Outcasts from the Geek Culture

[WSmith]

Foster wrote this in the introductions thread:

Except for rpgs I have pretty much zero interest (or patience) for any sort of 'geek culture' - I don't know jack about computers (I've got an iMac that suits me fine), the last video-game console I owned was an Atari2600, it's been at least 10 years since I last bought or read a comic book, I can't understand what an adult would want with plastic action-figures, I didn't even bother to see the 2nd and 3rd "Lord of the Rings" movies because I thought the first one sucked, etc. This creates frequent awkward moments at the gaming table.

Seeing this, I realize I have quite a bit in common with Trent, (except I saw the two other LOTR movies, which in retrospect, maybe I should have missed, ).

I have to say I feel like a geek outcast. RPGs are pretty much the only thing "geeky" or "nerdy" that I enjoy. I tried the LOTR MMO, but I cannot get into it, as I suppose I would feel the same way about WoW. I just don't get MMOs. I have maybe 7 issues of the Conan comic book when it first came out, but beyond that I stopped collecting comics in the 1980s and even when I did it was only Star Wars comics. I still have all my Star Wars, Micronauts, etc. toys from my childhood but they are in boxes for my son, not out on my book case like the 40 year old virgin. I too have an iMac cause I don't care to know about how computers work, (I was spending more time trying to get Windows to work on my computers than actually surfing the net or doing other stuff.) My kids own a Gamecube but I don't ever play it. I have been to the PA Renn Faire but as a tourist in shorts and a t-shirt, not dressed as a 17th century musketeer.

Many of you know what I mean cause there is a certain lot of us that seem to stick together on these web boards that are almost mirror images of ourselves, and I suspect feel like I do.

Now, this is the sad part. I am a "regular" functioning human and good average citizen beyond that. HOWEVER, the general populace tends to view guys like me as more of an outcast from the regular society even for liking only RPGs than geek culture views me as an outcast for only liking RPGs and not everything else. This sometimes makes me feel like a man without a country.

Does anyone else feel this way?

[WSmith]

Oh, to add, this is what makes it so hard for me to find a gaming group. I kind of feel like I don't fit into the the hardcore geek culture, and regular folks think D&D is strange to say the least.

[rogatny]

I liked Star Wars as a kid, but now acknowledge that anything other than the first two movies sucked.

I generally can't stand any fantasy written after 1976, except for the "new wave" of authors from the last 10 years (Martin, S. Clark, Gaiman, Mieville, etc.) that many "traditional" fantasy fans can't stand.

I have never liked Star Trek.

I never watch the Sci-Fi channel.

I don't have any of my old Star Wars, Transformers, or G.I. Joe Toys. My family went through a strange period where they gave me a bunch of "man dolls" for Christmas and and birthdays. I sold them all on ebay.

I can't remember the last time I bought a new comic book. I do however buy old comic books reprinted into digests.

While I still break out a M:TG game with my dad and brother every once in a while, I don't believe I've bought any new cards in 5 years.

I think a good number of the "geek-movies" suck.

I'm not a particular fan of prog or prog-ish metal. I'd rather listen to punk rock.

I've never been to a ren-fair, and have no interest in going. I've never fenced, or even held a real sword.

I don't play computer games, except that I break out the Pac-Man every once in a while to play with my daughter. For someone my age (less than 40) I'm not particularly computer literate. My wife, actually, is much more the computer person than I am.

I'm skinny, somewhat athletic, moved out of my parents' house when I was 17 (and never moved back), am married, have two kids, a nice house, and a pretty decent career.

From about the age of 14 to 24, my rock bands, chicks, and booze (in about that order) were a lot more important to me than rpgs (and pretty much anything else, including school and jobs).

[Deleted]

25 Reasons I'm "Out-Of-Touch" with the Geek Culture (in no particular order):

1. THAC0 Rules!
2. I smoke (and like it)
3. LOTR=Liliputians...On...The...Rampage...?
4. I've NEVER read a comic book (seriously...I HATE Superheores)
5. I'm a Republican
6. I'm a socially-liberal Republican
7. Favorite All-Around Album=Show No Mercy
8. C'mon folks, LotR IS boring (the Hobbit, OTOH, Rocks)
9. 3rd Ed=No Thanks
10. Vomited on the "King" at a ren-fair (I'll tell you sometime)
11. "Black Magic" is STILL a sweet song
12. I don't own "funny" dice (you know who you are...)
13. MMOG=NERD
14. Anime Sucks
15. The Empire Strikes Back is the BEST Star Wars Movie...Period
16. I don't own any animal print T-Shirts
17. I have never owned a computer (this belongs to the missus)
18. It is NOT Peanut Butter Jelly Time
19. TRANSFORMERS...You have GOT to be s*****g me...
20. Magic-The Argument
21. No, I don't find that small anorexic asian girl attractive
22. A Paladin Ranger Rogue Barbarian Bard???
23. Please take that Dr. Seuss Hat OFF!!!
24. You paid $35.00, for THAT!!!
25. I like R-O-L-E Playing, Not R-O-L-L Playing

[Rhuvein]

Me, I'm a major computer nerd having spent over 20+ years in computer operations, programming, database design programming and most recently IT/Helpdesk management.

Programmed in COBOL on the old IBM 370 mainframes. Imagine our excited when the company upgraded to a "water cooled" 3083 MVS system!!

Anywho, turns out my main hobby is home computers and gamining.

Started with the VIC-20 from Commodore and 300 baud modem to go online in 1982 with Compuserve.

I never programmed at home. Home computers were for gaming!!

Next was my Commodore 128 and all the great games that were making the rounds on this and other home machines ~ Lode Runner, Impossible Mission I/II, Montezum's Revenge, Frogger, so many others.

I bought my first IBM XT for one and only one reason ~ King's Quest from Sierra Online, written by that one time very HOT Roberta Williams. And then Leisure Suit Larry and Space Quest from Sierra as well.

And then several years later, 486 PCs for Doom!!

Followed by Quake, Duke Nukem and Half-Life and deathmatching online.

I bought a PS2 to plug into my network to play SOCOM online - great game and very addicting.

Currently running Half-Life 2 Episode 1 (actually HL3) and the next Episode 2 should be out in August.

[Lord Gwydion]

Well, I've been divorced from the "mainstream geek culture" for nearly a decade living in Japan, with little access to comic books and some other geeky passtimes, but Japan of course has its own supply of geekyness.

Anyway, I used to be big into computer/console gaming, but lately about the only gaming I've done is a cheapo RISK clone on my PC and emulated NES/SNES/Genesis games on my PSP, and not much of those, either.

I like computers but have never been into programming.

I used to read some comics fairly regularly until I came to Japan.

Although I'm in Japan, I've never been into Anime that much, so I pass on the vast majority of it.

Still do lots of RPGs and tabletop strategy games and board games, but there have been years where I haven't due to the shifting nature of the ex-patriot English teaching community.

Love Star Wars (and even think the prequels, while they could have been beter, had some redeeming qualities to them), like Star Trek, and typically enjoy most of the "summer blockbuster" type movies as entertainment. I mean really, who goes into them thinking they're gonna get Academy Award winning acting/directing?

And, um, I'm married to a cute little Asian woman, so I guess I fall into that stereotype as well.

;D

[Melan]

I guess I could only class myself as a half-geek: I enjoy RPGs, computer games, and even Harry Potter, but I am far from its mainstream. This is not conscious rejection, and I don't dislike geeky people as long as they possess basic social decency (most I know have been cool people). I just don't care all that much, that is all.

And of course, I don't read comic books, only saw Star Wars when I was 20 (it was... okay... I guess), and don't own a TV set so I can't comment on Buffy or Firefly or whatever is popular right now.

[Stonegiant]

I like RPG's, never was any good with computers or math for that matter. I have been an active Historical Re-enactor 20 years now (This is way different than being a Renfair or SCA geek); I currently run with the following units- 3rd Florida, Company B "The St. Augustine Blues" Confederate Infantry regiment, The East Florida/Kings Rangers (American Revolutionary War-Tory unit), The Von Bosse Hessian Infantry Regiment (Rev War), John Hamden's Regiment afoote (English Civil War), Men of Menendez (16th Century unit- we recreate the 1586 attack of Sir Francis Drake upon our town), occasionally I have also turned out as a Native American for all these time periods except for the Civil War period. My favorite Comic Book was and still is the b/w Savage Sword of Conan- I could never get into colored comics. Never collected toys all the ones I had as a kid were played with until they basically disintegrated! My son owns an Xbox and a Game Cube which I do play with him sometimes (50% I like the games/ 50% It is a way for me to spend time with him and we have something in common to talk about).

[serendipity]

I would just like to point out something the casual reader of this thread might have missed, namely that it's all right to like computers and computer games, read comics, go to ren faires in garb, be in the SCA, watch anime, like Star Wars, Star Trek, or LotR, and anything else I might have left out. In defining who we are, let's please try not to alienate others. What brought us together is a common love of OD&D. Let's celebrate our differences rather than risking becoming elitist. After all, such diverse interests and backgrounds mean a variety of points of view. That's got to make the game that much more interesting!

[Finarvyn]

An EXALT to you, Serendiptiy. This thread has sort of lost its OD&D-edness, hasn't it.

[WSmith]

serendipity said:

I would just like to point out something the casual reader of this thread might have missed, namely that it's all right to like computers and computer games, read comics, go to ren faires in garb, be in the SCA, watch anime, like Star Wars, Star Trek, or LotR, and anything else I might have left out. In defining who we are, let's please try not to alienate others. What brought us together is a common love of OD&D. Let's celebrate our differences rather than risking becoming elitist. After all, such diverse interests and backgrounds mean a variety of points of view. That's got to make the game that much more interesting!

I never intended to alienate anyone. I was just pointing out that I am sort of an outsider in both camps. The "regulars" think D&D is silly, and many of the hardline geeks expect (almost demand in some cases) me to be versed in a lot of things that don't appeal to me.

[Deleted]

I'm with WSmith on this one. My intention sure wasn't to alienate or hurt feelings; However, I DO stick by my list, though...all true (my OWN experiences with the "Geek Culture") all fit my friends (most of whom I've known since I've been a wee one), or myself. Additionally, what makes our community so great IS the wide dempgraphic of people who enjoy our hobby. I certainly couldn't care less what people enjoy doing in the course of their lives...if they enjoy it, and it harms no one else emotionally or physically, do it (and never, ever, EVER feel you need to justify it to ANYONE). Myself personally, well, I've always been an outcast, no matter what (I just seem to tick differently than most people-and I like it that way). Just my thoughts.

[philotomy]

Ways I don't conform:

• I've never seen Buffy, (new) Battlestar Gallactica, DS9, or Stargate.
  
• I don't like Anime.
  
• Most comic books bore me.
  
• Most computer and video games bore me.
  
• I enjoy attending the ballet.
  
• I enjoy tennis and running.
  

Ways I *do* conform to geek culture:

• I love Lord of the Rings (the book)
  
• I play D&D (and not just D&D, but *OD&D*)
  
• I'm a computer programmer by both hobby and profession.
  
• I have a Frazetta copy (real oil painting, not a poster) hanging in my bedroom
  
• I play boardgames like ASL and Arkham Horror
  
• I love to read
  
• I've been to a game convertion...and wore a costume...
  
• I've been known to throw movie quotes into conversations.
  
• In Jr. High, I once took a briefcase of AD&D books to school.
  
• I took the same briefcase to summer camp.
  

[Deleted]

Well hell, so you have that briefcase too...

[Falconer]

See, I share many of the sentiments of many people on this thread. Which is why I'm baffled when people complain that they "can't find any D&D players in their area." Personally, whenever I meet a "D&D player," I'm really non-plussed by their geekiness. I'd much rather play with someone with whom I am great friends otherwise, and I actually *prefer* that they have no prior RP gaming experience.

And, of course, anyone reading this message is automatically a preferred friend/player and not included in the geekiness comment. :-) Regards.

[crimhthanthegreat]

I don't get the whole geek thing or how it applies to D&D. My group and my family live out in the country. We farm, we raise chickens, hogs, cattle and horses. We hunt and fish, we butcher our own meat. We drive pickup trucks. Dogs are mans best friend and we use them in our D&D games. These days having basic computer skills is kind of like being able to change your own oil and chopping firewood, it is just one of those things a man does.


Edit: our women have computer skills, most them beyond the basic. As for changing the oil and chopping firewood, our women can but they don't have to or need to, unless of course they just want to.

[stonetoflesh]

I'm not a geek, I'm just a normal guy who happens to have a few interests which happen to have been branded as "geeky". I don't really care though, because RPGs and prog rock are awesome!!! ;D

falconer said:

Personally, whenever I meet a "D&D player," I'm really non-plussed by their geekiness. I'd much rather play with someone with whom I am great friends otherwise, and I actually *prefer* that they have no prior RP gaming experience.

I'm the same way... Part of the joy of gaming for me is introducing people to the hobby which has brought me such joy over the years.

[jdrakeh]

The older I get, the more 'geek' pursuits I end up becoming involved in. Today, I work at a Help Desk, build gaming computers in my spare time at home, read stuff like Naked Lunch, post at scads of RPG message boards, and recently bought an antique Underwood typewriter for home decoration.

[crimhthanthegreat]

jdrakeh said:

...and recently bought an antique Underwood typewriter for home decoration.

I would not call that geeky. In my house that would be called making the wife happy. Just my 2 cps.

[coffee]

crimhthanthegreat said:

I don't get the whole geek thing or how it applies to D&D. My group and my family live out in the country.

Here in urban areas, geeks tend to be the ones who latch onto such things as D&D. Then they get their friends involved, and it spreads like some kind of weed. I'm sure there are non-geeks here in the city who play D&D, but I don't see them; I only see my fellow geeks.

That's not to say situations like yours can't happen; we urbanites just mostly only know of other urbanites, many of whom are geeks.

Thanks for posting. I needed the addition to my perspective.