The comic book geek stereotype

[Crimson]

Out of interest do any of you have experiences of this? Does it tick you off? What do you do about it? Etc?

Personally I haven't had any problem with it, yet. I'm sure I'll meet some small minded person who when they learn I like comics will think I will be a virgin for all time and live in my parents basement while talking on the net about comics (Couldn't be further from the truth... my room is more of an attic).

Then again only my close friends know I collect comics. Not because I've kept it hidden but, just like my enjoyment of wrestling, it never comes up in conversation. When it does I will say, I have no shame for any of my hobbys.

So... any posts on the topic?

[hulahulk]

Only a couple of my closest friends and some family members know about my collection and my former obsession.
Those who don't know? The subject never really comes up. I'm not embarrassed or anything, nor do I consider myself a geek. But there is always a chance that, fr'instance, a girl I'm interested in would find my former hobby turn-off. That's when I would say it's a former hobby, and I just have not gotten around to selling my 3000+ books. Other than spending WAAAAAY too much time here on CBR and going to/buying comic-related movies, I don't really have much to do with comics.

[Crimson]

Only a couple of my closest friends and some family members know about my collection and my former obsession.
Those who don't know? The subject never really comes up. I'm not embarrassed or anything, nor do I consider myself a geek. But there is always a chance that, fr'instance, a girl I'm interested in would find my former hobby turn-off. That's when I would say it's a former hobby, and I just have not gotten around to selling my 3000+ books. Other than spending WAAAAAY too much time here on CBR and going to/buying comic-related movies, I don't really have much to do with comics.

Don't get me wrong... I don't consider anyone who collects comics "geeks" I just mean, watching any media form that brings it up that is what collecters are portrayed as.

[i_mmmchocolate]

I don't fall into the comic book geek stereotype because...GIRLS DON'T READ COMICS!

For the past 3-4 months I've been out of the comic loop, but that's because I'm on a money-saving spree. When I go to SDCC, I'm buying a truckload of comics.

By the way, I don't mind the 'stereotype' at all either.

Also, I rarely discuss comics with anyone unless the person is a comic book geek too.

[hulahulk]

Don't get me wrong... I don't consider anyone who collects comics "geeks" I just mean, watching any media form that brings it up that is what collecters are portrayed as.

Yeah, the "stereotype" is somewhat alive and well due to what you mentioned. And, truthfully, it's no big thing. Different people have different interests. I guess the ones outside of the comics world who see the news segments of Star Wars fans lining up for weeks before the movie starts will assume that all sci fi fans are made from a similar molding.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Also, I rarely discuss comics with anyone unless the person is a comic book geek too.

It's hard, I've found, to even have what approaches a rational discussion of comics with someone not in the know. The more closed-minded immediately dismiss comics as "kid's stuff." Some give you that kind of, oh, patronizing attitude, like "Oh, what a nice eccentric hobby you have...(freak!)" It's very few people I've found who actually take the time to look at some comics I give them before they form their opinions. I had one roommate in college, for example, who got hooked by Morrison's Doom Patrol. But those are few and far between.

[thehod]

Glancing around my local comic shop, I would say that very few people fall into the sterotype of a comic geek, and theres a broad range of people in there.

However, there are a couple of guys who should stop collecting comics NOW, and spend all their remaining cash on soap.

[Royal]

I ain't worried. We got a lot of big name geeks.

[HomerJay]

It's like any other stereotype...it wouldn't become a stereotype if there weren't a ton of people that actually fit the bill. It's also like any other stereotype in that it's often unfair and doesn't fit a large amount of comic buyers.

[G. Wayne]

on a scale of 1-10, 1 being someone who completely avoids the medium, 10 being the one's who give us all bad names. i'd put myself at about 7.

most of my friends would be 5 or 6, (mainly due to me never shutting up about it and getting them hooked again, and their being impressionable...or me influential) one guy i'd put at 8 (he has a gf, only one other guy does, go figure), some other friends 3 or 4.

with the "lesser fan" friends, i've gotten bitched at for bringing up a writer. it's ok to talk about characters, but talking about the people that make them is just sad, i'm told.

course with my other friends, they've started a new comic shop in the area, and i'm working with another friend as a partner to write comics. :D

i do watch my tongue around the women folk though. we're also trying to figure out just what it is about manga that draws females akin to how comics (usually) repell them. it's the weirdest thing, the best shop in the area is in a college town. since they started ordering manga (the weekly shipments are about half comics half manga, up from none) they get guys and girls in almost equal amounts. but the guys stick to milling around the comics, and 90% of the girls head straight to the manga.

[HomerJay]

on a scale of 1-10, 1 being someone who completely avoids the medium, 10 being the one's who give us all bad names. i'd put myself at about 7.



I'd have to put myself at about a 6.
- I don't get into heated comic-related arguments at the comic shop. The only conversations I have are with the clerks if they comment on what I'm buying.
- I've never gotten into anime or manga.
- I'm not at all snobbish about what comics I buy.
- I never griped about organic webshooters.
- I'm not into gaming other than video games (I actually couldn't even tell you when I last played my Playstation or PC games).
- I got laid regulary even before I was married.
- I do however have facial hair and carry a little more weight on my frame than I'd like.

[Spider69]

Actullay,every one at school knows that i like comics.If any one has any questions they come to me. I really don't care what people think about me.If they don't like it then they can Kiss My fat a$$(that's a whole lot a kissing!)I know that I'am not a geek,hell...I probably get laid more than any of them. I just don't talk about it unless it comes up in conversation,or It reminds me of something....That's just me. :cool:

[Indigo Al]

However, there are a couple of guys who should stop collecting comics NOW, and spend all their remaining cash on soap.

Plenty of which were at the Big Apple Con last Sunday. That day I felt like the stereotype was well deserved, as there were a lot of badly groomed, social-skill lacking guys prevalent.

I don't know why, but there was a serious lack of joyful geekery that day. Where were the people in costumes? Where were the portly Klingons and the couples dressed like Cobra COmmander and the Baroness and the Vampirella models and the girls dressed like Sin City hookers? WHERE WERE THE PEOPLE HAVING SOME FUN?? It just felt like I was in a dank unhappy hole of ill-tempered basement dwellers.... :(

I generally like to laugh with the stereotype. I am an enormous and immense geek, and I don't take myself so seriously that I'm offended by the Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons.

[jade_nova]

I like the sterotype of comic book store owners being unmarried especially since the original owner and one of the current owners of the store I go to are married.

[Stellar]

I think Dr.Hfuruhuhr (did i spell it right) got the reaction down pretty good. EVERYONE i know knows that i read comics and they rarely give me shit about it because, unlike G. Wayne's 10 on the scale dudes, i don't let comics completely consume my life.
it's just a hobby, ya know?

[Haunt]

everyone's a geek about something. most girls i know, think it's cute because i don't look like the stereotypical comic book fanboy. and the guys i hang with are all immature 20-somethings, so they have no room to tease me about it. the image has somewhat improved since guys like Nicholas Cage, Jerry Seinfeld, and Quentin Tarantino have come out of the closet as comic book fans.

[Katha Hem]

Never personally encountered the "geek" stereotype. I've heard "comic books are for kids" once (from another kid while I was in junior high, ironically enough), but that's about it.

[Stellar]

whenever someone tells me 'comics are for kids', i show them an issue of Preacher. not that i feel like proving myself to them, but it's fun to see them PWND like that

EDIT: the only thing more fun than that is when i show them an issue of Sandman. god, that feels so good

[tangentman]

The biggest stereotype I personally encounter is the usual "aren't comics for kids/teens" question. I've surprised many people just getting to know me with a minor showing of comic book geekery or when they see the size of my collection. Since I'm not one to hide my geekness, I don't care if they approve or disapprove. Of course, on the subject of the geeks in question, the "stereotype" i Hate seeing in action is the "Socially Inept, Ready To Know-It-All You To Death At The Drop Of A Spider-Man Comic" archetype.

[Stellar]

we've all come across those. i remember this dude from my local comic book shop.

Me:issue #something of Uncanny X-men? yeah, that was when the trialed Gambit
Stereotype, while jumping into the convo: what?? you're wrong, it was issue #something else!
Me: uhm...i think it was issue #something
ST: #SOMETHING ELSE? do you want me to show you? cuz i'll get it right now!
Me: okay, it happened in issue #something else, whatever. does it really matter?
ST: do you even read comic books??
*Picture me getting the f*ck out of there

[phoenixrising]

I don't fall into the comic book geek stereotype because...GIRLS DON'T READ COMICS!

Like you, I sort of get the anti-stereotype. I have people who just don't believe it if I tell them. Even worse is the snobbery from some (male) comic book geek stereotypes that treat me like I'm some poser or a mildy interested girlfriend when I go to a store or convention. Booo.

[Fish Sauce]

the image has somewhat improved since guys like Nicholas Cage, Jerry Seinfeld, and Quentin Tarantino have come out of the closet as comic book fans.

Plus the fact that apparently Adam Brody is writing one. I can't wait to bust that one out if a girl thinks I'm an idiot.

But really, anyone who knows doesn't seem to care. They all think it's quirky/kind of cool/kind of lame at the same time, I guess. I did get one friend to buy Batman: Year One and he loved it.

[Stellar]

if i ever meet a girl who loves comic books as much as i do, i'd probably marry her

[Gilda Dent]

I am the stereotype. I wear glasses and I . . . uh, collect comic books and . . . post here and . . . well, that's about it.

I don't mind discussing my hobby, and I usually carry something with me to read when I go out. I love the digest format for this reason. Nobody ever seems to care much.

Gilda

[Stellar]

I am the stereotype. I wear glasses and I . . . uh, collect comic books and . . . post here and . . . well, that's about it.

I don't mind discussing my hobby, and I usually carry something with me to read when I go out. I love the digest format for this reason. Nobody ever seems to care much.

Gilda

Gilda Dent...will you marry me?

[Shellhead]

The geek stereotype has been of variable relevance to my life, depending on prevailing social trends and also on my age.

As a kid, there was no geek stereotype because nearly all the boys and nearly none of the girls were reading comics.

As a teenager and then college student, I noticed that it was rapidly becoming uncool to talk about comics, partly because I suddenly cared what females thought of me, and also because some guys were quickly abandoning their comics as uncool and embarrassing due to the ladies.

After college, there was a major shift in the comic market, with spin racks vanishing from all the grocery stores and drug stores, and comics being relegated to specialty retail stores. At the same time, DC moved upmarket, suddenly pitching intelligent comics aimed at adult readers. They were still considered geeky, although the Batman movie ('89) made large amounts of money, even from people who normally didn't read comics.

By the mid-90's, there was another shift in society. In my opinion, most comics in the 90's were pretty bad, but geek culture went mainstream as the internet became a big deal. Suddenly we were seeing a new Star Trek-type show or two debuting every year, lots of big-budget comic book movies, crazy amounts of money made or lost on collectible card games, and nearly every major professional sport suffering a scandal or three. Young girls and women were thrilling to the adventures of Xena, and UFOs were a big deal on the X-Files. All this stuff coincided with some of my peak dating years, and outing myself as a geek usually had no negative impact whatsoever.

Today, there still isn't a 1:1 ratio between males and females reading comics, and that probably will never happen. But I see a fair number of women at game conventions, live-action role-playing, and even at the local comic store, many more than I would have ever guessed even 15 years ago.

Oddly enough, these days I mainly hear about the geek stereotype online.

[Michael P]

Gilda Dent...will you marry me?
You'll have to fight Emily for her. And Emily bites.

[Kid Omega]

Today, there still isn't a 1:1 ratio between males and females reading comics, and that probably will never happen.

It exists at ROCKETSHIP, baby!

[Dennis K]

Comic geek stereotype... are we back to discussing that picture of Kid Omega again. Zing!

[Kid Omega]

Comic geek stereotype... are we back to discussing that picture of Kid Omega again. Zing!
Do you mean this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v304/Kamandi/IMG_0043.jpg

or this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v304/Kamandi/ghostbuster_cox1.jpg

[Gilda Dent]

Gilda Dent...will you marry me?

I'll have to ask my wife first. The last time this happened she wasn't too keen on the idea.

Gilda

[G. Wayne]

Eh... I've come to embrace my geekdom, kinda.

-I've gotten all my friends back into comics.
-I've gotten the friend I posted about months ago who used to bitch at me for bringing up writers, to admit he prefers Brubaker and Claremont.
-I'm trying to get into the business. Looking at some sample pages from my artist collaborator now, actually.
-The majority of my wardrobe is comic related, BUT I have a criteria for buying shirts. Symbols or single words/phrases only. That way, I know what the black "X" in the red circle means, or the yellow lightning bolt on a black shirt, or B.P.R.D or Arkham Asylum Athletic Department or whatever. Other fans will know what they mean, but odds are anyone who doesn't "get" it won't care.

Then again, I'm a gamer to the point that I honestly can't fathom what people who /don't/ game do for fun, and I'm trying to join the 501st Legion, so... ah well.

And I'm also in the same boat that if I ever find an available girl that's into any of my hobbies, propose quickly, I will. But I still say this "girls read comics and play video games" silliness is a marketing scheme cooked up by the corporations. :p

[Stellar]

sing it with me now....:

WHY ARE ALL YOU GOOD GIRLS....TAKEN EVERY TIME....taken every time

[Dan Apodaca]

sing it with me now....:

WHY ARE ALL YOU GOOD GIRLS....TAKEN EVERY TIME....taken every time

Because they found a better guy before they met you?

Oh snap.

[Stellar]

Okay, the next trip i make will be to L.A. for some hunting. Apodaca hunting

[Dan Apodaca]

Okay, the next trip i make will be to L.A. for some hunting. Apodaca hunting

Look for the one stunningly handsome man among a crowd of uglies.

[Cephus]

on a scale of 1-10, 1 being someone who completely avoids the medium, 10 being the one's who give us all bad names. i'd put myself at about 7.

I'm probably 4-5. I read comics, I'm nowhere near a fanatic, I am not a fanboy and I expect them to earn my dollar or I don't give it to them. I'm happily married with kids and a good job, etc. I just don't fit the geek stereotype at all.

[Dan Apodaca]

I'm probably 4-5. I read comics, I'm nowhere near a fanatic, I am not a fanboy and I expect them to earn my dollar or I don't give it to them. I'm happily married with kids and a good job, etc. I just don't fit the geek stereotype at all.

Someone needs to tell you. You do. More than you think, at least.

You said somewhere that you collect figures, which you leave in their original packaging. You went on an angry rant about how SDCC wasn't about the comics anymore.

Those two, alone, put you at 6 or higher.

[Kid Omega]

Someone needs to tell you. You do. More than you think, at least.

You said somewhere that you collect figures, which you leave in their original packaging. You went on an angry rant about how SDCC wasn't about the comics anymore.

Those two, alone, put you at 6 or higher.

Add the part where he argues in circles on a comic book online forum.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

I used to be a 10...but since 1998...I've been a 4.

And slowly but surely...I'm losing numbers.

[Haunt]

Look for the one stunningly handsome man among a crowd of uglies.

are you bringing your girlfriend?

[Dan Apodaca]

are you bringing your girlfriend?

She's busy shooting for a couple of her upcoming movies.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/

[Haunt]

She's busy shooting for a couple of her upcoming movies.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/


yeesh, she's really cranking them out.

[Dan Apodaca]

yeesh, she's really cranking them out.

Gotta pay for my heroin habit somehow.



And it's not like I'm working!

[Michael P]

She's busy shooting for a couple of her upcoming movies.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/
Man, that's a horrible photo.

[Dan Apodaca]

Man, that's a horrible photo.

Yeah, I don't know why that's the one they chose for her profile picture. It's not like there's a shortage of hot pictures of her.

She looks hottest in the photos of her in real life, though.

Or if you can find a picture of her from last week's episode of "Weeds". Damn.

[Gilda Dent]

She's busy shooting for a couple of her upcoming movies.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/

Wow. The first thing that jumped out at me there was Bridge to Terabithia. I'm always a bit dismayed when a favorite children's book of mine is adapted into a movie. Most of the time, even when they get it right, they don't get it right.

I click on the link, and the writing credits include Katherine Paterson, who wrote the book, and David Paterson, her son, as screenwriter. The protagonist in the book is based on David and the story loosely inspired by his friendship with a neighbor girl when he was about ten. That has to be a little strange, adapting a book written by your mother that was originally adapted loosely from your own life.

It's not really telling of the quality we might expect, but the director being responsible mainly for Rugrats and Wild Thornberries properties doesn't bode well for a serious family drama.

On the other hand, Zoey is perfect for Miss Edmunds.

Gilda

[Jack Zodiac]

I spend a ridiculous amount of money on comics. I buy primarily superhero books. I have a closet full of t-shirts with trademark logos on them (including three different Green Lantern shirts and two different Batman and Superman shirts). I make completely unnecessary comparisons to comic books and superheroes in real life.

I'm pretty fit. I have a full-time job. I don't live with my folks. And I have a girlfriend (willing to wear Wonder Woman and Supergirl underoos, which might go either way in determining how stereotypicaly geeky I am). I'm definitely a stereotypical comic book geek in a lot of respects, though, but not the saddest ones. Well... most of the saddest ones.

[Michael P]

Each night, as I'm drifting off to sleep, and confronting the darkest depths of my soul in that hazy moment between consciousness and dreaming, I think, "At least I'm not Lord Rexington Fear."

[Paradox]

I DO NOT LIVE IN MY PARENTS' BASEMENT!!!!

I live in my own damned basement, thank you!!!

[Cephus]

You said somewhere that you collect figures, which you leave in their original packaging. You went on an angry rant about how SDCC wasn't about the comics anymore.

Yup, because I don't play with toys, I collect them. I collect stamps too but I don't stick them to things. That's why they're... say it with me... COLLECTABLES!

And yes, it's getting harder and harder to go to SDCC and pick up back issues, or collectables or most of the things I want to buy, it's little more than a dog and pony show and why go just to see people show off things you can't even buy?

Is there some problem with those?

I'm still in the 3-4 range, no matter how much you wish I wasn't.

[Cephus]

Add the part where he argues in circles on a comic book online forum.

Which is why I very rarely ever post in the actual comics forums, right? I only read one at the moment and it's rare when I bother to post anything.

Why are you people so insecure that you have to push everyone into being a comic book geek?

[StoneGold]

I won a contest.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

Yeah, I don't know why that's the one they chose for her profile picture. It's not like there's a shortage of hot pictures of her.

She looks hottest in the photos of her in real life, though.

Or if you can find a picture of her from last week's episode of "Weeds". Damn.

http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/gallery/i/d/deschanel/55383596.jpg

She is one funky looking chick.

Sarah Silverman/Selma Blair hot though.

[Pól Rua]

Hmm... do I fit the comic book stereotype...?
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f322/polrua/ComicShopGuy.jpg

Maybe just a touch...

[curefreak]

well i dont wear glasses tho i need to, and i suck at math so no on that front.
my luck with the ladies is not where it should be.
and i love sci fi and comic books more than most anything else.

and i dont live with my parents
so 50-50 on the stereotype meter?

[jaguarshark]

Hmm... do I fit the comic book stereotype...?
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f322/polrua/ComicShopGuy.jpg

Maybe just a touch...
Why, what a devilishly handsome man you are there, appearing in what must surely be an ultra-sophisticated magazine of exquisite taste and class. Verily, whoever wrote the article featuring your glowing countenance must be a God amongst men.

[jaguarshark]

Anyway, didn't we have a thread really similar to this a while ago? I'd give myself a 7 or an 8 for geekery... been reading comics for longer than I can literally remember, still have way too many of them taking up space, and am a proud Marvel and DC fanboy. I prefer collecting back issues and trades to newer issues, which I'm fairly certain adds to my geek level. And I absolutely love comic book movies and TV shows. Really, if it weren't for my great friends and beautiful girlfriend, it'd be kinda sad.

[Kid Omega]

Which is why I very rarely ever post in the actual comics forums, right? I only read one at the moment and it's rare when I bother to post anything.

Why are you people so insecure that you have to push everyone into being a comic book geek?

The most ferocious comic book geeks are typically the ones that refuse to accept that they are, in fact, geeks.

[Kid Omega]

Each night, as I'm drifting off to sleep, and confronting the darkest depths of my soul in that hazy moment between consciousness and dreaming, I think, "At least I'm not Lord Rexington Fear."

If he did not exist, we would have to invent him.

[Lone Ranger]

The most ferocious comic book geeks are typically the ones that refuse to accept that they are, in fact, geeks.

I have always embraced my inner geek, but I have always been surprised when some people seemed shocked, or perhaps embarassed for me, when they found out just how 'into' comics I am. Maybe I don't look like what they think a comic book geek should look like (I am trapped in a business suit 5 days a week).

It's like the still think the high school rules of Cool/Uncool still apply when you are in your 30s.

At the very least, I'd at least think people could appreciate it from a kitschy perspective.

Some people just need to lighten up.

[Ed Cunard]

If he did not exist, we would have to invent him.

That's that guy who sometimes shows up at a certain comic book shop for events, and kind of looks like the bastard offspring of a Dungeons and Dragons dwarf and Jon Lovitz?

[Dom]

I'm a giant geek.

It's not something I'm ashamed of or even hide. Hell, I proudly announce, as I will do tomorrow afternoon, that I'm leaving early to go pick up comics.

As for the stereotype, I'm with Scott. I'm trapped in a suit 5 says a week, I study a couple of nights a week as well. I don't own many comic shirts or other such stuff. I have glasses, but they're Armani, so it's cool.

I'm not out of shape or a socially inept, so I imagine in those respects I don't fit the stereotype.

But I do get worked up about comics. Animated is the best word, like when I was explaining why I didn't like Superman Returns or X3.

Otherwise, I blend in with the norms quite nicely.

[Cephus]

As for the stereotype, I'm with Scott. I'm trapped in a suit 5 says a week, I study a couple of nights a week as well. I don't own many comic shirts or other such stuff. I have glasses, but they're Armani, so it's cool.

I spend most of my week in a suit too, but on the weekends, I don't own a single comic book shirt, nor have I in many, many years. Outside of the comics I buy, the only comic-related stuff I have are the freebies I pick up at SDCC every year.

I'm not out of shape or a socially inept, so I imagine in those respects I don't fit the stereotype.

Same here.

But I do get worked up about comics. Animated is the best word, like when I was explaining why I didn't like Superman Returns or X3.

That's really where I diverge. I rarely ever get worked up about comics, it's like getting worked up over Harry Potter. It's just silly. My comic reading list has taken a complete nosedive in the past year or so, I've slashed my pull list in half and the ones I still get take me forever to get to. I just got my bi-monthly comics delivery and realized that I hadn't touched a single comic from the *LAST* delivery yet. And I didn't like Superman Returns of X3 either, not because they weren't like the comics, but because they were both bad movies. I couldn't care less about how "accurate" a movie remakes a comic book, they're two different animals.

Otherwise, I blend in with the norms quite nicely.

Careful, you'll have Kid Omega demanding that you can't possibly blend in, you're a geek.

[Kid Omega]

Careful, you'll have Kid Omega demanding that you can't possibly blend in, you're a geek.

Not at all. I imagine Dom is quite a cool individual.

[Dom]

Not at all. I imagine Dom is quite a cool individual.

And sexy.

Cool, sexy and Canadian.

[Ed Cunard]

And sexy.

Cool, sexy and Canadian.

A legend, even.

Well, an urban legend, at least.

[Kid Omega]

And sexy.

Cool, sexy and Canadian.

Comic legend Gary Panter once told me that Montreal was filled with the most beautiful women, and all of them had tattoos.

Anyone surrounded by such a thing would have to be cool themselves.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

A legend, even.

Well, an urban legend, at least.

Then explain why he's trapped in a business suit with Scott.

Or did I read that wrong?

[Ed Cunard]

Then explain why he's trapped in a business suit with Scott.

Or did I read that wrong?

Something you missed while you were away, I think.

[HomerJay]

I think we have one of these "I'm normal" self-affirmation threads every 6 months or so. My ungeeky traits:
- I moved out of my parents' house for good at the age of 21.
- I've been sexually active (with some dry spells) since the age of 16.
- I don't know the difference between manga & anime, nor do I care.
- I've never watched an episode of Star Trek, Dr. Who, Red Dwarf or Firefly.
- I'm married with 2 kids.
- I'm not grossly overweight, I have a good complexion, good teeth and good vision.
- People have actually heard of my top 5 favorite musicians.
- I believe in God and attend church regularly.
- I enjoy drinking beer.
- I lettered in 3 sports in high school.
- I enjoy watching sports.

[Lone Ranger]

Comic legend Gary Panter once told me that Montreal was filled with the most beautiful women, and all of them had tattoos.

Anyone surrounded by such a thing would have to be cool themselves.

While I was an undergrad at McGill in the early 90s - I was always shocked by how 'dressed up' and hot the female students looked for 8:30 AM classes.

It made me wish that I had ironed my flanel shirt.


I actually knew a few girls from Toronto and Vancouver who actually became hotter after living in Montreal for a few years.

[Dom]

Comic legend Gary Panter once told me that Montreal was filled with the most beautiful women, and all of them had tattoos.

Anyone surrounded by such a thing would have to be cool themselves.

The ugly women get tattoos of beautiful women.

It works out nicely.

[Dom]

Then explain why he's trapped in a business suit with Scott.

Or did I read that wrong?

Duh.

We saved money by sharing suits. It's just that we both wanted to wear the navy one today.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

- I've never watched an episode of Star Trek, Dr. Who, Red Dwarf or Firefly.


C'mon. Never seen an episode of Star Trek? Is that possible?

[Dreadstar]

The ugly women get tattoos of beautiful women.

It works out nicely.

???

Do they get the tattoos on their face?

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Something you missed while you were away, I think.

I miss quite a few things and I don't think it has anything to do with being away.

Duh.

We saved money by sharing suits. It's just that we both wanted to wear the navy one today.

How silly of me. Carry on.

[HomerJay]

C'mon. Never seen an episode of Star Trek? Is that possible?
Never from start to finish at least.

[Lone Ranger]

???

Do they get the tattoos on their face?

Sometimes it's just a sketch on the paper bag.

[Dom]

???

Do they get the tattoos on their face?

The ones I know have them on their upper chest or neck.

The reason is twofold.

1) The man actually has something nice to look at.

2) The ugly woman can pretend the man is actually paying attention to them.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

The ones I know have them on their upper chest or neck.

The reason is twofold.

1) The man actually has something nice to look at.

2) The ugly woman can pretend the man is actually paying attention to them.

Then answer me this: why do you have a tattoo of me on your back?

[Paradox]

HomerJay damns with faint praise:

I think we have one of these "I'm normal" self-affirmation threads every 6 months or so.

Good lord, WHY?

Normal??? I've never been so insulted in my life! :mad:

[jaguarshark]

Never from start to finish at least.
I haven't watched an episode for at least ten years, but then I heard something here today about an episode featuring aliens who speak only in metaphor, which, if true, sounds kinda awesome.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

C'mon. Never seen an episode of Star Trek? Is that possible?

I haven't.



I've watched around Star Trek. The shows the actors did before and after...but I've never seen an episode of any series of Star Trek.

[Dan Apodaca]

Yup, because I don't play with toys, I collect them. I collect stamps too but I don't stick them to things. That's why they're... say it with me... COLLECTABLES!

And yes, it's getting harder and harder to go to SDCC and pick up back issues, or collectables or most of the things I want to buy, it's little more than a dog and pony show and why go just to see people show off things you can't even buy?

Is there some problem with those?

No, not at all. That's my whole point. You don't need to pretend like you're not a geek. There's nothing wrong with it.

I'm still in the 3-4 range, no matter how much you wish I wasn't.

Yeah, that's it. It matters a whole lot to me how geeky you are or not.

Seems like it matters to you a whole lot, though. Why such shame?

[jaguarshark]

No, not at all. That's my whole point. You don't need to pretend like you're not a geek. There's nothing wrong with it.



Yeah, that's it. It matters a whole lot to me how geeky you are or not.

Seems like it matters to you a whole lot, though. Why such shame?
For every time that you protest 'I'm not a geek', your geek score goes up a little bit. And baby Jesus cries.

[Dan Apodaca]

For every time that you protest 'I'm not a geek', your geek score goes up a little bit. And baby Jesus cries.

Baby Jesus sounds like a nerd. I bet he likes math and shit.

[StoneGold]

Baby Jesus sounds like a nerd. I bet he likes math and shit.
Yeah, but math back then only went up to 41.

[Cephus]

No, not at all. That's my whole point. You don't need to pretend like you're not a geek. There's nothing wrong with it.

Of course there's nothing wrong with it. Who ever said that there was? I just said that I wasn't. Heck, there's nothing wrong with being gay either, I just don't happen to be.

Why make a big deal over expecting people to be geeky when clearly they don't fit the profile?

[jaguarshark]

Of course there's nothing wrong with it. Who ever said that there was? I just said that I wasn't. Heck, there's nothing wrong with being gay either, I just don't happen to be.

Why make a big deal over expecting people to be geeky when clearly they don't fit the profile?
I might have this all wrong, but isn't posting here part of the 'geeky' profile? Isn't it the profile, in and of itself? Seriously, if your profile was 'strappingly athletic firefighter/model/ex-gridiron player with a voice that makes the ladies purr," followed up with "... who posts on CBR," you'd still be a geek.

I don't mean geek in an offensive way, just in a 'somebody who has an interest in something considered slightly geeky' way. Most people are geeks for something.

[Cephus]

I might have this all wrong, but isn't posting here part of the 'geeky' profile? Isn't it the profile, in and of itself? Seriously, if your profile was 'strappingly athletic firefighter/model/ex-gridiron player with a voice that makes the ladies purr," followed up with "... who posts on CBR," you'd still be a geek.

Anyone who had that in their profile has problems anyhow IMO.

And heck, I post to a comic forum. For the longest time I posted to an RPG forum. Of course, I never talked gaming, I just didn't care, but they had a good debate section. I also post to a couple religion and politics forums. It's just words on a screen, posting on a religion forum doesn't make me religious, posting here doesn't make me a geek. It's the content, not the existence, that matters.

[The Batman]

Obviously I'm a geek, I don't know how high on the scale I'd be. I figure about a 6 or a 7. I mean I'm really into comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, animation and so on but I'm also big into history, movies, music and cooking.

I do post alot on messageboards but I don't spend alot of time arguing with people in the comic shop. Most of my time there is spent talking with the owner about their farm, my grandfather, or what's going on in the world. I'm not into RPG's but I do have a few action figures. Out of the package of course, how else am I supposed to play with them? I go to comicons but don't dress up. Though I must say some of the costumes there are pretty neat. I can't stand Lord of the Rings, Firefly, Xena, Hercules, or any of that stuff but I like Battlestar Galactica.

Comics and Star Wars and all that is a big part of my life but it's not my life. I'm really good at compartmentalizing my life and I'm not someone who imposes my hobbies and interests on other people. I don't hide my geekiness but I know that not everyone is interested in talking about what Batman is up to this month, the various interpretations of Anakin Skywalker's turn to the Dark Side, or why the original Star Trek is awesome. I do the same thing with music or movies or cooking or going to the bar on the weekend.

I just wish that people wouldn't react so much when I tell them that I'm not into sports that much. I've played football in highshool and I love road hockey and soccer but I just can't follow professional sports that closely.
People still insist on talking about with me though complete with stats and everything.

And we're called geeks.

[Dan Apodaca]

Why make a big deal over expecting people to be geeky when clearly they don't fit the profile?

Because you clearly do. Sorry if you have some problem accepting that.

[Paradox]

Since geek in this context merely means "hobbyist with more than the average amount of enthusiasm", I never really took it as an insult, anyway. Most people have some kind of geekery going on, it's just they don't lable it such. That guy spending 6-10 hours a day working on his hot rod is just as geeky as comic geeks, he just won't see it that way.

[The Batman]

Yeah the cultural definition of geek has very little to do with actual behaviour it seems but rather what that behaviour is focused around. Wear a jersey and go to every home game and you're a dedicated fan or a 'sports nut' and perfectly socially acceptable; wear a Green Lantern t-shirt and go get comics every wednesday and you're a geek and an outcast.

It seems to me that if you're going to post on a messageboard and get alot of action figures and leave them in the box you're a geek. So am I. In fact, we pretty much all are and I think that there's nothing wrong with that.

[G. Wayne]

...That guy spending 6-10 hours a day working on his hot rod is just as geeky as comic geeks, he just won't see it that way.

Generally speaking though, I think working on your own hot rod ranks significantly higher on the scale of Publicly Acceptable Things for Grown Persons To Do than collecting/reading comics. Or following Star Wars or collecting figures or whatever. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those hobbies, (though one of my own personal hells will be an endless garage of cars I need to fix. And I can't fix cars.) Goes back to the belief of comics being for kids, which is where I think the "geek" thing comes into play.

[Paradox]

OK, switch it to "that fifty year old woman collecting Beanie Babies".

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

I haven't watched an episode for at least ten years, but then I heard something here today about an episode featuring aliens who speak only in metaphor, which, if true, sounds kinda awesome.

OH, that was a great episode! It's ST:TNG and the episode was called "Darmok." Picard is kidnapped by his opposing number, a member of a race called the "Children of Tama" and transported to the surface of a nearby planet where they face a common danger. Picard hypothesizes that the alien's incomprehensible language is in fact a series of metaphors based on his culture's history and that the Tamarians communicate through stories and examples. Picard tells him the Babylonian story of Gilgamesh...



Oh, crap.