The nature of geek-dom
POSTED BY: reginaroadie
UPDATED: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 23:05
VIEWED: 6583
PAGE 3 of 5
I don't think of sports types as geeks. They are some sort of sub-species. homo numbskullus or something.
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hell yeah!
Now, This one had to be bought out and shown to the world.
Everybody - say thank you Arcadia.
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt
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I think it's a numbers game. I find it difficult to think of any minority group that isn't somewhat abhorred by the mainstream. The smaller the niche, the more they are castigated.
And nobody is above it. Even among sports fans, the casual fan greatly outnumbers the body painter. So the body painter is looked upon with some apprehension. Even here. Sports fans are a minority among Firefly fans (at least in this thread) so they are viewed with a healthy dose of contempt. And, I might note, that contempt is encouraged.
So, don't pine for validation from the unwashed masses and take comfort in the knowledge that we are all detested by someone for something. Ahhh, SportsCenter is on...
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yes, you are right, but i have to stand up for my self on the footbal fan case and say that my contempt of the footie fans coms not from their being unknown, or minority, or fearing them, but rather follows the 'familiarity breeds contempt' rule - i live near far to many of them, and regularly have my ability to get on with my life in peace messed about with by the idiots and their stupidity.
i'll not start the ranting.
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt
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I will. Being trapped on a bus because of the number of football fans blocking the street, who then start rocking it from side to side, because two stupid tarts are flashing their tits out of the window. Everyone, including the driver is screaming at them to stop it, because there are too many of the fans for anyone to control, and if they got on the bus...
As I've stated in another thread, I once intimidated a couple of would-be muggers on the Underground. Here, I was scared. It was one of those cases where the individuals have become a mindless mob. I am not in favour of anything that takes away free will or individuality.
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Here's the only problem I see with this. Currently we have been discussing "geeks" based on the stereo-type. And while there may be a fair amount that fit that stereo-type, there are some that don't.
In high school (cough..80's...cough) I was considered a bit of a geek. I was gawky. I dabbled in Dungeons and Dragons and longed to be part of the "in" crowd but was also on the swim team, track team and in the band. I was a big fan of Battlestar Galactica, Space 1999, Doctor Who and Star Wars, not enough to dress up though.
I finally realized I didn't need to fit in, and did my own thing. Got to university and finally grew out of gawky and into a semi-muscular man, thanks to the university weight room and having friends on the football (not soccer) team.
I'm a big time sports nut and can tell you the ins and outs of professional Hockey (must be my Canadian blood) and Baseball. I spend most nights on the diamond playing softball. I can also tear apart a car engine and rebuild it.
So... am I a geek? Or a jock? Or a gearhead?
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"Stop doing that thing"
"What thing"
"That thing where your mouth moves and noise comes out"
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You're a Browncoat, gorramit!
I think when someone becomes so obsessed with one thing that they cannot function outside of it, AND THEN they start to wail on anyone who does not share their proclivities, that is when the issues arise.
You just sound like a well-rounded human being. (Apart from the Canadian thing, but meh...
)
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Quote:Not really, I thought we were saying a geek was someone who had an obsessive amount of knowledge in a particular subject, thus it's not really a stereotype but a discription.
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
Here's the only problem I see with this. Currently we have been discussing "geeks" based on the stereo-type. And while there may be a fair amount that fit that stereo-type, there are some that don't.
Personally I'm a computer Geek (do it for work), a martial arts Geek and so on.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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I hear that Citizen, problem is, there are too many people that don't see the distinction between stereo-type and description.
That's where I like the Browncoats. They come from all walks of life and for the most part are very open minded and accepting of others. They don't fit the stereo-type. At least not to my veiw of it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no exclusivity like there is is some of the other fanbases.
__________________________________________________
"Stop doing that thing"
"What thing"
"That thing where your mouth moves and noise comes out"
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Quote:
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
I hear that Citizen, problem is, there are too many people that don't see the distinction between stereo-type and description.
That's where I like the Browncoats. They come from all walks of life and for the most part are very open minded and accepting of others. They don't fit the stereo-type. At least not to my veiw of it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no exclusivity like there is is some of the other fanbases.
I would agree, Browncoats do appear to be a wide and varied lot. However, in the interest of fairness and trying not to be looking at the world through Brown-colored glasses, I'm curious as to your last statement that "there is no exclusivity like there is in some of the other fanbases."
Which fanbases are you thinking of here? What about the rest of you? Which fanbases do you see as being either intentionally exclusive or unintentionally exclusive (that is, you simply abhor them or find them disturbing and more geeky than you can tolerate)?
I'm just curious, because there is so much crossover in this fandom, and a lot of us came from other fandoms (and still participate in some ways in them). As much as we find the sports fan a bit odd and annoying, we also seem to feel that way about others who are more "in our circle", as it were, and I wonder why.
Yes, I'm as guilty of it as anyone...I'm just trying to step back and take an objective look at it as a researcher, and it is hard sometimes!
"We gotta go to that crappy town where I'M a hero..."
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Shiny stuff for Browncoats at:
http://www.cafepress.com/outtotheblack
http://www.outtotheblack.com
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