[hackerspaces] Out with the "hackers"... In with the "makers" and the "fixers"

[Sean Bonner]

We take pride in using the term hacker and aim to take it back from the
bullshit hollywood idea. Every chance we get.

Like this:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/11/online-hacker-group-crowdsources-radiation-data-for-japanese-public.html

-s


On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Arclight <arclight at gmail.com> wrote:

> My opinion is that anyone who is offended by the word "hacker" will
> probably be offended by a lot of other things about our space.
>
> Arclight
>
> On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 8:05 AM, B F <bakmthiscl at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I have no problem with language, but that seems not the case with the
> > general public.  "Hacker" has become a bad word.  This was driven home
> > to me a couple night ago, over dinner with a group, in which a
> > programmer who worked for a major computer company (in the
> > communications field) responded to my talk about a "hackerspace" by
> > commenting that she might have trouble professionally if associated
> > with such a group!
> >
> > This movement is shooting itself in the foot by continuing to use the
> > terms "hack", "hacking", "hacker", and "hackerspace".  Like it or not,
> > the American public "knows" that hackers are evil people who steal
> > identities and money, infiltrate corporate, government, and military
> > computers and steal their secrets, etc., etc.  The media has told them
> > that and they believe it.  Even intelligent people believe it.  That
> > "hacker" could mean something benevolent as well, does not occur to
> > them.
> >
> > As I was repairing the pan in my automatic bread-making machine this
> > morning -- mostly involving replacing a broken C-clip -- it occurred
> > to me that fixing things is as American as apple pie.  As a movement,
> > we need to ally ourselves with that tradition.  Likewise, making
> > things is All-American. (I'm being a bit facetious, here, but if we
> > have less than 30 seconds to get a message across, we have to use buzz
> > words).
> >
> > Therefore, we should chuck the term "hacker" in all its forms, and
> > switch completely to "makerspaces" or even "fixerspaces".  Or, more
> > simply, "shops" or "labs", with relevant adjectives to further
> > describe them.
> >
> > I'm sure there will be disagreement as to terms to use, but some
> > change is needed lest we alienate too many people.
> >
> > - Bruce
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> > http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >
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> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
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>



-- 
Sean Bonner
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