Lee Goddard wrote: > > At 08:50 13/05/2002 -0400, Tillman, James wrote: > > >We're discussing hackers using the true meaning of the word, which is "a > >programmer who loves his craft", not "a stupid jerk with nothing better to > >do than trash other people's systems." > > Pedantic: the former is usually technically referred to as an acquired meaning, > as is the latter. There are of course few "true" meanings to words, but > the most widely-established use of the word "hacker" is the latter, derived > from the use in literary circles to refer to those who can't really write, but > do so anyway for money. > > I've got an OED CD-ROM here somewhere.
I don't have OED here, but according to Mirriam-Webster OnLine, you're more closely referring to a "hack" (which was my first impression): "3a : a person who works solely for mercenary reasons : HIRELING <party hacks> b : a writer who works on order; also : a writer who aims solely for commercial success]" Cameron -- Cameron Dorey Associate Professor of Chemistry University of Central Arkansas Phone: 501-450-5938 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ActivePerl mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe: http://listserv.ActiveState.com/mailman/mysubs
