[plug] what's a hacker?

[Peter Wilsmore]

On Mon, Feb 11, 2002 at 03:18:11PM +0800, Andrew Pamment wrote:
> 
> 
> Leon Blackwell wrote:
> 
> 
> >http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/hacker.html
> >
> 
> sure, thats what hackers call hackers. crackers call hackers something 
> different. everone else has another opinion. if you want a real 
> "technical" definition, read a real dictionary. it's like saying "coke" 
> is the technical definition for coca cola when thats just a trademark. 
> coke is impure carbon obtained from coal by heating out of contact with air.
> 
> point is hacker is slang and open to interpretation.
> 
> crackers can be malicious hackers. it means the same thing.
> 
> here is a real dictionary definition: Maquarie
> 
> hacker
> noun Computers Colloquial 1. a computer enthusiast who studies computers 
> and writes programs as a hobby. 2. someone who gains unauthorised access 
> to a computer system and makes amendments. Also, hack.
> 
> notice colloquial.
> 
> it's not a technical word.
> 

Of course a crap American dictionary is the only authoritive source
for such things. 

Doing a quick search for hacker at www.dictionary.com I find that:

the American Heritage Dictionary defines hacker as
1. One who is proficient at using or programming a computer; a 
computer buff. 
2. One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a 
computer network or file. 
3. One who enthusiastically pursues a game or sport: a weekend 
tennis hacker. 

WordNet from Princeton University defines hacker as
n 1: someone who plays golf poorly 2: a programmer for whom 
computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking 
into other computers 3: one who works hard at boring tasks [syn: 
hack, 

most of the definitions site the root as hack: a practical joke or 
clever scheme.

thanks,
  Peter