finger
[WAITS, via BSD Unix] 1. n. A program that displays
information about a particular user or all users logged on the
system, or a remote system. Typically shows full name, last login
time, idle time, terminal line, and terminal location (where
applicable). May also display a plan
file left by the user (see also Hacking X for Y). 2. vt. To
apply finger to a username. 3. vt. By extension, to check a
human's current state by any means. "Foodp?" "T!" "OK, finger
Lisa and see if she's idle." 4. Any picture (composed of ASCII
characters) depicting `the finger'. Originally a humorous
component of one's plan file to deter the curious fingerer (sense
2), it has entered the arsenal of some flamers.
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finger trouble n.
Mistyping, typos, or generalized keyboard incompetence (this
is surprisingly common among hackers, given the amount of time
they spend at keyboards). "I keep putting colons at the end of
statements instead of semicolons", "Finger trouble again,
eh?".
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finger-pointing syndrome n.
All-too-frequent result of bugs, esp. in new or experimental
configurations. The hardware vendor points a finger at the
software. The software vendor points a finger at the hardware.
All the poor users get is the finger.