posted by App on Thursday, February 19, 2004
HACKER is a slang term for a computer enthusiast. Among professional programmers, the term hacker implies an amateur or a programmer who lacks formal training. Depending on how it used, the term can be either complimentary or derogatory, although it is developing an increasingly derogatory connotation.
The pejorative sense of hacker is becoming more prominent largely because the popular press has co-opted the term to refer to individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems for the purpose of stealing and corrupting data. Hackers, themselves, maintain that the proper term for such individuals is script kiddie.
soooo...essentually, a hacker is a self taught programmer.
NOT someone that breaks into your computer and messes up your stuff.
NOT someone that writes viruses and passes them to other people.
NOT someone that tries to stick a trojan on your computer to steal your passwords and personal information.
NOT someone that that launches an attack on you to try to kick you offline.
NOT someone that crashes your chatroom.
NOT someone that will try to hurt you in any way.
That is a script kiddie...and REAL hackers HATE script kiddies!!
REAL hackers are the ones that bring you things such as plugins for WinMX; like Bendmx, RCMS, KickIt, patches for vulnerabilities (like the riched32.dll to fix RTF), to stop script kiddies from crashing you or messing up your room.
REAL hackers write games, useful tools, and other programs in their spare time that you enjoy...some you might even feel you can't live without.
REAL hackers write entire operating systems...like Windows or Linux. (yes, Microsoft DOES employ real hackers)
REAL hackers tinker with their computers and discover bugs in software, and maybe some vulnerabilities, and do what they can to fix them to make everyone's life safer and more enjoyable while using a computer.
REAL hackers are just ordinary people...moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters...that never went to school to learn programming. They learned it some other way (usually the hard way).
So the next time someone says hackers are evil, you now know better and can educate them as to what the TRUE meaning of the word "hacker" is.
posted by App on Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Well, I finally went and did it...and now to explain why:
LVHC, by it's nature attracts the wrong kind of people. The name of the room and the room topic invites all the crap on WinMX. Many of the long time members have tried really hard to get rid of the negative image that the room has. It's hopeless...the crap still comes in. It seems the rules we tried to make, the friendly atmosphere, the good image we were after as being the best room on WinMX is only appreciated by those working hard to create it. Since multi can't run true programming at this time, due to personal reasons, I had to do something. I found myself being dragged down by the crap. I found myself behaving badly...becoming crap myself. I didn't like it. I had to get out. I had to go somewhere else. Since true programming wasn't open, the logical thing was to start another room.
The SourceCode will be like the old LVHC Basement Club. People will be given a chance. People will be welcome in the room as long as they can behave and act mature. People that are eager to learn will find help and encouragement. Nobody will be kicked or banned without a good reason. The rules that multi originally posted for LVHC will apply. As soon as I get a copy from him I will post them on this site, and maybe add a few of my own. A few people from LVHC will not be allowed in the room till I can see that they have matured some and are willing to live by the rules and not be a threat to the spirit of the room. They know who they are and I do not have to mention them by name.It is not my intention to upset them and start a "war". My intentions are just to have a better place to be, and provide a better alternative than the current LVHC situation.
Membership is not currently open till I have my admin list established. There will be no rank, but there will be a numbering system. The numbers will be based on when you joined, rather than how much brains or skills you have. Nobody is better than someone else and the ego trip that rank causes is bad for the room. The top ten numbers will be reserved for my admins only because it will make it easier to know who they are to everyone else. I am [01]...it's my room. Code is [02]...he's hosting for me (thanks). Kiz is [03]...she was the next one I asked. Martin is [04]...a good guy I can trust and agrees with what I am trying to do here. [00] is reserved for multi out of the respect I have for him as a person. That will put his name at the top of the list, where I personally feel he belongs. The rest of the spots in the top 10 have yet to be filled.
Anyone that has skills that are in a position to help others would do well to read this, and that would be EVERYBODY:
http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/how-to-help.html
There are no stupid people, there are no stupid questions. We were not born knowing how to use a computer....we all had to learn. Be nice to everyone...even that guy that don't know where the power button on his comp is.
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