I've always thought of myself as somewhat of a geek, but it turns out that I'm probably just nerdy. I am now confirmed in my non-geekiness, because I don't now have, and never in my life have had, any of these hobbies.

[via Geek Press]

That article was just an attempt by geek-haters to reimpose the negative stereotypes on geekiness that we have worked for years to overturn.

Also, there are different classes of Geeks. But I don't fit this very closely either.

10. Comic Books

I read them very rarely. The problem is that I would be finished reading them practically before I started. Books lasted MUCH longer. I have nothing against animated shows with reasonably mature content (Anime or otherwise) however. I can't take Kiddie shows though.

9. Role Playing Games

Played some during college, but it wasn't that long.

8. Scrapbooking

No.

7. Star Wars

I loved the original movie for the then original special effects, but it isn't really science fiction, and I wasn't that impressed with anything after the first movie.

6. Vampirism

A flat "No", but with my extremely white and easily burned skin, my sleeping habits, and given that I justifiably avoid direct sunlight, I certainly have been accused of being a vampire.

5. Collectible Card Games

I think this is discrimination against older Geeks. Or at least, I don't remember that being a big deal until recently.

4. Everquest

I keep meaning to try it ... but I've played plenty of computer games, including multi user. Again, too recent and too specific.

3. Star Trek

I am a Science Fiction nut. I am not a Trekker. Yes, I can discuss Star Trek in incredibly annoying detail, but only because, as a Science Fiction Loony, I am expected to know such things. I don't go to Trek conventions, and I don't dress in Trekish clothing.

I'm a bit annoyed they didn't mention B5. I've never gone to a B5 convention either, but I bought all the DVDs. I *REALLY* did like that show.

2. Furries.

Yer Kidding, right? Anyway, "NO."

1. Live Action Role Playing (LARP)

We used to do this when I was a kid, and called it "Cowboys and Indians." Of course, that isn't PC these days. So, yes, but I haven't done it for a LONG time.

Woah... 8 out of the 10 I've been involved with some variant of at some point in my life. In my experience, I think a large number of them apply to the majority of students both at Caltech and Carnegie Mellon (at least for the CS program).

I still consider myself much more of a nerd than a geek, though.

..thats the kind of open minded caring journalism I like. I am not now nor have I ever been in any of those but what ever happened to liberal touchy feely journalism. This jock wanna be, upper echelon, white bread crap is even worse.

Who is Seanbaby and what does he do for fun or hobbie? I expect he's some frat rat, mommies boy, with a "Barbie" girlfriend, soon to be wife, who spends every weekend drunk, puke stinking, filthy and oh by the way probably rich.

Public Humiliation: why o % of course,

Mummy would never allow it, just EVERYONE wants to be her little Seanbaby

Damage to Sex Life: why o % of course,

Mummy won't allow it, this article will ACTUALLY get Seanbaby laid by his girlfriends roommate, Mindy. Who always KNEW Seanbaby was a literary giant.

Distinguishing Characteristics His ass on his shoulders becasue thats the way Mummy and Daddy love him.

He's pissed at the computer techs in the office because they make more than he does and control which speed laptop he gets next. Given his level of writing, take his computer and give him some paper and crayons.

The Wave Style Feature:

Sport watches to make you feel, well, sporty.

PULLEASE!!

Hey hobbyists, be a sport, join the Society For Creative Anachronism, storm their offices, burn Seanbaby at the stake.

Post pictures, I lied about my hobby, I like to watch!!

Count me in for Trek, Star Wars, and (in my youth) RPGs.

What, blogging isn't on the list?

I've done my fair share of Role Playing Games and Star Wars worship. I usually played D&D but also played a lot of Shadowrun. I Star Wars worship reached an all time geek high when I was actually part of that group of people that thinks its a good idea to camp out in line for a movie 6 weeks before it actually premieres. Although I was the 11th person in line for the very first showing of Episode I here in Dallas. I will note that I waited a month after the release of the Episode II before I went to see it.

A couple of times I went with a friend of mine out into the local area parks where uber geeks congregate to play Amtgard live action roleplaying. Amtgard is a medieval knights and wizards roleplaying game where people run around in a city park hitting eachother with foam padded swords. Pretend wizards hurl "fireball" spells who's components consisted of a tennis ball inside of orange sock. To invoke the spell the caster would have to loudly proclaim the chant, "FIREBALL FIREBALL FIREBALL FIREBALL FIREBALL!!!" to charge up the spell. I don't know whats more funny: whether to watch a complete geek try to even throw a ball or to watch one geek pretending to be a warrior running around with a huge padded sword after another geek screaming the word fireball over and over.

I believe they have the terms reversed. I have always thought the "Nerds" where the guys that had all the wierd hobbies. Where as the "Geeks" where locked in the basement trying to figure out how to make a cube rotate smoothly using only CGA graphics and a 4.77 MHz XT. I mean a Geek loves StarWars and StarTrek BUT... it is not a requirement. My Dad is a geek but he was a Geek in the '60 not what we would call an internet geek. My Mom however is a nerd. She has no tech knowlege but has many strange hobbies and antisocial behavors. Nerds and Geeks have been around for a long time and do have generation gaps much like other (music) cultures.

I've given up on worrying about the terminology. We used to use the term "Hacker" for those of us that were working out hidden capabilities and pushing computers to their limits. But the press got ahold of the term and ruined it. I don't even try to figure out what the appropriate terms are today.

Considering the amount of sex which I witnessed and/or participated in at RPG conventions, I find the "78%" figure somewhat suspect...