The turning point was a time or moment when you realize something. When did you realize that you were a hacker?
Sometimes you only realize this on retrospection, you look back on your life with later wisdom. You are kicking back one day, maybe having a smoke or a drink, and you finally get enlightenment about something that you did or something that happened to you a long time ago.
Sometimes it hits you quick, like a bolt of lightening from the heavens. It hits you and you are like "holy shit I can do this!" Like the day I learned I could type with out looking at the keyboard!
Looking back, I was a hacker even before I knew what one was. In school, I was labeled 'socially immature', 'loner', 'troublemaker', and 'very intelligent'. Later, they used more medical sounding names like "bi-polar', 'attention deficit hyperactivity disorder', 'antisocial' and 'very intelligent'.
I built the very first computer crime lab at college. We peiced everything together, four computers, a printer, and a hub. I also figured to use a videocamera (those old big ones) plugged into a video card to capture fingerprints. We could scan them in to the computer, use imaging software to blow it up and print it out. This was before there was digital cameras, and certainly before they were less than $400. They used to invite all the police departments in to see what I did. I did all this, and didn't know I was a hacker.
My college professor, who I owe so much for giving me the chance, was also a hacker. He had helped start the first Detroit PD crime lab. He was very intelligent, but his personality pushed both students and administrators. The lab was messy, there were always several projects going on, we had books stacked all over the place. We had a large budget to buy new electronics, gear, bullets, I learned how to use a polygraph, and video sunglasses here. I don't think he understood what a hacker was, but he was such a geek.
I didn't know I was a hacker until after I started on my college degree for IT/CIS. It was hard, because I didn't identify with anybody. I didn't fit in with any group. I was a loner still. I didn't know why I was such a screw-up sometimes - I would start projects, but not finish them. I could sit on a computer for 16-18 hours and alway find a reason not to do anything with family or friends. I got great grades, 3.7 gpa. But I had to repeat English composition three times - I would write great papers that got A's, but I would skip class to go to computer lab. I made the dean's list, teachers were so proud, but I was hacking their computers and networks behind their backs. Students didn't like me, I would do group projects - alone. I would get high before exams, and set the grading curve so high, the students hated me.
My turning point has passed, but my journey is far from over..
It doesn't cure the disease, but its nice to know what my 'problem' is.
What was YOUR turning point
-DNR
) and i finally decided to install Windows XP just when it had arrived. 
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