Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Arguing about definitions, a how-to:

Step 1. Choose a word with a vague and emotional meaning to the audience

Step 2. Espouse a definition of the term based on syllogistic reasoning.

example A: The hacker way is good. Continuous iteration and improvement is good. The hacker way is continuous iteration and improvement.

example B: The hacker way is good. Writing your own tool to present a filtered view of a datastream is good. The hacker way is writing your own tool present a filtered view of a data stream.

Step 3: Now Fight!

[EDIT: slipping this in here: http://lesswrong.com/lw/np/disputing_definitions/]




Depending on who you ask, Eric is the current keeper of the definition of hacker: http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/H/hacker.html http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html


Not keeper, hoster.

By that logic Jimmy Wales is the current keeper of the definition of everything.


He had a lot of influence on the current definition, but no longer does. (I don't think he would dispute this.)




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: