For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every geek, there is a bully. For every computer problem, there is a fix.
In a perfect world, yes. These are true statements. We, unfortunately, do not live in a perfect world. We live in chaos. Some controlled, most uncontrolled.
In uncontrolled chaos we have to look at our environment and figure out how to manipulate it to our advantage. This is where the geek comes in. You may remember the geek as the guy with freckles and glasses that was socially awkward to be around. I am not talking about these beautiful people now that throw on fake black rimmed glasses and call themselves geeks or nerds. These people are socially accepted and lack the skills to be called geek. Geek is an earned title that most , and I hate to use the term, hackers call themselves.
Geeks are not bad people. Well, unless you make them bad. Take a kid around 14 years old. Socially unaccepted in all the “normal” cliques. He groups with like people in the math club, chess club, choir, band, science club, and so on. They are ridiculed and forced to mingle with the muscle heads and beautiful people cliques by school activities like gym. They are picked last, they are shoved into lockers. They are talked down to, teased, baited into embarrassing situations, and outright bullied. The child is learning skills at a rate that the other students couldn’t fathom. They are learning social skills on a level that is unique because they have a different view of how people should or shouldn’t be treated. They do not waste their time of meaningless activities like school sports or cheerleading.
The biggest joke in adulthood is looking back on who was actually successful after high school and who turned out being the losers. The guys that can barely add up the charged from their checking account but can dribble a ball down a court don’t seem to be doing so hot now. Sure, a few of them were successful, but most of the doctors I know were the picked on kids in school and drove themselves to a level of success to overcome the ridicule of their childhood. I am one of them. The things I do best are the very things that I was once told I was the worst at. A guy by the name of Travis Baker once told me that I would never be anything more that a dime a dozen guitarist. His words haunted me and drove me to play for 6 to 10 hours a day until I was so good at guitar that people flock to me when I play. I shed a lot of blood, sweat, and allowed my talent to flow, but slowed down when those words no longer hurt me anymore. Now, I rarely pick up the guitar except to channel emotions in an attempt to avoid tears in difficult times. I am recording some of my songs to share and will produce a few digital downloads on iTunes within the next 2 years.. but it is a low priority to me.
I was told by someone that I was a crappy programmer. A teacher at a university who’s name I will respectfully withhold. Only because I have already proven her wrong and rubbed it in her face. I have created things that she could only dream of. Later I found out that her experience was in building adult content sites. How funny is that?
That super skilled guy that is in your IT department. Take him out to lunch. Tell him / her that they are appreciated. Hell, give them a raise. Put them on a contract that guarantees their job for an extended period of time and they will be an asset to your company like you wouldn’t believe.
On the other hand, treat them like shit and watch what you get. Hopefully it isn’t a logic bomb. So if you are the young person in school teasing the geeks and nerds be careful. You may be in their hands after high school. If you are all grown up and your smart guy or IT guy is running your companies technology, treat them right and reap the benefits. Or don’t and watch us laugh as your company gets eaten alive from the inside and out. Geeks are good, they can be bad, and they can be beyond ugly. Treat them like they should have been treated in school.
John Galbraith
Information Security Analyst
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:N 9th St,Springfield,United States
