Five reasons I'm not a geek
A geek, as I define it, is a person who lives and breathes computers. Geeks have no outside loves (outside of the computer or outside of their room). Once in a while I will get in a conversation with a geek who expects me to be like him since I work on computers all day. Alas, I he quickly discovers that I am not a geek and he is thoroughly confused.
Here are five reasons that I am not a geek:
1. I have always been social. I love talking with people. Even if I have nothing in common them, I prefer to work around people. I think of my computer fixing job as helping people with understanding their computers, not fixing computers to work for people.
2. I have had a steady stream of girlfriends since the first grade; until I got married that is. My first girlfriend was Melissa, then Janellle, then Pilar, then in second grade it was Kim, I could go on, but I think I have proved my point.
3. I don't care much for computers. As I said in #1, helping people is the most rewarding part of my job. The fact that I am helping them with their computer is just the niche I have found.
4. My family comes first. I will drop whatever I am doing to help my wife with the kids or help the kids with homework. We have already been on two short trips this summer and have a few more planned. The time I spend on the computer is work time. Playtime and hobbies have little to do with the computer.
5. I always opt to speak in analogies and layman's terms. I don't like techno-jargon. I prefer to call RAM temporary memory or thinking memory. I don't ask people questions like, "What version of Windows are you using?" I just ask, "What does the screen look like when you first turn on your computer?" I don't want people to be afraid of their computers. They are a wondeful tool but nothing about a computer is intuitive. Simple, yet incomplete explainations are always better than complete definitions and tech words.
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Computer geek not the same as computer nerd
I would have to disagree with you on your definition of geek; it looks like you're considering a geek a computer-centric type of nerd. While nerds are socially inept, intellectual, and yes, usually good with computers, I would say a geek is someone passionate about computers but is otherwise similar to "mainstream" society, may not have problems socially or with the opposite sex, and probably enjoys lots of other activities and hobbies besides "hacking" (which to a geek means having fun on computers, not doing illegal things, that's called "cracking"). When I hear the work geek I assume computers, but the word can be used to describe someone into other things, for example a comic book geek.
I would say though that you're right in not considering yourself one, if computers are only ever work then yes, you're not a full on geek, but I get the feeling you're "walking the line" :) That's great though, as it puts you in a good position to help folks without intimidating or making them feel stupid, which unfortunately geeks sometimes do, albeit unintentionally. The same thing happens in other fields; ever talk to an auto mechanic who made you feel like the world's biggest idiot?
I must agree
That is a very well thought out response. I must agree that we have been using the term geek all wrong. Perhaps it would be best to say that we are not geeks, but we are nerds. But we aren't computer nerds. Justs regular nerds who know a lot about computers. However, we are social nerds. Can such a thing exist?
Flexibility is good marketing
What's so cool about you guys is that, in addition to your simplification-friendly attitude, you are flexible enough able to speak "intermediate geek" with computer users who actually do want to learn more than "see Spot run." Personally, I don't mind techno jargon at all. In fact I have a geek dictionary and want to learn whatever I need to know to be able to talk to technical support in a way they can understand a problem clearly. At the same time, I like to take notes (in your classes) in "Simple Simon" for cross referencing with "geekspeak."
I might like to know a geek like Kevin Mitnick just because I think he's probably an interesting person with interesting experiences (5 years in jail without so much as being charged — just for knowing more about computers and the telephone system than the control freaks who call themselves "government" — good old American due process) and an invaluable resource in some areas. But a huge part of you guys' overall charm and marketability is precisely that you enjoy working with people so much, and you are NOT Kevin Mitnick or Bill Gates. It's much less intimidating to ask for help from real people than from geeks. Besides, many geeks couldn't teach their way out of a wet paper bag.
Speaking strictly for myself, I'm glad you're not geeks!
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