Bringing Other Geeks Into The Fold

[Elizabeth Grunewald]

Bringing Other Geeks Into The Fold

It can be lonely being a nerd, but there are others out there who share your peculiar passions. I promise.

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[SaturdayS]

Great, we've found a way to identify geek comrades... now for a tutorial on exactly how to socialize beyond the lines of "You like this? I like it to!" and what to do when geek groups get to the inevitable point of one of someone liking the newer version of *insert geeky item* over the older version.

 

[Daveman]

I usually just casually insert a bit of a quote or something into conversation and if it doesn't work... nyeh.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Studio 60 was genius. Genius. Ok, the whole thing with the baby got a little out of hand, but other than that, brilliant. That episode where a snake gets loose in the theater is just comedy gold.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

Ms. Grunewald, is you avatar from Absolutely Fabulous? It really seems familiar.

OT: I usually use #1. Sure I might "accidently" have it on or setting out when people come by, but I won't go out of my way to talk to them about it. It's like I used to tell people when they'd ask me how to get their (friend, sibling, parent, kid, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife) to watch wrestling. I'd tell them just to make sure they are watching a good wrestling match when they are there and it will draw them in 9 times out of 10 and get them an in to discuss it and explain some of the way it works so they might want to watch it again.

 

[Elizabeth Grunewald]

argh, double post disaster!

 

[Elizabeth Grunewald]

Ms. Grunewald, is you avatar from Absolutely Fabulous? It really seems familiar.

It's actually me, in a collegiate production of Hair. I'm wearing a mustache.

 

[SangRahl]

I inconsistently bounce among all three methods... with just as inconsistent results.

Last night I happened on an Amazon Lightening sale.
"Hon, would you say $12 is too much for Studio 60?"
"Which one was that?"
"The very model of a modern network tv show... The full series set."
"Buy it. Buy it, now."

Man, I miss that show... Losing that was as big of a mistake as FOX's handling of Firefly.

 

[aldowyn]

I am again forcibly reminded of the generation gap. I could practically point at a random person at school and have a fair chance of pointing at a nerd/geek, or at least someone quite tolerant of them. I interact with dozens every day.

Of course, there are limits.

I tend to use #2 to convince people to try specific games and stuff, though. "Mass Effect 2 is awesome, it's like ME but with much better combat and twice the cast!"

 

[CitySquirrel]

Also, you should really watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Brilliant casting. I've got the whole series on DVD; I'll lend it to you.

Sports Night was pretty much the best thing ever. I want so much to get into Studio 60 but it makes me sad because it isn't Sports Night.

 

[Spygon]

Also a good way is to know what the person your talking about likes from certain things then highlight these parts of the show/game to get them intrested then watch/play it with them.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Ms. Grunewald, is you avatar from Absolutely Fabulous? It really seems familiar.

It's actually me, in a collegiate production of Hair. I'm wearing a mustache.

Really, I always thought that was a microphone...

My image of you,... shattered.

 

[Stevey M]

In Studio60, does Matthew Perry act Matthew Perry-like? If so, I'm in!

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Method #2, all the way. I now have a lot of geek-out buddies, enabling me to pick and choose depending on what I want to geek out on.
Method #1.5 works too - don't actively mention geek topics, but quote them periodically; see if anyone picks up on it. Throw in a firefly, ZP, red vs. blue or whatever quote, and wait until you get a response something along the lines of 'Was that from ...? I loved that show/game/whatever!'

Snip

Also, I will happily borrow the DVD of Studio 60. I'll be waiting by my mailbox.

 

[Infinatex]

What is this Studio 60? Someone, convert me quick!!

 

[revenge6000]

I find fellow geeks by standing in the center of crowded areas and loudly reciting the names of rare magic cards / pokemon. They cannot resist!

 

[Savant Crime]

Studio 60 was genius. Genius. Ok, the whole thing with the baby got a little out of hand, but other than that, brilliant.

The bit with the baby was Sorkin, knowing that the series had been cancelled, writing in as many of the cliches that television shows have been using to maintain their viewer base over the season break. The bit with Tom's brother? Same thing. Sorkin did something similar when he was forced off of The West Wing; the several episodes before (and including) the season finale of season four were the result of Sorkin trying to write his successor into a corner. It's still great, but it was more Sorkin playing writers' games with the network and producers than it was for the benefit of the show.

 

[SimuLord]

I find this advice to be similarly useful when trying to get a geek to talk about or take an interest in things that are not geek.

Because I have found in my travels that as much as I love gaming and Star Trek, if a girl---even a cute, geeky girl with the glasses and the ability to quote Mr. Data---can't get into boxing or basketball, we're not gonna last long as a couple.

 

[Throwitawaynow]

I find fellow geeks by standing in the center of crowded areas and loudly reciting the names of rare magic cards / pokemon. They cannot resist!

Ah yes, the milkshake technique.

OT: I usually go with #1, I'm a quiet person so none of the others make sense.

 

[Folio]

I tried the same thing with a girl. Giving her some Terry Pratchett books because she likes to read.

She never wanted them. Dang.