What it means to be a geek
There are some things I've come up with here, and one I got from my agnostic coworker Peter. One day I'm going to get him to explain to me why he's agnostic. You know, when we're not busy....working.
Anyway, here's the list (good and bad):
No matter how "creepy" or generally unlikeable you are, no one kicks you out of the group. Since you're part of the same "excluded" class as everyone you hang out with, it's doesn't matter if none of them like you - excluding you would make them just like everyone else. And that's against the rules.
If anyone tells you that you're "just like everyone else," you have to stop doing whatever it is you're doing.
This is Peter's: The glorification of intelligence. I love that phrase.
The freedom to really be yourself. As long you don't act "normal".
Inside jokes. I know what you're thinking: "Every group has inside jokes." But geeks have culture wide inside jokes, that no one else gets, sometimes even if they're familiar with the subject matter (it's not always apparent what the subject matter is.) Examples:
"Jesus saves. Everyone else takes half damage." (This is funnier if you know that saving is what gets you the half damage. It's funnier still if you actually get that you take half because Jesus saved for you.)
"Who needs logic? I have RULES." (This one might not be readily apparent, but we can all appreciate it.)
Jeffries tubes go everywhere.
Polarity reversals.
And the best one ever: 1337 speak. We invented it, and now teeny-boppers the world over use it to confound their parents.
Anyway, here's the list (good and bad):
No matter how "creepy" or generally unlikeable you are, no one kicks you out of the group. Since you're part of the same "excluded" class as everyone you hang out with, it's doesn't matter if none of them like you - excluding you would make them just like everyone else. And that's against the rules.
If anyone tells you that you're "just like everyone else," you have to stop doing whatever it is you're doing.
This is Peter's: The glorification of intelligence. I love that phrase.
The freedom to really be yourself. As long you don't act "normal".
Inside jokes. I know what you're thinking: "Every group has inside jokes." But geeks have culture wide inside jokes, that no one else gets, sometimes even if they're familiar with the subject matter (it's not always apparent what the subject matter is.) Examples:
"Jesus saves. Everyone else takes half damage." (This is funnier if you know that saving is what gets you the half damage. It's funnier still if you actually get that you take half because Jesus saved for you.)
"Who needs logic? I have RULES." (This one might not be readily apparent, but we can all appreciate it.)
Jeffries tubes go everywhere.
Polarity reversals.
And the best one ever: 1337 speak. We invented it, and now teeny-boppers the world over use it to confound their parents.