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Comment by Waterluvian | Hacker News Reader

It seems that the hobo code isn't at all about living outside the law. It suggests to me that you can live as a free individual while obeying the law.

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Agreed. Hobos are more like migrant workers, with heavy emphasis on the 'migrant' part. They try to live outside the norms of society, but not (necessarily) outside the law.

"hobo is an itinerant worker, a career which sprang up during the depression. A hobo, unlike a bum or a tramp, is more than willing to work, but mostly for a short duration, as their main impetus is travel, the love of the journey above the actual destination. A bum is stationary, feeding off of those unfortunate enough to cross his path; a hobo merely travels from town to town, finding work when he can, but only for the sake of financing his next adventure. NEVER call a hobo a bum...they'll kick your sorry no-bo ass!"

So this whole digital nomad movement...

Are we saving that they're digital hobos?

I love it.

I think the terms are synonomous mostly. Though I understand Nomads mainly follow their heard of cattle as it follows the rains to graze. So for short term contract workers perhaps hobo is more apt.

Which recalls the term "Bobo" .. which is the original term for a hipster: Bourgeois Bohemian

Also probably a play on the term.

HOmeward BOund.

Just like all of us.

What about vagabonds?

An expression is that a hobo travels and works. A vagabond or tramp travels but doesn't work. A bum neither travels nor works. In reality the terms were quite fluid. A hobo might have been "on the bum" meaning he couldn't find work and was begging.

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