Re: [LIH] [OT] Linux Geek Reading Tastes (Was Re: load balancing ?)

[Sudhakar Chandra <thaths@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Biju Chacko proclaimed:
> It's amazing, all us geeks seem to have the same reading tastes: SF &
> Fantasy. I wonder why we're all attracted to it? 


I know this is OT.  I know some have complained.  But I am going to get my
2c in anyway.  I was away from email for almost a week.  so this response
is a bit late.

I've been very interested in Geek culture and perceptions of geeks for over
4 years now.  One thing I've noticed is that geeks differ from country to
country.  Even in the US, geeks in the west coast look and act different
from the geeks in the east coast.

Here are some of my observations:

* Geeks in the US tend to be over-the-average-weight, bearded / long haired
(generally unkempt) social misfits.  In India they tend to be skinny,
bespectacled and more conformistic and socially - adjusted.

* Geeks in the US are perceived as weirdos by many.  Geeks in India are
actually looked up to (high grades, good job etc.).

* A classic example is when Udhay and I met a fellow geek for a beer one
night.  Udhay, who was visiting the Bay Area for a while, is a skinny
socially-well-adjusted person (You are welcome, Udhay).  This geek we met
was overweight, beareded (?) and mal-adjusted.

* Geeks tend to use SF / fantasy as an escape from reality.  (I'll probably
be boo-ed off stage for this).

Thaths
-- 
Homer: Good old Evergreen Terrace: the swankiest street in the
       classiest part of Pressboard Estates.
Bart:  Well if you love it so much, why are you always littering?
Homer: It's easier, duh.
Sudhakar C13n    http://www.aunet.org/thaths/    Lead Indentured Slave