The ten geekiest hobbies

[CockyWriter]

Oh, please - they forgot some of the really geeky hobbies! For example:

1) Watching two bunches of big guys shove, jump on, trip, leap upon, and generally grope each other while throwing a ball around a field.
2) Watching a bunch of cars drive around and around.
3) Watching two people hit a ball back and forth across a net.
4) Watching a group of people hit a small ball a number of times till it falls into a hole. And then do it another 17 times.
...

You get the idea

You didn't mentio hockey.

Good for you.

 

[Flyspeck23]

One of my buddies hits SEVEN of those categories. . . and, remarkably enough, he's a well-rounded guy who's fun to talk to about almost anything.

Well-rounded? That's a cliché

And seven sure is something to aim for. For me, it's five categories... and I'm a more or less well-rounded guy too (it's not easy loosing weight when you're older than 30...).

 

[Laslo Tremaine]

And don't forget the Geek Hierarchy

This one always makes me laugh...

 

[johnsemlak]

Please forgive my ignorance...

What are furries?

 

[nothing to see here]

Oh, please - they forgot some of the really geeky hobbies! For example:

1) Watching two bunches of big guys shove, jump on, trip, leap upon, and generally grope each other while throwing a ball around a field.
2) Watching a bunch of cars drive around and around.
3) Watching two people hit a ball back and forth across a net.
4) Watching a group of people hit a small ball a number of times till it falls into a hole. And then do it another 17 times.
...

You get the idea

I'm pretty sure Shilsen's comment was partially toungue in cheeck...though I have no doubt a number of gamer types believe it with passionate sincerity.

This reminded me of some research I once saw. People tend to react negatively when exposed to a culture of behaviour that they don't share. However the way in which this derrision is expressed is far from symetrical.

One party (the socially dominant one) is largely dismissive. The 'submissive' party, buried in an inferiority compex...reacts with a passion that more resembles rage...

Some (admittedly stereotypical) cases in point:


Cook Kid on the geek: "Timmy...yeah he's in my geogrpahy class I think. He seems smart...a bit weird though...so what are we doing this weekend (yada yada yada)

Geek on the Cool Kid: "Dumb Jocks...stuck up cheerleaders...they think they're so cool...but they so stupid and shallow...ARRRRGGHH!!"


Rich on the scholarship student: Good for him...he must be smart...so what are we doing this weekend (yada yada yada)

Student on Schoarship on rich student: "silver spoon snobs...spoiled brats...why do I have to stand in line behind him...ARRRGGHH!!"


Americans on Canadians: Canada...yeah...it's cold there, isn't it...so what are we doing this weekend (yada yada yada)

Canadians on Americans: ooh...you ignorant warmonger hicks...we're so much more sophisticated than you...ARRRRRGGHHHHH.


I think it would be easier for gamers collective inferiority compex if people outside the hobby actually cared enough to dump on us regularly. Instead, all the hobby meets is widespread dismissal, forcing us to seize on web-zine articles and SNL skits to mobilize our fury at a stigma that is really only as strong as we let it be.

 

[Mercule]

Please forgive my ignorance...

What are furries?

People who get turned on by anthropomorphic animals. SM is to whips and leather what furries are to an adult-sized "Hello Kitty" costume.

 

[Fieari]

Apparently, some furries object to being called fetishists. On the other hand, if they're not, it'd be really odd anyway.

I think Lore's Geek Heirarchy is much more accurate and true to life anyway. Sean just doesn't have the proper scientific approach to this sort of thing.

 

[AnonymousFurry]

Please forgive my ignorance...

What are furries?

Not work safe link removed. -Darkness (need I say more?)

or http://www.yerf.com (squeaky clean furry art, though currently down)

That's about 1/2 of it all, though not everyone is into that aspect of it. Those into dressing up in fursuits are probably a minority of it compared to those who like the art aspect of it all and the RP as anthropomorphic characters. Similarly, not everyone into DnD dressed up in chainmail and wizards robes in their spare time. It's fairly broad, as are most fandoms, with both the smarmy underbelly and the attempts to rationalize it away from being a borderline fetish (which I won't even attempt to claim that it isn't for most).

 

[shilsen]

I'm pretty sure Shilsen's comment was partially toungue in cheeck...though I have no doubt a number of gamer types believe it with passionate sincerity.

Completely tongue in cheek, actually Heck, my favorite sport happens to be test cricket. I love watching it, but I have enough perspective to know that to those who don't care for it or understand it, I'm essentially watching a couple of guys hit a ball with a piece of wood and running back and forth, while another group of people run after it, and a whole lot of other weird stuff. And it goes on for five days. And I love it. Color me crazy

This reminded me of some research I once saw. People tend to react negatively when exposed to a culture of behaviour that they don't share. However the way in which this derrision is expressed is far from symetrical.

One party (the socially dominant one) is largely dismissive. The 'submissive' party, buried in an inferiority compex...reacts with a passion that more resembles rage...

True. Sad but true. I figure being aware of how what you like/dislike may be viewed by those who don't is a good way to have a sense of proportion and to avoid unnecessary stress about others' opinions. I like some things. Other people like other things. And if they don't like what I do and esp. don't like me for liking what I do, then I just feel sorry for them and don't let it bother me. No big deal.

There's your fortune cookie wisdom for the day

 

[painandgreed]

The whole gamin thing has a bad image problem. I think if half the jocks, punks and general idiots in the world who think RPGs are geeky tried them, I think they'd enjoy them.

Hey, in the days when I had a green mohawk, all the punks I knew played D&D, except for the ones that swore by GURPS anyway. Except for the girls. We could never get the girls to play D&D. Vampire changed that, and with that all the girl punk rockers and goths wanted to play it.

I'd also have to say that they're wrong about LARPs and sex life. The Seattle Camarilla was such a meat market that many of the serious gamers I knew stoped going.