Who Wants to be a Geek?

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Why would anyone want to condone this lowbrow show? It's an insult to intelligence and to commonsense. Shows like this are an indictment to the society we are living in and only serve to make the cause of science one of ridicule.

totally agree

[TrevorW]

I'm to handsome to be a geek

[Varangian (John)]

Surely if you're into astronomy you're a geek!

As a perceived non-geek for many years (playing AFL) I can say with 100% surety that perceived non-geeks would definately perceive amateur astronomers as geeks.

I think everyone outside the sciences perceive amateur astronomers as geeks.

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I'm old enough to split myself in two and enter as both a Beauty and a Geek

(And still have enough of me left to throw in a precocious child as well!)

[Astro_Bot]

Maybe what we need is a Geek Pride parade.

[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Anecdote 1 :
Years ago, I was stationed in Darwin, and founded the Darwin Astronomy Group. We had set up a couple of 'scopes right in front of the cinema, for a public star party:

I was very happy because I had got this British girl's keen interest, seemingly both in astronomy and in me!!

However, after I had spoken for a while about astronomy, she exclaimed, rather dismissively:

"You're just like Patrick Moore!"

Anecdote 2:

Unfortunately, astronomers can sometimes have an image problem. I know that a friend of mine (male gender), who is very presentable in looks and who has an affable and urbane manner in a 'publicly acceptable way', used to set up his telescope regularly along a well-frequented street in Darwin. For the most part, despite the many females that turned up to look through his telescope, he never 'got the girl'.

Anecdote 3:
Just try telling a prospective romantic partner : "I do science for a hobby, and most of my hobbies are scientific"
This is probably the worst thing you can say in this situation!!
If I had said "I am a bi-sexual punk poet who dances naked in a vat of baked beans", instead of saying that I do science, I would have had greater success with the girls!
_______________________________

Madbadgalaxyman's comment of the day (seriously now):
Much of human behaviour depends on mere 'stimulus and response'/
In this, we are not so different from other animals.
Those who get on with other people, or who 'get the girl' or 'get the boy', have simply learned to provide the appropriate stimuli in a social situation. People with scientific hobbies, or who are very learned, find it difficult to do this.

NOTE ADDED in EDIT:
I am sorry to say, but intellectual is not sexy, in our society. If it was, the girls would be flocking to my harem just to listen to my substantial accumulated knowledge in several different sciences.

[Varangian (John)]

Good post Robert.

Originally Posted by madbadgalaxyman

Anecdote 1 :
Years ago, I was stationed in Darwin, and founded the Darwin Astronomy Group. We had set up a couple of 'scopes right in front of the cinema, for a public star party:

I was very happy because I had got this British girl's keen interest, seemingly both in astronomy and in me!!

However, after I had spoken for a while about astronomy, she exclaimed, rather dismissively:

"You're just like Patrick Moore!"

Anecdote 2:

Unfortunately, astronomers can sometimes have an image problem. I know that a friend of mine (male gender), who is very presentable in looks and who has an affable and urbane manner in a 'publicly acceptable way', used to set up his telescope regularly along a well-frequented street in Darwin. For the most part, despite the many females that turned up to look through his telescope, he never 'got the girl'.

Anecdote 3:
Just try telling a prospective romantic partner : "I do science for a hobby, and most of my hobbies are scientific"
This is probably the worst thing you can say in this situation!!
If I had said "I am a bi-sexual punk poet who dances naked in a vat of baked beans", instead of saying that I do science, I would have had greater success with the girls!
_______________________________

Madbadgalaxyman's comment of the day (seriously now):
Much of human behaviour depends on mere 'stimulus and response'/
In this, we are not so different from other animals.
Those who get on with other people, or who 'get the girl' or 'get the boy', have simply learned to provide the appropriate stimuli in a social situation. People with scientific hobbies, or who are very learned, find it difficult to do this.

[Steffen]

Who can resist a vat of baked beans...

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Who can resist a vat of baked beans...

Dancing in them might attract girls, but eating them won't

[scagman (John)]

I think Shane Warne may not agree with this.

Originally Posted by RickS

Dancing in them might attract girls, but eating them won't