This study is going to be significant from the standpoint of OS development and the inability of governments to ‘stem the flow of information’. Most, if not all, of the people in this survey want only a “turn key” solution for their computer activities.
Study Shatters Geek Image
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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16 Comments
2004-01-25 5:26 pm
2004-01-26 10:10 am
2004-01-26 12:53 pm
No geek image was really shattered. Or, it depends on your viewpoint and definition of “geek” really. I’d say the study mostly focused on “normal people who are avid computer users”. If you want a study that won’t shatter the geek image, then get the names of the people who contribute to OSS projects and ask them to take a similar survey.
Yeah, everyone has known for a long time that most people want a “turn key” or “just works” solution for everything. This is no news. Ever since the days of graphical installers on Linux distros, this has been an important goal.
Hell, most computer users are teens who just sit on MSN or IRC and “socialise with friends” as the article so nicely put it. They are definetly no geeks. Being able to use a browser does not make one a geek.
Maybe I’m just tired because it’s 3:30am and I just spent about six hours “not shattering the geek image”, but this constant… mislabelling just pisses me off.
And the rest is no better than the spin/propaganda junk one finds on pay TV. Other than sports events (playoffs) I can’t see any reason to watch TV, it’s a waste of time. Maybe the high powered geeks are the only ones left with a chance of possessing some sort of free will anymore.
Seeing as how both this story and the story it links to neglected to link to the actual report, it can be found here: http://www.worldinternetproject.net/ (links on the right).
Geeks and Linux is no good for us. Next time I meet a Linux user, I will
…as a Rogers user, you’re more likely to get your account merde-canned for hitting their “invisible bandwidth limit” than actually encountering someone who uses linux.
“…as a Rogers user, you’re more likely to get your account merde-canned for hitting their “invisible bandwidth limit” than actually encountering someone who uses linux.”
That’s funny, everyone i know/work with uses linux in some way, shape or form. From just surfing to developement….
😉 So the internet is common knowledge now. That still leaves programming hehe, thats sitll left for the common geek. How about command line; that one will always be in geek territory. Its a pitty that for most people its a no brainer adding parts to computers so thats pretty much taken away from geeks as bragging rights. Theres always something for geeks though so I guess its no worries.
My image! It is shattered! Aieee! I’m melting!
Seriously, I think stereotypical geeks are a fiction that exist only in peoples’ minds and at D&D Tournaments (those are I fiction too — the thought of one is too scary for them to be real!) As a result of going to tech schools since 9th grade, I know a *lot* of geeks. Some are as likely to be rock climbing as case-modding. Others are as likely to be writing fiction as code. My personal weakness is European history (on second thought, maybe that’s completely geeky too!)
So articles like this don’t make a whole lot of sense to me. It would if geeks were this monolithic group of people that behave the same, but they are not!
You are right. At this rate, you’ll have to be a kernel hacker to have any geek cred around here!
Well, take the “official” geek test; that’s the only way to know for sure. Fortunately, their version of a geek focuses on Star Trek and role-playing, so I didn’t score too high (12.6%).
http://www.innergeek.us/geek.html
That quiz sucks. My score of 21.5% barely made it to the second category (geek). I’m much geekier than that! They should give me 10 points for having built an anti-gravity machine in class
PS> No, its not a real anti-gravity machine! But its more impressive to impressionable young people when you call it that. And, it involves opening up a monitor and running 20,000 volts through bare wire!
http://www.americanantigravity.com
Other than my job, my life revolves around my computer. It is my TV, music machine, gaming console, research platform, and experimenting area. Why should I have to work physically to “enjoy” myself, when I work all day, and get paid for it? I know basic automotive up to replacing a transmission, but I only do it so I can get to town to work, and not for fun. I know audio, but that is because I enjoy a nice sound on my 45 mile round trip to town and back. If I am not at work, I am at the store getting food, when I am not doing that, I am driving, when I am not doing that, I am at home either carrying out the requirements of life, or sitting in front of my computer. No need for a GF anyhow, they just end up costing money anyhow. As for friends, I have 2 of them, and we mainly communicate by telephone, email, and IM services. This little $1800 custom biult box of electronics is my life.
Well, take the “official” geek test; that’s the only way to know for sure. Fortunately, their version of a geek focuses on Star Trek and role-playing, so I didn’t score too high (12.6%).