Even the Facebook comments on a geeky announcement like this make me question humanity.<p>"Lol... what?"
"May as well call this site HACKBOOK! IT'S ALL GARBAGE NOW!"
"This is freaking scary coz pipol will be able to hack into any fb ccount they want to. This is crack..."<p>Let's not forget that we all live inside a cozy little bubble where some level of intelligence and familiarity with technology can be assumed.
Looks like fun. Some of the people commenting on that page don't appear to understand the intended meaning of the term hacker in that context. But then, they probably aren't the target audience of the competition either. :)
I'll be honest. My incentive to make it to the final rounds isn't to get a job at Facebook nor money, but to make a bunch of dumb and tired Social Network jokes on the Facebook campus.<p><i>"Yes a compile error! Now to take a shot. WTF? Where's my shot? I was promised liquor!"</i><p><i>"Hey don't distract me, I'm connected to the grid."</i> "Sir the competition is over, please leave the facility." <i>"I said I'm hooked in!"</i><p><i>"3rd place‽ It's because you never got into Finals Zack, isn't it?"</i>
Google is organizing similar event aka Google Code Jam ( <a href="http://code.google.com/codejam" rel="nofollow">http://code.google.com/codejam</a> ) for years. Facebook Hacker Cup feels like a clone of it.<p>Similarities:<p>1. Annual algorithmic competitions.<p>2. Various online elimination rounds.<p>3. World finals at headquarters.<p>4. Prizes: 1st place = $5000 USD, 2nd place = 2000$ USD, 3rd place for $1000 USD and $100 for 4th through 25th place.