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Andrei Rusu
Andrei Rusu

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I am not a Hacker

The term hacker seems to be enjoying great popularity, with websites like HackerNews, HackerNoon, HackerRank, recruiting events like HackerX or the all-too-familiar and ever prevalent "hackathons". It's a hacking bonanza.

I have never referred to myself a hacker and every time a go to a HackerX event or a hackathon I feel uncomfortable and out of place.

When are we going to be past this hacking tomfoolery, hacking "culture", hackers, hackathons?

Top comments (5)

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ethanclayton12 profile image
EthanClayton12 • Edited

I do not understand why you do not like this term because, in fact, the person who does hacking is a kind of hacker. This is a skill that people learn for months, and some for years. Hacker is not always about malice. This kind of work is important for cases where there is a threat to a person, and the only way to save him is to hack his phone and find out more about him. But it often happens that the phone owner has forgotten the password to it or its networks, and it is impossible to restore it. That's when they resort to hacking services. If you are interested in this topic, perhaps you can help guidedhacking.com . Have you always been so unconditional, or do you put a deeper meaning in this concept?

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nathanenglert profile image
Nathan Englert

Possible "hackathon" synonyms..

  • Codathon
  • Programmathon
  • Develathon?!
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andreirusu_ profile image
Andrei Rusu • Edited

Codeathon I think it's a fine term. Actually, the only "hackathon" I go to is called a codeathon and is organized by the Norwegian Red Cross.

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nathanenglert profile image
Nathan Englert
  • Software engineerathon!
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frothandjava profile image
Scot McSweeney-Roberts

Seeing as the term had been used for something like forty-odd years (with some slight changes in meaning), it's probably not going to go away any time soon.