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I'd submit that a computer hacker is often defined as a person that
makes a program or process do something outside of it's original
intended purpose. Perhaps a food hacker is a person who can make
sustenance from materials that aren't intended to be used as such.<br>
<br>
That person is certainly not me. If I were to consider myself a food
hacker, it's because I'm not very good at cutting vegetables or
trimming meat. Perhaps that means I'm just a food butcherer.<br>
<br>
Ben<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/27/2014 1:17 AM, Kevin Mitnick
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Hi everyone,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I am going to open this e-mail thread up with the following
definition from the Oxford dictionary:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>"[...] gain unauthorized access to data in a system or
computer [...] a piece of computer code providing a quick or
inelegant solution to a particular problem"</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Source: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hack?q=hacking"
target="_blank" style="font-size: 12pt;">http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hack?q=hacking</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I then go and look up the definition of "food hacking" and
the best I can find is this description from Reddit:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>"Food hacks is a place to share quick and simple tips on
making food that has more flavor, more nutritional value, or
both"</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Source: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.reddit.com/r/FoodHacks" target="_blank"
style="font-size: 12pt;">http://www.reddit.com/r/FoodHacks</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Let's look at this real closely here:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>- Where does "food hacking" come into play where we're
getting unauthorized access to something?</div>
<div>- Where does "food hacking" provide a quick or inelegant
solution to a particular problem?</div>
<div>- How does the Reddit definition of "food hacking" fit into
these previous questions?</div>
<div>- Why do people who are playing with their food want to be
a part of the hacking scene? What should we call it?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>To address the first question, I am not seeing how
"unauthorized access" is occurring here. When we go and buy a
head of lettuce or a box of cereal, likely we've paid for it
or if we haven't, it wasn't stolen from some other hungry
person. All we're doing when we're playing with our food is
making it, baking it, cooking it, and or eating it.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Does "food hacking" provide an inelegant solution to a
particular problem? Not really. When you make food you're
making it, not hacking it. Perhaps "hacking" could apply if
you're inelegantly taking apart a steak or some sort of fruit
or vegetable, but at no point are you providing a solution to
a problem. Is the invention of modern fast food a "food hack"
by that standard? Or is the gradual adoption of automated
convenience stores that provide you with whatever without any
human intervention other than your own a "food hack"? It does
allow for a quick solution to getting your food.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If we look at how Reddit defines a "food hack", we see that
we're making food with more flavor or better nutritional
value. If I go buy some Hamburger Helper and add avocado to it
or add whey protein to chocolate milk, is that "hacking"? What
if I make some Betty Crocker cake and add whey to that
instead? Is that a "food hack"? Because of the vagueness that
the Reddit definition provides and the definition of what
"hacking" is, why don't we call it baking, cooking, or mixing?
Do we call chefs or my dad cooking on the barbecue with his
"secret sauce" a food hacker?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I get the impression that people who call themselves "food
hackers" call themselves that because they want to be
considered a part of the "hacker movement". Why don't those of
you who identify with this moniker just call yourself a
"cook", "chef", "baker", "maker", or whatever instead? Why
don't you instead call the food "food" or if you really want
it to be associated with the hacker scene, "food for hackers"?
Is that hard? You're not a hacker and you dilute the term for
those of us who are hackers.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Food for thought. Do not take offense to this if you find
it hits too close to home. </div>
<div><br>
Kevin Mitnick
<div>(May or may not be the Kevin you think I am)</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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