On Geekiness in Semi-Public

[tamnonlinear]

First, of the frivolousLast night I had time enough before meeting up with others attending the movie (more, below) that I decided I would grab some dinner at a restaurant near the theater. Since I wasn't quite up to sitting in a loud establishment by myself, I decided I would get the food to go, and then go sit in my nice, quiet, and private car

Comments

[tamnonlinear]

Yeah, it's one thing to see it in a kid who is just being let out to interact on their own for the first time. I felt bad (in addition to vastly annoyed) for the kids who had to be told to, seriously, dial it down and back off. It's another thing when someone is in their fifties and they still haven't heard that. I don't like interacting with people who seem to think they're going to get a score on their performance at the end of it.

[examorata]

Oh how many times I have seen That Guy (gender neutral). I may have even been That Guy once or twice, though my preferred defenses were (a) acting normal and (b) cracking wise (yes, too much).

I was just observing to someone the other day how much better it is to be a geek today. ("These kids today don't know how good they've got it!") Look at the popularity of geek culture, of superhero movies and comics, of fantasy novels and movies. The greatest example is surely San Diego Comic Con, which has been going on roughly the same 40 years I've been alive (give or take), which used to be totally a fringe-element gathering and is now a proving ground for Hollywood power spenders. Unreal.

Still, there are geek growing pains, and they are hard. It turns out it's hard to grow up and be a good person. I hope that kid gets there someday, though.

[tamnonlinear]

It is very hard to grow up and be a good person. A lot of folks - geeks, jocks, preps, whatever- utterly fail to do it. There are doubtlessly failure modes particular to those early socialization patterns as well. Many of them are significantly worse than the person who won't stop talking at you at a party. CEOs of major corporations are an example that come to mind.

It's a lot easier to be a geek kid these days, a lot of resources to show that it's not just you, and a much wider variety of paths into the adult culture. Childhood still tends to suck a lot, but it can suck differently and less.

I have totally been That Geek myself, often when I've just been thrown into a new social setting. I am On. I've expanded my range and I can be On about a wider variety of topics (working retail actually helped with this, as I had to learn to walk up to people and start talking), but I still vastly prefer the sort of interactions where I can show up in my pajamas and inflict experimental desserts on people.

[ellenmillion]

So much truth here, and hilariously written. *loves*

[tamnonlinear]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[tamnonlinear]

And yet I'm such a bad role model overall. How to be Good and Have Too Many Cats doesn't sound like a good guide to living.

(Glad you liked the essay!)

[kefiraahava]

*nods head off* Yes. This. Thank you.