Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


xurizaemon

153 posts

Master Geek


#24092 15-Jul-2008 08:58
Send private message

In this morning's (mobile) NZ Herald @ m.nzherald.co.nz, they run almost the exact same byline in both the front and tech sections.

Tech:
" 8:14 a.m. | A young Whitianga computer hacker who pleaded guilty to charges relating to an international cyber-crime ring will be sentenced in the High Court in Hamilton today. Owen Thor Walker, 18, ... More"

Mainstream:
" 8:14 a.m. | A young Whitianga computer nerd who pleaded guilty to charges relating to an international cyber-crime ring will be sentenced in the High Court in Hamilton today. Owen Thor Walker, 18, ... More"

Interesting that they changed only the one word.

Similarly, a week or two ago I was amused to see the same article on dropping prices and the economy run in the business and lifestyle sections. In business: "boo, prices are dropping"; in lifestyle, "hurray, prices are dropping".

Create new topic
freitasm
BDFL - Memuneh
79270 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator
ID Verified
Trusted
Geekzone
Lifetime subscriber

#147993 15-Jul-2008 09:02
Send private message

Worst is that mainstream uses "hacker" liberally, when in fact it means someone who can "hack some code" (develop, create), or someone with good inside knowledge of a system. A "cracker" is the bad guy, but people just uses "hacker" these days...

And a hacker is certainly not a nerd, and geeks are certainly not nerds. But that's beyond them...




Please support Geekzone by subscribing, or using one of our referral links: Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies | Hatch | GoodSyncBackblaze backup




xurizaemon

153 posts

Master Geek


  #148003 15-Jul-2008 09:14
Send private message

Perhaps if we could convince their web team to implement a filter on the CMS, such that all references to "journalist", "writer", "media consultant", "presenter" etc were replaced with "intrepid roving reporter". That might help illustrate the point?

redjet
299 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #148025 15-Jul-2008 10:56
Send private message

I don't think the nerd vs hacker is really it's worth worrying about TBH.

I do hope they throw the book at this guy, but I'm betting that he gets community service and scores a job with an IT security firm soon after!




Red Jet Web Services
- Affordable websites for small businesses
- Google Email setup and Migrations



xurizaemon

153 posts

Master Geek


  #148273 15-Jul-2008 20:15
Send private message

... Or the police, the media are now suggesting.

I'm not too fussed about nerd vs hacker, I just think it's amusing to see the different versions of each story the media tells. As media becomes more and more tuneable, and more available, we see more and more subtly customised content.

No doubt the ad world is looking forward to a time when the coke adverts show me a girl in a bikini, and my partner a guy in tight shorts, enjoying the same product.

On the deeper demographic front, I would like a graph of "let him go <-> lock him up" against "non-windows user <-> windows user". I'm pretty sure the results would be amusing (for one group, anyway).

PS. Is that a ZX-81? I thought my friend was SO DAMN FLASH for having one of them.

redjet
299 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #148284 15-Jul-2008 20:45
Send private message

xurizaemon: PS. Is that a ZX-81? I thought my friend was SO DAMN FLASH for having one of them.


LOL, it's a 48k ZX Spectrum - my first computer!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zx_spectrum




Red Jet Web Services
- Affordable websites for small businesses
- Google Email setup and Migrations

Dratsab
3946 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

#148305 15-Jul-2008 21:32
Send private message

redjet: I do hope they throw the book at this guy, but I'm betting that he gets community service...

It's way past that - he's been fined and discharged without conviction.  End of story.

Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.