I was reading this blog about geeks. It discussed what geeks have in common with each other. Her conclusion was what geeks, who love a variety of things (she lists: "science fiction, fantasy, video and tabletop games, comic books, science, technology, and math"), have in common is their attention to details. They like the minutia of things, and delve deeper into their interests.
I disagree, mostly because I don't see that in myself. Sure, I can be pretty detailed or focus on minor points, or make sure that I know as much as possible about an interest (ahem, Firefly...), but I'm not all that interested in the minutia of most of my passions. Heck, I'm not even watching The Clone Wars!
What I see as the binding component is our passion. Or passion for something. And that we follow this passion unabashedly, unapologetically, and without reserve.
I can't decide if that needs an addendum, though. Must the thing that a geek like not be adored by the general public? I mean, people swoon over Justin Beiber. Does that make them a kind of geek? Is loving Twilight a "geek" thing? Harry Potter? The Hunger Games? I'm not sure. May be all that defines a geek is our fanaticism, regardless of the topic. I mean, are high school drama geeks really stereotypic "geeks?" Or are they just interested (obsessed) by theater? May be it just so happens that many geeks tend to love nerdy* things, and that's why the term geek now covers the love of many of these things. Unlike the original blog, I don't think "geek" and "nerd" are interchangeable. To me, geeks are into sciencey, sci-fi, superhero stuff, but incredibly so, while nerds are into learning and thinking.
As I think about what defines a geek, though, I'm starting to see how the passion component must involve the thinking component that I tend to apply to nerds. Geeks use their brain about their passion. That might make the difference between someone with Beiber Fever, and a Scooby (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer fan). That would definitely, in my opinion, put Twilight into the fluffy fan category, while HP and THG probably garner their fanatical base because they have messages, messages about friendship, sacrifice, and activism. Plus, cool visuals and a rollicking plot. Drama geeks, I assume, thought about their art. I can't say the same about athletes; they weren't called "basketball geeks" for a reason, right?
The characteristic of social awkward is often attributed to geeks. Not without reason, I grant you. May be one of the parallels of being obsessed with your thing is social awkwardness. May be being socially awkward means that you don't realize how far off of center your passion makes you?
In sum, I believed that geeks are defined by their obvious passion for a topic, but this blog has helped me understand that it isn't just passion that makes a geek. Geeks often think about what they're passionate about. So may be I don't disagree as much with The Mary Sue blog as I thought...
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Security Threats
I fly a lot.
I tend to fly somewhere at least once a month, but often more.
I am an expert traveller.
But this past flight, I experienced two security threats that I've never experienced before.
First, as I was walking to the security line, I saw a guy in khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt taking pictures of an ATM machine, and the newspaper dispensers next to it. He picked up a container of cleaners and turned around, but did not leave. I thought that this was very suspicious. So I told the TSA/ICE worker who stands at the exiting end of security (the side where the travellers exit to get their bags). He looked out the door, then said, "Well, he's got cleaning supplies so he's probably from the bank."
Um, have you ever watched a movie about spies? Espionage? Any of the Ocean's 11 series? A *classic* disguise is to look like a worker! No one pays attention to blue collar workers!
Sigh. I did what I could do, so I got in line.
But the line was long. Incredibly long. In this small airport that I often fly out of, it was inordinately long. As I stood in line, it got closer and closer to boarding time. Then it was boarding time, but I was about four or five people from the TSA agent who checks your ID and ticket. I was so close!
I finally was putting all my stuff through the machine, and having no problems. Fifteen minutes until the plane takes off! I grab everything and wait for my shoes to come out. As I see them sliding closer, I hear a TSA agent yell, "Omega Alpha!" Then all of the agents repeat it; "Omega Alpha!" And the agent by the x-ray machine asks us to step away from it. I have 15 minutes! I can see my shoes! Other agents have locked down the security area, so I just have to wait. After a few minutes, an agent yells, "All clear!" All of the other agents repeat "All clear!" The agent near my gets my shoes out of tunnel, and I walk directly to the gate. I put my shoes on there, watching as everyone is boarding my plane.
I'm in the back of the line, but I made it!
In all of my years of flying, I've never seen these two incidents. It was strange. But my flight was fine, and I got to my destination safely. So I guess that's all that really matters.
I tend to fly somewhere at least once a month, but often more.
I am an expert traveller.
But this past flight, I experienced two security threats that I've never experienced before.
First, as I was walking to the security line, I saw a guy in khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt taking pictures of an ATM machine, and the newspaper dispensers next to it. He picked up a container of cleaners and turned around, but did not leave. I thought that this was very suspicious. So I told the TSA/ICE worker who stands at the exiting end of security (the side where the travellers exit to get their bags). He looked out the door, then said, "Well, he's got cleaning supplies so he's probably from the bank."
Um, have you ever watched a movie about spies? Espionage? Any of the Ocean's 11 series? A *classic* disguise is to look like a worker! No one pays attention to blue collar workers!
Sigh. I did what I could do, so I got in line.
But the line was long. Incredibly long. In this small airport that I often fly out of, it was inordinately long. As I stood in line, it got closer and closer to boarding time. Then it was boarding time, but I was about four or five people from the TSA agent who checks your ID and ticket. I was so close!
I finally was putting all my stuff through the machine, and having no problems. Fifteen minutes until the plane takes off! I grab everything and wait for my shoes to come out. As I see them sliding closer, I hear a TSA agent yell, "Omega Alpha!" Then all of the agents repeat it; "Omega Alpha!" And the agent by the x-ray machine asks us to step away from it. I have 15 minutes! I can see my shoes! Other agents have locked down the security area, so I just have to wait. After a few minutes, an agent yells, "All clear!" All of the other agents repeat "All clear!" The agent near my gets my shoes out of tunnel, and I walk directly to the gate. I put my shoes on there, watching as everyone is boarding my plane.
I'm in the back of the line, but I made it!
In all of my years of flying, I've never seen these two incidents. It was strange. But my flight was fine, and I got to my destination safely. So I guess that's all that really matters.
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