Computer Geeks Have Finally Come Into Their Own!

During the late 1970s, there were true computer geeks, living in the shadow world of such enclaves as IBM and Hewlett Packard. These individuals loved nothing better than to sit in front of computers, dynamically allocating space on gigantic mainframes, or patching data through 17 different operating systems, reformatting as they went, hoping for a successful transition through the cyber world of transmitted bytes. Much like characters in Star Trek, they went where no one had before. Family and friends thought they were strange, at best, always a tad eccentric and at worst, just plain weird, enamored of things you couldn't touch.

I admit to being one of these geeks. The challenge and pleasure of manipulating data across thousands of miles, multiple machines and operating systems, in an air tight logical procedure was much like playing chess. My area was educational documentation. My task was to transport the raw data from Vulcan to English. It was mesmerizing. However, not a day passed that my nails weren't done to the nines.

The modern geek didn't acquire the moniker of computer geek until the early to mid 1980s. That's when you started seeing the nerdy guy – always a guy – with a haircut that would have put Beaver, of the 'Leave it to Beaver' series, to shame. After all, that was the 1950s. The new computer geek became a caricature, with sparkling white shirt, bow tie and the perennial shirt pocket stuffed with a plastic wrapped selection of pens. This guy was always the outcast at a party, with buck teeth and social skills that would make a third grader a heartthrob at a sorority party. He was characterized as the introvert, easy pickings for girls who wanted nothing more than to make fun of him. After all, he was a nerd. Other guys, 'real' men, flexed their muscles and made short work of his ineffectual presence.

Yet, the computer geek eventually gained a place in American society. During the 1990s, these geeks were living high on the hog, so to speak. American technology was king and there was no denying that these apparently brilliant, but otherwise unredeemed engineers were doing quite well.

So, what's the computer geek doing now? Outsourcing has dealt the computer geeks a cruel blow. It's no longer a matter of being cool or uncool, it's a matter of survival.

Enter the rash of unabashed computer geeks. Going by a variety of domain names, you can find any sort of computer geek you might need, at very affordable prices. You've got the Geek Squad, Geek World, Geekmaniacs, you name it. These people can fix whatever ails your computer. Some offer mobile services, on a national basis. Do we now have a new market for these former outcasts?

It's interesting to note that computer geeks are now glorified, to the extent that a recent Reuters report described a program that teaches geeks to flirt on text messages! Now the geek can – maybe – get a date! What is the world coming to?

Summary

Yet, the computer geek eventually gained a place in American society. During the 1990s, these geeks were living high on the hog, so to speak. American technology was king and there was no denying that these apparently brilliant, but otherwise unredeemed engineers were doing quite well. So, what's the computer geek doing now? Outsourcing has dealt the computer geeks a cruel blow It's no longer a matter of being cool or uncool, it's a matter of survival.

Related Articles

Computer Privacy Issues
Computer Basics
Computer Hardware Engineering
History Of Computers

Related Sites