MetalSphere

Special4u2 the Blue Vandagyre is UFA!
I found this little guy stuck in the pound some time ago, but haven't done much with him other than keeping him fed and healthy. No requirements, just want him to go to a good home, and if you want his background I am willing to send it with him!

Banned for still having a pumpkin. It's December, that has got to be liquid by now. Eww xD

Banned for false accusations. I saw MetalSphere doing Med Bay Scan so they aren't sus. 

Hmph, your competence is annoying. Very well, I'll reward you. With warts! Just kidding.
  For your efforts, Spiritus_Ignus's health has increased!   Thanks a bunch!!!

Banned for multi-bann... multiplying my ba...
 
-fumes internally-
 
Banned...

I've seen many members on these forums use the term 'hacker' to describe those people who sneak cookie-grabbers into their shops or user-lookups, construct scams, and wreak all sorts of havoc on those of us who abide by the rules and just want to have a good time. Recently, with these problems becoming more widespread on Neopets, the misuse of this term has spread as well, and I just felt the need to explain to everyone that this definition is wrong.
 
Now, I'm not trying to blame or criticise anybody here - it wasn't too long ago when I was making the same mistake (and if you already know what I'm talking about, you probably don't need to be reading this). This post is just an explanation, meant to clear up a common misconception and perhaps enlighten another little pocket of the world. :)
 
Okay, when someone refers to the perpetrators of a cookie-grabber scam or whatnot as 'hackers', they're not only using the term incorrectly, they're also insulting an entire culture. This culture has been around since the birth of the computer, it's still going strong today, and it's responsible for just about every technological innovation that made the system you're using to read this post possible today. So be grateful for it! :P
 
Allow me to show you an accurate definition of the word 'hacker':
Source: The Jargon File 
So what is a hacker? A hacker is simply a person who enjoys programming for the sake of programming, someone who loves tackling problems and solving them, who gets a thrill out of learning the deepest workings of any system they come across. That's all there is to it.
 
Hackers are sensible, intelligent, creative, hard-working people with a passion for what they do. They almost always have a clearly defined ethical code which they will only break in the most extreme of circumstances. Hackers are not vile, evil people who will ruin the years of hard work you put into your account just for kicks. As a matter of fact, hackers absolutely despise that kind of person.
 
In actuality, a hacker who discovered a security hole in Neopets' would most likely document the whole thing neatly and report it to TNT. The absolute worst thing any self-respecting hacker would do would be to unleash a little mischief to prove their point. (I wouldn't really know, but I get the impression filling a TNT member's inventory with junk items would be an especially hacker-ish thing to do)
 
Now, the sad idiots who steal people's accounts, those aren't hackers (as you've probably realised by now). Sure, they often call themselves hackers, just to try and make their miserable selves seem 'cool' to the rest of the world, but the correct general term for them is 'crackers'. More specifically, 'script kiddies' are crackers who download and use tools created by others with no idea how they work. And of course 'scammers' are the people who run scams and phishing pages. 'Moron' is another generally applicable term.
 
So yeah, there's my point. There are hackers, and there are morons. Please don't confuse the two. :)

03:02 :laughingsmiley: and I wont forget it! (Random as in, I just so happened to be in the vicinity when he was sleeping so I checked, not really expecting to see anything new).
 
I found a few good wearables; I'm happy with the look for now, but I'll always have an eye open for more.
 
 
 
Edit: Grammar

In cartoons lighting always strikes the umbrella :P