Quite true, but by all accounts crackers dislike the name. You won't succeed without a majority adopting the new term, and I'm afraid that involves the cooperation of the culprits themselves. Otherwise, I'm sure this long-running debate would have concluded long ago.
I think we should just accept that we're stuck with the double meaning. As with other ambiguous words, the context usually points to the true meaning. Casper Boden-Cummins. >---------- >From: Christopher R. Hertel[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: 15 August 1996 15:10 >To: debian-user@lists.debian.org >Cc: The recipient's address is unknown. >Subject: Re: Isn't it a security hole... > >On Aug 14, 2:35pm, Bruce Perens wrote: >: Ahem. Let's not use the word "hacker" to mean "computer criminal" on >: this list. "cracker" is more appropriate. >>-- End of excerpt from Bruce Perens > >Seconded. The term "hacker" originally referred to one who would >"hack" at [working] code to make it better, faster, cleaner, more fun, >etc. The term has been badly misused in recent years, and for some has >taken on a new meaning. Given the true meaning of the term, most of >the people on this list could be called "hacker". > >Chris -)----- > >-- >Christopher R. Hertel -)----- University of Minnesota >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Networking and Telecommunications Services > >