When is one a "Hacker"?

[1c3-c01d]

(Just to put things to the side, I am aware of my post count and what my alias may stereotype me as, deal with it.)

I am somewhat new to the community, but I've done simple, lame things before. (Packet sniffing, mostly.)
What level would I have to be at to proclaim myself "Hacker"? This comes into consideration due to there being stereotypes. (Such as, "Skiddie")

(ALSO, I LOVE BRACKETS.)

[Default3d]

The way I see it, hacking isn't a title or a style. It isn't something you are. It's not about how many missions you've completed or how many posts you have. It's a mind set, the way you look at the world and the web. It's how you use what you have, and get what you want. It's having the tools you need, locked away in your head. Knowing how to test, exploit and execute anything you can wrap your head around. I'm thinking when I can hack I'm a hacker. As it stands now, I'm just a user.

[mutantsrus]

Don't you mean you love parenthesis not brackets?

Also you may want to read this:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

[Default3d]

Also you may want to read this:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

Intense. I don't know about 1c3, but I'm digging the link.

[neuromanta]

First of all, I don't believe in titles. I don't know why, but western people have the urge to call themselves something. That's the reason why most people claim that the hacker movement and the open source movement is originated from America... but that's not true. There were hackers way before, in europe and asia, it's just that they didn't feel the urge to tag themselves with pity titles.
That being said, I only call someone a hacker if he/she is a real professional in a field (not nesseserally in computer science), and he/she is very creative in it.

[Goatboy]

I like how ESR explains it in his essay:

Q: How do I tell if I am already a hacker?

A: Ask yourself the following three questions:

• Do you speak code, fluently?
• Do you identify with the goals and values of the hacker community?
• Has a well-established member of the hacker community ever called you a hacker?

I'm not saying this is a definitive list, or that you must satisfy 100% of some set of attributes, but this is a nice gauge.

[pretentious]

(Just to put things to the side, I am aware of my post count and what my alias may stereotype me as, deal with it.)

Fair enough

I am somewhat new to the community, but I've done simple, lame things before. (Packet sniffing, mostly.)
What level would I have to be at to proclaim myself "Hacker"? This comes into consideration due to there being stereotypes. (Such as, "Skiddie")

Personally, I think "hacker" is an attitude, but public opinion would tell you otherwise.
(i also love parentheses)
When ever I'm on a computer in a public place, I'm always bored because i reckon if i did anything i find interesting, people would get suspicious.
(possibly on topic(depends on how you look at it(I even nest mine)))

[hellow533]

As far as I am concerned, if you can hack into the pentagon and steal 2 billion dollars to fund your hello kitty collection then you are a hacker.. If you can delete everything in the HLS database, you are a hacker. Finding Google's IP address or getting admin access to a lame ass site nobody uses is not being a true hacker. That is why I'm not a hacker, I'm just good with computers.

[pretentious]

As far as I am concerned, if you can hack into the pentagon and steal 2 billion dollars to fund your hello kitty collection then you are a hacker.. If you can delete everything in the HLS database, you are a hacker. Finding Google's IP address or getting admin access to a lame ass site nobody uses is not being a true hacker. That is why I'm not a hacker, I'm just good with computers.

So if i do something really hard core and risk prosecution? or is your interpretation based on difficulty?

[Phantom Wolf]

Why does it matter?

Okay, so, I like to do things with computers. I've taken a real shine to networking lately, I've set up two networks in my house for no apparent reason. I've done a lot of the missions here. I've done things with my computer that most people didn't even know was possible. Does that make me a hacker? Yes? No?

I also like working with cattle. It's my job, and has been for as long as I can remember. I'm good at it, between me and my dad we take care of over 300 pairs. Does that make a cowboy? Oh, but wait, I don't wear a cowboy hat. I don't carry around a revolver. And I absolutely suck at roping things.

A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet

Oh, and by the way, Google's answer. Guess I really am a hacker.