-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A Couple Of Definitions release 1 by Burnin' of UNKNOWN Prez November 25th, 2001 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Introduction -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Here are gathered some definitions which I use to describe different computer users. This whole thing was inspired by Twinx's small definition page. And exactly like his creation mine just reflects how *I* see the things. -=-=-=-=-=-=- Definitions -=-=-=-=-=-=- BI-bracker - short form for "break-in bracker". Someone who, instead of breaking into a computer over a network, physically enters the place where the target computer is situated. I think I've heard the term "on-site hacking" for this, but I'm not completely sure about that. Bracker - the "criminal" computer user, someone who breaks into other systems. Usually the term "hacker" (by ignorant press) or "cracker" (by real hackers) is used, but for me "cracker" associates with piracy so I thought up "bracker". Chatter - someone who spends most of his on-line time in a chatroom. A lower form of surfer. Cipherpunk - someone who is concerned about his privacy and tries to protect it, mostly through the usage of encryption devices. Coder - someone who programmes enthusiasticly and that for fun. Cracker - someone who removes the copy-protection from software. This term has also been used on those who break into systems and, if thought about it, these things do seem basically the same (both are breaking and both are illegal), but for me cracking associates more with the piracy scene. EasyWriter - someone who writes textfiles. That's my definition. Originally it was simply "writer", because it was easy for me to use the native Estonian word (kirjanik) for real-life writers and the English word for the electronic version (there *is* a difference, I for example am an EasyWriter, but no writer (atleast not yet :) ). "eWriter" was the first logical idea, but I hate all that eStuff naming that's going on lately and EasyWriter sound so much better (as you've perhaps noticed it's a wordgame on easy rider) Gamer - someone who is a dedicated fan of computer games. And, this is very important, takes the whole thing seriously. Haca - someone who is interested in computers and that for other reasons than playing/surfing, but does not yet know very much about them. In other words: a hacker who doesn't have much experience Hacker - someone who knows a great deal about computers, is *actually* interested in them and that for other reasons than playing/surfing. So, with this definition we have excluded most of the kids who blabber about computers and try to seem experts, but actually don't do anything meaningful with them. Lamer - a complete asshole. Leech - someone who *sells* stuff, especially warez, which he got for free. The lowest form of pirate. Maximalist - someone who wants to get maximum performance from his computer system. Almost all computer owners want to upgrade their system, but that doesn't make them maximalists. Instead of spending money on new parts a maximalist overclocks the CPU, gets specific tuned up drivers for the video system, messes with the BIOS to enable shadow RAM and shorten the time needed for memory test, regularly defragments the HD and uses all other possible solutions to get a better performance Netter - someone who uses the Net mainly for his/her work. Pirate - someone who trades non-free (usually cracked) software. Real pirates are often also crackers. Player - someone who plays a lot. A lower form of gamer. Programmer - someone who works as a programmer or writes code in which he/she ain't actually interested. Surfer - someone who surfs on some net (iNet, FidoNet, etc.) and does that for fun. A real surfer is aware and can use the appropriate software to access other nets than iNet. Virodect - someone who is good at and puts real effort into writing viruses. This term is a combination of "virus" and "architect". For me it's the higher form of viruswriter. Viruswriter - someone who programmes viruses. WaReZ Puppy - someone who is obsessed with warez. He tries to get more and more, even if he doesn't use any of it nor has any interested parties to whom give anything. The worse WaReZ Puppies become leeches. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The differences -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As you might have noticed several definitions simply apply to another form of the same user. I think I need to explain some of the differences. The difference between a coder and a programmer ain't easily explainable. For me programmers mean big pyrochratic companies like Microsoft who have a I'm-the-leader-so-I-fuckin'-don't-care-about-you attitude. A coder on the other hand could represent individuals who code for themselves, for fun. A coder writes simple, fast and small utilities and most likely distributes them for free. A programmer adds to his program features which nobody uses and asks a lot of cash for it. A coder writes his code in assembly while a programmer uses Pascal or even BASIC. A coder delays the distributing to fix the spelling errors and otherwise tune up the documentation. A programmer includes a FILE_ID.DIZ into the archive and counts the deal as done. So, that should describe what I mean. As last a visual explanation of the differences: Windows was written by programmers, DESQview on the other hand by coders. Chatters.......well, everyone goes into a chatroom once in a while, but chatters are those who do almost nothing else when they're on-line. And usually they are assholes with a high but unjustified opinion of themselves and think they're God's gift to women. They're low-lives. The term "netter" indicates someone who uses the Net *only* for his work, who has no idea what to do on-line when he's already got everything he needs for the job. Netters are a little bit better than chatters. Surfer is the highest form, someone who doesn't get bored on-line if he ain't chatting or getting work-related materials. A player is someone who manages to play through one game and thinks he's the king of the world. He's also the one who sits behind the last free computer which has iNet access and starts to play some x game while others are waiting to check their mail. A gamer on the other hand is strong in playing all kind of games, keeps track on the latest news in this area and basically knows everything there is to know about computer games. He also realizes that playing isn't everything. Many real gamers end up writing game previous for respectable magazines or websites. Viruswriters are those who code viruses. Virodects also code viruses. I guess the usage of these two types could be the following: a viruswriter is everyone who write such code, even those lamers who simply hack the creation of others and script kiddies who produce many simple VBA viruses which are virtually identical; virodects on the other hand study and develop new techniques, they produce unique code and every virus they create is a masterpiece. So, a small 3kB "does - basically - nothing - and - has - even - problems - spreading" VB source is from a viruswriter, a 107kB "Win32/Linux/AIX - multithreaded - metamorphic, multipartite - uses PII opcodes/BlowFish encryption - infects everything" assembly source from a virodect. -=-=-=-=-=-=- Conclusion -=-=-=-=-=-=- There are exactly two conclusions which pop into my mind right away: a) there are many types of computer users b) I have *way* too much free time on my hands -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= (G)reetware by Burnin' , 2001 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=- UNKNOWN Prez - "dedicated fans of Textfiles.Com" -=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=- more or less reachable through cyberrax@yahoo.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-