Reading01

I think that it is important to spread the Hacker Ethic to a wider audience in order to show people how software development started and the hope or expectation that came with developing something. Even though it seems that today we have moved far from what the Hacker Ethic hoped for in the hacker community there is still an importance to what the community started as. The “True Hackers” and “Hardware Hackers” were similar in they tried to give people the most access to what was being created.

We see Lee Felsenstein who is trying his best to bring computers to the people. We learn that, “his goal was to break computers out of the protected AI towers, up from the depths of the dungeons of corporate accounting departments, and let people discover themselves by the Hands-On Imperative.” This shows the motive of using technology as ‘a force for good.’ Lee thought that it would be best if people had access rather than the government. He saw people who worked for the government as sellouts.

Efrem Lipkin, was the type of person to see flaws in everything. He did not believe that technology could be used for good like Lee Felsenstein did. When working for a company he saw the flaws in them as well and would not work because of their involvement in harmful causes. He did not want his work to be used to create harm in the world, so he would rather stop developing programs.

For myself, I can see where Efrem is coming from and how technology could be used for harm, but I agree with Lee Felsenstein that technology can be used for good and we should try our best to get this across to people. As we heard in class from people on different topics we can see how technology is used for good. We learned how Raspberry Pi’s are used and how QBasic was created for people without programming background. This allows people to get creative with what to make or design which can help with world be a better place. I feel like in the world we live in there will always be some ‘evil’ that is unavoidable which is where Efrem is coming from. The thing is that technology can be used for harm, but that’s not the only way it can be used. By spreading the Hacker Ethic more people can strive to this type of mentality.

I don’t know if compromising ideals is worth having a larger impact on the world. I want to say no, because I feel like that’s the safe answer. If you’re compromising your ideals for something then that means it’s bad -- right? What if by compromising your ideals you make something better in the world so then compromising your ideal is okay -- right? Yeah so this is the debate that I’m having because it depends on what ideals are being affected. Like, keeping hardware and programs secret in order to make money off of a product violates the Hacker Ethic that all information must be free, BUT allows the general population to have access to computers. So I still don’t know where I stand on this.

Reading00

According to Steven Levy a “True Hacker” is someone who could create beauty with what they were given. This included making something out of the ordinary or make something work with limited supplies. The hacker was to be judged only on what was created not the creator. Some examples of the qualities of a “True Hacker” were to always have this drive to want to create or make something better. For many of the people that were described this drive wouldn’t stop for sleep, food, grades, etc. but be consistent and allowed one to work through anything.

Starting with my first understanding of a hacker, this is very different. I remember when I used to think a hacker as a bad thing or someone committing a crime when I was younger. That has definitely changed with taking computer science courses and learning what hacking is and how it can create change. Even now with the understanding of what I have for a hacker sometime I revert back to the hoodie person in a basement. Although that may be the case for some people that’s not necessarily the case for everyone.

I wouldn’t want to be this ‘hacker’ that I visualize so I try to find the qualities that I don’t have in this person. The portrayal of a “True Hacker” throughout these pages is also someone that I would really not want to be like. Hacking has to be the center of attention in order to be a “True Hacker” and this can become a problem when there are people around you who care about your wellbeing. I felt like I fell into this role for a while when I would spend hours and hours doing assignments and not give up no matter how late it was. As the semesters went on I realized the importance of relationships with people and the years that I had at Notre Dame. I began falling out of this ‘hacker’ role and working a certain hour on assignments, going to bed at a decent hour, having great conversations with people, and enjoying the place that I was in. In the cse community it felt like you kind of had to be all in for while a to fit in which I’m glad I stopped caring about after one semester of ‘trying’ to fit in. I didn’t like the energy drinks that led to all nighters which then led to emptiness in conversations with people during the day.

I know that this “True Hacker” lifestyle may be for some people, but I recognize that it is not for me. I don’t find it inspirational or repulsive. I see the “True Hacker” as someone who can go days without having deep and meaningful in person conversations or interactions. These interactions and conversations are what bring me joy because you never know what you’ll encounter. I know there are great “True Hackers” out there in the world who have done marvelous things and I’ll just listen and read about them instead of joining them.