I'm a geek, huh?

[Alutra]

There is a conversation I've been having alot with people latley and I was wondering If any of you experience this:

(Friend/family/acquaintance): So, what have you been doing lately?

Me: Oh, I’ve been writing a game.

Them: A game? What kind of game?

Me: A video game.

Them: oh, that’s cool, did you go to school for that?

Me: um, no.

Them: oh, well, are you going to try to sell it?

Me: um, no. But you can play it on Playstation.

Them: Oh, so you can publish it then?

Me: (sigh) uh, no…there is this web site where a bunch of geeks get together and share games they made.

Them: oh…(looking puzzled)….So what kind of game is it?

Me: An RPG.

Them: ….What’s that?

Me: it stands for role playing game….uh, like final fantasy….

Them: oh……um……that’s…neat.

(Later) Them: So, want to go… (blah blah blah activity)

Me: oh sorry, I cant, I have to go work on my game….you see there is this contest…

Them: Oh, can you win money?

Me: no…

Them: Maybe if you win, then you can get it published….

Me: (sigh)….

Them: You really should think about going to school for that...

Me: ...no.
---------------
Please, someone tell me im not the only one who gets this.....

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

Well, I can't think of a good way to defend what we do.

You'll just have to accept alienation and miscommunication, I guess.

[IRC]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I go with rightous indignation. I just act like making an rpg is the most natural thing you can do.

Someone: What are you doing?
Me: I'm posting at a message board?
Someone: What's it about?
Me: It's for a website that talks about a game where you can make rpgs and stuff.

Of course it helps that my brother's a CIS major and does Database Security for a living. He once created two virtual computers on one PC and then networked them together just to see if he could do it.

I alwasy figured Alzar explaining something like this to people would go something like this.

Alzar's Hot Mom: What are you doing?
Alzar: GAY DOG MOM!!! GAY DOG!

And try explaining to people in Texas that you're taking Japanese.

An aunt or uncle: So what classes are you taking this semester?
Me: Japanese.
Them: Huh? You mean Spanish. Spanish would be really good in Texas.
Me: What if I don't stay in Texas.
Them: Get out of my house!!!

[Biggie]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

Yes, I have conversations like that, thats why I dont really talk about my creation to other poeple, I always get "do poeple pay to play it?"

[AbstractOrigin]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?



Nobody cares around my place.

Ergo, no stupid "What system is it for?" questions.

The only time I've openly explained about my projects with
RPGM were during my American Lit. class during journal.

I admit they were a bit intrested though, but I got my share of smart asses.

So, meh.

[tjoris9]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

An aunt or uncle: So what classes are you taking this semester?
Me: Japanese.
Them: Huh? You mean Spanish. Spanish would be really good in Texas.
Me: What if I don't stay in Texas.
Them: Get out of my house!!!

Except that in Texas 90% of the people doing service jobs speak Spanish, but not English.

Illegal immigrants work dirt cheap!

[Alzar]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I think it's like any other productive hobby that takes a good deal of time and effort. And that's why we have a community like this, with people who understand and respect the work put in. And, gay dog.

[Funk]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I LONG to share what I am planning with my family and coworkers, but only one of my brothers can appreciate what I am trying to do, since I turned him onto Final Fantasy and he liked it quite a bit. I tried to explain it to my mom, but she is pretty much against any endeavor I partake in lately that doesn't result in me becoming more marketable. But personally, I think an RPG Maker project can further your career, if an employer is willing to sit down and play ten minutes of a game to see what talent you have.

[IRC]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

Except that in Texas 90% of the people doing service jobs speak Spanish, but not English.

Illegal immigrants work dirt cheap!

Um... exactly?

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I get this type of thing a lot with my independent writing (not CWS-related). Everyone thinks it's great that I'm trying to write a book, but what they don't realize is that practically everyone with proficiency in their language is trying to write a book. So they think I'm doing some ultra special thing when every Joe and Jack in the country is working to publish their own books.

For the Creative Writing Story, my family doesn't understand why I even bother if I know it'll never get published, and I hate trying to explain everything to them.

Most people are happy enough just knowing that I'm doing something else besides just working to pay the bills.

I think I've finally passed that point where being a college dropout is acceptable. Every person I meet asks in incredulous and haughty tones what I do since I'm not going to college anymore, and I just feel like punching all of them out.

So yeah, geek hobbies are things you will be ostracized for. You just have to keep it from upsetting you too much.

[RPGD]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I enjoy sharing my RPG Maker escapades with family and friends, especially because they enjoy it, too.

Back when I was screwing around with RPGM1, I made some stuff that has sadly departed to the land of wind and ghosts. Everyone who watched my Carl n' Bob projects laughed pretty hard.

I wish I still had them to show you stupid peoples.

In addition, I find the word "Geek" offensive, and am saddened by the fact that so many have adapted to it.

[Nixon]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

*bites the head off a chicken*

I stopped caring about what other people think of how I spend my free time. They can all cram it, since it's none of their business anyway.

[Crimson Knight]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I don't usually share my creation quests with people, unless it's in a community like this, because otherwise they're too ignorant to understand.

[IRC]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

I get this type of thing a lot with my independent writing (not CWS-related). Everyone thinks it's great that I'm trying to write a book, but what they don't realize is that practically everyone with proficiency in their language is trying to write a book. So they think I'm doing some ultra special thing when every Joe and Jack in the country is working to publish their own books.

For the Creative Writing Story, my family doesn't understand why I even bother if I know it'll never get published, and I hate trying to explain everything to them.

Most people are happy enough just knowing that I'm doing something else besides just working to pay the bills.

I think I've finally passed that point where being a college dropout is acceptable. Every person I meet asks in incredulous and haughty tones what I do since I'm not going to college anymore, and I just feel like punching all of them out.

So yeah, geek hobbies are things you will be ostracized for. You just have to keep it from upsetting you too much.

Man, doesn't that Eragon guy **** you off? I'm already working on my fantasy book. It's called Driffen and it's about a boy who finds a Griffin egg. I can't loose.

[highwind]

Re: I'm a geek, huh?

our society is becoming so individualized that no one has to give a crap about anyone or anything anymore. yay.