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The Geek's Dilemma

MattMatt
edited April 2011 in Everything Else
The Geek's Dilemma - a nice short read from one of the GeekDad guys. Breadth vs. Depth. Are you a geek specialist or a renaissance man?

I am pulled in both directions because I am interested in so many things, but have the obsessive nature that prevents me from doing anything less than diving in 100%. For instance, I used to be a volunteer firefighter and wound up quitting because I could only make a percentage of calls equivalent to most of the slackers. It bothered me too much to be doing a half-assed job. Overall I think I fall in the middle but would like to trend over to specialist. Optimally I would have only enough geekeries that I could be a master at all, yet have enough to provide a feeling of variety and go through the "seasons" of geekery (for instance, right now I am hardcore craving wooden cube games).

What about you?
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Comments

  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    I thought the geek dilemma was going to be about being socially ill-adjusted.
  • NeoNeo
    edited April 2011
    I like to have knowledge that the breadth exists and pick some areas where I go much deeper than the average joe or even the informed geek but for various reasons I don't go all the way down the rabbit-hole to become truly expert at anything. Then, I move on to something else that pulls at me from my breadth of knowledge. So, my graph might look like the linear plot in the article only with saw-tooth's cut in it where I explored more before moving on.
    Post edited by Neo on
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    edited April 2011
    I sort of wander from interest to interest. I've achieved what I think is expert enthusiast level knowledge about cars. To learn more I really need to become an engineer. I'm working on my star trek hobby. I got bored with my anime hobby.

    The real geek's dilemma in my opinion is how vast knowledge on any one subject tends to isolate you more and more within that subject. Pete and I talked about this at connecticon last year. When you know so much about one thing, you have no one to talk to about it.
    Post edited by George Patches on
  • CremlianCremlian
    To steal a quote from the comments that perfectly illustrates my opinion on this topic.

    Lazarus Long/Robert Heinlein:

    “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

    I always have this angst. I feel like if I gave up a few hobbies I would get more out of the remaining ones, however I can't give up any of them. So they kinda just cycle weekly or monthly.
  • theknoxinatortheknoxinator
    I'm definitely on the breath spectrum. I simply have interests in too many things and I often get bored or tired of focusing on just one thing. Yes, this does leave me with a lack of being a specialist at anything, but I've always felt that being well-rounded and well-versed in multiple things is more useful in the long run. So far, I think it's worked out in my favor.
  • MattMatt
    The real geek's dilemma in my opinion is how vast knowledge on any one subject tends to isolate you more and more within that subject. Pete and I talked about this at connecticon last year. When you know so much about one thing, you have no one to talk to about it.
    Wow that's hitting the nail on the head in describing another big issue. Since graduating college several years back and getting into a free time crunch, I decided it would be in my own best interest to start refining my tastes and focusing on higher quality games (both digital and analog). It's had a small but noticeable effect in some long-time friendships, as it takes effort there to focus on the remaining common ground.
  • sucrilhossucrilhos
    edited April 2011
    This is the reason I wasn't able to get my degree on network engineering. I could not make myself go deep enough into math to pass a couple of classes that needed applied calculus 3 and mathematical physics methods (this actually the name of the class, of witch I passed barely, and wasn't able to grasp the principles to apply to anything). My worst nightmares involve Theoretical Communications Signals. Instead of focusing on studying I was working building computers, playing video-games, tuning my car, drinking beer and going to the gym.
    Post edited by sucrilhos on
  • Originalme8Originalme8
    I tend to focus on a small list of things directly. It just happens to be that one of those items is technology in general. I find myself getting to the point where I master the sections I need to function to the best of my ability and then lose interest. Big fish in a small pond syndrome or something like that.

    What really sickens me is that I love reading through logs and finding out what is really going on...oh the mighty kernel dump :) -drool-

    P.S. If anyone knows how to do a log dump of a human brain, please let me know. I would love to know what's wrong with me! :P
  • WindUpBirdWindUpBird
    The real geek's dilemma in my opinion is how vast knowledge on any one subject tends to isolate you more and more within that subject. Pete and I talked about this at connecticon last year. When you know so much about one thing, you have no one to talk to about it.
    Wow that's hitting the nail on the head in describing another big issue. Since graduating college several years back and getting into a free time crunch, I decided it would be in my own best interest to start refining my tastes and focusing on higher quality games (both digital and analog). It's had a small but noticeable effect in some long-time friendships, as it takes effort there to focus on the remaining common ground.
    I had this happen the other day. Another Backpacker and I were talking about our pack weights and gear loadouts (trying to one-up each other by having the most full-featured pack at a low weight; my BPW is estimated at around 30lbs, or really goddamn light) and we started geeking out over tent weights, lightweight water filters, ultralight knives, and the weight/importance trade-off when one assembles their tool and first aid kits. The others at the table, both people who liked the outdoors, just stared at us like we were crazy. They didn't understand how a 20oz microsized nesting cookset for two could get someone so excited.
  • sucrilhossucrilhos
    Oh my god, I almost laughed out loud at work from reading this "There are very few things that I won’t try at least once — but for that very reason it’s quite possible I will only get to try it once." I have tried so many things once, like: lessons on Boxing, singing, ballroom dancing, break dancing, acoustic guitar etc.., and many other things that don't involve lessons.
  • TheWhaleSharkTheWhaleShark
    What about you?
    I do a bit of both. I have a variety of hobbies which I pursue very deeply. The thing is, I only pursue so many at the same time. I go through "phases," but I can always head back to a previous phase.
  • AprecheApreche
    If you go for depth, you're a nerd, not a geek.
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    If you go for depth, you're a nerd, not a geek.
    By your arbitrary definitions of the words.
  • JasonJason
    I thought the geek dilemma was going to be about being socially ill-adjusted.
    Geeks aren't socially ill-adjusted. Socially ill-adjusted people are socially ill-adjusted.
  • WalkerWalker
    If you go for depth, you're a nerd, not a geek.
    By your arbitrary definitions of the words.
    All definitions are arbitrary. ;)
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    If you go for depth, you're a nerd, not a geek.
    By your arbitrary definitions of the words.
    All definitions are arbitrary. ;)
    The difference is no one really agrees on what these terms mean.
  • AprecheApreche
  • Originalme8Originalme8
    I have been looking for that chart forever. Finally I can prove that I am a Dweeb I mean Geek :P
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    I prefer this chart.
    image
  • AprecheApreche
    Both charts are correct.
  • TheWhaleSharkTheWhaleShark
    Both charts are correct.
    Yes, but which one is more correct? This matters a whole lot.
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited April 2011
    Both charts are correct.
    Really? But then you have to be both a nerd and a geek to have a strong opinion on the distinction between geeks and nerds.
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    Yes, but which one is more correct? This matters a whole lot.
    I love you man. *bro hoof*
  • AprecheApreche
    The two charts are not mutually exclusive in any way.
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    The two charts are not mutually exclusive in any way.
    Actually, they're directly contradictory.
  • AprecheApreche
    The two charts are not mutually exclusive in any way.
    Actually, they're directly contradictory.
    How so?
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    The first one is slightly ambiguous because of poor labeling, but there's two interpretations:- 1) nerds are a proper subset of geeks; 2) they are mutually exclusive.
    Neither of these views matches the second diagram.
  • George PatchesGeorge Patches
    You sir, are failing at reading Venn diagrams.
  • jtvhjtvh
    Just to muddy things further, here's the alt text from the XKCD chart:
    The definitions I grew up with were that a geek is someone unusually into something (so you could have computer geeks, baseball geeks, theater geeks, etc) and nerds are (often awkward) science, math, or computer geeks. But definitions vary.
    We didn't argue about the difference between geeks and nerds when I was growing up. We were too busy looking to see if Speed Racer was on any of the UHF stations.
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    You sir, are failing at reading Venn diagrams.
    You talking to me? If so, elaborate.
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