Some people think the term “hacker” refers only to computers and the internet.
They are wrong.
Hacking is an ideology. It is, in its most basic form, the idea that a person will look at something, not understand what it is, how it works or what it does and instead of looking for books, manuals and education, they will attempt to take this thing apart and put it back together themselves to learn how it functions.
I realize now as an older person that I was prone to being hacker at a young age.
I began my forays into hacking with the realization that if you want to get something done…well…you must do it yourself. My first BMX bike, a Mongoose motomag had mag wheels on it with a coaster brake that needed lubrication and adjusting. I had no idea how to do this so I asked my Mom and she said, well…why don’t you wait till your brother gets home and he can help you take it apart and fix it.
Well after a long wait…quite a long wait and coming to grips with the fact that my brother wasn’t coming around to help with this project, I sat down and decided to tear this wheel apart myself. After a small amount of trial and error, I had it apart and back together again, and, after a few more rebuilds this became second nature to me, tearing apart the wheel and returning it to its proper condition. Interesting! I had learned how to do this without being taught or with any guidance. It was then that I realized most knowledge in life comes from a willingness to learn not from looking for teachers.
So the hacking began. Building dirt jumps. No idea how they should work, but let’s just try different ways. Portable ramps, no one really does this but we can try to do it ourselves, freestyle shows at bike shops, that’s not done around here…how exactly would you promote this? I need to put out a newsletter, learn word processing.
Learn. Learn, learn, learn without looking for teachers. Trial, error, rinse, repeat. Take it apart, fix it, put it together. Speak to people, get shot down, try someone else. All just ways of “hacking life”.
As I got older the idea of the “hacker-self learner” would begin to manifest in other ways. Computers. How do they work, oh no I broke it…well what is the difference between this and a bicycle wheel, nothing other than my lack of knowledge of how to take it apart and put it back together. Websites. How do they work, look, research, learn. The knowledge is out there if you are willing to seek it out.
Build. A. House. Parents did it, and even though they are not around to teach me how, I see no reason why I can’t as well. Hack it, listen, learn, seek, do. You will find what you need the minute you start to truly look for it.
Life is one big hack. It does not come with an instruction manual and many things you are taught are wrong either technically or morally.
So the next time you hear the term “hacker” and get all scared for your well being, ask yourself, “what was the last thing that I figured out without having to be taught how to do it?”, if you remember something then you too are a hacker.
Never be afraid to dig into something, what you discover will always have a way of changing who you are.
P.S.: Today’s my birthday…I’m currently hacking my way though my 50’s…TBC.