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Am I (Are You) a Geek?

by JM

Lou and BudFrom the Internet…
Costello wants to buy a Computer from Abbott
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den, and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the names Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my names Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look in the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What have you got?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend office with windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office and it has windows! OK, lets just say, I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue “W.”
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue “w” if you don’t start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet?
ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One.
COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need!
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO: If its a long movie I also want to see reel 2, 3 and 4. Can I watch them?
ABBOTT: Of course.
COSTELLO: Great, with what?
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO; OK, I’m at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?
ABBOTT: You click the blue “1.”
COSTELLO: I click the blue one what?
ABBOTT: The blue “1.”
COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue “W”?
ABBOTT: The blue 1 is Real One and the blue W is Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: But there’s three words in “office for windows”!
ABBOTT: No, just one. But it’s the most popular Word in the world.
COSTELLO: It is?
ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren’t many other Words left. It Pretty much wiped out all the other Words.
COSTELLO: And that word is real one?
ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn’t even Part of Office.
COSTELLO: Stop! Don’t start that again. What about financial bookkeeping you have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled to my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(LATER)
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off??
ABBOTT: Click on “START”……….

If you understand all of this it means you’re computer literate. If you understand it but think Abbott is being a bit of a prick, then you’re a sympathetic, computer-literate person. If you understand and feel that Abbott is behaving perfectly normally & Costello must be from the Special School up the road, you’re a Geek. If you understand and feel that Abbott is behaving perfectly normally & Costello must be from the Special School up the road, AND you know who Abbott and Costello are, you’re an OLD Geek.
For a check of your Geekiness, try MSTalkOnline & see how much of the content you understand without having to look anything up.

The exchange isn’t quite real, but there are times when those who don’t have much computer knowledge or experience run into the wall of jargon and specialized subject matter & simply go blank. And it’s worse than just being blank on that word or phrase; for a short time afterwards, the non-literate newbie will actually not hear what the geek is saying. It’s like the brain goes into processing overload with the not-understood word or phrase & it takes some time for the attention to come back to what is being said.

So be patient with those unfamiliar with the nuances of PC-Speak; they will get it if you give them some time and explanation.


One Response to “Am I (Are You) a Geek?”

  1. Writers Unbound » Blog Archive » Four Ways To Be A More Efficient Freelancer Says:

    [...] of notifications, I’m addicted to my Crackberry. I”m kind of a geek about it. At anytime of the day, it’ll make a little noise telling me I’ve got a call, [...]

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