But then we'd have to argue about what the word "hacker" means.
Seriously though, I'm actually quite OK with using "Anonymous" as a collective noun. Granted, it is a less accurate shorthand, but we all know what it means. For those who don't, I'm not sure using "a hacker claiming allegiance with Anonymous" would be any more enlightening. In fact, it may actually reinfornce the mistaken idea that so many in the non-tech media still seem to have, which is that Anonymous is some kind of more or less traditional, hierarchical, online terror organisation.
"An Anonymous", yeah, maybe. Still seems needlessly confusing to the less knowledgeable. But I'm open to being convinced.
But then we'd have to argue about what the word "hacker" means.
Seriously though, I'm actually quite OK with using "Anonymous" as a collective noun. Granted, it is a less accurate shorthand, but we all know what it means. For those who don't, I'm not sure using "a hacker claiming allegiance with Anonymous" would be any more enlightening. In fact, it may actually reinfornce the mistaken idea that so many in the non-tech media still seem to have, which is that Anonymous is some kind of more or less traditional, hierarchical, online terror organisation.
"An Anonymous", yeah, maybe. Still seems needlessly confusing to the less knowledgeable. But I'm open to being convinced.