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

Tue Nov 29 20:49:41 CET 2011

My dying hackerspace will gladly accept donations!
I'll start a new message thread so it doesn't take this discussion over.

On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 1:47 PM, Tim Fredlund <tim.fredlund at gmail.com>wrote:

> That sounds amazing! I was just sitting here wondering how I could go
> about making one of these as it really kind of strikes a chord. Will you
> accept donations for them?
>
> ATX Hackerspace
> 1601 Rutherford Ln, Suite A200
> Austin, TX 78754
> On Nov 29, 2011 1:41 PM, "Mars brown" <itcamefrommars at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> You know what.... I like the bumpersticker idea too... it just farted out
>> of my head...
>> but since i used to own a graphics shop and still have all the sign
>> making materials...
>> I'm gonna do what I can (it's little but easy for me) and make up some
>> cut vinyl stickers saying that.
>>
>> Gives me something to do today instead of cleaning my shop -
>> If any spaces wants some stickers that says
>> "HACKING IS NOT A CRIME" in the style of the old skater stickers -
>> - email me your HSpaces address and I'll send some to yall.
>>
>> I'll start with like 30 each space for the first 10 spaces to see if
>> there is any interest - and then maybe screen print them instead of cut
>> vinyl if interest demands more volume.
>>
>> If you think it's dumb - keep it to yourself please... just trying to
>> help swing the tide (in the publics eye and doing something about it) and
>> have fun!
>>
>> Cheers!
>> mars
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 1:28 PM, Will Bradley <bradley.will at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Here's the definition I use. http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/hacker.html
>>>
>>> The term is risking dilution (a local group has a hacknight which is
>>> more of a programmer meetup than anything) but I think creative reuse,
>>> elegant/minimal code, and intrusion are all solidly in the Hack category.
>>>
>>> One of HeatSync's posters features the word hack prominently. I like the
>>> bumper sticker idea.
>>> On Nov 29, 2011 12:24 PM, "Mars brown" <itcamefrommars at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> OK.. maybe Im trolling... but whatever.
>>>> How far does the term hacking go in new definitions?
>>>> Here's a copy paste from a forum post a couple of years ago that I
>>>> posted.
>>>>
>>>> ~ begin paste ~
>>>>
>>>> *Why I cringe everytime I hear the word HACK now
>>>> *
>>>> thought yall might get a chuckle / cringe outa this abuse
>>>> http://www.parenthacks.com/
>>>>
>>>> now hacking is the same as crafting and tips and tricks for stupid
>>>> ideas.
>>>> there's an article on this site for band-aid hack....
>>>> it's using leaves in the woods for band-aids.
>>>> it's called covering the wound - and suppose they got lucky and didn't
>>>> pick poison ivy!
>>>>
>>>> oh garsh... some great hacks too
>>>>
>>>> like:
>>>>
>>>> Contain small-parts toy play with a tray, cookie sheet or roasting pan
>>>> - uh....could we modify this for electronics components? a tray is a
>>>> genius idear.
>>>>
>>>> or
>>>>
>>>> Makeshift "peek-a-boo" nets you a few wiggle-free seconds to change a
>>>> diaper
>>>> - it's put a napkin on the kids face distraction hack
>>>>
>>>> or
>>>>
>>>> "Bumless" diaper lets diaper rash air out while containing the pee
>>>> " So, when I knew it would be a while before he was going to go #2
>>>> again I got a diaper and cut the bum out of it. This way, he could air out
>>>> a bit but would be covered up front in case he had to pee."
>>>>
>>>> If it were old school BOINGBOING magazine(not about babies... fringe
>>>> stuff reporting for the younger gens)... it'd be make your baby a cyborg
>>>> with a new CMOS behavior chip...
>>>> (I actually do remember an issue where someone surgically removed a
>>>> tumor from their cat... it was set up as a how to - we tried it on a mouse
>>>> with a tumor the size of it's normal body but the anesthesia was to
>>>> difficult to administer - he was dying anyhow and went the most peaceful
>>>> way that way... zzzz...)
>>>>
>>>> I want CYBORG BABIES dammit!
>>>> how dissappointing this site is.
>>>>
>>>> ~end paste ~
>>>>
>>>> I really was very disappointed... I want cyborg babies.  Oh hurry up
>>>> you crazy singularity!
>>>>
>>>> Cheers! - mars
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 1:16 PM, Mars brown <itcamefrommars at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Well... how about making some "HACKING IS NOT A CRIME" stickers like
>>>>> the skateboarding stickers we used in the 80's.
>>>>> Kinda the same delima... skaters were ruffians and hooligans in the
>>>>> public eye.
>>>>>
>>>>> Actually - if this is such a issue that is cared about so much - why
>>>>> don't we all (especially the more established and attention worthy spaces)
>>>>> make it part of their mission to clear up the name?
>>>>> Great promotional material there... I can easily see the local news
>>>>> media covering some interviews since it uses such a hot keyword like
>>>>> "HACKER" oooh aaah -  especially since it's a news worthy twist on the word
>>>>> - educating - relating - and general having non-malicious fun tinkering
>>>>> with computers/electronics/stuff.... and all in a creative and exciting way!
>>>>>
>>>>> Honestly - it blew me away when I first discovered the new use of the
>>>>> word -
>>>>>
>>>>> in the 80's - a hacker was a (general public eye) socially disgruntled
>>>>> malicious individual with elements of sociopathy and the power to express
>>>>> it all in a culture very new to dependencies on digital things.  Relatively
>>>>> little media coverage was present... and if you were not a hacker
>>>>> (negative) - you were a computer geek.
>>>>>
>>>>> in the 90's was the first time I ever heard of different colored
>>>>> hats.... white / black / grey... but still it was referencing only
>>>>> security/countersecurity of networks and data and such (mostly...
>>>>> disclaiming to prevent petty arguements)
>>>>> If you wanted to find any software or tools for hacking - they weren't
>>>>> called makerbot cupcakes, beagle data analyzers, arduino/processing,
>>>>> hammers and modified toys...
>>>>> NOPE - we used software called SATAN, Cain and Abel, Back Orifice...
>>>>> and had global organizations to publish sensitive data that the FBI
>>>>> subscribes to - and that was the scene...
>>>>> Even our local 2600 - which was mostly white with a couple of shades
>>>>> of grey - our big y2k conference (not about y2k) had tshirts printed of
>>>>> some picture of pompei type of catastrophe with the words underneath "That
>>>>> whole Y2K thing?  That was us."
>>>>> That was the embracing of the whole counterculture aspect even though
>>>>> none of us were malicious.. (or if we ever where we kinda grew up)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Basically the word hacker means something to the public eye... who
>>>>> even coined the term?  Was it a news reporter in the tone of keying a label
>>>>> first?  like naming the serial killer?
>>>>> That's what a hacker is to some people... the name of a serial killer.
>>>>> OH WELL...
>>>>>
>>>>> It means something else now to alot of us and I think it's great...
>>>>> It distinguishes a hackerspace from a makerspace to me in that I know
>>>>> if I go to a meeting - I'll be assured it's more digital and electro
>>>>> dohickery.
>>>>> A makerspace is fantastic too.. but it's not as specific - and whereas
>>>>> sometimes I'm into macrame - it's nice to have a place that's pretty much
>>>>> 100% technocyberdelichyperactivity with similarly interested people...
>>>>>
>>>>> But the term hacking and hacker was the single and only verbage that
>>>>> USED to be related to the whole scene... and that was a counterculture
>>>>> scene.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hackerspaces are not counterculture at all.... but it uses the single
>>>>> word that defined a Techno Counterculture individual.
>>>>> It's maybe a shame that the media didn't grab onto Cyberpunk - but if
>>>>> they did - wouldn't we call ourselves cyberpunks?  (rhetoric... not queue
>>>>> for arguement)
>>>>> I think part of the reason the term hacker appeals is the old world
>>>>> image.... the midnight hacker.... but aren't we really more of midnight
>>>>> engineers?
>>>>> That btw was the name of a magazine in the 90's i used to read that
>>>>> was ALL about what gos on in hackerspaces.  It didn't mention HACK
>>>>> though...
>>>>> that was 2600 - the HACKER quarterly.  Good magazine (midnight
>>>>> engineer)... i remember the article regarding removing black epoxy on IC's
>>>>> that were meant to close source the use of a simple  CMOS chip in some
>>>>> product.
>>>>>
>>>>> So we're stuck with HACKER in the name hackerspace... it has some
>>>>> historical connotations...
>>>>> Let's make lemonade and use it to attract people from being afraid of
>>>>> electronics... or rather magic for most of the public...
>>>>> It seems like we could use some public redefining of "hacker" as a
>>>>> vehicle to educate and incubate interest in what we all are aparently
>>>>> pretty passionate about!
>>>>>
>>>>> BTW - what did happen to the evolution of the term hacker in the
>>>>> 2000's... all i remember was everyone wardriving, packetsniffing, and
>>>>> oldskoolers makiing fun of 31337 krypt skiddies while working for the man
>>>>> for 6 figure salaries.  Oh the H4X0R... it was H4X1N6 then....
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyhow... sorry for the long comment... hope it doesn't just help fuel
>>>>> wheel spinning. and bickering... let's think positive after accepting any
>>>>> negative and become active to change if it matters to ya!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM, Rubin Abdi <rubin at starset.net>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I try my best to not have my vocabulary refined and dictated by
>>>>>> mainstream media. One of the general goals of Noisebridge is to
>>>>>> educate,
>>>>>> part of that is to reclaim the term hacker as our own.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While visiting Pumping Station: One about a year or so ago, a
>>>>>> discussion
>>>>>> got thrown around regarding doing exactly what you're proposing. Some
>>>>>> members felt the catch phrase "Chicago's Hacker Space" (or was it
>>>>>> "Your
>>>>>> Chicago's Hacker Space" don't remember) was spreading the wrong
>>>>>> message.
>>>>>> Anyhow the discussion went in circles for that night and no one really
>>>>>> won (where I see this thread going). I see now they're catch phrase is
>>>>>> "Make. Hack. Craft." which I think is great and works for both crowds.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Additionally to people "making" and "creating" stuff at Noisebridge,
>>>>>> we
>>>>>> also totally hack things in the conventional sense.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I gave up and let mainstream media and the general public direct me
>>>>>> in what words to use when describing who I am because I didn't want to
>>>>>> spend the time to educate them, I would have a white armband on with
>>>>>> blue stitching labeling out "TERRORIST FAGGOT IMMIGRANT HIPPIE
>>>>>> COMMUNIST
>>>>>> CAMEL JOCKEY RAPIST HACKER". I would throw STEAM PUNK in there
>>>>>> (there's
>>>>>> a true story behind that) but that might seem a bit ironic for the
>>>>>> wrong
>>>>>> reasons. :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Rubin
>>>>>> rubin at starset.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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