Attacking the Darkness
A metrosexual is a man that is very aware of his appearance, occupies himself with cosmopolitan culture and concerns, and is steeped in having dimunitive Asian women file down their manly rough edges.
There is a new animal out on our streets. They are steeped in the world of the internet, iPods, blogs, video games, scifi and fantasy.
I give you the technosexual.
Earliest Citation: "With metrosexuality, it's about style, fashion, culture, and grooming for the straight male. A metrosexual man may be seen at an NBA game one night and an art gallery opening the next," says Ricky Montalvo, the man who wants to take technosexuals mainstream. "We take it one step further by adding technology. A technosexual man may not need to go to the NBA game because he can get highlights and scores via SMS or by browsing the web on his PDA while at the art gallery."—Katharine Miller, "Enter the Technosexual," AlterNet, March 8, 2004
For the first time in our lives, it's hip to be square.
Those of us who are caught up by everything that technology has to offer are in an interesting position, these days. A position of honor, some times. A position of power, others. Respect and deference are given today when not long ago, it was preceded by contempt and ridicule. You see, possibly the greatest subtle transfer of power that we've seen in generations has occurred, and many people don't even realize it.
You may have been Mister Popularity in high school. Miss Thing in your college sorority. You may very well have that same teenage mojo working to this very day, and chances are if you do, you are currently or have recently been beholden to one of the geeks of high school. May not have been anyone that you went to school with, personally, but somebody in your Grand Brotherhood of Suave used to poke fun of the IT guy that just saved your ass by recovering that Powerpoint presentation you were scared to death you lost. He was *somebody's* geek, and he's your hero now. Yeah, your SysOp is awkward, and mousy compared to the bronze-skinned, six-pack abs, cheerleading standard you were taught to hold up. Yet there is a place in her universe where she is feared and respected, and that perspective is wholly dependent on which part of her sword is closest- the handle or the blade.
By and large, the geek community has won the cultural lottery. For ther first time in our lives, those of us that were once outcasts are now rapidly approaching mainstream at lightspeed. I'm sure that the dotcommer millionaires helped solidify this acceptance. More accurately, mainstream is coming to us. And we're loving every minute of it.
Some recent activity on the Pod People forums has gotten me back to brass tacks, when it comes to my personal philosophy of being true to one's self. It all started when I told the story of not too long ago when I referred to myself as "Echuta" in a meeting at work. "Ben wants to volunteer for that, I think," somebody said. "Oh, no he doesn't," I replied, "Echuta is tired."
"Who?"
"Echuta. Oh, hell. Me."
"Who's Echuta?"
"I am. I- Nevermind. I was up late."
Over the years, I'd just gotten sick and tired of yahoos that figured they cornered the market on "cool" thinking that whatever they happen to be interested in, be it the stock market, NASCAR, hockey, Oprah, People Magazine, etc. that it's inherently superior to those things that the typical "geek" says and does. The whole reason they can go back online and check their stocks' performance or find out what remote African hole Brangelina are trying to save from itself is because we're the ones that fixed their blasted computer. Or brought their internet connection back from the brink of oblivion. I'd decided that whatever I say and do was going to be my barometer of what is hip, and I'm not going to suffer anyone else's superiority complex just because I get a kick out of folks swinging lightsabers. In my own sphere of influence, I've gradually trained those around me to grant the whole of geekdom at least a second glance as approaching "normal." For their effort, they also know that I'm going to give them the same wide berth that they've been kind enough to afford me. It becomes a relationship of respect. I'm not going to judge what you do, because you know that I'm sure as hell not going to tolerate your judging my interests.
This is why I've gotten so brazen about emailing people in my company "Haha, ded fone," and such, because smug people smell fear. If you hesitate even for a second, when somebody at work asks you what you have planned for tonight- they win. Think about this for a second. If they go first, then they're headed to the movies, or likely going to be watching tv. So they tell you, and out of pseudo-courtesy, they ask you. You have a choice at this point. You could say, "Oh, I dunno. Maybe go do something, or maybe play on the computer." Whatever. You're doing the same thing they are. Now, rewind that exchange, and grab hold of the opportunity:
Co-worker: "I think I'm going to get caught up on Desperate Housewives this weekend. What are you doing tonight?"
You: "I'm getting together with about 40 folks in my Warcraft guild and we're going to continue marching through the underground lair of Ragnaros the Firelord, pwning everything that moves."
Your plans are inherently more exciting, just talking about it. Even if they have no clue what Warcraft is, they're left with the impression that you are going to be having far more fun. Granted, it's not a competition. The thing to keep in mind, is that everybody's a geek about something. Yes, by many standards, we have stereotypical geek interests, but there's no reason to go silently into the night with it.
Here's your homework for next week. Nope, start today. There's still plenty of time. Greet somebody at the coffee machine with "Zug zug" one morning. Toss in a "Dark lady watch over you" as you wrap up a chat with a co-worker at their cube. Give your best friend a "May your blades never dull" when they get ready to hang up the phone. There's no need to be obnoxious about it- just let it flavor your interactions with other folks. It's already part of who you are, now spread the love. If the stigma is ever going to end, then it starts here, and it starts now.
Pwn up to who you are.
_________________
There is a new animal out on our streets. They are steeped in the world of the internet, iPods, blogs, video games, scifi and fantasy.
I give you the technosexual.
Earliest Citation: "With metrosexuality, it's about style, fashion, culture, and grooming for the straight male. A metrosexual man may be seen at an NBA game one night and an art gallery opening the next," says Ricky Montalvo, the man who wants to take technosexuals mainstream. "We take it one step further by adding technology. A technosexual man may not need to go to the NBA game because he can get highlights and scores via SMS or by browsing the web on his PDA while at the art gallery."—Katharine Miller, "Enter the Technosexual," AlterNet, March 8, 2004
For the first time in our lives, it's hip to be square.
Those of us who are caught up by everything that technology has to offer are in an interesting position, these days. A position of honor, some times. A position of power, others. Respect and deference are given today when not long ago, it was preceded by contempt and ridicule. You see, possibly the greatest subtle transfer of power that we've seen in generations has occurred, and many people don't even realize it.
You may have been Mister Popularity in high school. Miss Thing in your college sorority. You may very well have that same teenage mojo working to this very day, and chances are if you do, you are currently or have recently been beholden to one of the geeks of high school. May not have been anyone that you went to school with, personally, but somebody in your Grand Brotherhood of Suave used to poke fun of the IT guy that just saved your ass by recovering that Powerpoint presentation you were scared to death you lost. He was *somebody's* geek, and he's your hero now. Yeah, your SysOp is awkward, and mousy compared to the bronze-skinned, six-pack abs, cheerleading standard you were taught to hold up. Yet there is a place in her universe where she is feared and respected, and that perspective is wholly dependent on which part of her sword is closest- the handle or the blade.
By and large, the geek community has won the cultural lottery. For ther first time in our lives, those of us that were once outcasts are now rapidly approaching mainstream at lightspeed. I'm sure that the dotcommer millionaires helped solidify this acceptance. More accurately, mainstream is coming to us. And we're loving every minute of it.
Some recent activity on the Pod People forums has gotten me back to brass tacks, when it comes to my personal philosophy of being true to one's self. It all started when I told the story of not too long ago when I referred to myself as "Echuta" in a meeting at work. "Ben wants to volunteer for that, I think," somebody said. "Oh, no he doesn't," I replied, "Echuta is tired."
"Who?"
"Echuta. Oh, hell. Me."
"Who's Echuta?"
"I am. I- Nevermind. I was up late."
Over the years, I'd just gotten sick and tired of yahoos that figured they cornered the market on "cool" thinking that whatever they happen to be interested in, be it the stock market, NASCAR, hockey, Oprah, People Magazine, etc. that it's inherently superior to those things that the typical "geek" says and does. The whole reason they can go back online and check their stocks' performance or find out what remote African hole Brangelina are trying to save from itself is because we're the ones that fixed their blasted computer. Or brought their internet connection back from the brink of oblivion. I'd decided that whatever I say and do was going to be my barometer of what is hip, and I'm not going to suffer anyone else's superiority complex just because I get a kick out of folks swinging lightsabers. In my own sphere of influence, I've gradually trained those around me to grant the whole of geekdom at least a second glance as approaching "normal." For their effort, they also know that I'm going to give them the same wide berth that they've been kind enough to afford me. It becomes a relationship of respect. I'm not going to judge what you do, because you know that I'm sure as hell not going to tolerate your judging my interests.
This is why I've gotten so brazen about emailing people in my company "Haha, ded fone," and such, because smug people smell fear. If you hesitate even for a second, when somebody at work asks you what you have planned for tonight- they win. Think about this for a second. If they go first, then they're headed to the movies, or likely going to be watching tv. So they tell you, and out of pseudo-courtesy, they ask you. You have a choice at this point. You could say, "Oh, I dunno. Maybe go do something, or maybe play on the computer." Whatever. You're doing the same thing they are. Now, rewind that exchange, and grab hold of the opportunity:
Co-worker: "I think I'm going to get caught up on Desperate Housewives this weekend. What are you doing tonight?"
You: "I'm getting together with about 40 folks in my Warcraft guild and we're going to continue marching through the underground lair of Ragnaros the Firelord, pwning everything that moves."
Your plans are inherently more exciting, just talking about it. Even if they have no clue what Warcraft is, they're left with the impression that you are going to be having far more fun. Granted, it's not a competition. The thing to keep in mind, is that everybody's a geek about something. Yes, by many standards, we have stereotypical geek interests, but there's no reason to go silently into the night with it.
Here's your homework for next week. Nope, start today. There's still plenty of time. Greet somebody at the coffee machine with "Zug zug" one morning. Toss in a "Dark lady watch over you" as you wrap up a chat with a co-worker at their cube. Give your best friend a "May your blades never dull" when they get ready to hang up the phone. There's no need to be obnoxious about it- just let it flavor your interactions with other folks. It's already part of who you are, now spread the love. If the stigma is ever going to end, then it starts here, and it starts now.
Pwn up to who you are.
_________________
posted by Voice by Ben at 12:52 PM
2 Comments:
Dude, power to you man. That was awesome.
Your discussion totally reminds me of a T-shirt a friend of mine had: 'I was a geek before it was cool.'
And I was. And apparently you were too. And no, I probably won't greet my wife with 'Zug Zug' tomorrow morning while I'm getting coffee.
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