Re: Memetic defense

Geoff Smith (geoffs@unixg.ubc.ca)
Wed, 29 Jul 1998 22:41:09 -0700

Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> wrote:

> I think Natasha is right to call those antagonistic memes, but
> I proudly call myself a "geek", and seek to instill implications
> of intelligence, resourcefulness, power, and industry into the
> word to combat (or at least supplement) its connotations of
> social ineptitude and pedantry.

A geek is someone who eats live animals. I'm not so sure this word is worth reclaiming.(unless you're geekier than I thought ;-)

> An amusing example of that is
> when a stripper once asked my occupation in casual conversation,
> I told her "I'm a computer geek". She asked why I would insult
> myself like that...while she was at the time wearing a leather
> dog collar with "slut" spelled in rhinestones.
>
> Well, she was proud of being a professional slut, and should be;
> she was quite good at it. Just as I am an excellent geek, and Max
> is a top-notch philosopher. Perhaps we can help restore some
> positive connotations to that epithet one day.

I'd prefer to reclaim "nerd" myself.

Geoff.