Is using the internet and posting on messageboards still considered "geeky"

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Cos I still get that sort of accusation from family members. Though it seems to me that if you do anything vaguely creative you're bound to use the internet, and people who never use it are likely to be the people with crap lives.

Make sense?

― don (don), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Using the internet is OK. Posting on messageboards is still geeky.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

People who watch a lot of TV vs. People who socialize online FITE!

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

God help us if there's a real war.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Both are considered geeky. Unfortunately geeky == cool now, so the entire thing implodes. Possibly.

― the impossible shortest special path! (the impossible shortest specia), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I think messageboards at least are still pretty geeky, which is why I never have mentioned ilx irl except to Mr. Robotico.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know if people who don't use the internet [much] necessarily have crap lives.

Using the internet can't possibly still be "geeky." Not with the number of average morans using AOL. I think messageboards are also no longer as much in the "geeky" camp either. Unless of course they are boards about a geeky subject.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Everything is kind of geeky.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't really mention it to people, and to those I know on here in realish-life (all 1), it's this bond that can never be broken and that few can understand, sort of like if we'd been held in a Vietcong camp together and forced to play Russian roulette.

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

"Crap lives" was probably a bit harsh.. I just mean that "geek" is tied in with poor social skills, which I would say applies to couch potatoes more than net users.

― don (don), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

It's easier to do socialising of a sort on a couch than it is in front of a computer.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, TV is a long-established social medium that is broadcast. The faces on the TV make you think you're part of the real world, even if you're not.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I would say that posting on messageboards uses a different kind of social skill than dealing with real people in real life. Or at least a variant of the same skill... Some folks are better at one than the other, and I'd suspect there are many people on many messageboards who are much more socially adept in this context than they are with real people.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It's easier to do socialising of a sort on a couch than it is in front of a computer.

especially Gear!'s couch.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha - "If you want to do socialising of that sort then take it to the bed!"

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.somethingawful.com/mjolnir/images/frolixo~utter9.jpg

― 57 7th (calstars), Friday, 16 April 2004 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know what to say to that.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.zen28186.zen.co.uk/images/sig.gif

― the impossible shortest special path! (the impossible shortest specia), Friday, 16 April 2004 22:06 (twenty-one years ago)

If I have nightmares tonight, I will blame you, "impossible shortest special path" person.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Saturday, 17 April 2004 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry. But you can't argue it's a powerful image.

― the impossible shortest special path! (the impossible shortest specia), Saturday, 17 April 2004 01:15 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Furries and yiffing always ruin teh fun.

― kingfish kuribo's shoe (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

four months pass...

BURN

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

What an original viewpoint. Doesn't Brooker have anything better to do? Oh yes, his TV Go Home TV series died like a louse in a Russian's beard. Obviously not, then.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:19 (nineteen years ago)

"There's no point debating anything ~~online~~."

― breathny spears let me see the sex that you did. (noodle vague), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:21 (nineteen years ago)

Yes there is!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:22 (nineteen years ago)

one of the guardian's message bored dudes brings the content:

mothman
June 2, 2006 09:22 AM
Charlie Brooker: makes Everett True and Tom Hibbert look like journalists.
Offensive? Unsuitable? Email us

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:23 (nineteen years ago)

As opposed to underemployed broadsheet hacks spending their "working" days roaming the internet and stealing ideas they couldn't have possibly thought of themselves, of course (xpost x 2).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:23 (nineteen years ago)

It might just be me being jaded after five years of arguing with ILX mentalists and several more on further-flung corners of the Internet, but I essentially agree with him.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:26 (nineteen years ago)

me too!

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:27 (nineteen years ago)

If you think the purpose of debate is to arrive at conclusions, then he's right. There are other purposes.

Charlie Brooker lost it so fast I forgot he had it.

― breathny spears let me see the sex that you did. (noodle vague), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:28 (nineteen years ago)

It's the journey that counts, not the destination.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:32 (nineteen years ago)

I've definitely enjoyed some of the debates I've had on this board. Did they ever reach a conclusion or a consensus? No, I don't think so. Did they affect my thinking, maybe make me see things from a different point of view? Certainly, and I don't think there's anything more an Internet debate can offer.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:34 (nineteen years ago)

We've laughed a little, we've learned a little, we've emailed anonymous death-threats a little.

― breathny spears let me see the sex that you did. (noodle vague), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:36 (nineteen years ago)

In real life you generally debate only with friends, and your friends are usually people who same similar opinions to you, so you might not get that wide a scale of opinions. In a messageboard, even a relatively homogenous one like this, you can at least peek outside your own insular bubble.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:38 (nineteen years ago)

Usually into other insular bubbles.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:38 (nineteen years ago)

Exactly. It's a bit silly to think that online debating is so different from *real* debating. Also quite silly to take it all so seriously. Or maybe not? Hmm, I don't know, maybe I should start a thread and see what others think.

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Friday, 2 June 2006 08:59 (nineteen years ago)

If anything debating and arguing online is (potentially) the best way of doing it as there's the prospect of a wider range of opinions and information to hand - plus people, in theory, can compose their thoughts better in writing and over a longer period of time.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 2 June 2006 09:54 (nineteen years ago)

OH WHY AM I EVEN BOTHERING

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 2 June 2006 09:55 (nineteen years ago)

Casual link? Doesn't he mean causal link?

The article also fails to take into account the fact that most people will not admit that a debate or an argument has changed their mind. Certainly I will argue my own viewpoint till I run out of wine, even if I've been proved wrong about three hours before.

Then, the next time the subject comes up, I might admit to having changed my mind about it.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 2 June 2006 10:14 (nineteen years ago)

Are you sure about that?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 10:17 (nineteen years ago)

You will never know.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 2 June 2006 10:31 (nineteen years ago)

I knew before you thought.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Friday, 2 June 2006 11:07 (nineteen years ago)

Your oul one knew.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:00 (nineteen years ago)

I'm glad we don't have anybody in my country like that guy

― TOMBOT (TOMBOT), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

What an original viewpoint. Doesn't Brooker have anything better to do? Oh yes, his TV Go Home TV series died like a louse in a Russian's beard. Obviously not, then.

You forgot his sterling work as a writer for the 11 O'Clock Show, the most popular comedy programme ever.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

It's the journey that counts, not the destination.

Because I think apart from anything else, Godwin's Law often still applies on many boards...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_law

― Treblekicker (treblekicker), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

ILM started in August 2000
ILE started in June 2001 - Can we have badges "5 years old"

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:18 (nineteen years ago)

Ooooooooh that sounds like a dandy opportunity to tabula rasa this bitch

― TOMBOT (TOMBOT), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

usually, people you don't know don't call you "fuck" and "moron" in the real world, but it happens here, so ILX has a clear advantage there. The internet's "edgy" - the real world is passive, therefore geeky.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

what date in june 2001 did ILE start? it was early in the month

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:24 (nineteen years ago)

usually, people you don't know don't call you "fuck" and "moron" in the real world, but it happens here

That's true, and in the real world you can't really end an argument by just not answering, changing your username and pretending to be someone else entirely.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

If you can't bring the geek to the norm, bring the norm to the geek.

― Fluffy Bear (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:30 (nineteen years ago)

The internet's "edgy" - the real world is passive, therefore geeky.

Nah, it's just that the Internet allow for geeks to say things they'd never dare to say to someone in the real world.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

exactly, I was not serious. it's a way for very angry, frustrated people to pretend they have control, power.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 12:48 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not sure why the assumption is being made here that ppl don't behave similarly in real life to how they do on the net, all of the time.

Do any of you even know how many people are on MySpace? I'm assuming you all do. It's not exactly "weird" or "geeky" or "special" anymore to be online and I think making the assumption that these people are all putting on fake faces and being made brave by "anonymity" (which is hard to argue exists in a space where not being able to see what the other contributors look like and where they live is becoming rarer and rarer) is kind of, I dunno....LOL @ 1998.

Maybe I just live in rougher places and have less couth friends than the lot of you.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:25 (nineteen years ago)

no you're right - as you said yesterday 'i remember 1994 too'

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

usually, people you don't know don't call you "fuck" and "moron" in the real world...

Thus speaks someone who has never passed the time of day with Jon & Ian.

― Laurel (Laurel), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

well, there's a bit of overstatement, hyperbole going on, sure. But do people in your everyday life break into a conversation you're having to call you fuck?

haha, there's that - xpost laurel (but they do know you, don't they?)

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

also, i'm only talking about 5%(at most) of the people here, but something tells me they are not as hostile in everyday life to strangers unless they like walking around with scars & broken limbs. maybe they do....

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

Ian was mean to me the first several times we met, but he's warmed up now.

― Laurel (Laurel), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

I know a LOT of people who talk like that. Though now I'm just thinking of that Seinfeld episode where George meets up with Rangers (I think?) ownership and the Texas dudes just refer to everyone as bastards and sons of bitches and stuff like that. I mean, to be totally honest, there is quite a lot of that that goes on online with people I know in real life, and if you heard them say the exact same thing in real life, complete with calling so-and-so and moron, you'd not think they were remotely angry at all. Some people just talk that way.

I honestly have to make a tremendous effort not to swear constantly. Without knowing who you are talking about (tho whoever it is, this is now the third thread--at least--in the past two days you've brought this up so maybe you should just talk to those 5% of people privately if there's something needa be cleared up), I can't really say for sure but I can say for sure that I've seen people really, really overreact and assume they are being confronted with violent anger online, when they aren't.

And I think that's partially because people love to make the assumption that everyone is becoming internet toughman under the anonymous guise of the internet and no one behaves how they really do in real life.

Mind you, if you're talking about Markelby, you're totally on the money. (insert winky face here)

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah listen to Ally. That bitch knows what she's talking about.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

Well yes. This explains my explosive and irritable Internet demeanour.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

true enough,there are lots of unknowables, but i think i can usually tell the difference between "ya lovable bastard" and just plain ol'spewing of hatred, but i'll drop this as it has become tedious for everyone else (monomania can be a drag)

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

Ned, you are one mean ass son of a bitch.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:00 (nineteen years ago)

I stab the motherfuckers, I do. With a rusty blade. So they get TETANUS.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:02 (nineteen years ago)

Do any of you even know how many people are on MySpace? I'm assuming you all do. It's not exactly "weird" or "geeky" or "special" anymore to be online

It's a generational thing though. Once you get past, say, 13 or 14, the older you are, the weirder it's perceived. There are lots of people in their late 20s that would still view it as weird, hence Gareth and I once talking to some girls and pretending we met on a caravan park in Kent in 2000. As if that didn't have the same effect.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:03 (nineteen years ago)

Considering my internet persona has mellowed a fair bit I'd say I'm much more like my real self these days.

I'm not sure why the assumption is being made here that ppl don't behave similarly in real life to how they do on the net, all of the time.

I would LOVE to see Ethan protecting black people in real life ;)

― Crimea River (Mark C), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

actually, i've read some early threads where ned was more than a bit confrontational, but then i guess you found your internet voice.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

is caravanning still considered...acceptable in any way?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

There are lots of people in their late 20s that would still view it as weird

But one day they will all be dead. (Regrettably I will be too.)

i've read some early threads where ned was more than a bit confrontational

I've never not had my moments!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

It's a generational thing though. Once you get past, say, 13 or 14, the older you are, the weirder it's perceived.

This is not even remotely true. At least not in my experience, and I'm sorry if in your experience it is true. I mean, I know quite a few people who signed up on eHarmony.com, not a single one under the age of 40. And no one thinks it's weird, not even the other old ppls! Everyone discusses it openly and helps them pick guys. My mom spends her entire days trolling YouTube, etc etc.

I'm not saying there aren't people who would view it as weird, but there are also people young and old who think meeting people in bars is totally weird.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:11 (nineteen years ago)

As in real life, I almost never pause to reflect before I hit "Submit".

― Fluffy Bear (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe we (we = late twenties to late thirties) are the generation who were young and cool but self-conscious enough to both early-adopt the internet but also to worry about how such geekiness would effect our cred? Older people just don't care, and younger people feel like they've always had it.

― Crimea River (Mark C), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:13 (nineteen years ago)

but there are also people young and old who think meeting people in bars is totally weird.

-- Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyza...), June 2nd, 2006. (allyzay) yeah, but people never get confrontational in bars (oh, wait.....)

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

dammit, format

― timmy tannin (pompous), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:15 (nineteen years ago)

my real friends keep calling it a chatroom which is annoying.

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

i think matt dc is right but this might be a 'local conditions' thing.

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

Mark C is OTM actually, I think!!

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Yep, Barry OTM.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

Haha that reminds me of the funniest story actually, three ILXors put together at a table, two knew each other but didn't know the third (and had no reason to assume person was an ILXor cos there were tons of non-ILXors about), stranger-ILXor asks how the other two ILXors know me, they kind of hem and haw and dance around the ultimate dorky, "There's this thing, called the internet..." Stranger-ILXor nearly falls off chair laughing and proceeds to point out that is how she knows me as well. C/D?

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

Beyond classic. Especially if this is at a wedding. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

especially if stranger-ILXor is geeta...

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)

I've started holding up plackards with owls on them every time someone says something obvious. The ladies love it.

― Fluffy Bear (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

I WAS GONNA SAY, THAT STORY SOUNDS FAMILIAR....

― Laurel (Laurel), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, we've been talking about Jeff and his owl signs for years.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

I actually own a shirt with the UH graphic and a shirt that says ORNALDO BLOOMPS, I'm not exactly the best person maybe for this judgement call, in retrospect.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

for real?

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

I actually met some ilxers at a FAP before I visited this board.

― Fluffy Bear (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, Enrique, for real.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

Could be worse, could be 'Vote for Pedro'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

There are actually many, many of us with the UH shirt, but I think only one with ORNALDO BLOOMPS.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

I thought Ally said 'put together a table' upthread. I couldn't grasp why three random people would be assembling IKEA furniture together.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

haha me too

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

That would be awesome if finally these mind-control powers of mine got me some damn tables built already. I am really terrible at that task, I actually power-drilled furni-kit furniture together once out of frustration with that dumb little "wrench" they give you.

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:37 (nineteen years ago)

There are actually many, many of us with the UH shirt

That was quick. So where's the CafePress link?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

my real friends keep calling it a chatroom which is annoying.

You're friends with Frank Kogan?

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

So where's the CafePress link?

it's just a bit of fun pt VIII

― Enrique IX: The Mediator (Enrique), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

So where's the CafePress link?

http://www.zazzle.com/product/235609635764585640

― Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

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