Editorials - The Geek Hierarchy

[MockBot]

Automatically generated comment thread for Editorials - The Geek Hierarchy (http://www.i-mockery.com/visionary/geek-hierarchy.php).

[Purple Man]

...the hooting, staccato laughter that sounds like a baboon being anally violated with a boulder- oh God, how I know and hate that sound.

Great article. I agree with your order. As the article makes clear, the respective positions change with social trends. But it will be a cold day in Hell before I allow furries and fanfickers to become cool. Those guys are just sick, man.

[executioneer]

what about message board nerds, pretty low on the scale right

and is the music nerd a picture of deadendz :lol

[Pentegarn]

My friends and I stopped hanging out with a guy because he fell in with the furry crowd. I hesitate to call them a geek though, it is insulting to geeks. I actually rank them about equal with the trenchcoat guy who goes to those run down porno theaters. From everything I have heard from this guy I used to hang out with it is just an excuse for geeks to get laid. And yes, he combines it with LAARPing (which I also don't really get).

I do however fall into more than one of the other categories on the list. :P

[Doctor_Who]

I count myself as a member of 3/16 of those groups (Comic Books, Sci-Fi, Tabletop RPGs) and all I can say is you got us dead to rights.

As for the other groups, I at least know some people who could be considered members of all of them, and that seems pretty accurate too.

And I know one man, let us call him Bob, who is a member of every single group on that list. If he is coming, flee for your life. You'll know he is on his way because of the way the smell makes your earwax melt.

[incognit000]

I'm surprised, yet pleased, that you dug deep into the depths to find something to shove under furry.

Thankfully most furries also have another sort of geekdom, and those individuals can find some happiness and fulfillment in life, however rarely.

[saturnknight]

my girlfriend is a somewhat fanfic writer, her stories are amazing and well written, look up mikalockheart on www.fanfiction.net and you'll see what i mean. as for me, i'm a comic book and videogame geek

[Count Mek]

Good list, I'm not really a geek about anything, just likes me some good ol' video games sometimes.
About the furries, I mean, I like the antro sorta style some of their art has, but that's all really, I mean, dressing up like that? That is sorta weird...
More bordering on the insane really.
Great article still man.

[FrogRawr]

<--Music geek, Video gamer geek, and MMORPG geek. Very accurate list. GJ

[Zaphod]

I admit it, I was a Civil War reenactor for a short time when I was stationed in South Carolina. The majority are perfectly normal, intelligent people. But you are right, Protoclown, there are a disturbingly large number of them, especially among the southerners, who would love nothing more than to load up some live ammo and refight the war. And yes, there were several instances of southern units changing the outcome of battles so that they won. After hearing spectators laugh and say "this is a fucking joke" for about the third time, I called it quits.

By the way, they call themselves "Living Historians", which is hilarious on so many levels!

[OxBlood]

Let´s see...Videogame-Geek and Ex-MMORPG. But since when are Video Games regarded as cool? Ah wait...in the U.S. they are for sure.
Over here in Germany Videogames and Videogamers tend to be stigmatized...because we are all bad people who are out to hurt other people and train for doing so with Videogames...yeah, sure. And as far as I have experienced...most Women don´t like it. :D

[Despotofks]

So the sports geeks can rattle of stats AND statistics? That's pretty amazing, considering that they're the same fucking thing. Why, next you'll tell us that the film geek can tell you about many films and also movies.

[Icculus]

I was in band, but I was in the Drumline. This could actually be worse though because we developed this sort or elitist idea about ourselves and declared independence from the band. And I'll always have stories that start with "This one time at band camp..."

[wobzire]

oof card games dont even make the list. Haha take that Yugi!

[Exeter]

Nowadays, I'm just a film geek, but in the past I've been:
Video Gamer
Comic Geek (I only read Jonah Hex these days, so I don't think I still count here)
Sci-Fi Geek
Band Geek

[paulunga]

Nice list. The lowest I've ever been on this list is MMORPG player and that was back in the day when Ultima Online came out, so it was even less cool than it is now. Other than that I'm also a music/film/comic/sci-fi/RPG geek and videogamer. I don't think I count as Otaku even though I enjoy anime and manga since I
1)shower regularly
2)never cosplayed

I'd also like to propose rising Otakus a bit higher, or alternatively lowering the comic geek status. From what I've seen on all kinds of cons the otaku geekdom tends to have more female members than the comic geekdom. And we all know that having an uterus automatically makes you cool.

[Relaxing Dragon]

Hey, awesome list. I totally agree with the top few (you really can't make fun of the music geeks), and I'm brought small vestiges of happiness upon seeing film geek up there as well. Also, love the description for the fan fic writers; I write those things and I was still laughing my ass off.

But come one, the furry rank is too low. We deserve to at least be above the Ren Faire geeks. We're nice guys, really (and not all of us dress up in full fursuit). Of course, that's just me defending my geek-rank. Apart from that, excellent list.

[Magic Flyin' Lemur]

Lore Sjöberg actually did a flow chart called "the Geek Hierarchy" on the Brunching Shuttlecocks.

Harry Knowles looks like an Irish Sasquatch.

MMOs aren't that bad, really. You just gotta find one that's not populated entirely by awful jackasses.

Oh! I just remembered a furry I went to college with! He was the type of guy who threw around terms like "fursecution" without a hint of irony. He seriously claimed I was as bad as the Nazis because I thought he was ridiculous for thinking he's an anthropomorphic wolf. Also, he was really greasy and squint-eyed and had a really greasy, quint-eyed, fat girlfriend. I'm sure they painted themselves up like wolf-people and had greasy, squint-eyed, probably paint-smeared sex. Ugh.

[bikegeek]

what no bike geeks??? I'm offended

[Grislygus]

TOP TWO, MOTHERFUCKERS

BOW BEFORE ME!

[Mockery]

what no bike geeks??? I'm offended
Heheh, yeah I said he also needed to add in the fitness/health geeks who know the EXACT calorie count of every piece of food they eat and wouldn't dare go over their daily intake allowance.

Willie is right too, message board/internet geeks would be another good addition.

I also think knitting/craft geeks should be on there, or perhaps just art geeks to be more all-encompassing.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Let's see my Geekdoms are...

Well, I'm an Otaku first and foremost. One with good hygene, that doesn't dress like a character that I should never dress as, but an Otaku none the less!

I'm also a Movie Geek, but I'm the "elitist" kind of movie-geek that doesn't like the same movies as everyone else.

I'm a definite Comic Geek, but I never really got into "Superhero Comics". I read pretty much everything else.

I tried to get into Table-Top RPGs but my friends just weren't into it. So, I had nobody to play with. (BTW you forgot Card-Game RPGs)

And, (are you ready for this) I am, and I will freely admit it, one of those dreaded Fan-Fiction Writers you mentioned! In fact, here's my profile (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1114150/), which reveals a whole lot of other geeky interests. I do NOT write "self-inserts" however. That, would just be a little too far into the abyss.

BTW Furries may be geeky now, but what about in the future after they perfect genetic engineering (allowing them to actually become anthropomorphic animals!)?

[Durin]

Lets see here. Looks like I fall under Video Gamer, Table-top geek, and MMORPG. And I don't give a damn how socially acceptable it is.

[Butters]

Great list, agree for the most part.

Music geeks definitely get off easy. I suppose I fall into the Video Game geek category. I enjoy films, comics, and sci-fi, but on a more casual level.

The only disagreement I have is that you ranked MMO players too low, and Tabletop RPG players too high. If you are talking with people, and you say "I play WoW," you are going to get off much easier than if you say "I play DnD."

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Hey, what about "Tech Geeks"?

You know, the guys that go nuts over the latest powerful computer hardware (whether they have any use for it or not) and sometimes even ancient obsolete computers (for the "collector's value).

[Butters]

I don't think "Internet/message board geek" works because usually they fall into one of the other geek categories and like to talk about it. Unless they are the people that frequent 4chan or YTMND or something.

Tech geeks would work.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Let's see...

Heheh, yeah I said he also needed to add in the fitness/health geeks who know the EXACT calorie count of every piece of food they eat and wouldn't dare go over their daily intake allowance.

Willie is right too, message board/internet geeks would be another good addition.

I also think knitting/craft geeks should be on there, or perhaps just art geeks to be more all-encompassing.

Agreed, and I mentioned "Tech Geeks" and "RPG Card Game Player". I should also mention "Nostalgia Geeks" and those weirdos that idolize a particular historical figure (like Elvis, Patton, etc.) to an insane obsession.

Say Protoclown, is there any chance of a "Part II", perhaps?

[executioneer]

is the music nerd a picture of deadendz :lol

is it

[MrEff]

Let us see, I fall under video game geek, movie and TV geek and tabletop geek. As for Orks, I find a bolter will fix them easy.

[Colonel Flagg]

Does the fanfic geek have a bag over his/her head for our protection, or theirs?

I myself have been a member of RPG, Band, SciFi and VideoGame geek clubs. Once, I was a character in a LARPG - my God, what was I thinking?

[Sleazeappeal]

NOTHING is lower than a furry... NOTHING!

[stonewar]

OMG....I am bottom the barrel...My profile says FANFIC... but to clarify, I only read it. I haven't written anything since I was a teenager. in all other catagories I either turn my nose up or I'm a dabbler *is depressed*

[kramers_butler]

Sports Geek should be at the top of the list mostly because they will fight you for cheering for the other team, and travel in packs.

Respect should be given to the Civil War bunch. A good buddy of mine in college was WAY into this. I've never seen anyone so dedicated to researching anything... and at least it's of actual events. I went to one of these things and learned that 1)most of these guys strive for authenticity, not in uniform, but in the outcome as well 2) most have multiple uniforms and will vary which side they are one 3) I've never seen so much booze consumed in my life!! So at least its a social, moonshine drinking affair.

[LadyMage]

damn I am all over the place on that list, the only ones I am not are war reinacter, band, sports, mmorpg, film, outaku and larper, meaning I am on the very top and bottom of the list XD

[GRUMPYNZ]

Toy Geek and a Movie Geek and proud! (On the Internet but not particularly in real life).

Sport Geek - i can't help but think of that Seinfeld episode.

[elementalblazer]

Lets see I'm music and video game geek I read a couple of comics but nothing recently.

[Dungeonbrownies]

its harsh being arolleplayer geek, but now its ok to be a nerd, because now everyone knows the nerd withthe highest iq qill likely be the one with the most money and likely gett the most gold diggers in the future.

[fluffkomix]

I don't think I count as Otaku even though I enjoy anime and manga since I
1)shower regularly
2)never cosplayed

me too. but ive cross dressed. does that count?

[fluffkomix]

also how about the geek who interrupts your conversation midway just to say something that makes the whole thing extremely awkward? i know someone like that. he would do it every single time i was talking with a friend

[Shadow40000]

*eye shifts*

[fluffkomix]

who u shifting your eyes at, punk?

[mew barios]

hell yeah babylon 5

[PolarisSLBM]

I second tech geeks.

Also, you forgot car geeks and gun geeks. You know the ones...

[Nick]

Fan art geeks deserve the bottom.

[Marthaeus Autolykos]

A major problem with this article is that the word "cool" is used too much in describing geeks. That's the point: excessive enthusiasm bordering on Asperger's syndrome isn't cool. There's a line crossed when one attempts to base most (or any, if at all) social interactions on minutia of a specialized topic (and it can be ANY topic/interest). In fact, were I a psychiatrist, I'd want to classify geeks as an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

[Tadao]

A major problem with this article is that the word "cool" is used too much in describing geeks. That's the point: excessive enthusiasm bordering on Asperger's syndrome isn't cool. There's a line crossed when one attempts to base most (or any, if at all) social interactions on minutia of a specialized topic (and it can be ANY topic/interest). In fact, were I a psychiatrist, I'd want to classify geeks as an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Ah, the lowest one yet. "7h3 £337 933|{"

[teknotheef]

Mmk... just so you know, LARPing is like... the greatest fun ever. And I fall into 5 of these categories, so I feel pretty proud of myself. Lightning Bolt!

[beatpole]

What is really sad is when the RenFair and LARPers try to participate in martial arts. Most of them are so commited to their fantasy that they honestly can't be made to understand that "spells" are not an accepted part of effective martial arts. I have seen many a good sparring session ruined by LARPers who believe themselves to be expert combatents, but can't actually do anything besides yell out the names of their spells, deluding themselves into believing that they might actually work in real life.

[beatpole]

Also could someone tell me the diffrence between "geeks" ""nerds" and "dorks."

[Protoclown]

So the sports geeks can rattle of stats AND statistics? That's pretty amazing, considering that they're the same fucking thing. Why, next you'll tell us that the film geek can tell you about many films and also movies.

I know it can be a soul-crushing thing to discover that your hero isn't perfect, but I in fact do make mistakes from time to time.

And Willie, no that isn't deadendz...haha. That's some guy from the Flaming Lips, I think. I just found in on a google search.

[KillerMcGee]

I would call myself a living historian, in that I study history and am not yet dead. I think you missed a geek-type, one that I proudly cling to. Board game geeks! I know you covered table top RPGs, but you're missing settlers of catan, carcassonne, axis and allies, hell even warhammer 40k and blood bowl! Alas, we are a dying breed, perhaps it is fitting to be left out. :(

[Terrible-D]

I know it can be a soul-crushing thing to discover that your hero isn't perfect, but I in fact do make mistakes from time to time.

And Willie, no that isn't deadendz...haha. That's some guy from the Flaming Lips, I think. I just found in on a google search.

Why, I think this is a great example of a group you left off the list.

The "holier-than-thou, has to point out the mistakes of others to make up for their own pathetic exsistence" geek.

[ElPila666]

Carnivore Is God you're a metal geek

[tbussard]

Ah yes, the Furry Geeks being nearly the bottom rung of the ladder. I know all to well the feeling, being a "recovering" furry myself. I was very fortunate, though to know several "normal" furries as my first friends in the fandom...normal meaning they didn't think themselves as animals trapped in human bodies.

I was also a band geek, but dressing like a goober and marching about wasn't why I joined...come to think of it, I didn't understand why I stayed. O.o But I still would think of Otaku as lower than band geeks, cause at least band geeks have better stories to tell. "And this one time at band camp..."

[Ronin S]

Hm, 3/16 isn't too bad. There area where I live in is painfully bland and 'normal', so there really aren't a lot of Ren fairs, or major sporting events. As I'm not in the US either, there really aren't too many history buffs interested in pretending to be in a civil war from a long time ago, where they lost much of their population and that they ultimately lost (badly).

Was always indifferent to furries, pretty much ignored them at the conventions.

[JJ the Jetplane]

I fall under the video game geek grouping. I even hope to get into game design as a professional career. I'm also sort of an MMORPG geek, but i don't play, like, compulsively. I'm one of the MMO geeks that has REAL friends, you know?

[Fekupuzi]

I dunno man, I have to agree with Butters on the whole WOW geeks getting off easier than Role-players thing; if only marginally.

What about actual dictionary-definition geeks?: The sad carnies who bite off the heads of small animals for the amusement of fair-goers. I'd put them between MMOnerds and Band Kids myself.

[Despotofks]

I know it can be a soul-crushing thing to discover that your hero isn't perfect, but I in fact do make mistakes from time to time.

I know my hero isn't perfect, but I just know that Patrick Swayze will come through this pancreatic cancer think ok.

... as for you Protoclown? You sir are a disappointment. You have the intelligence, you have the voice, you just can't help constantly taking a shit on all of that by throwing out one thing that fucks up each of your articles. It's like playing the most disappointing game of Where's Waldo since the Cancer-Ward edition came out.

[Wyldflame]

I gotta get a kick out of how many of you (and by you I mean us, I did it too)tried to justify your way out of some of those categories, fuck it, we're geeks. "Well I play DnD, but only once a month" You're there, this isn't our hierarchy and society is an asshole. Not the fun, "haha watch me punch a baby" type of asshole either, the kind of asshole retcons 20 years of Spider-Man because he can't handle divorce.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Amen, Wyldflame, Amen!

I am Geek! Hear me Roar!

[Fufuless]

I remember I used to LARP. When I was 5.

[Autrach Sejanoz]

I'm definitely a music and video game geek, while my best friend falls into film geek territory.

[Protoclown]

Thanks for the comments, guys. It's refreshing to see so many geeks who are capable of making fun of themselves, or at least having a sense of humor about it when other people do.

I myself fall into many of these categories: music, movies, video games, comics, sci-fi, role-playing games, and toys, so I'm definitely taking plenty of shots at myself here too.

Also, I should say that when I was searching for pics and I found that pic of the furry LARPers, I couldn't stop laughing for a good three minutes.

saturnknight: No offense to your girlfriend, but there will be no reading of fan fiction here. Not on my watch.

Magic Flyin' Lemur: Back in college one of my friends lived on a dorm hall with a furry who apparently wrote these bizarre stories about himself being attacked and raped by werewolves, which included sharp claws being thrust into his asshole. Apparently the guys on the hall would get on his computer and read these crazy stories when he was gone.

Bikegeek/Mockery: Yeah, I suppose I could have included fitness geeks. Hell, there's a lot of other types I probably could have added if I'd wanted to, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

Tetsu Deinoychus: I could've included card game geeks but I figure they're close enough to the RPG geeks there wasn't really any point in distinguishing them with their own separate entry.

Butters: You may have a point, but most people I've talked to have considered MMORPG players lower on the totem pole because they're not really being social like table-top gamers. True, many gamers are socially retarded, but at least they're trying.

Marthaeus Autolykos: So I can't help but notice that you like to over analyze things...

Beatpole: Hell, I think I would pay money to see that shit. Sounds like hilarious entertainment.

KillerMcGee: You have a point, and I do play board games with my friends, but I think I would classify those more in the "RPG" type of category due to the similarities in subject matter, and I would consider things like Balderdash (my favorite board game) to be in a separate "board game" category. Still, I don't think there's enough of a following to really be considered a social sub group worth mentioning.

Despotofks: Do you have a man-crush on me or something? I "disappointed" you because I make a few typos and mistakes? I didn't know you held me on such a pedestal.

[Relaxing Dragon]

Now that I think about it, I've never even seen a genuine Ren Faire, or even heard about one occuring somewhere (anywhere). Last time I even saw the concept come up was in an episode of Home Movies way back when; I honestly didn't know they were still going on.

And yeah, should you di another list, the fitness geek, card game geeks (I remember Pokemon...), and tech geek (that one should be high on the list, if only because he can save our souls when our laptops fail. I speak out of personal expierence on that count)

[neoboman]

I mostly agree except I would move fanfic writers up about four ranks. Actually, the ones you described (people who put themselves/their friends into stories) would knock them back down a little.

[Flashman]

I would put the LARPer above the The MMORPG Player at least in LARP its an excuse to get to get drunk and hit people over the head with latex weapons

[Despotofks]

Sure Protoclown, you win. You are the Jodie Foster to my John W. Hinckley Jr. I point out your mistakes because of a man-crush. I'm not going to say that I point out your mistakes to try and help you realize you've made them so, in the future, you'll do better. It's made obvious by the fact that you get defensive and resort to sophomoric teasing when faced with what could be construed as constructive criticism that to do so would be of no help. No, I point out your mistakes because they piss me off. They piss me off because, just like most of the bloggers who have developed an angry rant-like style to their writing since Maddox came out, you suck at it. I've got to think that my reactions to your writing are the same ones you get when you're watching a zombie flick too terrible to be good but eithr too good to be funny-bad or too high budget to be funny-bad. It's easy, people get the angriest when you fuck up their favorite style.

[Roggs]

A little "constructive criticism" for you, Despotofks:

Next time you offer your "constructive criticism," and want it to be construed as such, try to NOT put it in the form of a snide comment.

[Despotofks]

You are right about that Roggs.

[BurntToShreds]

Furries are above no one.

[Protoclown]

Sure Protoclown, you win. You are the Jodie Foster to my John W. Hinckley Jr. I point out your mistakes because of a man-crush. I'm not going to say that I point out your mistakes to try and help you realize you've made them so, in the future, you'll do better. It's made obvious by the fact that you get defensive and resort to sophomoric teasing when faced with what could be construed as constructive criticism that to do so would be of no help. No, I point out your mistakes because they piss me off. They piss me off because, just like most of the bloggers who have developed an angry rant-like style to their writing since Maddox came out, you suck at it. I've got to think that my reactions to your writing are the same ones you get when you're watching a zombie flick too terrible to be good but eithr too good to be funny-bad or too high budget to be funny-bad. It's easy, people get the angriest when you fuck up their favorite style.

I appreciate when people point out my mistakes, so that I can correct them. I don't appreciate people being dicks about it. You don't have to like my writing (that I get paid for, by the way), but it's a little masochistic, don't you think, if you hate it so much yet apparently keep returning to read more of it.

[Despotofks]

I will try not to be such a dick about it in the future then.

[Fufuless]

Dix.

[Kitsunexus]

I'm a furry who's into games and music, just a little dabbling in anime.

And I really don't care what people think of me.

[Fluke]

Furry here, I can explain it all.

Imagine you are a gay man, but you will not ever admit it or even touch gay porn. Because it is so gay. So you dress up as an animal and jerk off to shitty furry porn because dog cock is not like human cock... Right? It's not gay right? Animals do not count! SERIOUSLY!

Ah fuck it, furries ARE messed up.

If you need me I'll be in my closet watching the lion king.

[Geminate]

I found this so-called "Geek Hierarchy" editorial sorely lacking. I mean how can I be a god and the devil at the same time? Yes I am The Geminate but never mind about that. There are literally thousands of categories and tens of thousands of levels and you would need a massive flow chart to encompass it all. I am going to sulk about this all day now...thanks a lot.

[Undead Overlord]

I'm joining an RPG group near Cleveland soon, if anyone would like to join us just let me know.


And one more thing...no furries allowed. Ever. They creep me out

[Dungeonbrownies]

Bane of Zombies
Mar 9th, 2008, 10:45 AM
I'm joining an RPG group near Cleveland soon, if anyone would like to join us just let me know.


And one more thing...no furries allowed. Ever. They creep me out

i once knew a chick who turned out to be a secret furry, but not the kind that aactively goes out for the animals, the kind who wants to be one and wants you to want her for it. needless to say, she was pretty hot ass a catchick and i was ashamed.

[Xydexx]

Some folks say there's nothing lower than the furry geek. I beg to differ. Indeed, the lowest form of geek is the one who feels the need to put down other geeks in order to make themselves feel better.

It's an old story, but I'll tell it again: I once had the fortunate opportunity to have dinner with Trace Beaulieu (Crow T. Robot/Dr. Clayton Forrester of MST3K fame), who was Guest of Honor at a furry convention some years ago. And we asked him what he thought of furries and the idiotic inter-geek snarkery that frequently gets directed at them. Not surprisingly, he said he was disappointed that it goes on. I'm guessing maybe he got enough flak for being a sci-fi fan growing up in Minnesota that he knows what it feels like, so was sad to see sci-fi geeks doing it to others.

Beaulieu's comments were echoed more recently by Mark Evanier, who noted furry fandom "has endured a fair amount of mocking in the past, often from folks who oughta know better, given how their own interests have prompted ridicule from others."

Now, it's not that furries can't take a joke or anything. It's just that the folks who continually put down furries as a way of building themselves up don't seem to realize they aren't all that funny after we've heard it the first hundred times.

In summary, being a geek is cool. Being a geek putting down other geeks is really just lame. Or, as Xeni Jardin of Boing Boing says: "Yay for eccentric humans doing their own thing no matter what fun-crushers may say!"

[executioneer]

man it's not even a type of being a geek, it's more of a sexual orientation

like being an anime fan = pedophilia

[Chojin]

i personally have the heads of three yiffers mounted above my fireplace.

[Xydexx]

i personally have the heads of three yiffers mounted above my fireplace.

Did you catch them out in the woods digging holes and eating berries? :)

[Undead Overlord]

I think geeks make fun of other geeks to see what it is like to be the people who make fun of geeks. so if a D&D geek(like me) is bullied at work, he'll bully a furry to make himself into the person whom bullied him. It's confusing, and I didn't write that furry comment...by obnoxious cousin did. Please forgive him, he's an asshole.

[Fluke]

Not being funny but geeks as a whole endure a whole lot of mocking and general abuse from everyone. I'm not trying to be some peace and love hippie but we do need geeks at each others necks. You get Star wars fans slagging off the trekkies, the D&D fans stabbing at the LARPers and even the Nerdcore rappers do nothing but hate one another.

But the rest of the world will call us geeks no matter what faction we are in or how 'cool' we are on the list. :/

I mean, this article is humour and the people commenting should treat it as such. I take no offense from any of it. (I'm a Furry, music, D&D and video gamer, go me.)

Just my two pennies.

[Undead Overlord]

I agree with Fluke, we nerds need to unite and stop mocking each other. It saddens me to see so many people being blind to the big picture:(

[Tadao]

http://blogs.chron.com/blog9/ogre01.jpg

[executioneer]

I agree with Fluke, we nerds need to unite and stop mocking each other. It saddens me to see so many people being blind to the big picture:(

bullhonkey

[Robodie III]

What about Goths and Emos? Or is that for another article?

[Xydexx]

I agree with Fluke, we nerds need to unite and stop mocking each other. It saddens me to see so many people being blind to the big picture:(

Agreed.


A little story:

Back when I was in high school (these were the days when 300 baud modems were all the rage... I suspect I've been online since before many of you were even born) *waves cane* we used to have these things called BBSs. This was in the days before this newfangled internet thing became popular.

Now, being the sort of huge geeks who ran or called BBSs in the first place, one could say we weren't exactly the most popular kids in high school. And a lot of these local BBSs had war boards dedicated to flaming other users for no good reason at all. So after school we'd log on and trade insults with other geeks as a way of making ourselves feel better. (This is kinda why I think the whole trading insults with other geeks online thing is so twenty years ago... I've been there, seen that, yawn and sigh.) :sleep

I don't remember what prompted it, but eventually some of us geeks got the idea that there must be more to this online stuff that just flaming each other all the time. So we started to meet each other offline (those of us who lived reasonably close, anyway). And we had fun. A lot more fun than sitting behind our computers flaming each other, certainly.

So that led to more of us getting together offline. And more of us having fun. Geeks who lived further away joined our merry band, and our group continued to grow. Eventually, there were parties. Soon we had a band of about 40-something geeks spanning two counties showing up (40 may not seem like much, but remember, this was before the AOLization of the online world... modems were still very much a geek toy). After making plans online, we descended on local arcades or movie theaters or had picnics in the park and whatever else we could think of. Hiking. Exploring abandoned places. Seeing how many highway cones we could acquire in one evening (and then wondering where we'd like to redirect traffic with them afterward). Our New Year's Eve party lasted three days.

We were geeks, yeah, but we were social. (Demented and sad, but social.)

And what happened to the geeks who still wanted to hang around in front of their computers trading insults? I don't know. They missed out on most of this, I'm afraid, and we were too busy off having fun to notice their absence.



Like all good things, this had to come to an end eventually. In 1988, many of us headed off to college and our merry band was for the most part scattered to the four winds. Some of us still keep in touch here and there.

I guess the point of this story is that it doesn't really matter if you're a gamer geek or an anime geek or a furry geek. We're all geeks, and geeks today have a choice: They can either sit around behind their computer screens flaming other geeks to make themselves feel better, or they can get out and meet their fellow geeks and find out what they, and the real world, has to offer.




http://www.xydexx.com/journal/j040112a.jpg
Lord Rancer preparing to throw a watermelon off Kensico Dam, circa 1987.







:)

[Pub Lover]

double bullhonkey

[Xydexx]

double bullhonkey
That's an anagram for Unholy Lubed Bloke. Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?

[mburbank]

Wow, Proto, did you tap a vein or what with this one, huh? I loved the article, but who knew it was such an issue for people?

Incidentally, if the thing you one does is so specific that it's highly unlikely anybody else does it, is one, like a Geek singularity? 'Cause I got this friend, see, whose into some very specific shit.

[Xydexx]

Incidentally, if the thing you one does is so specific that it's highly unlikely anybody else does it, is one, like a Geek singularity? 'Cause I got this friend, see, whose into some very specific shit.
Y'know, I remember the days when I thought I was into some very specific things and there was no way anyone else in the world had the same interests as I did. I was too strange, too bizarre. Nobody could possibly understand. It was just too weird.

Then I stumbled onto the internet and found whole groups of people who were into the same things I was.

So yay for the internet. :)

[mburbank]

no, like, I'm talking you gotta have this antique walnut press, right? to make Walnut oil, and it's got to be authentic or it won't work. And then there's the whole thing with having someone paint a portrait of you while you do it. And that guy has to take a blood oath never to tell.

[Xydexx]

no, like, I'm talking you gotta have this antique walnut press, right? to make Walnut oil, and it's got to be authentic or it won't work. And then there's the whole thing with having someone paint a portrait of you while you do it. And that guy has to take a blood oath never to tell.Well, is he a Tigger or an Eeyore?

Never say never.

[Tadao]

I don't want to hang around 40 geeks. I am one of the beautiful people.

[mew barios]

i think nerds of all people should understand how goofy and deserving of ridicule they are

[Xydexx]

I don't want to hang around 40 geeks. I am one of the beautiful people.
Well, okay, you can be a beautiful person hanging out by your lonesome while the rest of us go party and stuff. We'll send you a postcard. :lol

[theaccidentalmimo]

Tadao, you're at i-mockery. Besides nerdiness is fun. They have more fun than most normal people- especially when drunk.

Anyway, I'm saying Protoclown only met the scary otaku. Liking anime and not bathing should not be synonimous. Of course, I also fall under the gamer nerd. I go to ren. fests, but I'm not a groupie. (Although if I could get away with it, I would dress that way every day.) So what does that make me? Are dabblers in various forms of nerdiness nerds, or just posers?

[Tadao]

oh shit! I have been mocked? *hangs head* you nerds will pay. PAY!!!!

[executioneer]

i always harass people when they are being overly nerdy, in the hopes that they will fly into a hilarious nerd rage

because i am a comedy nerd

[Xydexx]

i always harass people when they are being overly nerdy, in the hopes that they will fly into a hilarious nerd rage

because i am a comedy nerd

http://www.xydexx.com/journal/j080217.jpg

[executioneer]

that had better not be a 4chan reference

[Tadao]

4chan = ban

You all can start thanking me now.

[Xydexx]

that had better not be a 4chan reference
It's more of a MegaHAL reference.

http://megahal.alioth.debian.org/Classic.html

[Xydexx]

4chan = ban

You all can start thanking me now.
Hey, if you're that desperate to get rid of me I can just take advantage of the sunny 63 degree weather and go ride my weirdo bike around for a while.

In fact...

[Undead Overlord]

Lucky.. it's -2 where I am and we've got 2 feet of snow. I haven't seen the sun in 6 months, too. ALthough I'm going to Aruba for the Easter season, so I'll hopefully get a tan.

Also, I think that people should get out more often in large groups. Especially where I live. I have to drive from the West side of Cleveland to the East side to see anyone outside...I'm beginning to think I'm the only person in my city 'cause I haven't seen anyone else. And why does the word "Langolears" keep reappearing in my head?

[Protoclown]

Xydexx: If you were honestly offended by this, or think that I wrote it simply to "put other geeks down" (odd, considering I fall into about half of these categories), then you evidently take yourself WAY too seriously.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

To be honest, I'm not sure there's anybody, these days, who doesn't fall into some form of geekdom.

[Xydexx]

Xydexx: If you were honestly offended by this, or think that I wrote it simply to "put other geeks down" (odd, considering I fall into about half of these categories), then you evidently take yourself WAY too seriously.Man, what is it with folks who always think I'm "offended" by this and "take myself too seriously"? I mean, yeah, it's true I have no sense of humor (I traded it back in 2001 for some magic beans) but the truth is my attitude when I see stuff like this can be summed up with an exhausted sigh and an eyeroll.

It's like, yeah, okay, you can dump on furries/otaku/sci-fi/whatever folks. Maybe it was funny, y'know, last year. I mean, you know Lore Sjöberg did the whole Geek Hierarchy thing already in 2002, right? Six years ago. I know part of creativity is the art of hiding your sources, but c'mon, man... :)

Nah. To me, the most offensive thing about people making fun of furries isn't that they're making fun of furries---it's that they seem incapable of coming up with any other jokes. They fancy themselves comedy geniuses when they're just parrotting the same old stuff everyone's heard before. I dunno, maybe they're just new to the internets and it's their way of fitting in. I know being a newbie here means I have to spend time in the spanking machine (yay!), so I'm being a good sport and not taking it personally. Maybe I'll stick around, maybe I won't. I can assure you that has more to do with my priorities than being "offended." It's not like I don't have other things to do, y'know?

Look, I'm certainly not faulting you for trying and you get a gold star for effort. It just seems sites like these are a dime a dozen on the internet these days, and I wish someone would raise the bar already.

In the meantime, I enjoyed my 24-mile ride on my weirdo bike and saw some deer and stuff, thanks for asking.

[executioneer]

i fell into some geekdom once but after a quick shower and change of clothes i was clean again

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

no, like, I'm talking you gotta have this antique walnut press, right? to make Walnut oil, and it's got to be authentic or it won't work. And then there's the whole thing with having someone paint a portrait of you while you do it. And that guy has to take a blood oath never to tell.

Yeah, it's called "Nut-Pressing". There's a convention for it next week in Ohio.

[Pentegarn]

Look, I'm certainly not faulting you for trying and you get a gold star for effort. It just seems sites like these are a dime a dozen on the internet these days, and I wish someone would raise the bar already.

Not to tell you how to handle your life, but if you think it is so bad here, why do you keep coming back and posting? If it is truely as unimpressive here as you seem to imply with that statement, why does it matter to you what was said at all? Why bother defending yourself and your lifestyle choices when what was said here is "dime a dozen"? Could it be that maybe deep down, it is in fact impressive to you and your reply is a bullshit attempt to lash out in revenge?

[Chojin]

Also to be fair most people knock on furries because they have extremely odious personal habits and lifestyles, not because it's the cool thing to do.

[executioneer]

plus you're not exactly one to comment on originality in tactics, mister pretend-not-to-recognize-sarcasm

[STUD_BEANER_69]

WELL,AT LEAST THESE NERDS CAN GET A HOOKER OFF CRAIGSLIST AND ACTUALLY KNOW THE "TOUCH" OF A WOMAN.THOSE HOOK'S WILL BANG ANY1.

[DuFresne]

:facepalm

[Xydexx]

Not to tell you how to handle your life, but if you think it is so bad here, why do you keep coming back and posting?
Since you asked:
1. Procrastination.
2. Curiosity to see whether y'all can live up Chojin's challenge of preventing the forums from becoming another 4chan/YTMND clone.

I know the mockery thing is what passes for fun around here, but I guess the question I keep asking is: Do you know any other tricks?

If you don't, then how exactly is this place any better than the endless repetition of 4chan/YTMND y'all seem to want to avoid?

Here's an idea... let's turn your question upside down and let you answer it: If you think it's so great here, why should I stay?

It's not that I don't have better things to do (and in fact, I spent the past 48 hours doing More Important Things) so convince me. What makes you and yours so special? Why should I stick around?

If it is truely as unimpressive here as you seem to imply with that statement, why does it matter to you what was said at all?
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter much to me at all. It's academic at best. You're not going to get me riled up by mocking me, because I already expect that's what this site is about. As I said, sites like these are a dime a dozen on the internets, and Chojin (supposedly) wants this place to be more than that, am I right? Or do you think Chojin is just "taking the internet too seriously"?

I'm just curious to see if any of y'all are willing to raise the bar.

OTOH, if you're really are this down on furries, why does it matter to you whether or not I think this site is just another 4chan/YTMND clone?

It honestly doesn't matter to me one way or another. Chances are I'm going to get busy with other things Real Soon Now and I'll get gone. The question here is whether you're willing to benefit from the feedback I'm offering while I'm here.

Could it be that maybe deep down, it is in fact impressive to you and your reply is a bullshit attempt to lash out in revenge?Heh. By that logic, your continued attempts to bait me means deep down inside you're just jealous of furries and want to snuggle in a fursuit or something but can't afford to buy one, right? Maybe you want to keep me around because you wish you had a silly squeaky pony for an online avatar. Maybe you want to virtually fondle my horn or something, but are too embarrassed of what your other i-mockery friends will think. Maybe you're secretly wishing I'd lure you over to the dark side and take you away from this frankenstein-like 4chan/YTMND horror of a forum.

Go on, admit it, you think you'd look cute in a chipmunk outfit. Even Tadao admits she wants to be an aye-aye or wombat or jellyfish or something. Maybe you're just afraid to admit to your own secret desires.

[Xydexx]

Also to be fair most people knock on furries because they have extremely odious personal habits and lifestyles, not because it's the cool thing to do.Yes, I agree, most people who knock on furries have extremely odious personal habits. :)

[Emu]

I wasn't aware we were competing with 4chan/YTMND. I thought we were just posting shit.

[executioneer]

man how the hell is this still getting posts

boring

[Pentegarn]

Man oh man, so much mess here to take shots at.... where to start.

Since you asked:
1. Procrastination.
2. Curiosity to see whether y'all can live up Chojin's challenge of preventing the forums from becoming another 4chan/YTMND clone.

I know the mockery thing is what passes for fun around here, but I guess the question I keep asking is: Do you know any other tricks?

You didn't actually give any sort of substantial answer to my question. Perhaps because you don't have any valid answer of substance. As I said, if you hate it so much, if it is as subpar here as you claim you think it is, you would have never posted here in the first place. But you did, that means something, and that something is the opposite of, "this place is boring and I have seen all this before,"

If you don't, then how exactly is this place any better than the endless repetition of 4chan/YTMND y'all seem to want to avoid?

Here's an idea... let's turn your question upside down and let you answer it: If you think it's so great here, why should I stay?

Nice try, but as you are the one coming in here telling us our standards are not up to snuff, the onus is on you to back that argument up. As it stands, nobody here wants to convince you to stay because frankly we don't care. But when you start telling people they are like 4chan/ytmnd posters in a baseless attempt to get a rise out of us, we are going to lay the verbal smackdown on you. It is as simple as that. As it happens, you told everyone here you are a furry, so all you did was give us a target to blast. That would be your fault. Had you not wanted to hear "all the same furry jokes" you wouldn't have told us you were a furry would you? Unless of course you are too lacking in wits to know that revealing your love of all things furry would merely give us a target to make fun of. So which are you, a lackwit, or a masochist?

It's not that I don't have better things to do (and in fact, I spent the past 48 hours doing More Important Things)

Like what? Selecting a condom that looks like a weasel?

so convince me. What makes you and yours so special? Why should I stick around?

I believe I already addressed this. Stick around, or don't. My world and the world of everyone else will not change either way.


In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter much to me at all. It's academic at best. You're not going to get me riled up by mocking me, because I already expect that's what this site is about. As I said, sites like these are a dime a dozen on the internets, and Chojin (supposedly) wants this place to be more than that, am I right? Or do you think Chojin is just "taking the internet too seriously"?

I am not convinced of any of this. Had you said nothing in reply to my questions I would have been, but you proved my point by replying. We have you riled up. You actually took time to create an account exclusively to defend your lifestyle. If that isn't caring about what others think, I don't know what is.

OTOH, if you're really are this down on furries, why does it matter to you whether or not I think this site is just another 4chan/YTMND clone?

To me personally, it matters little other than it was an insult, so I asked you to explain why you felt the need to come in here and start a ruckus. Why out of all the "dime a dozen sites" that all doubtlessly blast furries in ways "you have heard before" are we the one you had to create a new account on and troll? Trying to reverse my argument against me is a worthless defense because I was already here posting weeks before this article was posted and weeks before your account existed. I didn't create a new account to defend i-mockery posters from you. So I say once again, the onus is on you to back your argument up. Not take mine and regurgitate it back to me by inserting your view into it. If I wanted that, I would record myself on a tape recorder and argue with that, or buy a parrot.... Wait I get it, you are acting out a furry fantasy right now by pretending to be a parrot aren't you?

Heh. By that logic, your continued attempts to bait me means deep down inside you're just jealous of furries and want to snuggle in a fursuit or something but can't afford to buy one, right? Maybe you want to keep me around because you wish you had a silly squeaky pony for an online avatar. Maybe you want to virtually fondle my horn or something, but are too embarrassed of what your other i-mockery friends will think. Maybe you're secretly wishing I'd lure you over to the dark side and take you away from this frankenstein-like 4chan/YTMND horror of a forum.

Go on, admit it, you think you'd look cute in a chipmunk outfit. Even Tadao admits she wants to be an aye-aye or wombat or jellyfish or something. Maybe you're just afraid to admit to your own secret desires.

Did you even read the comments before you posted your first one, or did you just go straight to blasting Protoclown? I point you to the fourth post on page one where I said:

"My friends and I stopped hanging out with a guy because he fell in with the furry crowd. I hesitate to call them a geek though, it is insulting to geeks. I actually rank them about equal with the trenchcoat guy who goes to those run down porno theaters."

Does that sound like someone who wants to be in with furries? If I wanted it, i would have already been one, I had an in long ago when he tried to convert me and because he tried to convert me, myself and my best friend and his wife and another couple we all hang out with simply got out of his life. We wish him well, we don't go to his house and make fun of him for his choice, but we do not want to be a part of that world. So I think that particular attempt to once again reverse my arguement against me was weak at best.

It's called reading comprehension, I highly recommend it.

You might want to bring something other than my own argument style back at me, all that shows is you have no valid argument to counter me with. Unless of course you are merely acting out those parrot fantasies I referred to earlier...:lol

And by the way, way to accuse people of being unorignal and then completely rip off my argument in an attempt to counter it...

[Xydexx]

Man oh man, so much mess here to take shots at.... where to start.
A good place to start would've been a valid rebuttal instead of flying off the handle in a failed attempt to get a rise out of me.

Anyone else care to explain how this place is better than 4chan/YTMND since Pentegarn doesn't seem up to the challenge? :)

[Pentegarn]

A good place to start would've been a valid rebuttal instead of flying off the handle in a failed attempt to get a rise out of me.

Anyone else care to explain how this place is better than 4chan/YTMND since Pentegarn doesn't seem up to the challenge? :)

I thought I already told you, the onus is on you to back your weak argument up. Since you failed to do that, I will assume you can't.

You want a reason? Fine, we are better because I said so. That should be good enough for you since you clearly cannot counter anything I say without ripping off my tactics. Want another reason, a reason that states why you think it is better here? You are here arguing your case here, and not at 4chan and ytmnd. I would ask if anyone else would like to defend you since you are unable to defend yourself, but I won't because 1) all I would be doing is ripping your tactic off, even though I more than proved your take on i-mockery lacked substance so that question you asked would be invalid and 2) nobody here wants to defend you.

I expect your next reply (cause you cannot resist it) will be to give me a take with a 1) and 2) reason in it because I just did that in my post and all you seem capable of is your little parrot act.

[Xydexx]

Anyone else care to explain how this place is better than 4chan/YTMND since Pentegarn doesn't seem up to the challenge? :)
Anyone? Anyone? :lol

[Grislygus]

To Anyone Trying To Engage In Genuine Debate

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n157/grislygus/RetardAlert.jpg

[Tadao]

Pent, I recommend you read the ED we found on him. Don't even try to have a real argument with him on the subject.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

In a forum I used to spend alot of time at, someone once posted an image that had a caption on it, which read...

"Arguing on the internet is alot like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded"

The result of this was that everyone got into a huge argument about whether the image was offensive to the mentally handicapped.

I don't know why I thought of that, just now.

[Tadao]

Because you are retarded.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

I...We...Todd...Ed?

[DuFresne]

yes, sofa king we todd did! :lol

[Pentegarn]

Pent, I recommend you read the ED we found on him. Don't even try to have a real argument with him on the subject.

You're right. Both you and Gus are right. It is pointless trying to use logic and reason on him, he is ignoring everything said to him and seeing what he wants to see. Eventually, he will realize what a waste he is and likely will end up on crack... or is meth the wastrel drug of choice these days? I am old you see so i am out of the loop :lol

[Pub Lover]

I disagree. Delusions of adequacy can last a lifetime.

[Pentegarn]

I disagree. Delusions of adequacy can last a lifetime.

That hardly seems fair :lol

[Xydexx]

Wow. For a bunch of folks who claim not to take the internet seriously, y'all sure do get bent way out of shape at the drop of a hat.

[Chojin]

Yes, I agree, most people who knock on furries have extremely odious personal habits. :)

The english language would suggest that the last noun was the implied subject, but I can understand that inflatable dogs have no time for comprehension.

[Pentegarn]

One time, I got bent out of shape about something, so you know what I did?

This is really good. Are you ready?

I made an account on a forum and trolled it and then ignored all semblence of logic and reason I saw.

No wait, That wasn't me at all was it? Must have been someone else I was thinking of. Who could that be, I wonder? hmmmm....

[kewalter]

Is that first picture, the music geek, Kevin Rose?

[Zomboid]

How the fuck is it cool to like dr.who and STAR TREK? WHEN WAS STAR TREK EVER BETTER THAN STAR WARS?

Aside from that, good stuff. I am a movie geek and I dabble in the toy geek stuff.

[Tadao]

Barbies princess mansion does not count as toy geek stuff zomboid.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Tadao knows this because he, himself is also a huge Barbie collector.

[Nktalloth]

Is the nerd catfight done now? Is it safe for me to post?

I'm a video game, MMORPG, and RPG nerd. I also use the phrase "internet culture" entirely too much for it to be healthy.

Is internet nerd worthy of it's own slot?

[the leet noob]

hmm, let's see...
video game, MMORPG, internet, otaku, fanfic writer.

yes I have lost a day to an MMORPG (Endless Online)
yes I do shower
no I do not dress like anime characters
no I do not write self-inserts
yes I do have a social life outside of the MMORPGs

yes furries are strange BUT as long as they don't try to convert everyone to being furries then that's okay.

another category, the insane geek (found this on stumbleupon) http://www.forthebenefitofmankind.xm.com/

[the leet noob]

hehe oops, clicked on submit twice...
edited it so it only says this...

[loupis]

I never realized that I fit into more than one geek category... I have to rethink my entire plan of social attack now...

[The Fourth]

Um... I might have missed the memo or something, but did you get published on Wired? 'Cause there's a page of a geek hierarchy dillio, right here. (http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/magazine/16-04/st_geekster) I'm sure Wired is capable of coming up with this on their own, but the timing seemed odd to me. Make what you will of this info.

[executioneer]

that one's not so much a hierarchy, though

[sillyoctopus]

I am a video gamer, a MMORPGer and a LARPer. Firstly LARP should be moved up a lot cirtainly above the Ren Faire Geek. LARP is perfect escapism (i don't hate my life its just that everyone elses is better) and as long as you aren't living your life like it outside of the events you are considered sane. Its also a good way of keeping fit if you go regularly (all that running around a field is hard work)! But for goodness sake do not call the arrows and bolts "nerf" they are not (nerf is a company and the arrows etc. are made of everyday foam)!!!

Ta plus okaru seems worse than LARP (after its moved above the Ren Faire Geek)

[Tadao]

Firstly, I'll call your little nerf toys nerf toys. Secondly, Boo Hoo!

[KatieLovesThe80's]

i pretty much so agree with the order, but i have heard some decent marching bands but the high school one usually don't sound too great and that's coming from a band geek herself. well i may not even be considered a band geek though because i am in the colorguard (the ones who spin the flags) but that might be even a little worse than a band geek.

[Colonel Flagg]

[...] i may not even be considered a band geek though because i am in the colorguard (the ones who spin the flags) but that might be even a little worse than a band geek.

Not in the least. The color guard (including batons, flags, swing flags and rifles) was the only cool thing about marching band (at least from the band member's perspective, wink wink, nudge nudge). At least that's how I remember it. :)

[KatieLovesThe80's]

I was in band, but I was in the Drumline. This could actually be worse though because we developed this sort or elitist idea about ourselves and declared independence from the band. And I'll always have stories that start with "This one time at band camp..."

that is totally what our drumline is like and then everyone just dislikes the colorguard because they get in the way or something like that. i also start many a story with "this one time at band camp" and i hate when other "non-band geeks" then continue to quote american pie, after that it's not even worth telling the story.

[KatieLovesThe80's]

Not in the least. The color guard (including batons, flags, swing flags and rifles) was the only cool thing about marching band (at least from the band member's perspective, wink wink, nudge nudge). At least that's how I remember it.

well with our band (at one point in time but not any more) they hated us but now it's all good.

[KatieLovesThe80's]

Um... I might have missed the memo or something, but did you get published on Wired? 'Cause there's a page of a geek hierarchy dillio, right here. I'm sure Wired is capable of coming up with this on their own, but the timing seemed odd to me. Make what you will of this info.

Ok what is up with everyone hating on Protoclown. i don't get it. i think protoclown's articles are really funny. And i think it says a lot about him that he get's paied to write about all the stuff he does. So i may be a newbie on here but lay off.

[Tadao]

I hate Protoclown. He's a hack!

[BurntToShreds]

I hate furries. They pollute the internet with their shitty art, they are dickless morons who can't stand ridicule, and they make searching for anything on DeviantART even worse than usual.

YIFF IN HELL, FURFAGS!!

[The Fourth]

Ok what is up with everyone hating on Protoclown. i don't get it. i think protoclown's articles are really funny. And i think it says a lot about him that he get's paied to write about all the stuff he does. So i may be a newbie on here but lay off.

What's with the hostility? I wasn't hating on Protoclown at all... I don't really think I made myself clear, but I was implying that Wired might of plagiarized Protoclown, not the other way around (mostly because Protoclown's article was posted before the issue of Wired came out). I love Protoclown, jeeze.

[Tadao]

Don't back down now The 4th! I'm with you on this! DOWN WITH THE CLOWN!

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Just think. One more article, and this gets bumped off the "recent pieces" list.

I wonder if people will still post here, then?

[Renenet]

A friend sent me a link to the above "editorial", telling me how she found it funny at first and then got offended at the end because of this:

The lowest form of geek, the Fanfic Writer saves the Enterprise, defeats Darth Vader, and beds Buffy the Vampire Slayer on a weekly basis. Many of them "uncover" the true homosexual relationship between two male characters, but the worst offenders are the ones who insert themselves into the story, living vicariously through their characters because they have absolutely no life whatsoever. Ubiquitous on the internet, they have no real social grouping outside of its "tubes", so there is no way to actually identify them in public. Anyone you meet could be a potential fan fiction writer. Perhaps even you could be a fanfic writer and not even know it! (If I had scary music this is where it would be playing).

Although the name of this site clearly tells the audience what you people here spend your time on, I'd just like to add the real, acutal, completely and totally LOWEST OF THEM ALL - is a person (and I use that term loosely) who puts down other people just because they have different interests.

You're a very sad person, Protoclown, and I hope someone mocks you publicly in the face every day for the rest of your life.

Renenet
(a fanfic writer, and proud of it)

[Grislygus]

BAAAW HAW HAW HAW

[executioneer]

heeeere fish fish fish

[DuFresne]

Your friend found it funny until she came across one that she happens to participate in. HOW IRONIC.

And I'm sure all your e-friends will be very proud of you when you copypaste your post into your livejournal.

[Magic Flyin' Lemur]

[long-winded post]


Wait, is this a troll or a real whining person? I.. I just can't tell anymore.

Fucking internet.

On the off-chance that you are an actual person who got offended, let me just say that fan-fiction can be extremely well-written, well-honed pieces of creative work. That does not mean that you're not a complete dork for writing it. If you write your own, unofficial, posted-on-geocities fiction set in other creators' continuities, then a) you need to maybe learn to create your own universe instead of mediocre derivative work that doesn't usually fit with the style of whatever it is you're putting yourself into , and b) you're writing FAN FICTION, stop taking yourself so goddamned seriously. People like you are the reason fanfic writers get made fun of; self-serious jackasses that can't take a joke. Same with furries and trekkies and... well, frankly, any nerd that can't laugh at the fact that they like nerdy shit.

If you are a troll, however.. Well played, I guess; pretty entertaining stuff.

[Protoclown]

A friend sent me a link to the above "editorial", telling me how she found it funny at first and then got offended at the end because of this:

Although the name of this site clearly tells the audience what you people here spend your time on, I'd just like to add the real, acutal, completely and totally LOWEST OF THEM ALL - is a person (and I use that term loosely) who puts down other people just because they have different interests.

You're a very sad person, Protoclown, and I hope someone mocks you publicly in the face every day for the rest of your life.

Renenet
(a fanfic writer, and proud of it)

Oh SNAP, I just got fucking TOLD
Can you be the one to mock me publicly, Rentanet? Cuz that would be awesome. Hell, I'd even pay you. Not much, but I'd pay you to follow me around and dish out some "quips".

[RaNkeri]

:lol

[Colonel Flagg]

[...] I'd just like to add the real, acutal (actually, it's spelled "actual" - CF), completely and totally LOWEST OF THEM ALL - is a person (and I use that term loosely) who puts down other people just because they have different interests.

A fanfic writer who neglects to spellcheck posts, apparently. I won't even get into the redundant nature of "real, actual, completely and totally".

Oh snap. I just did, didn't I. :\

Dude, you need to grow a sense of humor.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

I'm a fanfic writer, too (I write it as practice/exercise for when I write my original works. I write a little fanfic to get my juices flowing, then I switch to writing in my own fictional universe). And, I loved this article.

I mean, if you can't laugh at yourself (as Protoclown has done by including his own interests on the list), then what are you doing laughing at everyone else (as you apparently did until the last entry)?

I gotta stop using parentheses so damn much...

[Cruxader]

I more or less agree with this order, even though I think that "Furry" may be more of a psychological problem, as in no one in their right mind would want to dress up as a woodland creature to "go on adventures."

I'm not sure fanfic writers should be the lowest form as some just do it for fun. However, I think that if said fanfic writer was crazy enough to try to submit something to a real honest-to-God publisher or, say, mail their script to George Lucas to see if he would use it.. yes, that would be worthy of the lowest form.

LARPers... yes, they definitely deserve to be in the bottom three. I know a LARPer and, well, he's weird.

[ThatWolfGuy]

i'm 4 of those - MMORPG, Table-top gamer, sci-fi geek and LARPER - and also a certified black belt in Tang Soo Do (for the guy who belittled larpers who try to do martial arts) - if you give extra credit to music and film junkies because they sometimes go out of their homes into daylight (or moonlight), and you give extra credit to table-top gamers who interact with other actual humans, how can you put LARPERS so low on the list? not even considering the fact that many LARPERS are in great shape (i know a guy who can run backwards faster than i can run forwards, and i used to run track in school - and am still in decent shape - see black belt, above) and many LARPERS are also skilled craftspeople, seamstresses, chainmaillers (myself included) etc. i think you ought to reconsider where you place LARPERS.

P.S. my LARP character does wear fur, does that make me a member of 5? i'm gonna say no, since the fur part is secondary to the part about being in a LARP. I wouldn't wear the fur if it wasn't in the setting of being in a LARP.

P.P.S. i've dressed up for midnight movie openings as both sci-fi characters and fantasy characters, does that make me a film geek?

P.P.S.S oh, almost forgot, I was a disc jockey for over 10 years - does that automatically qualify me as a music geek? if so, i'm pushing 7 categories....

[ThatWolfGuy]

sorry for double post - edited

[Esuohlim]

HEY NERDS, GET OVER IT

[Tadao]

sorry for double post - edited

You should be sorry for the first one.

[ThatWolfGuy]

You should be sorry for the first one.
that's pretty vague...care to explain? otherwise, it just seems like you're being mean for no good reason.

[Tadao]

It's almost like you know my soul! :love:love:love

[Esuohlim]

that's pretty vague...care to explain? otherwise, it just seems like you're being mean for no good reason.

WELCOME TO I-MOCKERY

[Protoclown]

i'm sorry you guys

i have created a monster :(

[executioneer]

where on the greek hierarchy would you put someone who creates monsters

oh wait that's echidna n/m

[resident-adam]

FFS! I fall under the Video-Gamer, Sci-Fi and MMORPG player.. and umm "Zombie Enthusiast".. I have no life >:(

[Bex]

Argh! I'm 3 of those! Honestly, how can a war re-enactr possibly be worst than a role player? Hehe - at least we reenact things that actually happened. I reenact English Civil War battles, which is great, and most people who do it aren't geeky (my society is so big, it even has it's own little groups - mainly bikers and goths, tbh). I dunno - maybe it's different in the USA - I can imagine you Americans getting a bit 'to' into it.

[Colonel Flagg]

i'm sorry you guys

i have created a monster :(

I thought the responses to the "Open Letter" would gravitationally collapse and form a black hole, but I have to admit, this one is like the Energizer Bunny. Just when you think it will go away forever, it starts up again.

Feel good about it, though. It increases traffic, and is therefore no bad thing.

[JakeOfAllTrades]

I probably missed the boat on this one, but I liked this list despite the low ranking of the Otaku which sorta doesn't fit the description of what I do (Anime blogging), but all up it was a decent article. I've tried almost everything on the list apart from Ren Faire and Furry I think. I wrote one fan fiction story when I was a lad and to this day it gets a lot of hits because a) it wasn't too perverted and b) it was a rare pairing. Still, whenever I lol at fan fic writers I'm loling at myself and others slightly more obsessed than me.

As for the dude who said something about the geeks and nerds being put on the Autistic Spectrum by psychiatrists, I've already dug myself in a hole before about mentioning my condition and I don't want to dig my own grave again.

[darqmommy]

please add to the list "Geeks who copy & paste the comments of others to prove a Geek-point on a forum!" thank you!

[Grislygus]

Nice reaction time, sport

[darqmommy]

i just signed up, nerd-boy!

[Grislygus]

Good to have ya, trigger

[Tadao]

i just signed up, nerd-boy!

I don't remember a section on gender benders.

[darqmommy]

i sometimes enjoy just loking up the keyword "furry" on google and then cackling hysterically at what i find. the extremely earnest furries who write furry fiction are the best!

[DrewP]

Does it count as geek if the geeks I hang out with are also strippers?

^^^EDIT!!! "FEMALE STRIPPERS"

[slushomg]

i agree with this hierarchy....i love music, film, and games in that order but i am definitely not socially inept. where on the list does the geekiness start to get shameful? after sci-fi?

[Goldblade436]

Hey! I'm a fanfic writer! I started doing it for fun and to improve my writing skills. And who has not wanted to change an ending to something? Many band people go into it for the extra high school credits and to pad thier resumes for college. Good article tho!

[Tadao]

Hey! I'm a fanfic writer! I started doing it for fun and to improve my writing skills.

See, I can say that too, and guess what!?! I'm lying! Back it up or shut up.

[wizbenny]

Absolutely agree with MOST of the order and reasoning. Tho aren't TV geek and Movie geek two separate things? I get that they're similar, but I know people who are one and not the other. Somehow I think TV geeks are lower. Perhaps even lower, since they're watching something known as "the idiot box."

Fanfic writers I think are higher than "FURRIES" though, by simple fact that Furry geeks also have weird sexual fetishes attached WHILE being an animal. Bestiality alone I think drops them into a sub-human category.

[Pentegarn]

I was just thinking, "Hey, the geek hierarchy thread hasn't been bumped in awhile, what gives?"

So many memories :lol

[Esuohlim]

I can't believe this thread isn't as old as I thought it was

[Pentegarn]

But don't you feel old when you read how many geeks just don't get it?

[Colonel Flagg]

It's been almost 2 years since I posted in this thread, and that's just too damned long.

I think we should continue to argue about whether Furries or FanFic writers belong at the bottom of the list.

No. Really. i-serious.

[Pentegarn]

We should draw attention to the fact that this got bumped again. Get Tadao and Willie and Gus in here with us

[Colonel Flagg]

We need to add a category for internet troll.

It's just that there have been so many lately....

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

Troll should be at the bottom. Troll 2 below the line.

[StarscreamTheWaffle]

I would fit into the "Video Game Nerd" thing. I may have an addiction to Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2. Now, off to play Prophunt!

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

Relevence your honor.

[The Doctor]

That was an amazing article and a real eye opener, I fall into 7 of these categories of Geekdom and at one time in my life I could add two others. I would put furries at the bottom of the list, at least the fanfics are being somewhat creative.

And the other two are neither fanfic or furries, just to clear that up for my own piece of mind.

[Shadowdancer21b]

I shall resurrect this thread because people out there are getting all weepy saying, "hierarchies are bad and make us look like elitists and hurt people's feelings!" and "we should all just unite as geeks!". I think this is a load of crap. Especially considering that the article is humorous to begin with.