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09/21/2005: "I'M A GEEK!"
This afternoon we had a joint b-day party between the library staff and our computing (Information Technology) department. I came in late so only the IT folks were left and they were having two separate techie conversations so I said (as a joke)
Me: “Boy, your conversations are boring!”
IT Director: “I’d take offense to that except I know you’re a Geek too”.
Me: “In my secret heart of hearts I probably am”
IT Director: “I don’t think it’s much of a secret”.
Me: (internal dialog) Yeah! At long last!!!
Achieving geek status is one of the highest compliments in the IT universe. Of course, I can only assume that he meant definition number 1.
1. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.” (compliment)
And not number 2.
2. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken. (not a compliment in *most* situations)
Speaking of which, one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read was called Geek Love “The premise is bizarre. Art and Lily, owners of Binewski's Fabulon, a traveling carnival, decide to breed their own freak show by creating genetically altered children through the use of experimental drugs.” (from Publisher’s Weekly)
BTW, I'm signed up to be one of WestHost's beta testers for Perl 5.8.7 and if I give feedback on all the required applications I get this sufficiently geeky t-shirt. You know you want one!