Lost... and finally found again.

[kickaha]

One of those things that really needs to be passed around more often. I was quite disappointed when it was no longer showing up at the old URL, but I'm very glad to see that someone else archived it so I can bookmark it again. :)

Five Geek Social Fallacies

Unfortunately, it's not limited to just geeks. #4 seems to be the one with the widest distribution... which is sad, since it's probably the one most people grow out of first.

Happy Emotional Codependence Day, everyone! :D

Comments

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

Those aren't 'fallacies,' they're signs of someone that needs the acceptance of others to have any kind of self-worth, IE signs of an emotionally undeveloped personality. Pathological.

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

Well... yeah... :)

I think most people have had one or more of those delusions at one point in their life or another, but it's a pretty sad way to live one's life on an on-going basis. Relying on other people to define your sense of self-worth is just setting yourself up for constant disappointment.

Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to rely on that misery for their existence, it seems. Ah well. They're welcome to it.

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

Agreed except for theym being welcome to it; they annoy me and therefore must be purged. :p

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

You, sir, are an Ostracizer, and therefore Evil.

Mind if I crash on your couch sometime?

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

Hey, I have no problem interacting with people, I just want most of them off my planet. ;)

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Most of us aren't the best choice to define our own self-worth either. :)

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

Psh, I am. I accept nobody's judgement of me but my own. :p

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't accept anybody else's judgment of me either--nobody else is working with the full set of data--it's just that my own self-judgment is not conducive to elevated feelings of self-worth. I am a lazy perfectionist; not a happy combination.

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

Haha, I can see how that could cause trouble. ;D

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

it's not limited to just geeks

I would counter that assertion with one of my own: At some level, on at least one topic, *everyone* is a geek. Everyone has something, whether it's Scripture or anime or regex, where their interest level rises to the point of compulsion, if not obsession, and when someone finds a group that shares said interest, a feedback cycle begins.

All of the GSFs listed come down to grouping dynamics. The need to belong, and particularly the need to identify those who do *not* belong (and make up reasons to exclude if they do not present themselves immediately), is hard-coded into our genes and reinforced by our socialization. It's why the EEP was such a transforming experience for most of us, and it's probably why the "classic" geek, who's probably as an adult working on their first "belonging" group after a lifetime of "excluding" groups, is particularly prone to such behaviors--that and it's the "classic" geek who is most likely to be able to detach and observe these phenomena somewhat objectively. Outgrowing these behaviors requires inclusion in a group and experiencing the negative consequences thereof.

Me, I'm a human behavior geek. This afternoon. :) I was surprised in Paris to discover that apparently, I'm still a Scripture geek--I found myself expounding at great, and I am certain boring, length about the stories behind many of the religious works of art on display in the Louvre. Saw one painting from across the room and said, "Hey, that's the Pentecost!" with actual excitement.

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

I suppose if everyone's a geek, most people are Budwiser geeks. :p

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Funny you should say that. I'm a beer geek and snob; the last time Budweiser passed my lips was before I was old enough to buy my own. :)

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

Jesus, will you two just get a room already? I'm trying to be crotchety here!

Damned kids...

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Y'see, that's your problem--you're *trying* to be crotchety.

Crotchety just happens.

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

But see, there's a difference between a 'real' beer geek and what I would call a Budweiser geek; the Bud guy just wants to drink a six-pack every night, while a true beer geek actually appreciates the taste of the various brands of yeast-piss s/he's drinking.

No, I'm not a fan of beer. ;)

At any rate, I don't think most people could fit the definition of 'geek,' unless there are such things as 'my children' geeks or 'watching TV until unconsious' geeks.

No, I'm not a fan of humanity at large either. ;)

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

I assert that there are certainly geeks for any soap opera you care to name.

My definition of 'geek' differs from Jason's: he wants to reserve the term to apply only to the forms of geekdom to which he subscribes; I suggest that any out-of-norm attachment to, and willingness to expound upon, any topic results in behavior that can be identified as geeking.

[franktheavenger.livejournal.com]

I can get behind that, but I disagree that most people have something that they have that much attachment to. Most people are just drones, IME. :p

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Ever ask Joe Drone about last Sunday's questionable offsides penalty? Geekery is everywhere.

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

I was kinda going with the cultural norm definition of 'geek', but yes, it is something that most people go through at some point in their lives, and hopefully outgrow. It's the folks who still cling to the fallacies that need a look at the page.

Well, that and I'm pretty sure that all of humanity could use a refresher from time to time. :)

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Cultural norms depend on where you're standing, neh?

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

I am so gonna kick you in yer distribution...

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

I just got back from Paris; I'm sure there are approximately 61 million "culturally normal" Frenchpersons in line ahead of you. :)