tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post3467779183738044047..comments2024-03-28T15:36:02.733-04:00Comments on EPBOT: Geeks Rule, and Here's WhyJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11888187687405622408noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-59677630095599686562011-08-28T11:21:16.063-04:002011-08-28T11:21:16.063-04:00That reminded me of a quote " be nice to the ...That reminded me of a quote " be nice to the nerds... Someday you might work for them." or this one "be nice to nerds someday they might have access to very large weapons". But I don't remember either of the quotersSuchatrekkienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-38524815482447459742011-05-16T10:44:24.305-04:002011-05-16T10:44:24.305-04:00I just finished this book and I loved it.I just finished this book and I loved it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13357660644368801765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-91208174393603366912011-05-12T00:47:42.586-04:002011-05-12T00:47:42.586-04:00Hmmm.... the geek in me wants to analyze this hypo...Hmmm.... the geek in me wants to analyze this hypothesis... I think the kids responsible for the columbine shooting may disprove this rule... and so would those who were so traumatized as the "geeks" in their school that they were unable to overcome their negative self image enough to "succeed" in life (whatever that means.) As a geek myself, I grew into a pretty normal lady... I'm not Bill Gates and I'm not a world famous scientist but I'm happy! Does that count?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-90382921253164059942011-05-11T19:35:36.812-04:002011-05-11T19:35:36.812-04:00Thank you thank you thank you! My eldest daughter...Thank you thank you thank you! My eldest daughter is a geek-in-the-making. Obsessed with dinosaurs and computers, my five year old is nothing at all like her peers. I worry daily about how she'll make it through middle school and high school being so different. This post reminded me that she's ME, only ten times smarter, and I made it through. (And I'm also doing much better than the head cheerleader. Ahem.)<br />In any case--thanks for the reminder. It (truly) couldn't have come at a better time.Sara Plays Househttp://saraplayshouse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-54797892961290722212011-05-11T15:14:57.687-04:002011-05-11T15:14:57.687-04:00I recently read "The Misfits" by James H...I recently read "The Misfits" by James Howe, which is on this topic, actually. There was a great paragraph in it that I meant to write down before I returned it to the library that talked about how it wasn't any good to be the same as everyone else in school, in order to fit in, because once you were out of school it was more important to stand out. I loved it and I love this article. Thanks for posting, Jen!Kristinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-33884965857547582132011-05-11T13:30:13.554-04:002011-05-11T13:30:13.554-04:00While I started out high school being almost compl...While I started out high school being almost completely excluded from social circles, over the 7 years I was there people grew up, changed, matured, and by the start of the 4th year I was part of a group of friends which numbered 40+. Having looked from both sides of the fence as it were, I'm always a little sceptic about the pro-geek stereotyping of those who are very popular. Plenty of the very pretty, highly social cheerleaders I knew are now successfully studying medicine at very reputable universities. Similarly, some of the people I knew who were "outcasts" for their whole 7 years and just pursued their interests in Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars and LARPing are now failing low quality courses at unimpressive institutions. *However* there are plenty of stories I've seen where the exact opposite is true. Myself now studying at University of Cambridge, arguably the best University in the world (yay, British Pride :P ), I have met individuals of every high school stereotype on track to become successful, educated, happy people. I know many of us geeks are upset about how we were treated in high school, but publishing a book in an attempt to discredit the other side seems very bitter to me. No-one should be told their chances of success change based on who they wish to socialise with, be they extremely popular or not.Luluhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=678164006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-40677476574643944582011-05-11T11:09:34.975-04:002011-05-11T11:09:34.975-04:00Hells to the YES!! I was never, ever popular in s...Hells to the YES!! I was never, ever popular in school. I had my own thing and eventually became very proud of my nonconformist personality. Being ridiculed for being myself made me my own best advocate. I turned into a very strong personality as a result and I refuse to take crap from anyone anymore. All of the bullying in school made me learn to fight for my beliefs. It's very freeing. I have succeeded in my career (when I had one) and also succeeded in standing up to those who looked down on me for choosing to give up an excellent and proud career to be an excellent (?) and even prouder SAHM. Now I get to teach my own kids to love themselves for who they are, stand up for themselves, and direct their own lives instead of letting other people direct it for them. I am happier now than I ever was as a kid or teen. <br /><br />And then I look at the kids in my H.S. whose only aim in life was to be accepted by everyone at any cost. I really feel for them now. I can't imagine going through life relying on others to confirm if you're good enough to live or not. Very, very sad indeed. Thank you, jerks, for making me a stronger person in the end. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.Abbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024012133951388516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-79381103116299043722011-05-11T11:08:17.291-04:002011-05-11T11:08:17.291-04:00I totally agree with Durandal. (And I would add t...I totally agree with Durandal. (And I would add that sitting on the porch drinking beer and reminicsing with frineds sounds like an awesome time). While I didn't hate high school, I didn't love it either. But what I love about being older, is that I'm much more sure of myself and confident in my own skin these days. Maybe it's not o much leaving high school, but growing out of your teenage self and into someone with a little more perspective and experience that helps us all feel better later in life. I'd hate to think that geeks are the only ones allowed to grow up and find their place in the world.<br /><br />I'm quite the dork, but husband was a jock/stoner in high school(secret English snob) and I love that we can come from such different places to be so awesome together.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15322076542766651446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-75594959838461105332011-05-10T22:09:37.490-04:002011-05-10T22:09:37.490-04:00Nope! Me and my outsider friends are still poor an...Nope! Me and my outsider friends are still poor and working craptastic jobs while all of the popular kids had a mommy and daddy with money that let them go to good schools and get high paying jobs. <br /><br />Sorry to bring down the mood of all the happiness here.Zombie Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437368075850908327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-12029414639140976782011-05-10T20:18:41.846-04:002011-05-10T20:18:41.846-04:00You know, I read this post yesterday and I've ...You know, I read this post yesterday and I've been pondering it ever since. I'm gonna call BS on this whole theory.<br /><br />It hinges on an undefined notion of "success". Do you mean financial success? Well, some of the most popular kids from my high school are now attorneys, doctors or well-paid bankers. You mean having found happiness? Well, one commenter mentioned that the popular kids from their school are now living in the same town, drinking beer on the porch. Maybe they're happy doing that, thus they've found success.<br /><br />Comparing high school to adulthood, I can list popular kids who are now happy but not rich, rich but not happy, both happy and rich, and neither happy nor rich. I can do exactly the same with the geeks.<br /><br />I think there are multiple paths to wealth and multiple paths to happiness. Some people are equipped to follow one of those paths, some aren't. Some of the well-equipped ones are geeks, some aren't.Durandalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-40302963688066263152011-05-10T20:12:45.241-04:002011-05-10T20:12:45.241-04:00Mean I just saw this video and thought it was very...<a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/taylor-swift/videos/view/mean--221556119" rel="nofollow">Mean</a> I just saw this video and thought it was very appropriate.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933728675188631626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-53832646447068177202011-05-10T19:16:40.129-04:002011-05-10T19:16:40.129-04:00All three of my kids individuals and are such comp...All three of my kids individuals and are such complete and utter geeks. I was picked on in school and was an introvert because of it and I swore I'd never let that happen to my kids. I succeeded in the fact that they are dorky, nerdy, geeky kids and are proud of it. <br /><br />When my 8yr old quotes Hitchhiker's Guide or my 16yr old refuses to date because girls are too much drama (yes, he likes them but he doesn't want to deal with them but even if he didn't it would all be cool) or my 13yr old wears her 'Band Geek and PROUD' shirt to school it makes me smile knowing my babies are tough and know exactly who they are and are enjoying life to the fullest.<br /><br />~BlueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-12575604857877341732011-05-10T19:05:14.530-04:002011-05-10T19:05:14.530-04:00I TOTALLY would have agreed with this in college, ...I TOTALLY would have agreed with this in college, as it described me to a T. Socially excluded in high school, did my own thang, took lots of classes, went off to college and was more content than I had ever imagined being! But now that I'm working in corporate America it's like high school all over again, cliques and all. <br /><br />This is depressing. I think it's time to find a new job...GeekGirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-71596809906152488322011-05-10T17:59:11.105-04:002011-05-10T17:59:11.105-04:00So I just logged on to waste some time before cook...So I just logged on to waste some time before cooking dinner and actually said - out loud and to no one in particular - "Hey! I wonder if Jen's back!". And here you are. Flamingo attack and geek girls and all. I MISSED YOU! Glad you had a great trip!CaseyLaceynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-64496260036506415912011-05-10T15:51:19.294-04:002011-05-10T15:51:19.294-04:00I loathed highschool, always having felt "dif...I loathed highschool, always having felt "different" and somehow less at ease in social situations (i still am in a way...but i've learned to "fake it til I make it" and no one meeting me in my professional life would think I was anything short of a social butterfly).<br /><br />I remember my mother telling me once that "the popular kids peak in highschool". That simple statement was such a game changer for me, I use to repeat it like a mantra "this is not my time yet, they are peaking, this too shall pass"....and whatdoyaknow, 12 years later I have three degrees, a great job and a very close knit group of friends who love every geeky inch of me. The popular kids? The few I've kept in touch with married eachother, live in the same town and spend their weekends drinking natty lite and reliving the "glory days".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-7494096584461941212011-05-10T13:56:31.765-04:002011-05-10T13:56:31.765-04:00I actually have no idea what any of my classmates ...I actually have no idea what any of my classmates are up to so I can't say that I am "more successful". However I have something that a lot of people lack and that is a happines with my self. I'm not the most fashion concious, I'm not the prettiest or thinnest, I'm not up on the latest music or movies and sometimes I feel like a 40-year-old woman in the body of a 25-year-old, but you know what? I'm cool with that. I love knitting and I love "Doctor Who" and "Star Trek", etc. I have friends who really love me for who I am and not because "I fit" them. I know that I have some talent and I use it to help people. I was bullied mercilessly for years in school (elementary...I gave public school a pass for high school and went with homeschooling...) and there were times when I thought, just give in and be "like everyone else", but then thought what a waste of freedom of choice! And what I would have missed out on! Wherever T, C, E, J and H are right now, I hope they're happy. But if not...well...I guess we now know why. LOL :0)Juli A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11239150803563368810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-90585193866721459242011-05-10T13:19:48.117-04:002011-05-10T13:19:48.117-04:00I don't know about successful...but I think I&...I don't know about successful...but I think I'm happier with myself now than in high school...I decided to remain geek and, when I got out into the real world, guess what? There were more geeks out there! Almost everyone I work with at the moment is a Geek at some level...which makes for some very interesting conversations sometimes.<br /><br />Geeks rock!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122010407341817008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-2208610187864499462011-05-10T12:44:50.243-04:002011-05-10T12:44:50.243-04:00@Kelly and Ian Kreidich: I think you're exactl...@Kelly and Ian Kreidich: I think you're exactly right. There were popular kids at my school that everyone liked because they were generally great people, and the "popular" crowd that more often tended to be bullies and look down on people who were different, or "geeky". I think as long as you find a group of friends who share similar interests and don't try to force yourself to assimilate into the "popular" crowd, you'll be successful and happy. I'm still in college so I'm not yet a grownup geek, but I've found some great friends who I can share my geekiness with openly, and so far I'm pretty successful. The popular (not "popular") kids are also doing great because they are confident in themselves too, so I think part of success is confidence and drive to do what you love.<br /><br />That said some of the fastest growing and highest paid professions are usually in the interest fields of the "geeks", so maybe it will be true in a few years that geeks will rule! :)Alyssanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-38513183299750166922011-05-10T12:15:34.282-04:002011-05-10T12:15:34.282-04:00Thank you for posting this book. My son, who is 16...Thank you for posting this book. My son, who is 16, was ostracized for being different (he has aspergers) by both other kids & adults that he dropped out of school this year rather than suffer any more. He's enrolled in college (yes, he went from a h.s. junior to a college freshman in one week), and plans to get his masters in computer science. But it's been a very difficult time for all of us. I'm going to run out and buy this for him to read. <br /><br />And, yes, I was one of those high school freaks. The girls that bullied me? They're all divorced, fat young grandmothers with crap jobs. My life isn't easy, but its a lot better than theirs.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10718617666572158871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-84258039639946582242011-05-10T12:07:24.016-04:002011-05-10T12:07:24.016-04:00I can't say I'm successful (I'm too sc...I can't say I'm successful (I'm too scattered for that,) but I can definitely say that people find me more interesting than a lot of my mainstream classmates! (Okay, by "people," I mean "boys." If only being able to discuss the latest Fringe episode, why Iron Man made for better movies than the Fantastic Four, the differences between communism and socialism, and how much it ACTUALLY hurts to do the Vulcan nerve pinch had earned me the same cult following with high school boys before I was twice their age...) My hope is that this will earn me "cool mom" points when my five-year-old (and already well on his way to being a geek) son is a teenager...Kaenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-33006301472613505442011-05-10T11:07:28.021-04:002011-05-10T11:07:28.021-04:00I think there needs to be a differentiation in thi...I think there needs to be a differentiation in this between being "popular" in the literal sense and being a bully. There is a difference. In high school there were lots of kids that were popular, as in they got alone with pretty much everyone, and therefore had lots of friends. And then there are "popular" kids who use bullying, gossiping, etc to make themselves feel better than others. <br /> I can see how geeks would do better than bullies, in the long run. Bullies tend to have low self esteem and a strong need to feel included or give in to peer pressure , while successful geeks learn to be themselves and thrive on their abilities. But this doesn't apply to kids who are literally popular because of good people skills.<br /> I do think this is a good tool for kids or parents of kids who are being bullied. Anything to get them through the hard times and make them strong is a good thing.Kelly and Ian Kreidichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08342210172914871365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-9877223423157417392011-05-10T10:54:43.130-04:002011-05-10T10:54:43.130-04:00Jen, Thank you so much for posting this :)
I'...Jen, Thank you so much for posting this :) <br />I've been a lifetime geek/nerd and have been hiding it the last few years because it isn't 'cool'. <br /><br />Well, as of lately, I am letting my geek flag fly! I play World of Warcraft! Who cares?! I LOVE Star Wars! So? I love puzzles! Your point? <br /><br />Reading your blog has definitely helped me realize I can be my true self, finally. <br /><br />I plan on buying some Star Wars things to decorate my apartment with ;)KEvanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064374631470735421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-60350454852475251842011-05-10T10:46:27.111-04:002011-05-10T10:46:27.111-04:00Too bad you all didn't go to my high school. ...Too bad you all didn't go to my high school. It was college prep private school with about 200 students per graduating class. I would say the student body was about 75% geeks. In fact one year, the co-valedictorians were a football player and a cheerleader. It was neat to go to a place where being a geek didn't exclude you from being popular.drumnatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18352167167506275658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-32666895045456268342011-05-10T10:37:26.322-04:002011-05-10T10:37:26.322-04:00That's why we bought our kids T-shirts that sa...That's why we bought our kids T-shirts that say "In 15 years, I'll be your boss."<br />Go Geek or go home.Tracy Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11870676502724564948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724594058209899258.post-44684311192931097622011-05-10T10:37:11.349-04:002011-05-10T10:37:11.349-04:00I know me and all my fellow geeks are definatly ha...I know me and all my fellow geeks are definatly happier, more succesfull, and usually in healthier relationships then the kids who did nothing but try and fit in. Yea for my parents who told me how proud they were of me an my weridness everyday which made it much easier to take the road less travled(but much more interesting)fawm316noreply@blogger.com