Tue 5 Dec 2006
Ok, having taken this quiz, I now feel it is measuring geekdom more than nerddom. It feels terrible to score only in the 20th percentile? What did I do wrong, O quiz-makers? Is it because I don’t have my I.P. address memorized? Nevertheless, it is a quiz, and it has pictures of really old scientists with big hair. Coolio.
Before we get there, here is a sample thought I have had lately: A recent post of mine began with “What happens to 131 pictures when a memory card goes on the fritz? Do their pixels just disassociate?” I later had fun realizing that I inadvertently referenced Langston Hughes: “What happens to a dream deferred?/ Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?” who in turn referenced Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Cool! Digital cameras and King Solomon, together at last. Without further ado, the quiz:
December 5th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I got an 89! I am nerdier than 89% of all people! I would like to see Dr G’s score.
December 5th, 2006 at 11:00 am
I got the same score you did.
“Not nerdy, but definitely not hip.”
I’m more of a geek than a nerd, admittedly.
December 5th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
I’m a supreme nerd. 92. Sheesh. That’s a bit higher than expected. I had to learn the IP of my computer so I could connect to it remotely. I suppose I’m not helping my case here.
December 5th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
27% . . . also not nerdy, but definitely not hip.
December 5th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
41%. I think my lack of love for the hard sciences lowered my score — you just can’t be a super nerd as a result of the social sciences.
December 5th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
42 baby. I’m neither here nor there, which has always been my issue.
December 5th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Ok, I retook the test, unable to let a mere 20% stand. I cheated on one question, by looking up Fermium. This time I got a 48%. That question must have been heavily weighted! I said that post 1990 HP calculators were my favorite, even though I never use calculators. But of all the calculators Dr. G has had, that one was coolest.
December 6th, 2006 at 12:42 am
I had to learn the IP of my computer so I could connect to it remotely. hahahahhahahahah . Dr. G you crack me up
December 6th, 2006 at 12:48 am
I just scored a 23…
December 6th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
If I were allowed to comment on the above post about your nephews, I would be forced to note that it looks like the young’un is flipping me off.
December 6th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I’m a 56 (lightly nerdy), which, frankly, I’m a bit disappointed about. That in itself should probably say plenty.
December 6th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
Kate, that’s impossible! That is one of the two nicest boys in the universe. You must be imagining things.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
What? I got 35%, Low Ranking Nerd. Clearly a flawed test. Maybe I should see if I could break into the server and fix the test…
But seriously, it’s obviously biased toward math/science nerds. What’s less nerdy about the archtypical 6th grade spelling bee champion who memorizes the dictionary?
For a while I’ve been proposing a theory about Geekness to anyone who will listen: Almost every man I know (I’m not sure why it’s not as common in women) is a geek about SOMETHING. We get hyper-focused on our chosen subject, we read magazine articles about it and are prepared to discuss it ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Some geek types you may know (multiple Geeknesses often coexist):
December 18th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Oops, I misread it, I actually got a 65…
Hacking the image URL got me:
But Googling turned up this impressive score which I think my pains deserve:
December 28th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Nate, I partially agree with your hypothesis. I know a lot of women with geekiness too, though it seems to be manifested a bit differently: grammar/punctuation geeks, sewing or quilting geeks, birdwatching geeks, pop culture geeks, cooking geeks, important causes geeks, health geeks, etc. Sometimes I go a few years before discovering a woman friend’s geek area. Then one day I will casually mention multivitamins, and lo, there is an outpouring of arcane knowledge! Followed by emails full of useful links! Followed by offers to help me find the perfect one! I love this kind of thing.