so here's a bit of news that i suspect might get tweeted out quite a bit tomorrow, heh...
American Sign Language now has a viable sign for "hacker"
...while there have been some attempts at a sign for "hacker" in the past, they have rarely caught on and usually have been far too computer-centric (or, much worse, have had nefarious connotations)
The wider Deaf community has usually simply used finger-spelling for the word "hacker" because it's brief and easy to spell. However, thanks to the work of some of our friends (and the input from many of their friends, and their friends' friends, and so on) there is a new sign. Language is a living thing, and words don't often become "official" but rather just become "accepted"... so that's the notion of what we're seeing here. If the new sign for "hacker" (which is based on elements of tinker/fix/teach/learn) becomes accepted, then so be it.
(I also love the fact that if you freeze frame it, a great deal of the sign is rather close to a street figher Hadouken)
I am so grateful for the efforts of my friend Steven (who appears in this video) because it was he who coordinated a great deal of discussion and had to constantly steer the conversation away from terms related to "crime" or similar themes. (It should be pointed out that most of these unhelpful assertions came from Hearing people who kept sort of butting-in to the conversation as it went on.)
So, there you go... if you see this -- as a part of DEAF CON or the wider hacker community -- then you'll know.
Spread the word, literally.
(i started a new thread because the main DEAF CON discussion is getting rather crowded. hopefully if and when a DEAF CON sub-forum appears, these threads will migrate over there)
American Sign Language now has a viable sign for "hacker"
...while there have been some attempts at a sign for "hacker" in the past, they have rarely caught on and usually have been far too computer-centric (or, much worse, have had nefarious connotations)
The wider Deaf community has usually simply used finger-spelling for the word "hacker" because it's brief and easy to spell. However, thanks to the work of some of our friends (and the input from many of their friends, and their friends' friends, and so on) there is a new sign. Language is a living thing, and words don't often become "official" but rather just become "accepted"... so that's the notion of what we're seeing here. If the new sign for "hacker" (which is based on elements of tinker/fix/teach/learn) becomes accepted, then so be it.
(I also love the fact that if you freeze frame it, a great deal of the sign is rather close to a street figher Hadouken)
I am so grateful for the efforts of my friend Steven (who appears in this video) because it was he who coordinated a great deal of discussion and had to constantly steer the conversation away from terms related to "crime" or similar themes. (It should be pointed out that most of these unhelpful assertions came from Hearing people who kept sort of butting-in to the conversation as it went on.)
So, there you go... if you see this -- as a part of DEAF CON or the wider hacker community -- then you'll know.
Spread the word, literally.

(i started a new thread because the main DEAF CON discussion is getting rather crowded. hopefully if and when a DEAF CON sub-forum appears, these threads will migrate over there)
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