New Year resolutions for 2007 (list'em)
kentl

I thought a bit about if I wanted to keep them to myself or not. And I've decided that it might push me a bit if I am open about them. It can be interesting to see what you've thought about doing, perhaps it might even inspire me to add something to the list.

My current list of things I should do are:

  • Finish my studies at the latest during the beginning of the fall 2007. I'm going for 200 points (which is equal to five years of full time studies) instead of 160 points which my masters really require. I'm behind at the moment due to different things, like eye problems (I've had surgery and I'll need it again now).

  • Get in better shape. At the moment I'm a bit over weight. I'm 177cm and I weigh in at 92kg after the holidays. I would like to weigh around 80 kg. It's entirely possible, I've just been lazy but the negative consequences aren't worth it.

  • Create three projects I've been thinking about for a long time. [1] A blog system with some odd features (I want the content to be in XML and transformed into XHTML, LaTeX and plain text). I got some work done here mostly in the learning department but also some parsing/transformation. I will use PHP5 for this one. [2] An application to handle regular languages and automata. No work done yet except for getting the theory done and having a rough requirement specification. This one will be created in Java and I'm leaning towards SWT for the GUI. [3] A Shoot'em Up. Not work at all done, excepting thinking that it would be cool if the enemies were controlled by Lua scripts so that I can make them behave any way I want to. I want to use OpenGL but I'm not sure I'll use AllegroGL. Maybe.

  • If I have some time over I would like to create a puzzle book and publish it through Lulu.com. This one isn't a promise though, it's something I find appealing at the moment and I'll most likely change my mind.

ngiacomelli

Lulu is fantastic, for the record.

Here are mine:

  • Gain weight. Stop being a skinny nerd for sake of myself and girlfriend. Instead, become a relatively plump nerd.

  • Get my drivers license. In the event that I become too fat to walk anywhere.

  • Start swimming regularly.

X-G

OBLIGATORY

1280x960

ngiacomelli
Quote:

OBLIGATORY

1280x960

You've lost me :-X!

Sirocco

- I'm working freelance as a programmer/consultant. I want to stay that way.

- Finish up some of my games. Duh.

- Relax more.

Onewing

This next year, I do have some goals and changes in my life planned. Usually, I have a few scatterbrained resolutions that don't pan out because I don't focus on them, so perhaps writing them down (as in this post) will aid in completing them for once. 2005 and 2006 have really gotten me off my track as far as where I wanted to be in life.

  • Lose weight. I need to be ten times more serious about this, because this same item appeared last year. I use to be physically fit, but now I'm a blob.

  • Study Japanese. Somewhat vague, but it needs to be near the top of my list. I really would like to be fluent in three years from now.

  • Get a job in the game industry. Many say it's not what I want, but I'll regret it for forever if I don't ever make it in. Since May 15th (the day I graduated), I've been planning on starting my job search on January 1st, 2007. I'm nervous, because I have no idea how to get in or if I will. :-[

  • Improve my web-skillz. I have no training in web design or anything else internet-related, but somehow I've managed to be the webmaster of my university club site and a programmer for FFXI stratics website. I'd really like to be of use to those sites. ;D

  • Step into 3D (programming, that is). 2D has been fun, but I can't imagine I'll ever get anywhere with it. :-/

  • Finish some top-notch freeware games. Since I graduated (not including this past Fall when I was taking a Japanese class), I've had more time to focus on game projects and even finished up a puzzle game called Toggles. Now, I'd like to take some of my bigger ideas and try to produce them. One is the Invictis game I've mentioned off-handedly; two is a RPG that's been bouncing in my head.

That's a lot of stuff to do, but I'm nearing 25 and it's time to get my life in order! Good luck, me! ;D

Steve Terry
  • Stay with Cessna and move up positions if possible.

  • Get friggin laid sometime soon ;D

Matthew Leverton
Quote:

  • Stay with Cessna and move up positions if possible.

* Get friggin laid sometime soon ;D

Those two go together. Oh wait, you're not a woman.

Dennis

I already thought about starting a thread like this myself, so here you are, ordered by priority(highest first):

  • become 26 years old

  • listen to Heavy Metal every day

  • practice drawing and/or pixelling every day

  • spend more time improving my skills, waste less time on IRC

  • no more fastfood

  • no more cheap over-sugar-ized icetea

  • start eating fruit for breakfast (bananas, apples, ...)

  • burn the 8kg of fat that I gained since I started my job in august

spork222

2 big ones for me, as well as several others. Not kidding about this, either.

  • Improve on my 3d rendering skills. I have some, but the best I can do now is a dice. :P

  • Get a girlfriend. :-[

Jakub Wasilewski

Reach nirvana. Failing that, have fun.

Steve Terry

For those who want to improve their 3D rendering skills you can check out the objloader link in my sig.

[edit]
Here's the link: http://www.orbitalmindsoft.com/objloader.html
[/edit]

john wells

1. Create my first 3D programming,

2. Finished Frak, thank god.

3. Learn how to do my Rubic Cube again.

Richard Phipps

1. Start a new religion.
2. Live forever.

Arthur Kalliokoski

Sometime in the early '70's I resolved to never make more New Years Resolutions. And I've kept it!

Thomas Fjellstrom

1. Think of a better New Years Resolution for next year.

wearetheborg

Ban one member per day.

BAF

1) Get a life.
2) Get a girlfriend.
3) PROFIT!

LennyLen
Quote:

1) Get a life.
2) Get a girlfriend.
3) PROFIT

You're going to pimp your girlfriend? How much?

23yrold3yrold

Steady the course ...

Thomas Fjellstrom
23yrold3yrold said:

Steady the course ...

Bush said:

Stay the course.

;)

Rampage

1. Win millions.
2. Reach enlightenment.
3. Get to 3000 posts. :P

23yrold3yrold

Oh; there's a good one. 30,000 posts!

Thomas Fjellstrom

Lets see if you can pull off 27 posts a day for 365 days ;)

23yrold3yrold

Not a problem. Doing it without getting banned will be the trick ...

Thomas Fjellstrom

As I said, Lets see if you can pull it off.

Sevalecan

1. Lose weight.
2. Get a girlfriend.
3. Fail at 2, but keep dreaming...

::)

I'll also note that I had no intention of making these new year resolutions. I'm going to do them anyway, and I'm already working on it.

Kent Larsson said:

And I've decided that it might push me a bit if I am open about them.

Personally I've found, at least programming wise, being open about what I want to do has never made me any less lazy... Oh well, as long as it works for you.

Trezker

These are not in order.

3k posts here too, I don't have far to go.
Beat guitar hero two on hard.
Get a job.
Survive.
Help Phipps with the new religion.
1280*1024

Arvidsson

Stop using snus.

Sylvarant

My resolutions are pretty standard :

- get a girlfriend
- learn to work with opengl
- achieve 70% for maths
- get a drivings license

BAF

Hmm, maybe I'll try to get to #10 in the forums before the year ends. Of course to do that, I have to start posting more.

Rampage

Spammers. :P

guilt

1. Mom wants me to lose weight, so try doing that.
2. Maintain a good academic record in at least two courses over two semesters.
3. Learn something new and do something constructive with it (like a game or an application).
4. Learn and do something spiritual.
5. Do something considerably charitable.
6. Watch, Record, Burn and Distribute a few TV shows.
7. Take the leap into 64-bit computing.

HoHo

1) Make GFWS officially GF. It seems as we both want that but neither has the guts to admit it.
2) Gain weight. I'm 1.84m and 65kg, she sometimes hurts herself against my bones :-X
3) Help GF lose some weight. I don't care much about her weight but it makes her happy.
4) get a decent raise at work
5) waste less time on refreshing forums
6) create a ray traced MMORPG

For 2 and 3, cycling together should help both. Unfortunately she doesn't have the proper equipment for winter riding so we can't do it now :)

For 6 I have a few people willing to help me. Well, actually it's me helping them but that doesn't matter much ;D There is already some concept art, story and technical discussion being made. Currently it is meant to be OpenGL based but I would like to see if a ray tracer would be doable for the game. Of course I except the whole project to fail miserably but so what, worst thing that can happen is I waste some time on a bit more meaningful things that I would otherwise :P

Bruce Perry

Everywhere on allegro.cc these days, people are talking about their girlfriends, but after reading this thread, I don't feel so bad any more for never having had one. :'(

1. Have children.
2. Keep my flat tidy.

On a more serious note, I'm not going to make any. I'll just work at my own pace. :)

jhuuskon

1. Make more (decent) music.
2. Other relationships than the fragile union of palm and foreskin.

Johan Halmén

Publish DTL-rally
Finish Val's Message Scroller
Publish Ranny
Finish a-maze
Not participating in Christmashack, but finish two earlier CH games

Huh, writing that made me exhausted.

Rampage

What's up with everyone wanting girlfriends? Either most allegators are younger than I thought, or more antisocial. ;)

I've got a girlfriend and she really does take lots of system resources. >:(

Rash

My New Year resolution is to not have to endure that horrible ABBA song at the start of it this time.

nonnus29

I had 'get a gf' as a resolution for a few years in a row. And I used to actually ask girls out and what not to try and make it happen. I decided that I'm much happier single so I don't even try anymore.

I usually have about the same set of goals every year:

1) This year my weight crept up a bit. I need to loose about 5-10lbs (4.5kg). I can do that in about 6 weeks.

2) finish my compiler (finish a project)

3) keep making good grades in my classes

4) keep making and saving money

Quote:

[2] An application to handle regular languages and automata. No work done yet except for getting the theory done and having a rough requirement specification. This one will be created in Java and I'm leaning towards SWT for the GUI.

Have you ever heard of JFlap? Is that something like what you had in mind? Do you have to do research and a thesis for your masters?

HoHo
Quote:

I decided that I'm much happier single so I don't even try anymore.

It was the same for me but it just kind of happened and I'm quite happy about it :)

Steve Terry

BAF in order to get the #10 spot you would have to defeat me :'(

kentl
Quote:

Have you ever heard of JFlap? [jflap.org] Is that something like what you had in mind? Do you have to do research and a thesis for your masters?

Yes we used JFlap in a course I assisted last time it was given. I've liked automatas and formal languages since i came into contact with them. And I think that there is a place for something better than JFlap (even though the new version seems better). I'll do something related to AI for my masters, I haven't decided of what yet.

And yay! First post 2007 for me. :)

Arthur Kalliokoski

I see all these "get a girlfriend" posts, the prob is you're used to working around "do what I mean, not what I say" (with computer languages) and with girls you have to promise them the moon even when you and her both know it's B.S. In other words, you have to dumb YOURSELVES down, express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

Steve Terry
Quote:

Express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

Child custody battles?

Rash
Quote:

Quote:

Express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

Child custody battles?

OK, Mister, turn in your Allegro.cc member card!

Bruce Perry
Quote:

I see all these "get a girlfriend" posts, the prob is you're used to working around "do what I mean, not what I say" (with computer languages) and with girls you have to promise them the moon even when you and her both know it's B.S. In other words, you have to dumb YOURSELVES down, express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

1. Computers do what you say, not what you mean.
2. Dumbing oneself down and expressing interest in a pop star with the same birthday as me is not equivalent to promising the moon.
3. Leave such girls to Beckham and go for someone you can actually have an interesting conversation with.

Kikaru

He was saying if you just want "a" girlfriend. But, I agree. That don't work. :P

MiquelFire

1) Get a new car. I think it's getting to a point where it's cheaper to get a new one than maintain the one I got.
2) Get a laptop. Going for a Mac since I always wanted a Mac (well, since Mac OS)
3) Get a new server to replace the one that died recently.

wearetheborg

You all don't have girlfriends because you come off as pompous and obnoxious. I noticed that nerds get all defensive around other people and feel the need to go out of their way to show off their intelligence. So yeah, it's not like your intelligence naturally shines through... Rubbing it in people's faces just doesn't work guys!

I, on the other hand, have a very fine fine fine girlfriend. 8-)

Thomas Fjellstrom
Quote:

when you and her both know it's B.S. In other words, you have to dumb YOURSELVES down, express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

Um, the hormones do that for you, if you're actually in love.

Quote:

I noticed that nerds get all defensive around other people and feel the need to go out of their way to show off their intelligence.

After years of abuse from peers and family, why wouldn't we? Gotta have something to brag about ;)

Richard Phipps

Quote:

I, on the other hand, have a very fine fine fine girlfriend. 8-)

Got a pic of you and your gf then? :)

Thomas Fjellstrom
Quote:

Got a pic of you and your gf then? :)

Preferably nude. ;)

Dennis
Tomasu said:

Um, the hormones do that for you, if you're actually in love.

Do they? How nice of them.

Andrei Ellman
weatherborg said:

You all don't have girlfriends because you come off as pompous and obnoxious. I noticed that nerds get all defensive around other people and feel the need to go out of their way to show off their intelligence. So yeah, it's not like your intelligence naturally shines through... Rubbing it in people's faces just doesn't work guys!

She's got a point there. Nerds - although intelligent - are usually shy and insecure. They are insecure because they are worried that the object of their affections will not notice their intelligence because they are shy and end up becoming someone else's girlfriend instead.

There's a saying: If all you have is a hammer, all problems look like nails. Because of the lack of social skills, nerds think the only way they can get girls to notice them is to show off their intelligence. Because of their insecurity, they think that either there won't be an opportunity, or the girls might forget that they are inteligent, so they end up forcing opportunities to appear out of nowhere. From the nerds point of view, they think that if the girl of their affections goes out with someone else, at least they will feel like they tried their best. However, to the girls, this comes accross as insecurity at the best, and obnoxious arrogance at worst.

Nerds should just learn to be comfortable with themselves - this is a pre-requisite for being comfortable with others. Opportunities do crop up from time to time - just don't force them to appear. Just be comfortable with who you are, and then, you will graduate from being a nerd to being a geek.

Arthur Kalliokoski said:

express interest in what B. Spears and her ilk are up to.

Not wearing underwear?

Bruce Perry said:

3. Leave such girls to Beckham and go for someone you can actually have an interesting conversation with.

Girls you can actually have an interesting conversation with do exist - you gotta find 'em! ;)

AE.

Dennis

Medium success so far:

I said:

  • become 26 years old

  • listen to Heavy Metal every day

  • practice drawing and/or pixelling every day

  • spend more time improving my skills, waste less time on IRC

  • no more fastfood

  • no more cheap over-sugar-ized icetea

  • start eating fruit for breakfast (bananas, apples, ...)

</li>
Current status:

  • (work in progress) become 26 years old

  • (success) listen to Heavy Metal every day

  • (success) practice drawing and/or pixelling every day

  • (success) spend more time improving my skills, waste less time on IRC

  • (failed) no more fastfood

  • (accidentally had one glass on tuesday) no more cheap over-sugar-ized icetea

  • (not yet started) start eating fruit for breakfast (bananas, apples, ...)

</li>

Everbody join the fun of posting your status reports here, maybe it will help to finish what you planned.:)

Onewing
  • Lose weight. Started dieting and working out. We'll see how it goes...

  • Study Japanese. Read a little out of my "Japanese for Dummies" book.

  • Get a job in the game industry. Started building a list of hopeful references for resume

  • Improve my web-skillz. Thinking about doing a small website for the Allegro '06 Awards thread I posted. Best way to learn is to just jump into the deep end. :)

  • Step into 3D (programming, that is). TBD

  • Finish some top-notch freeware games. TBD

  • One that I forgot to mention - Improve religious standards (because I've been slacking lately...a lot) Trying to revive my nightly prayers

BAF

Well some of my main goals for 2007:

  • Clean room/desk and keep it clean. Began thinking about cleaning up

  • Reorganize all of the files on my computer and keep them organized neatly. Began working on reorganizing music

  • Try out a Linux Install with XGL and see if I can replace Windows with it for the short term. Began thinking about Linux programs

gnolam
Quote:

They are insecure because they are worried that the object of their affections will not notice their intelligence because they are shy and end up becoming someone else's girlfriend instead.

What, nerds go to jail? ;)

Sporus
Andrei Ellman said:

Nerds should just learn to be comfortable with themselves - this is a pre-requisite for being comfortable with others.

I can vouch for that. I've spent most of my life in experimental derivation of this rule. :-/

Hark ye, nerddom, to his wisdom!

Evert

I stopped making new year resolutions a while back. I tend to forget them by 2 Januari...
Anyway

many people said:

get a girlfriend

Good luck; if you're attitude is "damnit, I want a girlfriend already" it's not going to happen. Girls have an extra sense for detecting guys who are desperate for a girlfriend (actually, it's called reading body language). My advise: invest in normal friendships with girls (that is, with space). You may find you end up with a girlfriend (without space) anyway and if you don't it'll give you an opportunity to get more comfortable and secure around girls (should you need that).
That said, I'd like to meet someone I could fall in love with and would like to have a relationship with again... it's been a while. Last relationship suffered from me being her social life, which wasn't a good basis for it.
Anyway, invest in being aware of your own body language and interpreting that of others. Can't hurt to be aware of it, and you may learn a useful thing or two.

Diana said:

You all don't have girlfriends because you come off as pompous and obnoxious.

Can't say for everyone else, you've clearly not met me. :P

Quote:

Nerds should just learn to be comfortable with themselves - this is a pre-requisite for being comfortable with others.

Words of wisdom.

Bruce Perry
Diana said:

obnoxious

What are you on? Pot?

Diana said:

I, on the other hand, have a very fine fine fine girlfriend. 8-)

Yes, that's the kettle.

;D;D:P

GameCreator
wearetheborg said:

You all ... come off as pompous and obnoxious.

Psychological projection

Matthew Leverton

Girls are so impressed when nerds reference an encyclopedia!

23yrold3yrold

Yeah, GameCreator totally walked into that one. :)

Diana said:

I noticed that nerds get all defensive around other people and feel the need to go out of their way to show off their intelligence.

;D

Myrdos

Well, one of the things I've noticed is that Allegroites have a very low ability to detect humour, escpecially if it's subtle. Even sarcasm, and even when it's very blunt indeed. So I'm just letting you know, when you say "Girls are so impressed when nerds reference an encyclopedia!", your statement may have unintended consequences.

Onewing
Quote:

So I'm just letting you know, when you say "Girls are so impressed when nerds reference an encyclopedia!", your statement may have unintended consequences.

Quickly returns wife's new encyclopedia

23yrold3yrold
Quote:

Well, one of the things I've noticed is that Allegroites have a very low ability to detect humour, escpecially if it's subtle. Even sarcasm, and even when it's very blunt indeed. So I'm just letting you know, when you say "Girls are so impressed when nerds reference an encyclopedia!", your statement may have unintended consequences.

Well, it's sometimes difficult to detect sarcasm in plain text anyway. I'm sure we're all much less dense IRL.

Matthew Leverton
Quote:

your statement may have unintended consequences.

I wouldn't say those consequences would be unintended... ;D

HardTranceFan
wearetheborg said:

You all don't have girlfriends because you come off as pompous and obnoxious. I noticed that nerds get all defensive around other people and feel the need to go out of their way to show off their intelligence. So yeah, it's not like your intelligence naturally shines through... Rubbing it in people's faces just doesn't work guys!

I, on the other hand, have a very fine fine fine girlfriend.

Nerds don't get defensive >:(;). It's an unfortunate misconception held by the clueless. Nerds are particular about accuracies, and will justifiably correct someone, even on small details (you are missing a number of commas in your last line, BTW).

WRT programming, most of society are a bunch of script bunnies. It's not the nerd's fault they're gifted with an ability to talk to computers, have an average IQ of 150 and a good number of them could generate a test worthy of Mensa. As intelligence isn't something visual, it's also something that's not obvious. Therefore nerds have to parade it (the phrase showing off has such negative connotations) to allude others of their intellectual superiority. Learn to live with it :P.

LennyLen
Quote:

Nerds are particular about accuracies, and will justifiably correct someone, even on small details

I believe the word "accurate" would have been more accurate than "accuracies." :P

HardTranceFan
Quote:

Quote:

Nerds are particular about accuracies, and will justifiably correct someone, even on small details

I believe the word "accurate" would have been more accurate than "accuracies."

You mean "accuracy"? :P;D

[edit]
And one wonders why I don't have a gf? 8-)
[/edit]

LennyLen
Quote:

You mean "accuracy"?

D'oh!

The funny part is, I'd originally typed "accurace" instaed of "accuracy," and I was attempting tot correct it.

23yrold3yrold
Quote:

"accurace" instaed of "accuracy,"

You need to quit posting now. :)

Onewing

Huh, the first letters of accuracy are acc. acc == a.cc? Epiphany!

I need to get laid...

Rampage
Quote:

The funny part is, I'd originally typed "accurace" instaed of "accuracy," and I was attempting tot correct it.

I'd make a comment about this sentence, but then I'd look like a nerd. 8-)

LennyLen
Quote:

You need to quit posting now

What I really need to do is get off my ass and go to the chemist to get my sleeping pill perscription filled. I'm approcahing 100 hours without sleep,a nd as you've noticed, it has effects.

HardTranceFan
Quote:

I'm approcahing 100 hours without sleep

How the hell do you manage that :o? Missing one night is bad enough, but you're getting in excess of 4 days.

Matthew Leverton
Quote:

It's not the nerd's fault they're gifted

But when you talk, it's quite obvious your "intellectual superiority" is nothing but an inflated ego. That sentence should be: It's not the nerd's fault he's gifted or It's not the nerds' fault they're gifted.

The word they is not a singular, gender neutral pronoun in English. It's plural. I know you and your ego are almost like two separate things, but you really still only count as one!

LennyLen
Quote:

How the hell do you manage that ?

I have a somewhat abnormal brain chemistry. Basically, my brain just doesn't respond to signals that my body is tired and needs to sleep. So while I'm very tired physically (my normal 45 minute walk home from work last night took me over an hour), my brain is still very much active (though it's not working at full efficiency).

Before I started the sleeping medication, my usual pattern would be to stay awake for five or six days, and then sleep for about half a day. I think the longest I ever went without sleeping was nine days.

nonnus29
Quote:

How the hell do you manage that :o? Missing one night is bad enough, but you're getting in excess of 4 days.

He must mean '100 hours without lieing down and sleeping for 8 hours'. You can survive on 2-3 hour naps, I've done it for weeks at a time. Once you get used to it it's not so bad.

LennyLen
Quote:

He must mean '100 hours without lieing down and sleeping for 8 hours'.

Nope, I didn't. (see above post)

Derezo

Although it looks like the thread has been derailed, I hate new years resolutions. >:(
Why can't they be done when the problem is recognized?

Having said that, my new years resolution is to quit gambling and cut back significantly on my drinking habit. ;D
It wasn't my choice to make them new years resolutions, the girlfriend told me they were my new years resolutions. As a matter of fact, I decided to stop gambling early December.

This year I would like to be more financially responsible. My finances have gone from great to horrible over the past 4 years and I'd like to correct it. This decision wasn't made as a new years resolution though, I decided this when I lost over $2,300 in 2 hours at the Casino betting table max ($100) on three seats in blackjack. :o

I'm not lending anyone any money this year, either. People are fucking idiots.

Matthew Leverton

But I thought you always made lots of money when you gambled. What kind of girlfriend doesn't like that? ???

Every gambler I've ever known has always come out ahead. Then he mysteriously sells his house, gets divorced, and lives in the gutters...

Derezo

The problem is that I can't avoid the house games (blackjack/craps). Otherwise I'd continue playing poker.

Poker is profitable, but not as much as it use to be. I made a killing from July-October 2005, but then a lot of the walking ATM machines (as I call them) stopped playing poker and a couple of them started playing better. I can only pull a few hundred bucks a month these days, if I'm lucky. It used to be about $80-$300 per night 8/10 nights.

It's not as fun either. There are more jerks playing than before and the number of piss poor players has reduced significantly.

Matthew Leverton

So it's not as much as gambling, as it is stealing from the above mentioned people. ;D

Derezo

They give their money willfully. :)

They just don't understand what "fold" means.

Matthew Leverton

I suppose the same could be said about con artists who get old people to give them money... In a way, they are willing, but you know they are just being suckers. Most bad gamblers are just addicts.

That's the thing I have against habitual gambling. First, as you mentioned, playing the luck games will never be profitable. They are all rigged so that the casinos maintain their profit. Even if it was 51-49, you'd come out a loser.

Then you can go into the skill games against other people. Obviously there's some luck involved, but it's minimal. You'd never want to play against a person who was obviously better than you. You'd just lose money. To feel the best about yourself, you'd want to play a fair match against equal opponents. But then you're not going to make any money either. Assuming you do play with relatively equal opponents, you'll break even.

So then, you get tempted to play against and target obviously inferior foes. Sure you can make money, but to me it's more like you're robbing an addict out of his cash and helping him destroy his life. Of course you can try to rationalize that by saying "someone else would do it" or "he doesn't have to come," but to me, it's not any different than taking advantage of a crack addict. :-/

HardTranceFan
Quote:

But when you talk, it's quite obvious your "intellectual superiority" is nothing but an inflated ego.

That sentence should be: It's not the nerd's fault he's gifted or It's not the nerds' fault they're gifted.

One lousy misplaced apostrophy, and I'm relegated to the level of intellectually deficient with a supersized ego. Oh the hurt and the pain. ;D

Matthew Leverton

It's a hard life being an intellectual. :-/

LennyLen
Quote:

That sentence should be: It's not the nerd's fault he's gifted or It's not the nerds' fault they're gifted.

Why do you assume the nerd is a he? ;)

Rampage

There are no nerd girls, it's a law of the universe.

Neil Walker

If I ever did have a new years resolution, it would be to pay off my mortgage before the year's out :)

HardTranceFan

But girls can be geeks? Meaning geek != nerd?

Matthew Leverton
Quote:

Why do you assume the nerd is a he?

I was going to also point out the correct way of gender neutrality, but didn't want to get too verbose. Before feminism, nobody cared. Female authors typically used she and male authors typically used he, and everyone was happy.

But now, one is supposed to say "he or she" to be politically correct. If you are writing something lengthy, you are supposed to alternate your examples between male and female people.

But I stick with using masculine when it's probably a male person or the ambiguoity doesn't hurt and feminine when it's probably a female person. In cases where I want to be clear I'm including both genders, I'll use the cumbersome "he or she."

LennyLen
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There are no nerd girls, it's a law of the universe.

I guess my high-school class was in another universe then.

Nb: There seem to be many different meanings of the words nerd and geek, some interchangable, others not. In my cultural circle, a nerd is someone who is overly studious, and usually of above-average intelligence. So in this contect, a female nerd isn't uncommon. I suspect when you say nerd, you mean what we would call a geek - someone who has an abnormal interest in technology (especially computing).

Myrdos
Quote:

I'm sure we're all much less dense IRL.

Erm, of course. Of... course. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some free-style rapping to do in preparation for my next social engagement.

Matthew Leverton

I've always thought of nerds as intellectuals who have no social life ("book worms"), whereas geeks are people who proudly display their obsessions of computers, anime, comic books, or whatever. (The obsession must be something semi-intellectual or otherwise similar abnormal category.)

I would consider myself something of a computer/hacker nerd, whereas someone who dresses up as star wars characters falls more on the geeky scale.

Myrdos

geek: a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked; an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity

nerd: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

So you have it backwards: it's geeks who are the cool ones.* 8-) I seem to remember reading that years ago, a person who would prefer to read a book on a plane instead of conversing with their fellow passengers, or engaging in sing-alongs, would be considered a geek.

*Unless you find yourself biting the heads off chickens. That's not cool.

Matthew Leverton

Those definitions are similar to mine, but I don't think that first part of the definition of geek is very good. Basically it's saying they are the same thing, except the geek is not socially inept (and thus is disliked).

Quote:

I seem to remember reading that years ago, a person who would prefer to read a book on a plane instead of conversing with their fellow passengers, or engaging in sing-alongs, would be considered a geek.

That would make him a nerd by your definition.

I think of geeks as having fewer social problems than nerds, but often making a fool of themselves by their obsession with whatever their field of "expertise" is.

LennyLen
Quote:

So you have it backwards: it's geeks who are the cool ones.

So you're trying to tell us that you're a geek, and not a nerd? ;)

wearetheborg

Hello lovelies, I am back with a few replies.

Thomas Fjellstrom said:

After years of abuse from peers and family, why wouldn't we? Gotta have something to brag about

It's too bad you had to go through abuse because of your nerdiness. However, it still doesn't mean that bragging about all your knowledge will make you look cooler. If you (general you) really are intelligent, why do you have to work so hard at proving it?

Richard Phipps said:

Got a pic of you and your gf then?

Yes. Plenty actually.8-)

HardTranceFan said:

It's not the nerd's fault they're gifted with an ability to talk to computers, have an average IQ of 150 and a good number of them could generate a test worthy of Mensa. As intelligence isn't something visual, it's also something that's not obvious. Therefore nerds have to parade it (the phrase showing off has such negative connotations) to allude others of their intellectual superiority. Learn to live with it .

There's nothing wrong with being intelligent. As a matter of fact, I think it's great! My point is, going out of your way to PROVE your intelligence is just plain dumb. I know I am repeating myself here, but your intelligence should shine through naturally, just like any other personality trait.

Thomas Fjellstrom

I (personally) actually try and hide what little intellect I might have when I'm around normals (god that sounds stuck up). Showing off only gets you weird looks ::)

Now when arguing on a forum filled with geeks and nerds, its all in good fun :)

Mark Oates

I'm dumb!

HardTranceFan
wearetheborg said:

Hello lovelies, I am back with a few replies.

Hello darling. We missed your words. :P

Quote:

There's nothing wrong with being intelligent. As a matter of fact, I think it's great! My point is, going out of your way to PROVE your intelligence is just plain dumb. I know I am repeating myself here, but your intelligence should shine through naturally, just like any other personality trait.

Oh dear, this isn't the way I was hoping my response would be taken. Once again, it's the inability to convey irony, sarcasm, jest etc, via plain text. I was attempting a humourous response to your earlier post (hence the >:(;) on the first line), trying to use the traits you had noted (pompous, obnoxious, defensive, showing off and rubbing it in people's faces). Maybe I failed, and those reading it took the cautious approach by considering it as written by someone brassed off. I'll try throwing in a few more emoticons next time ;D

wearetheborg

Okay, that's cool too. 8-) Anyway, it's good information for any future nerd who wants girl advice.

Rampage

Intelligence has to be proven. If we don't prove it, is merely a theory. Or even worse: a conjecture!

Duh!

::)::)::)::)

Trezker

Showing people you're intelligent only brings trouble.
They're gonna ask you about everything thinking you always got an answer.
They will dislike you for being better than them.
You will be given more work than others.

If people know you're smart, they will treat you unfair.

kentl
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If people know you're smart, they will treat you unfair.

If people think you're dumb or just socially awkward they'll treat you unfairly as well. I think it's better to relax and just be yourself so that people will see the good and the bad sides you have.

LennyLen
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I might have when I'm around normals (god that sounds stuck up).

I call them normos.

Richard Phipps

I don't think I'm intelligent. Lots of ordinary people are more intelligent than me in different areas. It's never really been an issue with me regarding hiding intelligence.

Diana, I don't believe you. Prove you are a lesbian or bisexual. :)

nonnus29

Nerdiness/geekiness is clearly a matter of subject area. Nobody calls the jocks who are obsessed with and argue about baseball (or sport x) in a bar nerds or geeks although they are just as annoying and socially inept.

You're only a nerd or a geek if your interests are technology related. Hopefully, if this article is accurate our pay scale will grow even more to compensate for our social exclusion.

Andrei Ellman
I earier said:

Just be comfortable with who you are, and then, you will graduate from being a nerd to being a geek.

In this context, both nerds and geeks have an intense interest in a technology/science related subject (or possibly even humanities). The difference is that even though geeks share many characteristics in common with nerds, geeks aren't so socially awkward. Dorks on the otherhand are like nerds without geekyness.

AE.

kentl

And I add to Andrei Ellman's definitions that nerds often totally lack any sense of humour about themself. While geeks are a bit more human and can take a joke about them or joke about them selfs sometimes (not all the time of course).

HardTranceFan
Richard Phipps said:

Lots of ordinary people are more intelligent than me in different areas.

Agreed. But not everyone realises this, and some become engrossed in the niche they know lots about, failing to take in the bigger picture. If you can respect and accept others for their shortcomings in some areas, then you will, more likely than not, be considered a decent person.

Richard Phipps said:

Diana, I don't believe you. Prove you are a lesbian or bisexual. :)

You are a naughty little man, Phippsy :P

You can PM me Diana - I won't post the pictures on the forums:-X. Honest;D

Derezo
ML said:

Sure you can make money, but to me it's more like you're robbing an addict out of his cash and helping him destroy his life.

Or an old man out of his retirement savings. About 8 out of 10 players at the local casino are old retired folks who think they're professionals. ;)

I don't consider it to be stealing in any way. When they sit down at that table they are doing it for one of 3 reasons: They need an ego boost, they are having fun, or they are trying to make money.

A significant portion of the people who play are playing for fun. These people have no problem with losses and it happens a lot. Some of them expect it before hand because they know they're playing against people who are much better than them, but they enjoy the game.

The "ego players" lose a lot because they chase, always trying to make the best hand. They want to make a hand and show it to the table. They are controlled by their emotions and often lose more because of it. The ego player is where the big money is because he'll run back to the bank machine to show you up after you beat him.

Last and certainly not least are the people who play for money. This is me :) These players understand the game (or should understand) considerably more than the other types of players. Not all of them are good players, but they all think they are good players. Most of these players break even in the long run.

Anyway, I consider myself to be a geek and not a nerd. I consider myself to be intelligent, but there is certainly room for improvement.

Richard Phipps

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You are a naughty little man, Phippsy :P

Nudity doesn't have to be involved.. :)

FuriousOrange
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Dorks on the otherhand are like nerds without geekyness.

???

As for my new years resolutions in no particular order (as someone did ask!)

1) Complete God of War.
2) Get a big planet crushing car. With nitros!
3) Continue down the path towards harmonica mastery.
4) Actually program some kind of game.
5) Get round to playing Metroid Zero mission.
6) Draw more regularly.
7) Cook a lasagna.
8) Be most excellent to people.
9) Try and make some DS homebrew.
10) Keep my new years resolutions.

Peace out y'all :-/

kentl

Some nice resolutions there FuriousOrange. Especially 1 (but I don't know what it is. I guess it's a game you're creating), 4, 8 (Been talking to Mr Burns?) , 9. :)

23yrold3yrold

God of War is a commercial game. He probably means "beat", not "complete".

It's occured to me of late I need to draw more regularily too ....

LennyLen
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8 (Been talking to Mr Burns?)

Bill and Ted I believe. Oh, and God of War.

Quote:

He probably means "beat", not "complete".

"Beating" games is an American saying perhaps. Everyone I know either says they completed a game, or finished it.

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