What is it with geeks and nerds?

[Bwian]

I wasn't ware of a stereotype either until today. It was like a British version of Revenge of the Nerds - National Health style glasses, dodgy sideburns, 20 year old T-Shirts that don't fit and a slightly scary obsession withsmall, irrelevant details.

Let me say again - this isn't a bad thing - it takes all sorts and all of that. It's just slightly strange to see.

Away from the world of computers-the regional manager of the company I work for met me in Guildford last Thursday. Being a shit driver he'd burned out his clutch - luckily we are in the trade so one of my customers said they would fix it for him but they needed the car overnight. As the guy lives in Sidcup he had no choice but to get home by train...wait for it, wait for it! You almost know what's coming don't you?

All was well until he got to Waterloo East and boarded his Tube for Sidcup. It was the middle of rush-hour so space was at a premium, everybody crushed in there like sardines. He suddenly hears "87564". A while later "54689", "11098", then more sets of numbers accompanied by the squelch of radios. He thought he was in the middle of some about to be broken spy story at the very least. Curiosity got the better of him, he looked around and there they were: a couple of greasy haired gits, beige jackets and thinning hair in the stylee of Bobby Charlton. Each with two-way radios and a dictaphone. They were recording all the carriage numbers they saw on their journey-the radios were so their other, younger friend with equally greasy hair and a third radio could join in, even though he was on the other side of the train. Fred, the manager, looked at them all, made a bit of eye contact with the younger one who then looked very sheepish and embarrassed and for the rest of his journey looked at his shoes-meanwhile the other 2 continued muttering numbers into dictaphones until they got off.

Suddenly computer geeks look normal....

 

[beorhthelm]

...until they got off.

Thats disgusting. People say its a bit of innocent fun, but they should be locked up bahaving like that in public.

 

[Vlad the Impala]

What Sith? New Star Wars Movie!

Last Updated Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:47:19 EDT

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The next movie in the Star Wars series will be called Revenge of the Sith, the company that makes the films said Saturday.

Lucasfilm said the movie, the sixth in the series, will explain how villain Darth Vader turned from good to bad.

The first three films show the fight to overthrow Vader, lead unknowingly by his son Luke Skywalker. The second set of three, including Revenge of the Sith, trace Vader's early life, from brilliant slave boy to evil conqueror of the universe.

The Sith is a sect that corrupts the young Vader, known then as Anakin Skywalker.

Lucasfilm fan-relations chief Steve Sansweet revealed the title at Comic-Con International, an annual meeting of science fiction fans.

Filmmaker George Lucas is the brains behind the series.

The movie is set for release next May.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Im convinced that the brains of computer programmers and geeks operate in a different way to that of other human beings .

They are good at collating data and solving technical issues, but not so good at human stuff, like social interaction with other people.

Massive generalisation I know, but I know enough of them to think theres something in it.

 

[the full harris]

There is nothing wrong with being intrested in something.

depends what the something is.

it is wrong to be interested in necrophilia.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

a slightly scary obsession withsmall, irrelevant details.

I wish to bring to your attention an erroneous level of detail in the avatar purporting to depict a stylised form of horse racing. In aforesaid avatar, the racehorse in first position is quite clearly coloured green, while those in third and seventh position are coloured blue and yellow respectively. This is at variance with proscribed jockey club rules governing the colouration of racehorses. I trust this error will be corrected at the next release of software.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

nerd alert!

 

[Wardy]

nerd alert!

So which one is you?

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

are you 'avin' a bubble barf?
just thought i'd show people what i understand by 'nerd stereotypes'. bless 'em.
no, i'm not like this at all. sorry.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

I wish to bring to your attention an erroneous level of detail in the avatar purporting to depict a stylised form of horse racing. In aforesaid avatar, the racehorse in first position is quite clearly coloured green, while those in third and seventh position are coloured blue and yellow respectively. This is at variance with proscribed jockey club rules governing the colouration of racehorses. I trust this error will be corrected at the next release of software.

No!

 

[London Irish]

TGC, did you watch "Cruise of the Gods", the Coogan/Brydon vehicle last year? For me that was the best treatment I've seen of the geek-nerd phenonmenon, mocking but still affectionate. The nerds turned out to be the heroes after being set up as the villains throughout most of the comedy.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

TGC, did you watch "Cruise of the Gods", the Coogan/Brydon vehicle last year? For me that was the best treatment I've seen of the geek-nerd phenonmenon, mocking but still affectionate. The nerds turned out to be the heroes after being set up as the villains throughout most of the comedy.

Nope - must have missed that one. As I said, most of these people are harmless and very nice - it just wierd that they all seem to look and act the same. There but for the grace of God go I!

Anyway, back to watching the Simpsons episode I have seen umpteen times and setting up a spreadsheet for a dice simulation of Ryder Cup golf. Geeky, moi?

 

[Gwylan]

Years ago, one of my first journalistic assignments was covering such a show at Olympia (I can't remember which one now). It was a blazing hot summer's day, there was a test match on and I was very reluctant to go.

It was an eye-opener when I got there. The place was packed with kids (99.9 percent of them boys, Wozza) all crowding around the games stalls.

I was there for work but I couldn't for the life of me work out why so many kids chose to spend a glorious day indoors when they could have been outside playing cricket or swimming or just doing the sorts of things I did when I was a kid. I think it was one of the truly depressing moments of my life, partly because it was a reminder that I was no longer a studnet, and was now working and could no longer spend the summer lounging around and partly because I though that these kids were wasting such a lovely day. I still don't really understand it.

 

[Sorrel]

TGC, did you watch "Cruise of the Gods", the Coogan/Brydon vehicle last year? For me that was the best treatment I've seen of the geek-nerd phenonmenon, mocking but still affectionate. The nerds turned out to be the heroes after being set up as the villains throughout most of the comedy.

It was great, wasn't it! Very realistic too.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

Although I would imagine you get some freaky looking people at a computer/Star Trek/Dr Who/etc/etc convention that you wouldn't normally want to talk to, I'm actually going to defend these people, because at least they have an interest

Too many people are quick to criticise, but at least they have a hobby they are totally interested and committed to, and that's a good thing. What I can't stand are people who have no hobbies, who don't actually do anything in their spare time

My brother made the point yesterday at Lords, at cricket you do seem to see quite a few nerdy looking blokes with their stupid floppy cricket hats, and their nerdy demeanour (sp?) but they are passionate about the game and I say good for them as theyare enjoying their hobby and harming no-one