And I'm proud. It's taken me decades to make peace with my geeky nature. Or rather, to quit thinking I needed to be 'normal', and to really finally accept that the whole 'normal' concept is, in fact, kinda... dare I say it... weird.
So here are five geeky things I have done. Feel free to add your own in the comments.
-While out house shopping, I noticed a whole region named "Ligonier". Wondering where in hell that name came from, I got on my BlackBerry and looked it up on Wikipedia. The area takes its name from Fort Ligonier, a British fort that was named after some British dude. Not only was I curious enough to look it up, I could connect to the internet from my phone. And I remember the information later.
-My kid demands "Science Channel!" to watch instead of cartoons. Sure, that means SHE is a geek, but how'd she learn the Science Channel is cool in the first place? From her folks, of course. (And I suppose wondering if geek is a genetically inherited trait is geeky, too.)
-As a young kid I took apart the bathroom sink to figure out how it worked. Unfortunately I hadn't thought to turn of the water to the spigot first... I remember my mother shouting and wailing "But I just wanted to know how it WORKS!" When my dad put it back together again, he let me help so I could figure out how it worked, and not do it again.
-I've nearly given up on getting a degree, but I keep returning to the idea of taking college courses for fun and/or to just learn stuff I wanna know.
-I'm of the opinion that EVERY subject is interesting, if it's presented properly. In fact, I don't think there are a lot of different subjects. I think there's one really BIG subject, and everything's part of it. Taking classes got much easier for me after I realized my brain worked that way.
YAY, GEEKS! What's the proper meal to celebrate? Pizza and Jolt cola?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
I dont think I am as geeky as you are but I think I can still qualify. We were excited when our cable got National Geographic Wild this last week or so, the kids love it!
Do you have your towel today?
Hey - you are so right, there's only one big subject, that's exactly what I think. And you're also right, everything is interesting if presented properly. I think I could have been absolutely fascinated by maths/science at school age if it were taught well. I am fascinated now, but have a whole lot of catching up to do.
Degrees are overrated (I have plenty) - universities (here in Australia at least) teach you how to think like everyone else, not for yourself. I would not be at all unhappy if my kids didn't go to university if they didn't want to.
Happy Geeks Day!
There's a nice yarn store in Ligonier. The owner is Kathy Zimmerman. It's a really nice store, if you go visit.
Mountain Dew is the soda of choice for the vast majority of Geeks I have worked with in my lifetime. I used to work at a company that did not have a company picnic, we actually had a Geeknic, and awards were given. Yes, I have one, have given a few, and designed and made two of the top awards.
Oh, and did Goober see the Duct Tape part 2 episode of Mythbusters? I thought it was fairly entertaining, and thought about her.
So when do we make the movie of "My Big Fat Geek Wedding?"
I think it's called being a generalist. There used to be a testing program to get college credit for Life Experience - things you already know and don't need to take a course for.
Everything is connected to everything else, if you look hard enough.
My geekiest moments? Possibly age 10 when I took the gas oven to bits to find out how it worked. It could have been when I took my dad's alarm clock to bits to find out how it worked though. I'm a fan of deconstructive investigation though.
I had my towel with me all day yesterday. Much to many people's bemusement.
Louiz, everything IS related to everything. :)
SK, I'm not nearly as geeky as you. I tend to be esoteric rather than geeky. It took a while to find as I grew up southern with a mother who believed that lockstep with Society (TM) was the only way to be.
And for what it's worth, NORMAL is a setting on your washer. It has nothing to do with life.
:)
Phyllis
You must have had a pretty cool dad, when he did not yell but let you help with the sink.
GEEKS UNITE
Oh, well. I'm a musician; that makes me so weird that I'm beyond geekiness...plus I'm from a family of alcoholics who were much admired in the community, so I learned to try to appear to conform...and failed utterly. I don't take things apart; I assume they will die in my hands automatically. But I do bow in awe before geekiness.
I clearly remember a spanking I got when I was around 4, for tearing apart a fan of iris leaves. I was trying to find out where they came from. And hey look, I majored in horticulture!
I agree completely with your last point. I finally realised that I was interested in EVERYthing when I sat down and really enjoyed a doco on car manufacturing. Also, I secretly refer to my baby nephew as "TNG". His parents don't know.
Geeks unite!
P.S. has anyone told you you're a really hoopy frood?
You're geeky enough to hang with me, which makes you pretty darn geeky.
After all, I play a scientist in real life, and that's pretty geeky. :P
Miss ya.
OMG-- I'M ONE OF YOU! Okay... didn't come out right... but the one big subject thing? I"m with you! I don't get all of it (because I'm really not that bright) but I think it can all be interesting!
I am a proud geek, as are my children and grandson. We can already tell at age 1 that he will soon be dismantling things to see how they work!
There are so many interesting things to learn, why limit yourself to a degree unless you really need the credential for something. I love how wide ranging your interests are.
After reading your for a few years, I think your education is broader than one you would get with a degree.
Post a Comment