First, did you notice I’m actually keeping to my Blog promise? One a week, I’m right on pace! Yay for me!
Okay, now on to the actual blog itself. Though, admittedly, I’m having a hard time because my husband is watching one of our favorite shows… Big Bang Theory. Why do I love this show so much? Because, at least once a week, I get to fully embrace my inner Geek; the piece of me very few people know. The part that loves playing Trivial Pursuit, reading/watching/talking about Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Matrix, and Star Trek (well, the Next Generation and the movie with Chris Pine).
I always find the reactions of others so amusing when they learn about my quick, and frankly twisted, sense of humor. You should see their shocked faces when I rattle off an inappropriate – though usually well-timed and suitably subtle- joke, the plot of some off-beat sci-fi story or finish the lines from movies like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz (no, that’s not an ‘adult’ movie), Airplane and Monty Python (yes, sometimes I attempt them with a British accent, and yes, it’s brutal).
I’m not sure why these characteristics throw people off, but I have suspicions – and they have to do with stereotypes.
Now for the deep part of this blog… for good or bad, everyone falls into a stereotype. But in today’s world, this phrase has become loaded. It’s almost always accompanied with descriptions of race, wealth, religion, and geographic location. And we use them to define a person, judge without getting to know or understand who they are.
But in reality, not all stereotypes are damaging (especially if you can laugh at yourself) and, frankly, they add a little spice to life.
Take me for example. Upon first impression, I’m really just a grown up version of who I was in high-school /college (ok, maybe softer and wider, but my personality is pretty much same) – a bubbly, excitable, smiley person who loves to joke around and have fun. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever surprised anyone with the knowledge I was a athlete, cheerleader, in student leadership, and the ‘teacher’s pet.’
But when my dark humor slips out, or when I accidently bestow some bizarre, random piece of trivia that really no one should know, they pause. You can see it on their face: “How could this short, hyper, blonde marketing manager, with an obnoxious amount of energy, know THAT!”
Gotcha…
But, in all honesty, I didn’t truly understand this until just recently. I just kind of thought, well knew, I was weird. Then I participated in a long, spirited conversation with a few co-workers on the intrinsic qualities of a Geek, Dork, and Dweeb. So who we're we... really?
Thankfully, someone already took the time to research the topic, saving us, and my fellow Geeks, countless hours researching, arguing, and gathering useless data we would have found fascinating.
So, after a little digging and a lot of inner reflection, I can honestly announce… I AM A GEEK and I’m absolutely proud of it.
But the real question is… what are you? http://www.buzzfeed.com/scott/nerd-venn-diagram
(from your sister...not Scott whom is in the picture of course). ;0)
ReplyDeleteDad calls me a Dork. He even yelled it out loud at a soccer game once. Then some woman gave him the "stink eye" and asked him why he would call his daughter a "horses penis". Hmmmm, I'm guessing that's not the true definition of a "dork", but I'll have to check out the website to be sure. :0)
And also, don't forget another part of your personality, the "don't mess with me or anyone in my family or I'll kick you're a%%". I personally like seeing that side of you come out. Oh and the EXTREMELY GENEROUS side of you too. I've been blessed to have been wittness, and recepient to this side of you as well.
Love you GEEK!