# 2026-07-22 - True Hacker Versus Growth Hacker
       
       A friend wrote about what True Hackers use and don't use.  This
       inspired me to step onto my soap box and say my own piece.  We both
       admire hackers: people who like to tinker and figure things out.
       
       True Hackers are creators, not consumers.  This means they are
       internally motivated and less at the mercy of marketing, fear of
       missing out, and other external motivations.
       
       When someone says "$PRODUCT will solve all your problems and make
       hacking fun again!" this is external motivation.
       
       To which i would respond:
       
       No... *I* make hacking fun again.  If i succeed, it is because of
       my motivations and resources, not because of $PRODUCT.  The specific
       technology i used was almost an accident of history.
       
       When someone says "If you don't use $PRODUCT you will be left behind
       (and/or get fired)" that is also external motivation.  If $PRODUCT
       was so good, would i need to be cajoled or threatened into using it?
       
       It's not enough that this person found something good.  Evangelism
       requires that they persuade *every* ignorant slob to see the light.
       
       $PRODUCT isn't necessarily to be despised, but the deceptive quality
       of an evangelist is.  This lowly quality will taint their results and
       yours, if you are not careful!
       
       This sets the True Hacker apart from the True Scotsman fallacy.  A
       True Hacker is simply a Hacker, but for real.  It's an important
       distinction to make when swimming in a sea of marketing.
       
       tags: bencollver,technical,versus
       
       # Backlinks
       
 (TXT) Matto
       
 (TXT) IanJ
       
       # Tags
       
 (DIR) bencollver
 (DIR) technical
 (DIR) versus