Is the use of the word “cracker” as a racial slur so common that it cannot safely be used to refer to certain hackers? [duplicate]Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?Is “Can not” a valid usage in English, or I can not use that and must use “cannot”/“Can't”?Use of can't/cannot to indicate the oppositeWhy is the word “before” vanishing from common use?Racial connotations of the word “uppity”How to use the word Used followed by toDoes the etymology of the phrase “Pardon my French” mean that it is an ethnic slur?Is there a pejorative term or phrase that lesbians use to refer to straight women?Single Word Request for an adjective to replace my use of the word “gay” to describeTerm for reclaiming or restoring pride in social stigmas (“Taking it back”)?Does the word fascist share a root with the anti-gay slur f****t?
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Is the use of the word “cracker” as a racial slur so common that it cannot safely be used to refer to certain hackers? [duplicate]
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?Is “Can not” a valid usage in English, or I can not use that and must use “cannot”/“Can't”?Use of can't/cannot to indicate the oppositeWhy is the word “before” vanishing from common use?Racial connotations of the word “uppity”How to use the word Used followed by toDoes the etymology of the phrase “Pardon my French” mean that it is an ethnic slur?Is there a pejorative term or phrase that lesbians use to refer to straight women?Single Word Request for an adjective to replace my use of the word “gay” to describeTerm for reclaiming or restoring pride in social stigmas (“Taking it back”)?Does the word fascist share a root with the anti-gay slur f****t?
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This question already has an answer here:
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?
5 answers
I always liked to use the word "crackers" to refer to people who overcome computer software or security restrictions, as opposed to "hackers," which (supposedly) originally meant people skilled at computing.
A while ago, I used the word in my conversation with a speaker of AmE, who did not know of that use of the word and thought I was using a racial slur. This could have been a problem since I am not Caucasian myself.
While I could use other words like "script kiddies" to roughly mean what I meant by "crackers," this left me with the following question: is the use of the word "cracker" as a racial slur so common that it cannot be used to refer to certain hackers without causing misunderstanding? My assumption is that it may depend on where you are: if you are in the Deep South, probably the word is more commonly used pejoratively than elsewhere. But I don't know that for sure.
american-english pejorative-language offensive-language semantic-shift
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
marked as duplicate by tchrist♦ Mar 24 at 16:09
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?
5 answers
I always liked to use the word "crackers" to refer to people who overcome computer software or security restrictions, as opposed to "hackers," which (supposedly) originally meant people skilled at computing.
A while ago, I used the word in my conversation with a speaker of AmE, who did not know of that use of the word and thought I was using a racial slur. This could have been a problem since I am not Caucasian myself.
While I could use other words like "script kiddies" to roughly mean what I meant by "crackers," this left me with the following question: is the use of the word "cracker" as a racial slur so common that it cannot be used to refer to certain hackers without causing misunderstanding? My assumption is that it may depend on where you are: if you are in the Deep South, probably the word is more commonly used pejoratively than elsewhere. But I don't know that for sure.
american-english pejorative-language offensive-language semantic-shift
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
marked as duplicate by tchrist♦ Mar 24 at 16:09
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?
5 answers
I always liked to use the word "crackers" to refer to people who overcome computer software or security restrictions, as opposed to "hackers," which (supposedly) originally meant people skilled at computing.
A while ago, I used the word in my conversation with a speaker of AmE, who did not know of that use of the word and thought I was using a racial slur. This could have been a problem since I am not Caucasian myself.
While I could use other words like "script kiddies" to roughly mean what I meant by "crackers," this left me with the following question: is the use of the word "cracker" as a racial slur so common that it cannot be used to refer to certain hackers without causing misunderstanding? My assumption is that it may depend on where you are: if you are in the Deep South, probably the word is more commonly used pejoratively than elsewhere. But I don't know that for sure.
american-english pejorative-language offensive-language semantic-shift
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
This question already has an answer here:
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?
5 answers
I always liked to use the word "crackers" to refer to people who overcome computer software or security restrictions, as opposed to "hackers," which (supposedly) originally meant people skilled at computing.
A while ago, I used the word in my conversation with a speaker of AmE, who did not know of that use of the word and thought I was using a racial slur. This could have been a problem since I am not Caucasian myself.
While I could use other words like "script kiddies" to roughly mean what I meant by "crackers," this left me with the following question: is the use of the word "cracker" as a racial slur so common that it cannot be used to refer to certain hackers without causing misunderstanding? My assumption is that it may depend on where you are: if you are in the Deep South, probably the word is more commonly used pejoratively than elsewhere. But I don't know that for sure.
This question already has an answer here:
Where does the term Cracker come from, and how disparaging is it?
5 answers
american-english pejorative-language offensive-language semantic-shift
american-english pejorative-language offensive-language semantic-shift
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
asked Mar 22 at 11:28
PteromysPteromys
20817
20817
marked as duplicate by tchrist♦ Mar 24 at 16:09
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
marked as duplicate by tchrist♦ Mar 24 at 16:09
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05
add a comment |
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
There's a lot going on here.
- 'cracker' for someone who breaks into software (which is not too distant from 'hacker') is probably metaphorical for 'safe cracker'. In the context of software, saying the word is not that common and would probably evoke the feeling that you really meant to say 'hacker'.
- As an epithet for 'poor white people in the South of the US', it is pretty weak, as is most epithets for such people. Most of the pain of an epithet comes from the power relationship; it hurts more from those in a strength position. The taboo nature of epithets terms gets most of its strength from how hurtful it is perceived, and as currently the power relationship is generally favorable towards whites, it doesn't get perceived as strong. Calling 'cracker' a racial slur is superficially correct: it is intended as a slur and it mentions race, but that is too literal a reading. It comes across as feeble. A white person who takes offense at it is being disingenuous.
- That said, even if a correct assessment, you don't want to go throwing around any kind of epithet no matter how weak.
- 'cracker' or 'crackers' in the context of eating 'flat dry bread snacks' would have no perceived connection and wouldn't even register as a pun.
'Hacker' though it has its own multiple overloaded senses, is probably the word you want to use anyway. One of the primary senses of 'hacking' is 'breaking into a system'. If you really really like the sound and connections of the word 'cracker', give it an adjective like system cracker' or 'ID cracker'.
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
There's a lot going on here.
- 'cracker' for someone who breaks into software (which is not too distant from 'hacker') is probably metaphorical for 'safe cracker'. In the context of software, saying the word is not that common and would probably evoke the feeling that you really meant to say 'hacker'.
- As an epithet for 'poor white people in the South of the US', it is pretty weak, as is most epithets for such people. Most of the pain of an epithet comes from the power relationship; it hurts more from those in a strength position. The taboo nature of epithets terms gets most of its strength from how hurtful it is perceived, and as currently the power relationship is generally favorable towards whites, it doesn't get perceived as strong. Calling 'cracker' a racial slur is superficially correct: it is intended as a slur and it mentions race, but that is too literal a reading. It comes across as feeble. A white person who takes offense at it is being disingenuous.
- That said, even if a correct assessment, you don't want to go throwing around any kind of epithet no matter how weak.
- 'cracker' or 'crackers' in the context of eating 'flat dry bread snacks' would have no perceived connection and wouldn't even register as a pun.
'Hacker' though it has its own multiple overloaded senses, is probably the word you want to use anyway. One of the primary senses of 'hacking' is 'breaking into a system'. If you really really like the sound and connections of the word 'cracker', give it an adjective like system cracker' or 'ID cracker'.
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
add a comment |
There's a lot going on here.
- 'cracker' for someone who breaks into software (which is not too distant from 'hacker') is probably metaphorical for 'safe cracker'. In the context of software, saying the word is not that common and would probably evoke the feeling that you really meant to say 'hacker'.
- As an epithet for 'poor white people in the South of the US', it is pretty weak, as is most epithets for such people. Most of the pain of an epithet comes from the power relationship; it hurts more from those in a strength position. The taboo nature of epithets terms gets most of its strength from how hurtful it is perceived, and as currently the power relationship is generally favorable towards whites, it doesn't get perceived as strong. Calling 'cracker' a racial slur is superficially correct: it is intended as a slur and it mentions race, but that is too literal a reading. It comes across as feeble. A white person who takes offense at it is being disingenuous.
- That said, even if a correct assessment, you don't want to go throwing around any kind of epithet no matter how weak.
- 'cracker' or 'crackers' in the context of eating 'flat dry bread snacks' would have no perceived connection and wouldn't even register as a pun.
'Hacker' though it has its own multiple overloaded senses, is probably the word you want to use anyway. One of the primary senses of 'hacking' is 'breaking into a system'. If you really really like the sound and connections of the word 'cracker', give it an adjective like system cracker' or 'ID cracker'.
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
add a comment |
There's a lot going on here.
- 'cracker' for someone who breaks into software (which is not too distant from 'hacker') is probably metaphorical for 'safe cracker'. In the context of software, saying the word is not that common and would probably evoke the feeling that you really meant to say 'hacker'.
- As an epithet for 'poor white people in the South of the US', it is pretty weak, as is most epithets for such people. Most of the pain of an epithet comes from the power relationship; it hurts more from those in a strength position. The taboo nature of epithets terms gets most of its strength from how hurtful it is perceived, and as currently the power relationship is generally favorable towards whites, it doesn't get perceived as strong. Calling 'cracker' a racial slur is superficially correct: it is intended as a slur and it mentions race, but that is too literal a reading. It comes across as feeble. A white person who takes offense at it is being disingenuous.
- That said, even if a correct assessment, you don't want to go throwing around any kind of epithet no matter how weak.
- 'cracker' or 'crackers' in the context of eating 'flat dry bread snacks' would have no perceived connection and wouldn't even register as a pun.
'Hacker' though it has its own multiple overloaded senses, is probably the word you want to use anyway. One of the primary senses of 'hacking' is 'breaking into a system'. If you really really like the sound and connections of the word 'cracker', give it an adjective like system cracker' or 'ID cracker'.
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
There's a lot going on here.
- 'cracker' for someone who breaks into software (which is not too distant from 'hacker') is probably metaphorical for 'safe cracker'. In the context of software, saying the word is not that common and would probably evoke the feeling that you really meant to say 'hacker'.
- As an epithet for 'poor white people in the South of the US', it is pretty weak, as is most epithets for such people. Most of the pain of an epithet comes from the power relationship; it hurts more from those in a strength position. The taboo nature of epithets terms gets most of its strength from how hurtful it is perceived, and as currently the power relationship is generally favorable towards whites, it doesn't get perceived as strong. Calling 'cracker' a racial slur is superficially correct: it is intended as a slur and it mentions race, but that is too literal a reading. It comes across as feeble. A white person who takes offense at it is being disingenuous.
- That said, even if a correct assessment, you don't want to go throwing around any kind of epithet no matter how weak.
- 'cracker' or 'crackers' in the context of eating 'flat dry bread snacks' would have no perceived connection and wouldn't even register as a pun.
'Hacker' though it has its own multiple overloaded senses, is probably the word you want to use anyway. One of the primary senses of 'hacking' is 'breaking into a system'. If you really really like the sound and connections of the word 'cracker', give it an adjective like system cracker' or 'ID cracker'.
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
answered Mar 22 at 13:30
MitchMitch
52.4k15105220
52.4k15105220
add a comment |
add a comment |
"Cracker" has many connotations. I think I've maybe heard it used with racial overtones maybe twice in my nearly 70 years of life. Using it to refer to a "black hat hacker", however, is not idiomatic.
– Hot Licks
Mar 22 at 12:05
I wouldn't worry about the opinion of just one person. In my experience, the word "crackers" usually means "nuts" or similar.
– BillJ
Mar 22 at 12:27
I just encountered "cracker" as a pejorative in a comment thread on a news story. The referents were two neck-tattooed white teenagers who flipped a car while fleeing from police.
– shoover
Mar 22 at 21:05