Background:
(I have not reviewed this article yet so there may be spelling/grammatical errors. Please ignore them for now.)
First, here's a little background on where I got the idea for this little editorial. I was sitting in a class one day (middle of March 2003 sometime) and to start the day's lecture, the professor goes on this 30-minute rant. Apparently, he got upset that someone sent him an anonymous letter that let the Prof. know he didn't like being called a geek. In computer science, this professor, every month, plays a tech related movie that everyone is invited to come and see. Originally it was called "Geek Night at the Movies" but more recently it has been referred to as "Tech Flicks". Well, this professor who will continue to remain nameless can't seem to let go of the old name and also apparently hates anonymous email or anytime when someone won't come to him face to face. I say good luck, because when you make 10% of the total grade in his classes purely subjective (read: whatever the hell he wants to give you, based on unknown criteria). Hello? People aren't going to take the risk of getting on your bad side when it could cost them a letter grade in your class. But that's a whole other subject. Now I'm going to try and give my best recitation of his defense of calling us in CS "geeks"... I took notes! :)

Prof. X's Arguments:
There are people who find sheer joy in dealing with computers. And not just computers from a user perspective, but rather, those who enjoy the little aspects of the hardware software and the nuts and bolts of how it all works. These people want to use the machine to its utmost capability: to get every last once of productivity out of it. These people seek out the elegance that lies within the computer. And they admire it for this elegance. These people have a drive to excel at computer use because "they have a vision" of what it is supposed to be... it's a heart and soul kind of thing.

So what exactly would you call people such as these? People who desire to identify, pursue, and achieve excellence in technology to a point where it consumes every aspect of their lives. In the automobile world, these people would be called gear heads. And (according to Prof. X), gear heads are looked down upon, as those on the fringes of society. They're ... different. And the gear heads' response would be the rest of the world just doesn't understand them.

So, again, what exactly do you call this brand of person in the realm of computing? The only term that would come to mind is geek. It is the only word that properly begins to describe the motivations behind computer enthusiasts. Indeed, when someone is referred to as a geek, it can be assumed they know the internals and forever try to learn more and more about them. Insiders of this group proclaim themselves as geeks because they know they are different and use the word as a sort of banner to gather under, proudly boasting of their desires to be intimate with computer technology. Geeks are admittedly not part of the mainstream. Geeks are on a quest for perfection, ever searching, and never finding.

So to the anonymous writer... Stand up for your beliefs! If you have a better term for these people, please share it with the rest of us. Be willing to take a hit for your opinion. "Anonymous letters are the refuge of the cowardly."

My Response:
I have a perfect word to describe people such as those that Prof. X was describing. They are extremists, pure and simple. They aren't satisfied in finding a happy medium for most things in life. They polarize to one side or the other. It is noble for you to try and justify this elitism. And in fact, it may not be right or wrong to be an extremist when it comes to computer technology. Your desire to know computers is not something that need be defended with such fervor. There are indeed some things that should be. Life, freedoms (to an extent) and religious values should be held to steadfastly and unwavering. But please! This crusade to convert all computer scientists to geeks is absurd! Again, I will not say it is wrong or detrimental to declare yourself a "geek", but at the same time, that gives you no right to look down on those who choose not to be identified as part of your elite group of geeks.

I defend this anonymous writer's opinion. From what I know of the Computer Science students here at CUW, I don't think too many of them would want to be called a geek. Because, indeed, the word geek carries with it a rather negative connotation. I do not want to be referred to as a geek either. I will never call myself a geek. I can't stop someone else from looking at me that way, nut I can only be myself. I love using computers. I think that should be obvious just by looking at my website or having a quick look at my room. I spend all this time using and studying technology because it is what I'm best at. I enjoy working with computers as one might enjoy working on cars or building things. My casual use of computers can really only be classified as a hobby. I don't ogle over the intricacies of how they work. I don't really care to be honest with you. I want to use computers as they were intended... To help you get things done. And I will learn more and more details about them as it becomes pertinent to continue getting the job done. Soldering an old 8086 computer board together is absolutely frigging BORING. God, I'm sick of doing this stupid project. This project is gaining me no useable knowledge or skills for acquiring a computer related job in the near future. I have great respect for those who had to deal with this sort of low level assembly and programming in the past... But those days are long past and the related skills are only a fraction as important to have as they once were.

I am not a wishy-washy, don't give a damn, do the bare minimum at all times person either. I want to be a professional in the computer science field. Network administrator, software engineer, web designer, etc... something. I want the skills to be able to excel at whatever job I may find myself in in the future. I want to have enough money to live comfortably and support all the people I need to. I know upfront I don't have the ambition to become get a doctorate degree or some other ultra high position. Must I be a geek to accomplish this? I don't think so. A professional has a defined job. And he does that job with skill, efficiency, and accuracy. The most important thing in a job is to get the job done. The faster and better you get it done determines your worth.

Geeks and Professionals can very easily coexist. As long as those who wish to be called geeks understand what they are and understand what everyone else is. The geeks will be off by themselves, devoting themselves to finding their perfection of technology, while the other Professionals will do their jobs to the best of their ability, and once work is over, they will go back to their normal lives and hobbies, not worrying about the heart and soul of technology. Prof. X clearly understands where he stands. And that's wonderful. But he has no sense of the other side's perspective. He seems to believe you are either a geek or a simple user. I am not a simple user. And I don't think of myself as a geek either. Like I mentioned in the beginning of my response, many aspects of life can best be done by looking for the happy medium: not going to one extreme or the other. Find a place somewhere in between the poles where you can be comfortable. Because living on the edge can be a difficult and lonely place to be. And in the end, what has it really gained you?

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