The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth

erick99 writes "With so many self-proclaimed geeks here at Slashdot, this particular article concerning geeks seems fitting. The article covers the gamut from science fiction to comic books to the "mainstreaming of geeks." The author seems to conclude the it is not such a good idea that the geek may inherit the earth. But, hey, what does he know. "

Geek Fun

[cluckshot]

Well if the Geeks Inheirit the Earth the place should really byte

Of course the geeks shouldn't inherit the earth.

[maxwell demon]

Otherwise they'd have to wait until the current owners die.

The meek geek

[Ckwop Johnson]

"The internet often breeds individuation and solipsism" Yes.. let's blame the internet for every social evil! Si.

Internet often breeds individuation and solipsism

[bluethundr]

"Rather than being integrated into society by being forced to take people as they come, the internet allows you to preselect whom you choose to fraternise with, based upon whether or not they share your specific interests."

That's why I browse at -1. :D

Somebody get a dictionary?

[johnthorensen]

In short, there has never been a better time to be an anorak - a word that now has affectionate, rather than pejorative, connotations. The word 'geek' has also lost its stigma, having been promoted from a noun to verb, as in to 'geek out'.

Call me crazy, but I thought an 'anorak' was a puffy coat? Maybe this is some obtuse slang that I don't know about...

-JT

Remember!

[Wingchild]

The original longer-form of the quote is,

"The meek shall inherit what's left of the Earth after we're done with it." :)

Re:Geek Fun

[Anonymous Coward]

If geeks inherit the earth, civilization will end. True geeks never get laid. =(

Ahead of the Curve

[cyranoVR]

Oh yeah? Well, *I* was a geek before it was cool to be a geek! Ermm...

This guy is a jacket?

[bc90021]

From the article:

"As something of an anorak/geek/nerd myself, I must confess to deriving pleasure from our move to the mainstream."

According to this at [reference.com], an anorak is a hooded jacket. Why would he call himself that? Weird. ;)

War would change

[millahtime]

" Geeks tend to get along with their own better than warrior-king types."

There would still be wars. THey would not be between countries but between Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac overloards. Windows would be like the US. Big, bulky and some part of it is always screwed up. BSD and Mac would have a treaty and tag team the others.

Cute Girl + Dorky Outfit != Geek

[lotsofno]

The mainstreaming of my beloved geek subculture depresses me.

"When did it become cool to be a dork? You know that shifty-acting guy or libertine-looking gal who's always all, "I'm captain punk-rock-opolis," crying "culture-stealer" whenever the opportunity makes itself available? That's me, except with geeks."

"Am I not justified though? Am I to idly watch the tyrants streamline my identity for mass consumption; our folklore exploited and assimilated by wannabe societies? Eccentricaly-dressed girls using their cuteness to conceal their embarassing ignorance, actually thinking that Wolverine's mutant powers are those metal claw thingies? People who haven't paid their dues; who couldn't tell you the difference between a D6 and DOS? Guys who've never carried out torrid--though imaginary--love affairs with Ensign McKnight, trading knowing smirks and grins across the Ten Forward lounge?"

The standards for geek initiation have been lowered too far. Too many times have I seen my dork friends embrace a cute girl as their own, just because she has a mild familiarity with Magic: The Gathering [inthegray.com] cards.

Ummm... one big problem...

[MosesJones]

If Geeks inherit the earth....

Won't that mean there is only one generation then extinction ? Or a Geeks going to have to breed ?

I've set my sights higher..

[Byzandula]

Why should we settle for earth when there are many other planets waiting for geek colonization!

I'm aiming for Mars myself...

- Byzandula

No, you got that wrong ....

[kbahey]

It is the Greek who will inherit the Earth.

(Obligatory Brian quote)

Re:Cute Girl + Dorky Outfit != Geek

[spellraiser]

Too many times have I seen my dork friends embrace a cute girl as their own, just because she has a mild familiarity with Magic: The Gathering cards.

Hell, I'd embrace a cute girl any day, Magic: The Gathering or no Magic: The Gathering!

Re:I never noticed

[Chewie]

I would guess that people still look at you funny when you say "thrice". I understand that it's a lot more efficient than saying "three times", but it's a touch archaic.

Although, I have been trying to bring back the expression "Ods bodkins!" so I don't have much room to talk.

I for one...

[Viceice]

I for one welcome our Slashdot reading overlords..

Sorry, I just had to.

YES!!!

[RealityMogul]

Move over giant ants!! Now everyone can welcome ME as their new overlord!!!!

Does the article contradict itself?

[Chuns]

A socially inept geek has a published story? Infantile, escapist geeks are mainstream?

Are we sure this isn't a bitter jock turned gym teacher who is upset that the guy he bullied in high school is Bill Gates?

Re:May cut down on war

[AllUsernamesAreGone]

Actually, it depends where you put the electrodes and whether its mains or batteries. sometimes it just kills you outright.

Oh great what about me?

[SteveXE]

What happens to us semi geeks? Im no under brain like some of you guys here, I can hold my own but god help me what will i do!?! Oh god i dont beleive in god! For i am screwed!

Not a good idea?

[Mateito]

The author seems to conclude the it is not such a good idea that the geek may inherit the earth.

This guy obviously didn't get the universal truth as portrayed in "Revenge of the Nerds".. that inside every geek is an automaton of burning passion powering a pile-driving love machine.

So why the fuck shouldn't we rule the earth?

Re:Remember!

[BiggerIsBetter]

That's somewhat fitting (and disconcerting) coming from a Slashdotter with .mil address.

Re:scary...

[Anonymous Coward]

Ozzy?

Re:Cute Girl + Dorky Outfit != Geek

[Jaywalk]

Eccentricaly-dressed girls using their cuteness to conceal their embarassing ignorance, actually thinking that Wolverine's mutant powers are those metal claw thingies?

Yes, but now she might talk to you. I know most on Slashdot aren't aware of the fact, but there are advantages to this. You know those pictures you download? Believe it or not, they actually exist in the real world. My wife explained it to me after the first time I fixed her computer. It took a lot of explaining and a couple of demonstrations, but once I figured it out it turned out to be a lot better.

Re:Trendy

[Anonymous Coward]

to be an IP wizard

"Using my +5 Staff of ICMP I cast..an ICMP_ECHO!"

Your ICMP_ECHO pings harmlessly into the darkness..

Re:Geek Fun

[thebes]

Something tells me that someone who can't post a link properly to /. might not be "Earth inheriting geek" material...

Bearing gifts?

[Alioth]

All I can say is:

Beware of geeks bearing GIFs.

Re:it's a terrible idea

[maximilln]

iptables -t filter -A INPUT -i reality0 -j DROP

Re:Revenge of the Nerds...

[chris_mahan]

I explained to my wife the difference between nerds and geeks like this:

Geeks are nerds who possess outstanding technical skills.

And she replied: but they're still nerds, right?

I replied: Absolutely!

Re:scary...

[Sri Lumpa]

When your job is outsourced to India we will see what way you come up with to both feed yourself and pay the rent.

Re:Cute Girl + Dorky Outfit != Geek

[Anonymous Coward]

You know those pictures you download? Believe it or not, they actually exist in the real world.

Furry vixens are real? Hot damn!

Re:May cut down on war

[Anonymous Coward]

It only changes the type of war. The new ruling h4x0r based on 1337-ness will decide when to wage wars using DDoS or other ways to 0wn3d the enemy's boxen.

There is *always* someone geekier than thou...

[adamofgreyskull]

When I was younger, my mum would always say.."don't sweat it if someone beats you at something...chances are there is *always* going to be someone better than you at *everything*" and this has held true, especially when it comes to being a geek.

I sometimes think *I'm* a geek..then I'll overhear someone discussing the relative pros and cons of a particular train, or quoting entire Star Trek episodes and I think to myself "frickin' geek"..and I know all is right in the world...

Re:Of course the geeks shouldn't inherit the earth

[Drooling Iguana]

You can inherit Chia-Earth.

Look on the bright side, at least you'll get free T-Shirts.

Re:LOTR isn't "mainstream"???

[CGP314]

All-time worldwide box-office rankings:

2. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
8. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring


Tell me again how the trilogy that dominates the top-10 all-time worldwide box office rankings isn't "mainstream?"

Because the same 10,000 people saw it 1,000,000 times.


-Colin [colingregorypalmer.net]

Re:Geek Fun

[stfvon007]

since they don't know how to reproduce

Yes we do! Havent you heard of cloning? ;)