I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but it seems to me that allowing the majority to dictate culture to a minority is a dangerous thing, even if it is limited strictly to linguistics. When the media accepts something as true, or when the ignorance of the majority attempts to modify the reality of something, does that mean that we should simply accept it?
I've heard a lot of good alternatives here, including "Computer Geek," "Computer Nerd" (which I often call myself), "Guru," etc. But I also use the word "Hacker," and I very much enjoy exposing someone's ignorance by referring them to the corret meaning, as published in "The Hacker's Dictionary" from MIT. It was particularly satisfying to explain its true meaning when I was interviewed by the university newspaper, but I don't think they intended the article to be about computer programming:)
To be honest, and I'm willing to bet that there are others out there that feel the same way, I am sick of modifying the way I behave (including the words that I use) to cater to the lowest-common-denominator of our society.
However, it might also be true that the term "Cracker" sounds funny or awkward to some people due to its possible racial implications.
In any case, I intend to go on using words like "Hacker," "Hack Value," "Hacking," etc. -especially- around people who believe that they have a different meaning.
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I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but it seems to me that allowing the majority to dictate culture to a minority is a dangerous thing, even if it is limited strictly to linguistics. When the media accepts something as true, or when the ignorance of the majority attempts to modify the reality of something, does that mean that we should simply accept it?
:)
I've heard a lot of good alternatives here, including "Computer Geek," "Computer Nerd" (which I often call myself), "Guru," etc. But I also use the word "Hacker," and I very much enjoy exposing someone's ignorance by referring them to the corret meaning, as published in "The Hacker's Dictionary" from MIT. It was particularly satisfying to explain its true meaning when I was interviewed by the university newspaper, but I don't think they intended the article to be about computer programming
To be honest, and I'm willing to bet that there are others out there that feel the same way, I am sick of modifying the way I behave (including the words that I use) to cater to the lowest-common-denominator of our society.
However, it might also be true that the term "Cracker" sounds funny or awkward to some people due to its possible racial implications.
In any case, I intend to go on using words like "Hacker," "Hack Value," "Hacking," etc. -especially- around people who believe that they have a different meaning.