Alan wrote:
Russ Johnson wrote:
You realize what they say about those who deny being something... :)
It's a river in Egypt?
No no no... that's denial... wrong form of the word... but then, I'm
being a geek again...
:p
On the contrary. I've found that many folks from throughout the world
now revere "geeks" and "nerds" as much or more than they were once
reviled.
I wouldn't go as far as revere. True, it may be not be as bad an
insult as it once was, but "He's such a geek" in my experience tends
to be more negative than positive.
Hell, just look at per's definition.
Yeah, maybe revere isn't the right word, but mostly among the many
people I personally know, when they call me a geek they are more using a
term of endearment than a put-down.
I'm one of the more computer savy people in my circle, and they
acknowledge it that way. They in no way mean it to belittle me or what I
do.
It can also be a way to get me to tone things down a little. I've been
known to talk over peoples heads, usually without thinking or knowing
about it. They tell me to quit geeking out on them, and I get the
message. Usually, they're interested in what I'm saying, but they aren't
grasping what I'm saying. Having worked for Symantec and other companies
in a technical capacity, I've learned how to talk about technical
subjects. I hate to use the words "dumb down", but that's the vernacular.
Those that don't tend to be the jocks and their hangers on that didn't
like us way back when anyway.
Who's us? I was a jock. Or at least, a "popular kid".
Now, hand over your lunch money. heh.
I was never a "popular kid". I tried to play football at South Eugene,
played baseball for EBAA before it was ESP, and discovered at 28 that I
couldn't catch a ball because I needed prism in my glasses. No wonder I
always played right field.. except when a lefty was at bat.
Nothing wrong with any of that. It makes for better people, I think.
I just object to being referred to by an "insult".
I understand the whole "Take back the word" thing viz. Nigga, Queer,
Geek. I just don't agree with it.
I think it's a great thing that the word geek is no longer the insult
that it was. I think it shows that we may be starting to grow and
realize that people who think differently are ok too.
Unfortunately, there's still a lot of bias out there that keeps the
different people separated.
I also don't think geek and nerd are always insults.
I was told once, by a black man, that he could call the brothers (his
term) nigger, and it was not an insult. But if I used the term it would
almost always be an insult. Just as if he were to call me a cracker.
I think it's in how the term is used. Not just the term itself.
Russ
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