Geeks?

[Gorwingel]

Oh, Lush, you are meaning that kind of Geek. Those kinds are the best [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Like the highly successful, very smart kind.

[Iarwain]

I see, everyone. I like your personalities. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

But, I never would have been able to tell that you weren't raw meat eaters if you hadn't explained yourselves. My problem is that I strongly dislike the use of the word geek. It is a complete variable, and is used cruelly in many situations. The great thing is that people like you and I, perhaps more inclined to a craving of knowledge than others, can turn something cruel like that into a wonderful pro. (I'm just realizing this now) Sadly, though, I cannot boast a perscription for glasses, a chess club membership, or an energetic personality. My life is completely and fundamentaly rational, straightforward, and generally boring.


[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] ,
Iarwain

P.S. I hope to be a geek like that someday too, Lush. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ March 07, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

[HerenIstarion]

Hey, being a geek is a status worthy of an envy of fellows around, it is!

The following piece concerns not 'school geekness' very much discussed above, though touches on it here and there. Nevertheless it is of interest as it is free advice for women whose male companions fall under category 'geek' this way or another. Furthermore, I suppose, there are some husbands around who's obssession with JRRT is not, alas, shared by their esteemed spouses. Let them read it, my dear geeks

(I was not able to locate the spot where the following article was originally located, but fortunately I have had it saved to my hard drive)


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By Matthew Sakey

Back when I was in high school, geeks were not highly regarded as potential boyfriend material. (Being one of them I am eminently qualified to attest to this.) Comic books, thick glasses, computers and chess club just don't match the selling potential of varsity jackets and cool cars. However, it's been noted that some geeks grow up to found software conglomerates, and even those who don't tend to be more agreeable later in life than they were back in their teens.

Like everyone after high school, we mellow out, ditch the young-wizard glasses, and develop the social skills that seemed so sorely lacking when we were pimply youths. However, that doesn't mean that we've lost our geekhood — we just conceal it better. More importantly, since you've grown up since high school as well, that geekhood which was so unpleasant back then is kind of charming now — try it and you may be surprised. There's no longer any shame in dating a geek, and it can be well worth the effort. The only issue is that sometimes you may find it difficult to understand our peculiarities. While it's not necessary to know the difference between Sauron, Saruman and the Sarlaac to successfully date one of us, mastering the art of tolerance and bemused understanding will assure a long and fruitful relationship with your geek.

Geek care and feeding is easier than many think, because we are generally healthiest when left to our own devices. This doesn't mean we can't do things together; but we do thrive when given a little time to do our own thing. (This conveniently frees you from having to be part of it.) For example, let me wander off to the computer section while you're browsing CDs at the store. And though I am betraying my people to share this, adhere to the strict "yes-no rule" of computer product purchases: If I come back clutching an object in a brightly colored box, let me buy it only if I didn't buy something last time we were shopping. We do tend to overextend our finances, especially on computer equipment — it changes so fast, and the stuff is just so neat — so it also might behoove you to check the price tag and confirm that I really need this item. (My interpretation of "need" at this point will be highly subjective, so ask the tough questions.) Remember that there's a good chance I only want it because it's new. Geeks are suckers for new stuff.

We geeks are comfortable in herds, so keeping yours content requires that he have the opportunity to associate with his own kind now and then. Conveniently, this also solves the movie problem: Our taste for multiple viewings of certain films may not appeal to you, so let us go with our friends as often as we like. Since geeks generally like movies of all kinds (we just gravitate towards those with dragons or starships over others), you can feel free to choose whatever films you'll see as a couple without fear of whining. Try that with a football star.

If you live together, it's also helpful to grant your geek a little space to call his own. Here we will build our model airplanes, operate our ham radio, play our games, whatever — all in gleeful privacy. After a school career of constant abuse, we are rather unsurprisingly embarrassed by our geekdom, so letting us practice it in solitude is a very considerate gesture. We'll appreciate it and you won't have to move all our miniatures off the kitchen table every time you want to eat.

Geeks are among the sweetest and most adoring of boyfriends, and the old prejudice of greasy-haired basement dwellers has long since fallen by the wayside. We can dress ourselves and perform routine grooming tasks, and as geeks move into the mainstream, we are becoming more sought after by savvy women. If you don't share some of your boyfriend's more esoteric hobbies, remember that they'll almost never interfere with all that you do share — so let him enjoy them.

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Hope you enjoyed it

Well, i dont think im a geek i honestly dont think any of us here are geeks i jus think everyone is different and have different perspectives on things and things they like and if jocks like sports then hell they like sports and if cheerleaders like cheerleading then they like cheerleading And if people like readin books and watchin movies there is certainly nothing wrong with that. so more power to so called "geeks" cuz they are bein themselves and doin what they like as well. I dont place myself anywhere tho if someone says im a geek then thats wha they think, and to them thats wha i am.
Well this is my first post and i must say it feels good

[Lush]

I think it's time to go into detail about my first post on this thread. It may just give you some perspective. Or it may just waste your time, though I'll try not to let that happen.

I wasn't one of the cool kids in high school. I had some good friends, and I did have too much fun from time to time, but I was mostly just a bookworm with a naughty sense of humour, proud of being a sexy, misunderstood outcast (or that's what I thought I was at the time).

My first year of college, however, I went a little nuts, and started going out to all the lame clubs in little dresses, and so on. One of my long-term friendships from high school ended at that time. I was accused of "selling out" by subscribing to a ridiculous notion of "cool."

Here is an interesting charge that was levelled at me at the time: "I bet you can't even tell your new buddies you read Tolkien. Nyah!"

It's strange, because about half of my "new buddies" had read Tolkien. And watched the movies. And counted themselves as fans. And partied and played sports and did all those other things that "cool kids" normally do. But they weren't "cool," they were just living their lives.

I learned that the pigeonholing that goes on in high schools loses all relevance if you can think bigger.

I also learned that even so-called geeks can be self-righteous about what they deem to be their superior lifestyle.

It was both funny and sad.

So, um, if people are calling you things because you read Tolkien, it's sad that they do that, and it's sad that you should care. You're better than that. *kiss kiss*

(I know, it's easy for me to say, I'm out of the hell of high school, but trust me on this one, it almost always gets more interesting afterwards)

[Laitoste]

Thank you, Lush. You have given me hope. *chants "one more year" under breath*

[Mark]

Ok, we are accused of being geeks and nerds, right? Yes. Now, I just have one question to ask of all of you, whats wrong with being called a geek or a nerd? My friends and I always joke around with each other by calling ourselves geeks, whats wrong with something like that?

The definition of geek is; A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

What a cool thing to be :P

Anyways, when anyone attempts to put me down, by calling me a "geek" or a "nerd" I point and laugh. He is isolated from the wonderful world of fantasy :P His loss.

Just my slice in the pizza

[Encaitare]

The definition of geek is; A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

I guess it would be safe to call the great Ozzy Osbourne a geek, then. Except he liked doves.

I don't favour thinking of myself as a geek because everything i do except like LotR HP SW and stuff, ain't what ive heard very geeky.
I think the word geek is just a desperate attack mechanism for someone so that they don't feel so bad about themselves. Confusing? nah just weird.Sorry for any offence taken.

[Lalwendë]

So you're all deadly clever then, taking these classes a year early?

You can't do that in the UK. The closest thing to it is if you are in a school which groups kids according to ability, and that's not very common any more. This is a good thing for anyone who's average at a subject, but if you are very good then you only suffer in mixed ability classes. At primary school I was placed with kids a year above me, but there was no way the local authorities would let me go to high school at 10 so I spent over a year learning anything I wanted to (easy to deal with, with only 30 kids in a whole school). Then it took until I was 13 to finally start learning anything new, by which time I'd developed an unhealthily strong independent and anti-authoritarian streak! I suppose its better to be a geek in the US then. It would certainly be excellent to have to be at university for less time, as there would be less bills!

[Celebuial]

I suppose I'm a geek. I got A*'s and A's in my GCSE's with only two B's. I took more subjects than everybody else and took some a year early. I was also the only person doing two languages. But Now I'm doing my A-levels and I was shoked to find that you actually have to put in some effort! I'll be starting an Astrophysics Degree in September.

I still don't get this whole AP thing though. Does that mean that if you don't do any of these you can't go to university? As long as I get the required grades I don't need to do anything else. From all the books I've read that have school scenes there was one that had a bit about an AP maths class, but all the stuff was GCSE or As level so I don't get it. Are university courses longer in America or something? Is that why people take them?

[Encaitare]

Originally Posted by Celebuial

I still don't get this whole AP thing though. Does that mean that if you don't do any of these you can't go to university?

Certainly not! They just earn you some college credits to get you a head start. Although they're not at all necessary, colleges/universities like to see that you've taken AP courses because it means you can handle a college workload.

Are university courses longer in America or something? Is that why people take them?

As far as I know, all courses run for one semester. I plan on doing a double major in college, for music education and flute performance. In a lot of schools this is a five-year program instead of the regular four, so having credits in advance will lighten the load a bit for me about a year from now.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

My school is small (less than 500 students Pre-K to 12), and they don't offer AP courses. The closest we have are actual college classes that advanced students can take. My "brother"'s only senior year requirements are Economics and Phys. Ed. Besides that, he took photography, but he only comes in for that. He goes to college classes the rest of the time. I've got credit for a freshman level Government course, and am five weeks from completion of an Economics one. They won't help me for my intended major, but as I'm going to a liberal arts college, it means that they'll be out of the way and I can fill the space with electives.

I am a nerd though. I happily admit it. I'll post for you something that I first heard my Advanced Biology teacher read three or four years ago:

Michael Jordan will make over $300,000 a game, $10,000 a minute assuming he averages about 30 minutes a game.

Assuming $40 mil in endorsements next year, he'll be making $178,100 a day (working or not)!

Assuming he sleeps 7 hours a night, he makes $52,000 every night while
visions of sugarplums dance in his head.

If he goes to see Independence Day, it'll cost him $7.00, but he'll make $18,550 while he's there.

If he decides to have a 5 minute egg, he'll make $618 while boiling it.

He makes $7,415/hr more than minimum wage (after the wage hike)

He'll make $3,710 while watching each episode of Friends.

If he wanted to save up for a new Acura NSX ($90,000) it would take him a whole 12 days.

If someone were to hand him his salary and endorsement money, they would have to do it at the rate of $2.00 every second.

He'll probably pay around $200 for a nice round of golf, but will be 'reimbursed' $33,390 for that round.

He could take 1/100,000th of his income and buy some poor college student 5200 packages of Ramen.

Assuming he puts the federal maximum of 15% of his income into his tax deferred account (401k), he will hit the federal cap of $9500 for such accounts at 8:30 a.m. on January 1st, 1997.

If you were given a tenth of a penny for every dollar he made, you'd be living comfortably at $65,000 a year.

He'll make about $19.60 while watching the 100 meter dash in the Olympics.

He'll make about $15,600 while the Boston Marathon is being run.

While the common person is spending about $20 for a meal in his trendy Chicago restaurant, he'll pull in about $5600.

Next year, he'll make more than twice as much as all of our past presidents for all of their terms combined.

And something to cheer you up after all of this. . .

Jordan will only have to have this income for 270 more years to have a net worth equivalent to that of Bill Gates.

See? Nerds win hands down. And Lord of the Rings helps us on the path to greatness, teaching us modesty through Arwen, trust through Frodo, honor through Boromir, leadership through Aragorn, understated intelligence through Merry, faith through Sam.... must I continue? The virtues that make every person great can be learned through the reading of a novel. Who wouldn't want to?