5" y="0.5" width="63" height="63" />
    <rect x="0.5" y="21.5" width="63" height="21" />
    <rect x="21.5" y="0.5" width="21" height="63" />
    </g>
    <g fill="#000000">
    <circle cx="11" cy="53" r="9" />
    <circle cx="32" cy="11" r="9" />
    <circle cx="32" cy="53" r="9" />
    <circle cx="53" cy="32" r="9" />
    <circle cx="53" cy="53" r="9" />
    </g>
    </svg>

    --
    pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
    1. Re:Here's a stab at it in SVG by Dr.+Photo · · Score: 1

      Renders perfectly in Sodipodi.

  370. I don't know about this clubby attitude. by ninejaguar · · Score: 2, Insightful
    It goes against the grain, and the moment it becomes "official", there will be an "outside" group immediately formed at odd with it. It has the scent of elitism about it.

    Hackers don't travel in herds that can be easily labeled or logo'd. The moment some will decide to slip under the proposed abstract banner, will be the same they will be derided for being posers by others who refuse to wear the designer tag. Who will be correct? Neither, and the purpose of the logo (to categorize and unite under) will have failed.

    Only one response appears to be appropriate, and it was first declared by an earlier 'hack'er. In addition, other witticisms can be found here.

    = 9J =

  371. The Glider is bad, how about... by Thagg · · Score: 1

    My idea of hacking is effort amplification. I would suggest...

    1) a fulcrum, denoting leverage. The MiG-29 was called by NATO "Fulcrum", and the Soviets liked that so much they use that name themselves. [They didn't appreciate the Ka-50 Hokum, though]

    2) a glider gun. It's a life pattern that makes an infinite number of gliders. It's a little more complex than the 5 cel glider, having some 200 cells.

    3) the sorcerer's hat from Disney's Fantasia. Ok, it's stealing, but it's the perfect logo, isn't it? Get's both the power of hacking and the possibility for things going wrong.

    thad

    --
    I love Mondays. On a Monday, anything is possible.
  372. A new view: Left, not right by llauren · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah, when you put it that way, the picture is completely different! Now it looks to me like the upper half of, yes, a hacker, sitting by his/her terminal, facing to the left. The upper block is a head, the rest is the left shoulder-elbow-arm-hand.

    This could lead to a whole new psychological science. Instead of showing us Rorschach ink blots, they could show us big 3x3 pixel pictures!

    ~llauren

  373. Non-hackers will not see what it is by christophe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do you know many people not involved in IT who know what the game of life is? I wouldn't even recognize a glider.

    This logo is better than others, but the Linux penguin had success because:
    - he's cute (*)
    - everybody knows what a penguin is,
    - I can buy a toy which is like this penguin
    - nobody cares that a penguin has in reality absolutely nothing to do with OS science.

    (*) Drawing is important; I suppose ESR chose something so simple to draw because he's not a good drawer - I would do the same thing in his place, but I do not claim to give a common symbol to millions of people.

    Having said that, the idea of a common drawing to identify yourself as a geek or nerd is a good one. It could percolate into the common knowledge. I'm hoping only that script-kiddies won't put it on every defacement...

    --
    Christophe (Don't hesitate to point out my spelling and grammar mistakes, I want to learn - Thanks).
  374. Ironic effect by asuffield · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I can already predict what the effect of this will be. The logo will be used by the halfwits and groupies; serious people will avoid it.

    As such, it makes a good filter - anybody who uses this logo is clearly a moron, and therefore you know to avoid them and ignore whatever they say.

    1. Re:Ironic effect by iapetus · · Score: 1

      But ESR is using it... ...oh, I see.

      --
      ++ Say to Elrond "Hello.".
      Elrond says "No.". Elrond gives you some lunch.
  375. Animated Logo by clickety6 · · Score: 1

    I think hackers should have an animated logo - and then it needs a bit of hacking to get it animated on cups/t-shirts/etc. !

    --
    ----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
    1. Re:Animated Logo by utoddl · · Score: 1

      Of course it should be animated, but PNG doesn't support animations.

      ...but here's an animated .gif of Eric's glider that should do the trick. (GIFs are legal now, right?)

  376. What about pattern 158? by jerde · · Score: 1

    I'm sure some of us here would recognize this pattern:

    xx....xx
    .xx.x.xx
    x.x...xx
    x..x..xx
    xx..xx..
    xxxxx.x.


    - Peter

    --
    INsigNIFICANT
    1. Re:What about pattern 158? by Haeleth · · Score: 1

      What about Pattern 158?

  377. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by sco08y · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Are we talking about the "peace sign"? If we do get a logo, it will become trendy, probably in a way worse than all-your-base and "profit!" and the like and then...


    Doesn't he mean that stupid A in a circle?

  378. white hat, and black hat... by dewhite · · Score: 1

    I thought the universal hacker symbol was the little spy vs. spy guys from mad magazine, as seen here.

    --
    -dewhite
  379. a gamut of logos in unix & corp by xahlee · · Score: 1

    please see logo tour

    --
    Xah
    xahlee.org
    http://xahlee.org/PageTwo_dir/more.html
  380. I didn't vote for ESR by DataCannibal · · Score: 1
    From ESR's page:
    How can I use it? The glider is not copyrighted or trademarked. The recommended way to use it is on a web page, with an image and a link back to either this page or direct to How To Become A Hacker. Here is a snippet of XHTML you can paste into a page.
    So let me get this straight. ESR wants us to use this logo and have a link pointing back to his web page.

    I leave conclusions to be drawn from this as an exercise for the reader
    --
    No but, yeah but, no but...
  381. Money and Ego by leoboiko · · Score: 1

    Who should not use this emblem?

    If you are either promoting somebody's product for money,

    WTF? So people who work on proprietary software can't be hackers? I don't think the hacker community is as fanatic as Eric. Tech jobs are low everywhere, and many of us couldn't find someone to give money for free software. It's not my case, but I know people like this who contributed much more than me to the community.


    Why from you?

    Because I maintain the How To Become A Hacker document, A Brief History of Hackerdom, the Jargon File, and am more or less the hackers' resident historian. It's my job to think of these things.

    Not very "bazaar" style, huh? This guy really needs a dose of reality. His warblogification of the Jargon File was the most egotic thing I saw in a long time. The Jargon File should be in a Wiki, and a hacker's logo should be voted by the community in an open proccess.
    --
    Prescriptive grammar:linguistics :: alchemy:chemistry. Stop being a nazi and learn some science.
  382. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by riggwelter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Are we talking about the "peace sign"?

    No, that's the CND logo (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)

    The Anarchist logo os also held within a circle, but is an upper-case A with the horizontal bar extended on both sides to reach the circle. The ends of each diagonal leg, and the angle at the top of the A also reach the circle.

    --
    Listening for the sound of the coming rain...
  383. ESR's jab at free software by GnrcMan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Anyone else notice this oh-so-subtle jab at free software in the "How to be a Hacker" FAQ?
    (We used to call these works ``free software'', but this confused too many people who weren't sure exactly what ``free'' was supposed to mean. Most of us, by at least a 2:1 ratio according to web content analysis, now prefer the term ``open-source'' software).

    (*eye's roll*)

    1. Re:ESR's jab at free software by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif

  384. A product of programming only. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This logo means little on its own but its potential is revealed only when it is programmed into the computer to follow the rules of Game of Life. This subtle beauty doesnt manifest without programming.

    I identified with the logo instantly because I am very interested in what pleasing visuals and behaviours can be produced algorithmically rather than a traditional artist using a computer as just another pencil.

    I dont identify much with the reasons presented by ESR though.

  385. version number by LincolnX · · Score: 1

    Amusing concept. I think the logo should have a version number, for the "hacker community" would never be able to agree on a final image.

  386. T-shirts, Mugs with New Logo by easyd0esit · · Score: 1

    T-shirts, sweatshirts and mugs with new hacker logo are available. This site is in Poland, but they ship worldwide. I make no profit from selling it. Have fun ;)

  387. Great idea... by Mark+Hood · · Score: 1

    and the first time someone 'own3rz' a web site and leaves this logo? Maybe we should have a tarred brush as a logo (think about it)...

    We already lost the word 'hacker' - let's not try and get behind a logo that we can lose too!

    Mark

    PS I like the glider idea though - just not the idea of a logo per se.

    --
    Liked this comment? Why not buy me something nice
  388. I'd like to nominate... by Craig3010 · · Score: 1

    a fat, greasy faced kid with his finger in his nose

  389. This is most important.... by Chardish · · Score: 1

    for differentiating "hackers" from "crackers" and "malicious hackers" in the eyes of the mainstream press. It could be an important symbol for setting the term "hacker" free from negative connotation.

  390. LIfe emulates Rule 90 by ynotds · · Score: 1

    More strictly
    Life emulates Rule 22
    Rule 22 emulates Rule 90
    Rule 90 emulates Rule 90 recursively
    But you really did not want to know that.

    --
    -- Our systemic servants do not good masters make.
  391. why not? by unbennant · · Score: 1

    it's nice and simple and there's nothing to say one can't do something more with it.

  392. Gay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is just gay as hell. Not there is anything wrong with that.

  393. Jesus get this man something to do! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He must have far too much time on his hands.

  394. belongs in physical world by sirReal.83. · · Score: 0

    I'd suggest that the logo be used in the "real world" where nobody's gonna know what it means. Using it on the net would inevitable pollute its meaning. But if a few weirdos drew it in Sharpie on a sleeve of their T-shirts (PLEASE ThinkGeek DON'T sell them), maybe one day they'd see someone else with one when walking down the street. "hey, you contribute to anything?" "yeah, i maintain project ___!" "sweet! let's get a coffee." and maybe they end up buddies, collaborating. The net makes communication easy, but it's no substitute for REAL friends. I for one have approximately zero hacker friends in the physical world. I'd like ONE... but then again I'm a tree-hugging idealist, too.

  395. Maybe a ruleset for the logo rather than a logo by David_AH · · Score: 1

    I doubt the hacker community will ever settle for one logo. In this thread I've read comments about the direction it points, the lack of color in the intial design and a half dozen other things. Maybe what we need is a set of specs for hacker logos plural, as opposed to a single logo. Something along the lines of "it must be a grid of X by Y with no more than z colors.." After all, doing creative things while working within structured systems is a large part of being a hacker. Just a though..

  396. Game of... by H8X55 · · Score: 1

    silly me - that game of life... i thought he meant the board game from milton bradley, eeeh, i would have preferred scrabble, anyway.

  397. Boring by Get+Behind+the+Mule · · Score: 1

    A bunch of black dots in a grid? Come on.

    I think it should be an animation of Neo on the roof, bent over backwards with his arms flailing, dodging bullets as the camera does a 360 around him in bullet time. Complete with sound effects.

    Or maybe something with Natalie Portman ...

    And it should be distributed as assembler code, which gets Trojaned onto your machine and displays in native graphics, and can't be turned off until you pull the plug. This is supposed to symbolize hackers, after all.

  398. Most compact logo I've ever seen! by laoman · · Score: 1

    It can fit in just 9 bits:

    010
    001
    111

    So, I you can say you're a hacker by signing your e-mails with "143". Or "0x8F".

  399. what does it stand for? by fritz+il+gatto · · Score: 0

    what does it stand for?

  400. Not just NO but "Hell NO!" by Wubby · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's bad enough that the word "hacker" has come to be used to refer to "crackers" and malicious coders, now we want the press to use a logo? Every unethical "hacker" out there will start using it to try to give themselve some legitimacy, then the next huge MS exploit that is created by these guys will be seen as coming from a "community" that is represented by logo X. How many times to we have to watch a company RUN from a brand and logo gone bad due to some glitch in marketing or implementation?

    This is a BAD idea. I have a hard enough time trying to get people to make a mental distinction between "good hackers" and "bad hackers". Cracker doesn't really make it easier and now ESR wants to use what I assume will be a brand-recognizable like logo?

    Count me out, brother!

    --
    Sig
    Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars
    1. Re:Not just NO but "Hell NO!" by mdamaged · · Score: 1

      Look at it this way, it will be easier to tell the moronic from the not-so-moronic, having that logo next to your moniker is as good as waltzing onto #bsd with an AOL address...

      --
      Someone asked me the difference between ignorance and apathy, I told them I don't know and I don't care.
  401. how about 4 frequently used alphabets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    RTFM

  402. Glider's cool, but isn't this more better? by Asprin · · Score: 1

    Glider's cool, but isn't this a more better expression of ESR's intentions?
    ---#
    -###
    ####

    It's '1337' expressed in columns like the binary desk clock @ thinkgeek.
    --
    "Lawyers are for sucks."
    - Doug McKenzie
  403. PHP? by Coplan · · Score: 1

    What's the collective logo for PHP? I'm a long time Perl Hacker, and I'm fairly new to PHP. So what should I tack after my penguin and my camel?

  404. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by 0x0d0a · · Score: 1

    A dork is a whale-penis.

    And a bitch is a female dog. But both have slang meanings as well.

  405. my initial thoughts by cygnus · · Score: 2, Funny
    tic tac toe.

    and it looks like circle's winning... ;)

    --
    Just raise the taxes on crack.
  406. once again media... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...serves to be ignorant beyond any means..a hack has NOTHING to do with breaking into computers OR networks, and it is shocking to see /. call a CRACKER a HACKER...get it through your "Hacker movie" watching selves, HACKER != CRACKER. Now you can all get back to calling yourselves N30 and z3r0c00l....

  407. Not sure this appropriate ... by BasilBibi · · Score: 1

    It looks like someone navel gazing !

    .*.
    ..*
    ***

  408. OK, I'll bite by Cybrex · · Score: 1

    God knows I've posted lamer things to /., so why not this?

    Hmmm... I guess I should at least try to say something profound for the sake of posterity. Uh, er...

    "All your base are belong to us!"

    No, that's old.

    "Natalie Portman and hot grits!"

    That's even older.

    "In Soviet Russia, Logo hacks YOU!"

    Dear God, why do I even bother?

    OK, obviously I'm drawing a blank here, so let me just apologize to everyone reading this message for the collosal waste of time.

    BTW, I've always thought that Slashdot's broken Windows logo would be fitting.

    -Cybrex

    --
    Boundless Expansion, Self-Transformation, Dynamic Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Spontaneous Order- BEST DO IT SO!
  409. HTML Version by gr8_phk · · Score: 1
    Change the ( and ) to html braces in the following. /. filters valid html in posts...

    (table cellpadding=0) (tr)(td width=10 height=10)(/td)(td bgcolor="00000088")(/td)(td)(/td)(/tr) (tr)(td)(/td)(td width=10 height=10)(/td)(td bgcolor="00000088")(/td)(/tr) (tr)(td bgcolor="00000088")(/td)(td bgcolor="00000088")(/td) (td bgcolor="00000088" width=10 height=10)(/td)(/tr) (/table)

  410. Hackers and Managers by Soulfader · · Score: 1
    THere's another faq there on managers for hackers. Similarly condescending, but there are some choice bits:
    5.4: My manager counts from one.
    Ordinals (counting numbers) have always started from one; counting from zero, while obvious and natural to many programmers, is probably wrong from a linguistic standpoint. Try to be flexible.
  411. looks kind of like an L in this orientation by sbma44 · · Score: 1

    making it appropriate for forehead application

  412. A true hacker makes their own logo by Cthefuture · · Score: 1

    If you want a logo, make your own!

    That is the essense of a true hacker. It is about creation, individuality, tinkering... Build your own stuff.

    If your logo is good other hackers will recognize it having never seen it before.

    --
    The ratio of people to cake is too big
  413. Who's left? by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 1

    The glider's left or the viewer's left?

  414. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by Dr.+Evil · · Score: 1

    A flag?

    Conformist!

  415. just tell me by Shadestalker · · Score: 1

    where I can go to take the certification test, so I can frame one of these babies on the cubicle wall.

  416. A little closer to home by jshowlett · · Score: 1

    I would have guessed that if hackerdom had a logo it would be some derivative of this.

  417. Sig file by Bilbo · · Score: 1
    I'm adding it to my SIG.

    (Hey - it's even under 3 lines!) -0- --0 000

    --
    Your Servant, B. Baggins
  418. A diary should be chmod 217 (also viruses, worms) by Chemisor · · Score: 1
    A diary really could use 217 chmod for the following reasons:
    • I never actually read it.
    • I don't want people I know to read it.
    • I don't care if people I don't know read it as long as they don't know me either.
    • Real hackers write their diaries in self-modifying code.

    The same logic applies to viruses, worms, and spyware.
  419. what crap! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Absolutely the worst Design EVER

    and while your at it why dont you create a logo for atheists, vegetarians, soda lovers, coffee addicts, bit heads, etc...

    but then again your hacker logo sucked so much, save us the eyesore...dont create anymore >:)
    ps. some folks just dont want to be branded, period.

  420. WTF? by Ooblek · · Score: 1

    My first thought was that it would be a picture of a hand flipping the bird with the text, "All your bases are belong to us!" below it. Logic does not appear to be a part of hacking. A friend of mine hacked a women's clothing store a while back. Where is the logic there? Maybe there is something about him I don't know....

  421. take back our name by talmage · · Score: 1

    Sounds like a fine, fun idea. We can use it to educate the masses and reclaim the word. I stuck the logo on my own web site

  422. I get "1:53" by Kevoco · · Score: 1

    Take a look at the Powers of 2 Clock and you'll know what I mean.

  423. missing the point? by sennomo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think a lot of people here are overlooking the purposes of a hacker logo. Apparently a lot of those who posted didn't even bother to read ESR's 2 short pages about the emblem. Here are a few points on some of the goals:

    1. Internet users (hackers included) seem to have a hard time sorting each other into easily-handled categories without plenty of superficial indicators. This logo could be one more indicator. It's eventual misuse wouldn't be as bad as some people think. Besides, there are always poseurs, with or without an emblem.
    2. If hackers ever hope to gain ground in the PR war against the press and 1337 H4xz0|2 script-kiddies, they're going to need to present some image of cohesion, a sort of united front. It doesn't even matter if the image is shallow when where talking about PR.
    3. Note that ESR explicitly states that the point of displaying the logo is not to say, "I am a hacker" but to say that you associate yourself with hacker culture. Kinda like how you can wear a pink triangle T-shirt with the word "Ally" on it if your not gay but like to show support.
    4. As for non-conforming non-joiners being able to agree to have one logo or one anything, it's not hard at all. Just take a look at the Church of the SubGenius. You don't have to take my word for it, ask the creator of Slackware, Patrick Volkerding.

    All in all, I like the idea and the logo. I suggest to those who don't like it that they simply not use it and not make a fuss about it, so that they won't ruin it for the guys like ESR who are trying to accomplish some great (seemingly quixotic to many) goals for hackerdom.

    --
    Mi klopodas varbi por Esperanto.
  424. Secret handshake? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The pattern of five dots reminds me strongly of five fingers resting on the number pad of a keyboard.

    It's the 4,8,9,6,3 emblem!

    (Well, the way Eric has it rotated, it's the 1,2,3,6,8 emblem - but that hurts my fingers!)

    Now - just hold your hand in that position and you're all set up for the secret hackerdom handshake!

  425. Well... by Sj0 · · Score: 1

    That would be because there is no "hacker community" as such. Certainly some groups of programmers get together to collaberate of projects, but as a whole, hackers are by their very nature, splintered. Having a symbol would represent a unity which simply doesn't exist.

    --
    It's been a long time.
  426. obligatory Simpsons quote by eoyount · · Score: 1

    It should "move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom" -- Kodos

    --
    To understand recursion,
    you must first understand recursion.
  427. If anything, ESR needs to fuck off. by terpia · · Score: 1

    ESR, You are not the "hacker historian" or any sort of caretaker of a contrived "culture" either. You are a pigs dick who is incredibly self important. Check yourself.

    --
    .sig wanted: Must be concise, funny, and display my cleverness.
  428. You know what's sad? by Moraelin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Think of how the term "hacker" was corrupted in the first place.

    What makes you think the same won't happen with the logo. I can just see the same steps happening:

    1. A couple of script kiddies, who don't even understand what those downloaded rootkits do, start placing the logo on defaced websites and such. Or placing it all over some warez sites, in between porn popups and l33t text.

    2. A few retarded and clueless journalists clamp on the "hacking is evil, and this is the logo of these evil people" idea. You know, writing an article about a _real_ hacker won't rake in the readers. It's just a guy working long shifts to make some complicated program. Not many people want to read about that. Whereas doom and gloom journalism about these evil 'hackers', who'll bring our cyber-civilization to its knees, those sell.

    3. Your average PHB clamps onto the journalists' definition. It's easier him to understand stuff like "wow, these guys are motivated by evil goals" than "whoa, someone actually likes computers and spends his/her free time learning and experimenting".

    So anyway, think about it this way. Would you tell a random client nowadays that you're a hacker, or that you sympathize with hackers? Want to be that they'll instantly understand "cyber-terrorist" by that? You can try to educate them all you want, they'll just fall back to the definition that the media feeds them.

    Now take the logo. Do you have any doubt that in a couple of years wearing that logo on a t-shirt will have the same effect? And what do you think will happen after the company loses a few contracts because the client saw you wearing that evil symbol? I can just see it banned at work.

    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
  429. A Logo for the Screen Savers by Archalien · · Score: 1

    Sweet... Now we have a logo we can add to our screen savers to make them official h4x0r screen savers that we can play on our laptops as we hack into the gibson... before now we've just been un-officially retarded.

    Laugh.. its a joke

  430. What about... by demozthenes · · Score: 1

    ...hackers who don't necessarily write code? There's plenty of problems to be solved and questions to be answered without the use of a computer. Would this logo apply to urban explorers, who often refer to themselves as "tunnel hackers?" What about body hackers? I, for one, have trouble accepting ESR's argument with a straight face. As much as he's contributed to the culture, he's got too large an ego and too wrong-headed a bunch of ideas for my liking.

    --
    You drink too much coffee, I drink too much stout.
  431. Game of Life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When he mentioned a logo based on the game of life to represent hackers, I immediately thought he meant a logo consisting of a blue car with a single blue peg in it. No pink peg in it, of course...

  432. Re:A diary should be chmod 217 (also viruses, worm by forrestt · · Score: 1
    I never actually read it.

    It will also be hard to add to it if you can't read it. Try opening something in vi that you can't read (or any other editor for that matter). Of course you can always
    % echo '[my next day's entry]' >> diary
    even if it is chmod 217. But that is a pain for long diary entries.

    The really scary part is the 17. Basically you are setting up anyone you don't know to overwrite your diary with some script that says how lame a haxor you are, and then have people you know run it and laugh at you.

  433. Eric Blows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Eric has and never will be a hacker. He is a silly wannabe, who has watched the movie 'hackers' all too many times. Next thing that we will be doing is changing our bootup screens to look like those of acid burn's and zero cool's. Just look at the man:
    http://www.catb.org/~esr/graphics/esr001.jpg
    He is in desperate need of some sex!

    On the whole logo thing, WTF IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE? I looked at it, and if I hadn't looked at his description of it, I would've never guessed what it was. If he likes it so much, he can get it tattooed on his ass! I would never use this symbol, ever again, unless it was to insult eric's brain dead propoganda. He's beginning to remind me a lot of Richard Stallman.

  434. Why not... by figa · · Score: 1
  435. Badges?!? I need no steenkin badges...or do I? by rc.loco · · Score: 1

    Still, I think there is a place for something like this. Our community is under attack. By SCO, by Microsoft, by Sun even, by the proprietary technology industry. Eric's idea is great in that it seeks to unify us in a time of war, he is challenging us to adopt "battle colors" in effect, and I think that might be a good thing.

    Folks, all that we've worked for and on these last couple of decades is being fiercely threatened. The rights and freedoms that RMS and the FSF have sought to protect are the targets. The SCO thing may seem outlandish, but this is the U.S. legal system we're talking about, anything can/does happen. The heavies are loaded for bear - the MSFT meat puppets like Darl McBride know they have a shot at destroying our community, to guarantee the survival of the proprietary "way" as the dominant mode of business in IT.

    Think I'm just ranting? Perhaps. But have you noticed how much good press the monolithic vaporware Longhorn is soaking up? Have you read stories by people in power (who don't get "it") talking about how the whole Unix/Linux process is too complicated to succeed long-term?

    Still, I hate the logo itself. I look at it and I don't feel anything. I haven't played Life since I had a DOS-only computer and downloaded a version from my local BBS. :-)

    Certainly, there needs to be a more democratic process for this, but there is room for such a thing. We (the Open Source'ers, the Free Software'ers, the BSD'ers, the Perl'ers, etc.) are all comrades-in-arms these days.

    --
    --rc
  436. HEXAGRAM 9 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mine is hexagram 9, THE TAMING POWER OF THE SMALL.

    "it has a cerebral cortex of a pig integrated with a printed circuit. Unfortunately the pig part took over, and now it hates humanity, and it revels... in carnage." -- Dr. Who, The Talons of Weng Chiang

  437. Simple. by pmz · · Score: 1


    I propose a Twinkie. So mysterious, yet so tasty.

  438. hackerism consistent in a Polymorphic way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't believe the intent is to adapt and use the logo in its literal form. As many of you have pointed out - that is somewhat idiotic and silly.

    Personally I enjoy the many variations that have already arised in this thread. I believe that to be ER's implementation and concept.

    My fav thusfar is 217. One has to understand binary a bit (haha) to see a relationship to the image.

    -Matt

  439. Re:Like the totally 1337 peace sign? All your base by sql*kitten · · Score: 1

    The Anarchist logo os also held within a circle, but is an upper-case A with the horizontal bar extended on both sides to reach the circle. The ends of each diagonal leg, and the angle at the top of the A also reach the circle.

    I thought that was "A" for "Avril Lavigne"...

  440. NO by lamp540 · · Score: 1

    No they don't.

  441. Just for the record by cheeseSource · · Score: 1

    The idea of having a symbol is interesting. However, one person choosing that symbol is absurd. If a symbol were necessary it would already exist - therefore if a symbol ever truly captures the minds of "hackers" everywhere it will come about naturally and not through one pundit's proposal. BIAUWASJIM (But I am usually wrong anyway so just ignore me)

    --
    (Sponsored by cheeseSource for President 2012)
  442. It's Perfect by JWhitlock · · Score: 2, Interesting
    There's more than one way to do it (4 orientations, each with two states)

    If mine is still a glider, I can say "that's just my style", the way that different programmers can code the same thing and have the source come out completely differently.

    Impressive as it is, it requires a whole foundation (a simulator for Conway's Life), just like Linux needs the GNU tools to compile and to be useful. And, just like GNU/Linux, everyone will ignore or disregard ESR's contribution once it becomes popular.

    If you put more than one glider, of different orientations, on the same Life domain, they will either interact to do amazing things, ignore each other, or anihilate each other - just like different hacker's code!

    And, of course, different hackers will say "the default sucks", and change the orientation, make fancier gliders, etc., which will work for them but not for anyone else, bringing shouts of "diversity if good!" and "why can't everyone just work on the same logo!"

    I think ESR might be on to something.

  443. Animated wallpapering by lysium · · Score: 1
    There are tiny applications for Mac OSX that allows you to run the screensaver as wallpaper for a negligible performance hit (on newer Apples, at any rate). So I would say it would be trivial to run the game this way with a little porting.

    This also leads to the possibility of organic, evolving wallpaper, instead of just static imagery....

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    --
    Together, we will drive the rats from the tundra.
  444. hackers aren't always riveted to computers! by Codger · · Score: 1

    I think we're all missing out on one important aspect of hacking: it doesn't necessarily have *anything at all* to do with computers. A Hack with a capital H is just a creative way to solve a problem. There's probably a better definition but I'm not going to waste my time looking it up.

    MacGyver was a Hacker. And he surely didn't know anything about a silly little computer "game" called Life.

  445. Re:Eric S. Raymond: are you the "Federal" hacker g by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I wear a logo that nobody can see...the logo of Jesus Christ.

    Wow. You must really not want mod-points. Or you are new in town

  446. Not life: by adamy · · Score: 1

    Although easy to convert to life by Addin a piece at A or B

    ++++++
    +OOO++
    +O+OA+
    +BO+O+
    ++OOO+
    ++++++

    Either half can be captured:

    ++++++
    +OOO++
    +O+OX+
    +XOXOX
    +XOOOX
    ++XXX+

    --
    Open Source Identity Management: FreeIPA.org
  447. Re:Not a capture. by qtp · · Score: 1

    My example most certainly is life:

    123456
    1++++++
    2+OOO++
    3+O+OX+
    4+XO+OX
    5+XOOO X
    6++XXX+

    O still has one "liberty" at 3,3. ;-)

    Nice try, "kyu-boy".
    (BTW, I'm not Shodan either.)

    --
    Read, L
  448. We'll find some way to shame and reject you public by iion_tichy · · Score: 1

    So that's how trademarks will be enforced in the future??? I'm not sure what's the greater evil here...

  449. Re:Looks like the game of Go by qtp · · Score: 1

    thanks.

    --
    Read, L
  450. Re:Not a capture. by adamy · · Score: 1

    Duh. and that is why I get my ass kicked at Go

    --
    Open Source Identity Management: FreeIPA.org
  451. Re:Not a capture. by qtp · · Score: 1

    Try UliGo.

    Nice life and death (plus a few, more ambiguous, "best move") problems for when an actual opponent can't be found.

    --
    Read, L
  452. When did the name "Hacker" get hijacked? by Lester67 · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but if you're old school enough, a hacker WAS someone that tinkered with shit to figure out how it worked....

    AND THEY BROKE INTO OTHER PEOPLE COMPUTERS TO DO SO. (Or were known to from time to time.)

    So quit your fucking bitching about how "Hackers and Crackers get confused". The reason the names are confused is because people thought being called a "programmer" wasn't cool enough, "Hacker" had a nice ring to it, and they didn't have the balls (or tits) to become a real one themselves. So they started a campaign to hijack the name, pinning "cracker" on the name of anyone that broke their code. (It's feature, not a bug.)

    Too bad "Pirate" didn't have a nicer ring to it, otherwise you'd be bitching about "The Pirates of the Carribean" and how they stole the name from you and planted it on someone nefarious.

    If more "hackers" worked at Microsoft, they wouldn't have the security issues that are going on now. Instead, we have a bunch of feel good, wannabe hackers, spending all their time whining that "hacker means programmer"!

    Lester
    Proud to be a hacker, back when it meant something.

  453. Re:hackers, crackers, smackers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He's dead Jim. His brain is gone.

  454. Eaters by jmd! · · Score: 1

    If a bunch of you dorks decide to follow ESR and his ego and start wearing buttons and hats with a glider on them, I think I'd have to wear an eater in protest. (And as a show of geek superiority)

  455. It's a number by Dog135 · · Score: 1

    The first thing I thought of when I saw it: 153

    Can't get more compact then that.

    --
    "That's so plausible, I can't believe it!" - Leela
  456. Cute ideas by Kingfox · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Personally, I love the two key keyboard.

  457. colour blind by foggi3 · · Score: 1

    close.

    colour blindness is a funny thing. About 1/12 white males is colour blind, 1/100 white females (which is kinda funny because the women are the ones that carry the bad gene - thanks mom~), and 1/1000 of everyone else. Lots of people dont like to talk about those statistics though for fears of being racist.

    --
    ~~
  458. Reminds me of the Brights by Chuk · · Score: 2, Funny

    Except not quite the same thing -- Brights are trying to form a labelled community, whereas hackers already have one and are just getting a logo for it.

    --
    chuk
  459. Superb idea! by mirabilos · · Score: 1

    When I read the headline, I thought about the
    slashdot logo (I never see because I am using lynx).
    When reading the first lines, I wandered from "uh,
    why?" via "hmm..." to "mmh, but which one?"

    But seeing the proposal, he gets my full ACK,
    and I must admit I couldn't have come up with
    a better one than (IIRC, from memory):

    ##
    ##
    ## ##
    #### ... this one. ESR, way to go!

    --
    My Karma isn't excellent, damn it! (And /. still does not get UTF-8 right in 2012. Wow.)
  460. Almost by sbszine · · Score: 1

    Gotta doublequote the width and height attribute values.

    --

    Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling

  461. wow that was flamebait by pyrrho · · Score: 1

    To explain it, I too have an experience of the "hacker" culture, to me it is not something I could or would try to organize or represent the whole of, but it does have something to do with independence, and independent personal power, for computer skills feel like power to those that see the power of procedural logic first hand, as "hackers" do. I guess I don't really like the name "hacker culture" idea too much anyway, but that term's extension is definately the same culture I learned computers within. I don't want to define it myself, but I don't like the idea ESR always uses about the culture. It's like some feudal pissing contest. Bullshit. That's what Microsoft won. That's bullshit. The cool stuff happens when they are all working together. There was Microsoft telling Apple "make Mac OS for Intel! it's cool!". That's the culture. It's cool, go for it. There is so much cool stuff, you don't worry, there is so much increasing network return that cooperating with your competitor gives you guys something such a higher factor more useful that suddenly promiscuous partnerships with competitors makes sense, and happens.

    Hacker culture does respect a computer mastery, a guruness, but it's not a pissing contest... it's just that any discovery of Respectable Persons creates an opportunity for the pissers.

    This is definatly not flamerbait. It's -1 Offtopic. Thank you.

    --

    -pyrrho

  462. Re:hackers, indeed -- alt tag by You're+All+Wrong · · Score: 1

    10.1.111 is a perfectly valid unambiguous representation for a single IP address.

    Read the specs, doofus.

    YAW.

    --
    Your head of state is a corrupt weasel, I hope you're happy.
  463. Sure its recursive... by hingo · · Score: 1

    ... it stands for RPM: Package Manager (http://lwn.net/Articles/49665/)

    (And who said "revisionist history"?)

    henrik

    1. Re:Sure its recursive... by mhesseltine · · Score: 1

      When I first wrote my parent comment, I was grasping for recursive names. Somehow, RPM stood out, although in hindsight, I started thinking that it was Redhat Package Manager.

      Again, not being a big Redhat user (mostly Debian and Gentoo) I'm not really aware of the RPM format.

      And, adding to the recursive names - PINE is not Elm

      --
      Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
  464. Underground? whats that? by Dragoon · · Score: 1

    A Logo.. for an underground counter-culture? Cool, I want one on a golf tee!

    As cool as a logo for the community would be, its got a few downpoints I thought I'd mention..

    1. Tattos. Remember that dark angel show? Remember how all the cool kids went out and got bar codes tattoed on the back of their necks to be orginal? Picture that, but with this logo.

    I don't know about you, but I'd really hate to see this logo on 'l33t scrript kiddies'.

    2. Web Pages. Remeber that Free Speech/Blue Ribbon thing? Yea, that was annoying, just due to the fact that thousands of people thought theyd be cool and put it up, it at least served a point.

    All the "cool" people will have a link to this image on their sites, and instantly become "hackers". Wasn't being a hacker an underground activity?

    3. Business Cards. Same deal as the web pages, the l33t will definately need this logo on their cards, to show all other geeks that they're better then them.

    4. Diseases. There's a special disease that is associated with this idea. Expert-itis. It's very common with people who have completed a 10 month course at their local college, and suddenly become Uber-Hackers. Expertitis - The disease associated with people who suddenly become experts on everything. They'd be -all- about this logo.

    5. OMG, its ugly.

    6. Legal Issues. Um, not to state the obvious, but isn't being a hacker a -very- bad thing to be in this world right now? Especially if you live close to the US of A ?

    IANAL but I think that putting a flag up stating that I'm say, a neo-nazi, will not make the feds happy. While doing so is perfectly legal, it doesn't mean that the feds won't put you down in one of their nice tidy databases of urban terrorists.

    Now, with the amount of negative attention showered upon hackers of recent, do you really think its wise to start handing out hall passes for prison?

    7. More space for generalisation. Say we adopt this idea, "yay for us!", and we all get nice spiffy logos printed off and take pride in them. It's a hacker logo yes? Do you not expect to see it plastered over hacked sites? Do you then not expect to be looked at as unwelcome by people who dont know any better?

    You could simply be a linux kernel hacker, and like this logo, but yet, to the uninformed, you're a liability to the company you're employed for.

    8. ...

    nah, I think you get the point by now, all in all, if you were looking for an idea that would have done better by not creating it, I think you found a very cool one, congrats :)

    --
    Welcome to the End
  465. Re:A diary should be chmod 217 (also viruses, worm by Chemisor · · Score: 1

    > The really scary part is the 17. Basically you are
    > setting up anyone you don't know to overwrite your
    > diary with some script that says how lame a haxor
    > you are

    What kind of a lame haxor are you if you don't know that 217 does NOT give write permissions to anyone but you? (217 = -w---xr-x) Are you running FreeBSD or something? :)

  466. Re:A diary should be chmod 217 (also viruses, worm by forrestt · · Score: 1

    What kind of a lame haxor are you if you don't know that 217 does NOT give write permissions to anyone but you? (217 = -w---xr-x) Are you running FreeBSD or something? :)

    One that knows binary: 217 = -w---xrwx

    The way this works is each of the three-bit pieces are looked at independently (something I think you grasped). The first number represents the permissions for the owner, the second for the group assigned to the file, and the last number represents the permissions granted to others. But they then are given their binary equivalent in order to know which bits to turn on.

    In the case of 2, the binary for 2 is 010. Thus the read bit is off, the write bit is on, and the execute bit is off (0 means turn them off, and one means turn them on). Congratulations, you got that one right. Next, the binary for 1 is 001. Thus, the read and write bits are off, but the execute bit is on. Congratulations, you got that one right also. Lastly, the binary for 7 is 111. Thus, all three bits are turned on. This is where you didn't see the allowing of others to over-write your diary.

    Since I'm not totally sure you understand binary (66% success rate isn't passing), I will try to explain how 7 is represented by 111.

    You see, the right-most bit is valued at 1 if on, and 0 if off. The middle bit is valued at 2 if on, and 0 if off. The left-most bit is valued at 4 if on and 0 if off. So, if we turn the first and last bits on, we have a value of 4+1 which equals 5. 5 does not equal 7, so we must look further to determine what to do. If we turn the first and second bits on, we have a value 4+2 which equals 6. 6 also does not equal 7. But, we are getting close. If we turn on the 4 bit, the 2 bit, AND the 1 bit guess what happens?! You got it, 4+2+1=7!!! Furthermore, we know from first grade math, that 7 equals 7. Thus we have found our answer.

    I'm a computer programmer/systems administrator, not a professional teacher, so if I have confused you let me know and I will try to explain it in more simple terms. In the meantime, trust me, if you have any files with **7 permissions, change them IMMEDIATELY unless you really want anyone to be able to write to the files and execute arbitrary code on your box.

  467. Re:Incompetent hackers by jabber01 · · Score: 1

    It looks fine in Lynx, logged in on my VT-220 on serial port A on my SparcStation 10....

    Whoa!!! Who the hell are YOU to talk about "incompetence"? Huh? What would YOU know about it??

    One can only truly judge "incompetence" from the latest AOL/Netscape dial-up on WindowsME.

    --

    The REAL jabber has the user id: 13196
    What you do today will cost you a day of your life

  468. Glider T-Shirts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can by T-Shirts and other stuff with glider in Glider T-Shirts .

  469. Geek logo by zoeblade · · Score: 1

    What's wrong with :wq? It's already used by many geeks :)

  470. Bingo. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's exactly who I think services my questions in the *nix technical support forums. A big sphincter.