Mark Zuckerberg Calls Himself A "Hacker"

[x339]

I was just reading this article

http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-hacker-way-way-life-150559696.html

and by the end I was really feeling like Mark is a "poser". This is his definition of a "Hacker"..

For Facebook, though, "hacker" means something different. It's an ideal that permeates the company's culture. It explains the push to try new ideas (even if they fail), and to promote new products quickly (even if they're imperfect). The hacker approach has made Facebook one of the world's most valuable Internet companies.

This just sounds more like the Hollywood definition of a hacker to me. What do you guys think?

 

[Karl]

I think hacking is a broad term and I dont think that it should only be considered as a term associated with 'breaching security'.

However I dont think its a term I'd like to associate with such a large business either.

 

[Swan]

Hacking in terms of computer programming simply means to hack together pieces of code to make things work. For example, if I were to write something that barely worked just as a starting project or a test run, and it were made from ideas and code snippets that I've seen previously, I'd refer to it as a rather ugly hack that I've made. I think this is more what Zuckerberg may be referring to. Innovation, taking inspiration from anywhere it can be found.

Edit: exactly.

"The word 'hacker' has an unfairly negative connotation from being portrayed in the media as people who break into computers," Zuckerberg writes. "In reality, hacking just means building something quickly or testing the boundaries of what can be done."

 

[Zerkerfist]

I agree with x339 that Mark sounds like a bit of a wanker or a poser.

In a way I think its good that he is trying to 'reclaim' the word just so that he can apply it to innovators such as himself, or Mr. Steve Jobs, as it does get rid of the negative criminal connotation of the word. But personally, I like the media/hollywood portrayal much better. Hacker is just such a badass sounding word, and I think the word has evolved over time to its current meaning associated with criminality and security breaches and I like it just where it is.

With Mark Zuckerberg claiming that the "hacker" approach also applies to his multi-billion dollar corporation such as Facebook, or that it directly means "innovation and pushing the boundaries", I think it just makes the word "hacker" far too broad.

 

[Sweetaction]

Poser is right.

 

[johnny4199]

Mark zuckenberg isn't only a hacker, he is an idea-stealer

 

[wizardzgame]

He is a hacker by definition. There's that idea that a "hacker" is some fat guy who is a basement lurker and has a neckbeard, and just spends all their time cracking code and eating frozen pizza. Then there's the real, non-distorted definition that really all means is innovator, modifier, and creative. That is what hacker means, by

 

[Loyal 2 da game]

He is a hacker by definition. There's that idea that a "hacker" is some fat guy who is a basement lurker and has a neckbeard, and just spends all their time cracking code and eating frozen pizza. Then there's the real, non-distorted definition that really all means is innovator, modifier, and creative. That is what hacker means, by

You forgot the third type of hacker:

"LOL MY FRIEND LEFT HER FACEBOOK OPEN SO I MADE A STATUS SAYING IM GAY LOLOLOL IM SUCH A HACKER"

 

[They be trippin]

As said above he seems like a poser to me. But hes rich, he can do what he wants.

 

[Romperin]

Not really posing, there's multiple terms of hacking

 

[mexistaniX]

...He's in the category of "I invented the concept of social networking intertwined with every aspect of your life so I can definitely claim my definition for a hacker."

Sure it sounds hipster. But who is the one who started of the most highly regarded/most monetarily valuable companies today?

 

[mtn dew]

A poser that has most of the people in this world by the nuts. If hacking really means "testing the boundaries of what can be done" then he is a pretty successful "hacker." He gets most of us to put information about ourselves to the available public that most of us probably wouldn't want there.

The man saved all the personal information you put on his website, including the conversations you have with people, and no one realised. He may be a poser, but practically owns 60 million peoples personal information. Say what you will, like the man even cares.

 

[@RsMarket@]

A poser that has most of the people in this world by the nuts. If hacking really means "testing the boundaries of what can be done" then he is a pretty successful "hacker." He gets most of us to put information about ourselves to the available public that most of us probably wouldn't want there.

The man saved all the personal information you put on his website, including the conversations you have with people, and no one realised. He may be a poser, but practically owns 60 million peoples personal information. Say what you will, like the man even cares.

What Dew said. Imagine what he possibly could do with all that data. Something noone else in world could.