The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth 336
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. "
obl quote (Score:2, Interesting)
" you sold us out , you sold us out!
--Strongbad in strong bad goes to jail, homestarrunner.com
scary... (Score:5, Interesting)
"a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake"
"Geek" [m-w.com]
Re:Geek Fun (Score:2, Interesting)
The story submitter refers to self-proclaimed Geek.
So, if you give people shit and tell them "Geeks find this cool", then they might consider loving this will make them better "Geeks".
I don't really like this concept as it basically promotes some kind of insulting globalization of thought.
So, well, it's cool to have some good movie from time to time but being a Geek means "ratherly looking for cleverer solution whenever any kind of problem is faced".
It's not especially more Geeky not to use Windows than it is making it work optimally to suit one's very needs.
BTW, a friend of mine decided to leave the computing industry to become a plumber in a very demanding district, he's no more afraid of job market fluctuations and might actually make good money having an interesting manual job, so do not look the World to be a Geek's World, look forward to becoming a Geek in a Geek-demanding world...
Re:Somebody get a dictionary? (Score:3, Interesting)
They tended to be male (99%), individualistic and not try to wear fashionable or nice clothes. This was due to poverty and also a greater interest in "anoraki" hobbies, like computing, chess, games like DnD, trainspotting.
Part of the reason for the popularity of the anorak was they were quite warm, and if you put one on in the morning, you could wear one all day, they covered you up, whatever the weather so you did not have to concern yourself with earthly matters like what you looked like.
Trendy (Score:5, Interesting)
See, here in NYC, geekdom has become...trendy. It's now cool to know tons about comic books, to be an IP wizard, to be able to pull odd things from teh intarweb. If you're a mac geek, you're even better off.
The problem with this is the fucking hipsters of the geek wannabe persuasion. They manage to effectively mimic geek behavior but are much smoother (excuse me - smoover), much nicer looking and infinitely better at getting laid. So now all the look-alike "hey look, I can setup iTunes networking. I'm awesome and lovable and single! Bed me!" are stealing the small portion of women endowed by god with a geek-love gene. JUST when we're acceptable to the outside world, we get screwed by the trendiest people on EARTH. AGAIN.
But the worst part of it is, you turn into, like, that guy. You know, that guy who always grumbles about being ahead of the trend. The "I was listening to them when they were indie and they suck now" guy and everyone thinks YOU'RE the poser.
Please. Take me back to obscurity. At least I was getting laid when I was on the fringe.
Triv
The author has it backwards. (Score:5, Interesting)
Computer geeks are now in the same position automobile geeks were when the auto was coming into its own. Automobiles used to be considered an oddity at best and a nuisance at worst. Few owned them and the majority didn't understand the attraction for the noisy smelly things. Horses required little maintenance and performed the same functions better. Motoring enthusiasts formed clubs in order to be with others who understood their peculiar hobby.
Fast forward to today. A knowledgeable mechanic is virtually guaranteed an audience when discussing his profession. Everyone has a car and everyone has a story or a problem for which a mechanic's expertise provides a welcome addition to the conversation. Nobody thinks of auto mechanics as isolated geeks.
It makes all the difference in the world when the others in a party are interested in hearing what you have to say, whether it's the details of automatic transmissions, the pros and cons of DSL versus broadband or the differences between the movie and the comic.
Geek, Defined (Score:3, Interesting)
It's easy to throw out the term "geek" to describe anyone who plays video games or understands what a computer is. However, for any definition to have meaning, there has to be a limitation. We can't all be geeks, per se...some of us may just be geek-compatible, or geek-like.
I think geekness changes with the times, of course. In my youth, I experimented with making my own batteries, assembling logic circuits, signal amps, lightwave communicators, and oscillators on breadboards. I launched model rockets, and gazed at the stars, and could tell you anything about the space program and its history.
So, a geek, in my mind, is a person with a deep fascination in the technological aspects of life and his world, and whose social nature and recreation frequently revolves around such aspects of science and technology.
Frequently, geeks are so involved with their interests that it supplants their social life--but this is common to anyone who gets too wrapped up in something, foregoing sex just to enjoy more of the diversion. Drug addicts do this all the time--doesn't make them a geek just because they are antisocial due to their addictions.
Gamers, for instance, can be geeks, but not all gamers are geeks. They're just kids who obsess over game playing. Now, you find me a guy who not only can play games AND assemble his own computer (an ability that was geek-elite, but now commonplace), but is also so knowledgeable in a scientific or technical topic or two to the point where you just know this guy could get a job in it someday (despite the fact that he learned all the stuff just for fun), then you have, in my mind a True Geek.
Does being able to recite lines from "Star Trek" or know the nuances between the Lord of the Rings book and movie characters count? Not really, in my mind. That's just a variation of appreciating fantasy. We used to call that "being a nerd." Girls and their imaginations of fairy tales and castles have been doing that for quite a while. But if you can attach a real-world component to that fantasy (such as research into the ability to, say, build a lightsaber replica that simulates the "real thing", then you approach the criteria of the Geek.
Being a Geek is not a passive activity, like gaming. Geeks explore, conquer, criticize, and hang out on
A Geek is a nerd with applied application of his knowledge in the real world.
Re:Revenge of the Nerds... (Score:2, Interesting)
It's okay. Once we die it'll all be over. No more pain, no more ostracision, no more oppression, no more being pushed by management through hoops and hurdles and then criticized for being a performer, no more cold, no more boring workdays... just a nice warm sleep.
At least I hope it's warm.
Re:Nerd and proud (Score:3, Interesting)
Saladin & Richard the Lionhearted (Score:4, Interesting)
In Euope, on the rare occasions that monarchs were captured, they were often allowed to take whole wagon trains of stuff with them and whole bunches of servants. They most certainly did not rot in a hole, and they often ate with their captors. Leaving aside the fact that the royal families of europe were a bunch of inbred freaks and that the vanquished was probably your cousin, it makes a point. But woe to the commoner that got uppity. They would be put down hard with no courtesy.
Yeah, warrior-kings tend to take care of their own, when they aren't busy chopping eachother up. Yesterday it was a joust and a feast, today 18 holes & lunch at the Yacht club. No difference.