[manigandham]

The comment you replied to is the first and only one by that account, and not the original user either.

The term "pwn(ed)" was popular before any of these games existed. Here's a much more thorough history lesson, linked from HIBP itself: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/pwned-meaning-definition-orig...

"At this point, pwn allegedly meant to demote or dethrone someone, but the slang was quickly picked up by early computer-users that exchanged messages on FidoNet, a system created in the 1980s for exchanging emails or text on digital bulletin boards. This is where pwn slowly transformed into the insult we know today."

[raptorfactor]

Is there something about HIBP that makes them more authoritative than anybody else other than having 'pwned' in the name? Genuine question, not being facetious. All I can find is conflicting reports all over the place so I'm trying to understand why, if this is the "true" etymology, this isn't the explanation given in Wikipedia for example? I guess I just don't understand who I should trust, or more importantly, why.

I'm not backing any particular account (in fact the two links I provided disagree with each other), my point was just that it seems silly to be so overly confident on ANY account. Unless, again, there's something special about HIBP in this regard? I'm definitely no internet historian so you'll have to fill me in a little further. :)