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Comment by younata | Hacker News Reader

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younata

a hacker.

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I call myself a coder because I write code.

I don't hack, crack, or (verb)script-kiddie, so I won't refer to myself as a hacker, cracker, or script-kiddie.

*sigh I would hope people would understand the title of hacker on this website. Hint it has nothing to do with security

But wouldn't it be nice if some script kiddie misunderstood and got hooked? A sample IRC log might look like this:

  SC1: yo dog, long time
  SC1: still haxoring Wordpress modules?
  HNer: naah man, WP is gey
  HNer: I am busy hacking Supply and Demand
  SC1: wtf? the economic model?
  HNer: yeah, making something people want
  -- SC1 has quit IRC (Quit: Leaving.)

It would be wonderful. But my point on not calling myself a hacker is not because I don't "hack supply and demand," but I don't "hack" stuff in general. Hack can be used correctly in two totally different contexts (not mistaken with crack), and that is the good helpful kind of hack.

Sure, but this thread was about what it's "advantageous" to call yourself. Calling yourself a "hacker" in front of 99% of clients is not going to get you off to a good start.

except in front of silicon valley MBA types who're vaguely familiar with four steps to the epiphany

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