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 kronk wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
: Is a young lady who casually reads the Batman comics, and gets inspired to spend weeks researching Batgirl's various outfits, then several more weeks personally making a Batgirl costume, dying her hair, getting in shape, etc, less of a geek than a guy who can recite Batman facts off the top of his head?

Sad.

I was at Comicpalooza this weekend, manning the Gaming HQ table, and saw plenty of awesome costumed girls and even costumed gamers girls (they played Last Larp on Earth (last night on Earth board game with costumes) as well as Pathfinder and board games. They seemed to be up with the rules of the games they were playing, as well as some "neck beards" I know. They were cute, gamers, comic fans, and into CosPlay. I don't understand the hate.

Same here. Although where i am, sadly not many cosplay. I do know some awesome gamer girls.
ike i said, Im sorry, what i said was stupid.

The problem with the "fake geek girl" label is... it ain't just the girls. There are a lot of people - male AND female - trying to jump on the geek bandwagon because suddenly a few years back, it was somehow widely accepted that being a geek was now cool. Needless to say, people who were geeks before this (myself included) take umbrage at anyone trying to look cool and really not putting any kind of effort or enthusiasm into anything that's actually geeky in any way.

On the other hand, the surge has seen lots of people genuinely gain interest in geek activities - and that I can happily encourage.

Or rather, you're attempting to try to make yourself cool because you want to be part of an exclusive group, because otherwise you feel that somehow other people enjoying the things you now enjoy are "diluting it". Don't worry, it's a waste of effort. You're not cool. You're a geek

 Melissia wrote:
Or rather, you're attempting to try to make yourself cool because you want to be part of an exclusive group, because otherwise you feel that somehow other people enjoying the things you now enjoy are "diluting it". Don't worry, it's a waste of effort. You're not cool. You're a geek

TBH, That is my problem, I see way to many people try to act geeky, but know very little about geek culture. But maybe that is just a problem in my neck of the woods.

Super Ready wrote:The problem with the "fake geek girl" label is... it ain't just the girls. There are a lot of people - male AND female - trying to jump on the geek bandwagon because suddenly a few years back, it was somehow widely accepted that being a geek was now cool. Needless to say, people who were geeks before this (myself included) take umbrage at anyone trying to look cool and really not putting any kind of effort or enthusiasm into anything that's actually geeky in any way.

Arguing about whether or not you or anyone else is a "geek" is childish. Children worry about what they "are". Real people just enjoy whatever it is they enjoy without fussing about what they or others should be called.

 Melissia wrote:
Or rather, you're attempting to try to make yourself cool because you want to be part of an exclusive group, because otherwise you feel that somehow other people enjoying the things you now enjoy are "diluting it". Don't worry, it's a waste of effort. You're not cool. You're a geek

Or perhaps it relates back to the social structure (primarily secondary education) that labeled those people nerds/geeks, possibly demeaned them for it, and drove others to consider them less than valuable socially as a result. Then, as the culture and nomenclature that had been used as a derogatory term to describe this individuals becomes more mainstream and accepted, the very members of the social structure that demeaned them (and many who did not) adopts aspects of their 'culture', perhaps whole heartedly, perhaps in name as a 'fad' only, as their own. The entrenched nerds/geeks who have taken their title as a scarlet letter and consider it something of badge of honor in the same stroke, now feel their safe havens and culture being altered by those who didn't share the same shame or social awkwardness that accompanied 'becoming a nerd/geek'.

Hipsters decry suburban youths adopting their culture, the urban population decries the 'posers' that adopt their dress and language, the geeks decry the mainstream.


I am not defending this sense of outrage or the term 'fake geek' (be they male or female, but that is a whole other issue which Melissia has referenced). I can just see where it comes from as I can with any social group.

You'll always have the basement trolls that resist change. Maybe it's a fear of higher social requirements as the rest of society peeks it's head into 'nerdom'?

 gunslingerpro wrote:
The entrenched nerds/geeks who have taken their title as a scarlet letter and consider it something of badge of honor

Are kind of pathetic.

Rephrasing the abuse as "You haven't suffered enough to be a geek!" doesn't make it any less dumb. Frankly, I'm GLAD that people aren't picked on as much for being geeky. It's a sign of progress.

And yet it still doesnt help that i have to put away my DND stuff for fear of looking weird? IT isnt progress. Like Big Bang Theory, Still much of that is "Point and laugh at the nerds" For peoples whose life it is, who invest time into it, they still get picked on.

 Melissia wrote:

 gunslingerpro wrote:
The entrenched nerds/geeks who have taken their title as a scarlet letter and consider it something of badge of honor

Are kind of pathetic.

Rephrasing the abuse as "You haven't suffered enough to be a geek!" doesn't make it any less dumb. Frankly, I'm GLAD that people aren't picked on as much for being geeky. It's a sign of progress.

Fair enough. But for some there is a lot of emotional and physical abuse that went into 'earning' that title. I'm sure you calling their suffering and (misguided) apprehension of others entering their interest fields pathetic really makes them want to be progressive.

Though it is nice to see education, imagination, and creativity be considered as valuable, if not moreso, than athletic talent in many academic and social settings.

 Melissia wrote:

 gunslingerpro wrote:
The entrenched nerds/geeks who have taken their title as a scarlet letter and consider it something of badge of honor

Are kind of pathetic.

Yes.

 gunslingerpro wrote:
Fair enough. But for some there is a lot of emotional and physical abuse that went into 'earning' that title.

We're not talking about freaking medal of honor recipients, here. There's no real rigorous standard of what makes someone a geek, except that they enjoy one or more geeky hobbies.

 gunslingerpro wrote:
I'm sure you calling their suffering and (misguided) apprehension of others entering their interest fields pathetic really makes them want to be progressive

I didn't call their suffering pathetic. I called their excuse for their lack of inclusiveness pathetic.

 gunslingerpro wrote:

 Melissia wrote:

 gunslingerpro wrote:
The entrenched nerds/geeks who have taken their title as a scarlet letter and consider it something of badge of honor

Are kind of pathetic.

Rephrasing the abuse as "You haven't suffered enough to be a geek!" doesn't make it any less dumb. Frankly, I'm GLAD that people aren't picked on as much for being geeky. It's a sign of progress.

Fair enough. But for some there is a lot of emotional and physical abuse that went into 'earning' that title. I'm sure you calling their suffering and (misguided) apprehension of others entering their interest fields pathetic really makes them want to be progressive.

If someone identifies so strongly with being a "geek" that they feel apprehensive or resentful about other people that they perceive as "non-geeks" enjoying what they consider to be "geeky" interests, then yes, they are pathetic. Sorry.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And yet it still doesnt help that i have to put away my DND stuff for fear of looking weird?

No, that doesn't help. It is perpetuating the problem.

A very big part of the reason that 'nerdy' hobbies are seen as weird is that so many of the participants of them act embarrassed about them. If you act ashamed of your hobbies, of course people will make fun of them.

Exactly, Insaniak.

"My name is Kronk. I'm handsome, can please a woman, and play 40k and DND."

I tell myself that every morning in the mirror.

If she isn't impressed with my painting and gaming skills, then she's treated like an uninsured motorist: with disdain and disappointment.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And yet it still doesnt help that i have to put away my DND stuff for fear of looking weird? IT isnt progress. Like Big Bang Theory, Still much of that is "Point and laugh at the nerds" For peoples whose life it is, who invest time into it, they still get picked on.

Who cares if you look "weird"? That's not a bad thing.

Blizzard invented the MMO.

Steam is a terrible service.

Dune bored me.

In the words of Captain Pike, "May the force be with you."

Evangelion Rebuild 3.33 left me feeling satiated.

Pick up the phone booth.

 Melissia wrote:
Or rather, you're attempting to try to make yourself cool because you want to be part of an exclusive group, because otherwise you feel that somehow other people enjoying the things you now enjoy are "diluting it". Don't worry, it's a waste of effort. You're not cool. You're a geek

This post is awesome.

"Is The Hobbit the sequel to Lord of the Rings?"

"Whoa. Hold on a second...are those non-official GW parts on that model?"

"Wow. You're really good at rolling ones."

"My favorite Star Trek character is Darth Vader"

"Valve is pure evil!"

And in keeping with the theme of gender that's emerged,

"Your subculture has underlying issues with women!"

It'll at least provoke them into a thoughtful discussion if it doesn't trigger any rage.

This is of course assuming that you're dealing with an all-bloke group. Not going to as effective otherwise.

 Melissia wrote:

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
Don't say "fake geek girl".

(although apparently this thread is about what not to say in a room full of male nerds, so maybe this is off topic)

Counts when I'm involved. I don't like that expression. It is a silly term. And I'm a guy.

What does that term even mean? I really don't get it.

It is a term used by certain members of the geek/nerd subculture to exclude female geeks who are attractive.

No, I don't entirely know why they would do this, either. But there you go. There's an underlying problem with misogyny in geek culture, and it's sadly a fairly prevalent term.

I suspect it is a "reject them before they can reject me" defense.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Han shot last.
Firefly is overrated(I have done that)
I like Voyager(Also done)
Archer is best captain(Also done)
Also, Never ever EVER bring up how effective a sword would be.

I actually really do like both voyager, and enterprize (i always wondered where sam beckett finally leapt to... no we know)

theninjabadger wrote:
What should you never say in a room full of nerds these are mine so far
Final Fantasy 7 sucks
Whats the point in Minecraft
Ive never played a valve game
The word cake
FIFA is the best game ever

What are yours?

I think the time honored "NERD!" is best.

 Frazzled wrote:

theninjabadger wrote:
What should you never say in a room full of nerds these are mine so far
Final Fantasy 7 sucks
Whats the point in Minecraft
Ive never played a valve game
The word cake
FIFA is the best game ever

What are yours?

I think the time honored "NERD!" is best.

I'm just going to leave this here.

 Melissia wrote:
Or rather, you're attempting to try to make yourself cool because you want to be part of an exclusive group, because otherwise you feel that somehow other people enjoying the things you now enjoy are "diluting it". Don't worry, it's a waste of effort. You're not cool. You're a geek

I'd proffer shouting "fake geek girl" at the geek girls will continue to insure a lack of breeding opportunities...

Michael Bay makes the BEST films.
Turtles will be so much better if they are aliens.
I prefer the Stallone Dredd.
Howard the Duck was the best film ever.
The Big Bang Theory is amazing/rubbish (dependant on audience)
Star Trek only had 4 plots and they rotated them -
evil aliens/someones relative is in trouble/holodeck/clip show
The first matrix film was the worst.
The first Hulk film was the best.


And one from the cinema which is completely true - I heard two girls talking in front of me. It was the scene in Lord of the rings with the ents destroying Sarumans house.

"Lord or the rings has completely ripped off harry potter - those tree men are just rip-offs of the whomping willow"

I face palmed so hard, everyone behind behind me fell over.

My other favourite was my dad (die hard sci fi fan of the hg wells/frank herbert variety) telling me Buffy the vampire slayer would be more believable in space. Because magic is silly and could only happen on another planet.
My point was that neither Buffy nor Star Trek can be taken seriously.

Although his argument then invites cries of Space Potter!

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
And yet it still doesnt help that i have to put away my DND stuff for fear of looking weird? IT isnt progress. Like Big Bang Theory, Still much of that is "Point and laugh at the nerds" For peoples whose life it is, who invest time into it, they still get picked on.

NERD!

PredaKhaine wrote:

I prefer the Stallone Dredd.
The Big Bang Theory is rubbish
Star Trek only had 4 plots and they rotated them -

1. I actually do prefer the stallone one to the urban one. Then again, I also prefer Judge minty to the Urban one and Minty over Stallone's one.
2. It's not actually that good. It's reality TV, not a sitcom about nerds. I've lived in a house like that (with fellow nerds - and I never wanted to kill any of them as much as I would like to strangle Sheldon or Howard. ). We didn't have a hot neighbour like Penny though. Just a crusty old cop.
3. This is not a point for argument's sake. It's true.

Then again, when it comes to nerd films, my friends tend not to trust my judgements on films.
I loathe LoTR, can't stand AGoT, think Firefly was overrated and the only movie with a dragon in it that I liked was Dragonslayer.

"Those glasses make you look like a Hipster."

"Bow ties are not cool."

"I would love to learn that new game, but I am too busy working on my Fantasy Football roster."

"(Insert X) is so broken/nerfed!"

"You are a WAAC player!"