The "hacker" stereotype is just gatekeeping nonsense. Not identifying with it is a positive.
In the days of lore, a "hacker" was someone that physically altered PCBs, components and maybe even code to alter the behavior of a device.
I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
11–20 of 53 posts
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#12Well, I guess there is more to being a hacker than just having programming experience. I understand that the post is more than its title, but I couldn’t resist and got triggered by it. For me, it’s about being curious, not taking any technical solution for granted and having the inner need and energy to explore, to experiment, to be skeptical and feeling the drive to improve things …
>> For me, it’s about being curious, not taking any technical solution for granted and having the inner need and energy to explore, to experiment, to be skeptical and feeling the drive to improve things …
I agree with this. I like to learn how things work, and to experiment with all kinds of crazy ideas (some of which end up not being so crazy after all).
I grew up in the 90's where I always heard the term "hacker" used to refer to someone breaking in to a computer or network somewhere, like they were the digital equal of a "cat burglar" or something. Not the usual positive meaning that it has today.
I've been coding for as long as the author of the linked post, and would as result of the above, never refer to myself as a "hacker".
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#13The missing component is curiosity.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#14I never even really hear the term "hacker" anymore. I'm not sure what's driven it out of the industry. I've been programming since I was nine and I was never called a "hacker", even to date. I was called a "nerd", a term which used to be a pejorative for young boys who spent a lot of time on a computer and had a-typical interests and attire. I was made fun of for reading programming books when I finished my other wor…
i think two things drove it out:
1. the long-standing confusion between "someone who tinkers with programs" and "someone who maliciously breaks into systems"
the tinkering contingent fought diligently against letting the black hat contingent coopt the term, but then
2. the tech-bro/marketer crowd caught hold of it, and it became associated with other cringy terms like "ninja" and "rockstar". (tangentially, "wizard" also got dragged down that way).
so now if you call yourself a hacker, people are more likely to think of both black hats and tech bros than of the (still out there!) people who just want to do interesting stuff with computers.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
just a lone voice from the outside world but perhaps programmers could just call themselves programmers and stop trying to take on terms that already have meanings? it's surreal at first reading silicon valley discourse - you have to learn that when you guys say 'engineer' it doesn't mean an engineer. it means a programmer. Likewise I imagine a researcher who actually engages in research would be similarly lost tryin…
engineer made sense to me after reading this, but researcher is laughable for most https://www.hillelwayne.com/post/are-we-really-engineers/
I find this whole article so bizarre because it never contends with the definition of "engineer" that's always made the most intuitive sense to me, which is as the person label behind the practice half of the theory/practice dichotomy, with "scientist" representing the theory half.
This is obviously broad compared to the other definitions, but I've always liked how flexible it was. E.g. I have no real issues thinking of doctors and lawyers as engineers in this way. Doctors engineer solutions to bodily dysfunctions, and lawyers engineer solutions to their clients' problems with the law.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#16I never even really hear the term "hacker" anymore. I'm not sure what's driven it out of the industry. I've been programming since I was nine and I was never called a "hacker", even to date. I was called a "nerd", a term which used to be a pejorative for young boys who spent a lot of time on a computer and had a-typical interests and attire. I was made fun of for reading programming books when I finished my other wor…
Ah, exactly same experience.
I clearly remember some of my friends stating "I don't want to be 30 an still be playing videogames"... As if it was a bad thing.
I thought it was weird at the time to make such statement.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
engineer made sense to me after reading this, but researcher is laughable for most https://www.hillelwayne.com/post/are-we-really-engineers/
I find this whole article so bizarre because it never contends with the definition of "engineer" that's always made the most intuitive sense to me, which is as the person label behind the practice half of the theory/practice dichotomy, with "scientist" representing the theory half. This is obviously broad compared to the other definitions, but I've always liked how flexible it was. E.g. I have no real issues thinking…
Engineer, from wikipedia:
> Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety and cost.[1][2]
I think it's just kind of silly to try to title something based on the how, not the what. A painter paints, right? But what about all of the other jobs and roles that include painting? Are they painters?
Those that disagree with "Software engineers" being called "Engineers" are again propagating nonsense (my post that started this thread).
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#18I never even really hear the term "hacker" anymore. I'm not sure what's driven it out of the industry. I've been programming since I was nine and I was never called a "hacker", even to date. I was called a "nerd", a term which used to be a pejorative for young boys who spent a lot of time on a computer and had a-typical interests and attire. I was made fun of for reading programming books when I finished my other wor…
Being called a nerd is not desirable aa such, even now. The salaries though? Of course.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#19I never even really hear the term "hacker" anymore. I'm not sure what's driven it out of the industry. I've been programming since I was nine and I was never called a "hacker", even to date. I was called a "nerd", a term which used to be a pejorative for young boys who spent a lot of time on a computer and had a-typical interests and attire. I was made fun of for reading programming books when I finished my other wor…
i think two things drove it out: 1. the long-standing confusion between "someone who tinkers with programs" and "someone who maliciously breaks into systems" the tinkering contingent fought diligently against letting the black hat contingent coopt the term, but then 2. the tech-bro/marketer crowd caught hold of it, and it became associated with other cringy terms like "ninja" and "rockstar". (tangentially, "wizard" a…
For those reasons, I personally would not object if YC decided to change the name of Hacker News to something else. The current name seems misleading, at least to me.
Re: I've been programming since I was 10, but I don't feel like a 'hacker'
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
I find this whole article so bizarre because it never contends with the definition of "engineer" that's always made the most intuitive sense to me, which is as the person label behind the practice half of the theory/practice dichotomy, with "scientist" representing the theory half. This is obviously broad compared to the other definitions, but I've always liked how flexible it was. E.g. I have no real issues thinking…
Engineer, from wikipedia: > Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety and cost.[1][2] I think it's just kind of silly to try to title something based on the how, not t…
i actually agree with the extension to engineer to include software. however, many programmers do not do software engineering - any more than a construction worker does bridge engineering - yet they're casually 'engineers'