[philipkiely]

In the university environment, hackathons are really excellent. They are usually student-run but very well funded, well organized, and well attended. I have gotten a job and other opportunities from hackathons, I have won small prizes, but the reason I go is because its a fun way to spend a weekend with my friends.

That said, if I was forced to participate in that environment instead of choosing to, or if it was for work or some other purpose that restricted my choice of projects and collaborators, then I would of course resent it, but at that point its not really a hackathon anymore, its a different kind of event stealing the name in hopes of stealing the same energy.