[NTLUG:Discuss] The "virus"

[Steve Baker]

"Gregory A. Edwards" wrote:

> multi-processing and multi-tasking: sorry no computer with 1 processor
> can do either of these, the correct term is concurrent

No - your programs can't run concurrently on a single CPU - "Multi-tasking"
is the correct term.
 
> hacker: I still don't like to be called a hacker as I view the term in
> it's original context of someone who illegally breaks (hacks) into a
> computer system

You have the vintage wrong here.  People were calling each other hackers
long before there were networks - hence before breaking into other people's
computers and screwing them up was even possible.  Newspaper people were
calling clever, obsessive writers 'hacks' 100 years before there were computers.

The original term for the sinful kind of hacking was 'Phreaking'.  Phone
phreakers were the first idiots to get into this nonsense...also before
computers were really commonplace.  Regrettably many phreakers were also
hackers...and vice versa.

I've never broken into someone else's computer, written a virus or anything
of the sort - and I *like* to be called a hacker - it's a badge of honor
amongst those who know...and those who don't are lusers, suits, marketroids
or worse and consequently don't get a vote  :-)

These idiots may break into our machines and cause all sorts of mayhem -
but they ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT TAKE AWAY OUR MOST PRIZED CULTURAL HONORIFIC.

Grrrrrrr!!!

-- 
Steve Baker                  http://web2.airmail.net/sjbaker1
sjbaker1 at airmail.net (home)  http://www.woodsoup.org/~sbaker
sjbaker at hti.com      (work)