Must (see || read || play || do || hear) checklist [Archive]

kowgod

04-24-2007, 05:00 PM

Over the past couple months, I've had four rather shocking awakenings in terms of what I consider to be "musts" which friends have never experienced. To me, there are certain things which define what it is to be a geek/nerd/whatever, and when I find out that my friends have not experienced these things, it rocks the very foundations of my life!

The four I am thinking of are:
1) A couple months ago I found out about a friend who has -- prepare yourself, get a drink, sit down -- never seen any of Star Wars!

To me, this is just anathema to... I dunno... LIFE! I didn't know such people over the age of, say, 8, existed! This was actually the first eye opener which actually got me talking to my friends about this "must" list concept, which led to the following three, more recently, but equally depressing revelations:

2) A friend who has never seen any of the Back to the Futures!
3) A friend who has never seen any Indiana Jones!!! (Almost as bad as Star Wars!)
4) And, not quite as bad, but if you knew him, you'd be surprised as well -- a friend who has never read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! (But they saw the most recent movie.)

I actually found that last one out just over the weekend, which is what has finally prompted me to post this.

We need to convene a council, and come up with a definitive list of Musts! Must see movies; must play games; must read books; must do activities (?); must hear music (?).

I do not claim to be perfect in this regard, either (Just nearly perfect. Asymptotically close to perfect, even). I am sure I will be exposed as a fraud, here, myself. But it's ok! I'm prepared to make sacrifices! For the good of humanity!

wideawakewesley

04-24-2007, 05:08 PM

The rites of passage to geekdom.

:)

Talking of Hitchhikers, I only read the book once I knew the movie was coming out, sad I know.

trsjeff

04-24-2007, 06:18 PM

The rites of passage to geekdom.

:)

Talking of Hitchhikers, I only read the book once I knew the movie was coming out, sad I know.

I HIGHLY recommend the Hitchhikers audio books. Listening to DA read his own work is bliss. He's a genius.

-Jeff

calvinslug

04-24-2007, 06:22 PM

I disagree with you completely, kowgod. But I must pay attention aat work, so I shall retrun to this anon.

tokenuser

04-24-2007, 06:25 PM

I HIGHLY recommend the Hitchhikers audio books. Listening to DA read his own work is bliss. He's a genius.

-JeffI'd also recommend the original BBC radio plays as well. If you think H2G2 is represented by the movie, you are sadly missing out ... and don't just stop at the first book, you need to read the whole trilogy in four parts.

casework

04-24-2007, 09:17 PM

I pretty much fit all of those... :o

I've only seen one entire Star Wars - though I've watched others in the past and just didn't like it. Ironically enough, when the last one came out, I got a free ticket, and did enjoy it. I still haven't re-watched any of the others since.

I've only seen one entire Indiana Jones. Cause it was on TV. I actually did like it though, not sure which one it was. I'll probably see the 4th one whenever it happens to come out.

As for the other two... nope.

I'm big into movies, there are just some things I'm weird about/never see/don't like.

In fact, as a current film studies minor... I have yet to see more than 5-10 minutes of a Tarantino movie. Plus the other things on my list. Even though I recently did a presentation and quoted Tarantino as saying he was greatly influenced by the director(s) I was covering.

I actually hated Lord of the Rings until I was bored one day and decided to pick up the 2nd one on sale for cheap at Blockbuster. Has been easily my favorite trilogy since. This was a little bit before the 3rd was released to theatres.

...sorry... :o

satori

04-24-2007, 09:20 PM

I HIGHLY recommend the Hitchhikers audio books. Listening to DA read his own work is bliss. He's a genius.

-Jeff

The original Radio play that the books are based on are largely thought of as the best version. Still I have to agree that the books are great as well.

wideawakewesley

04-24-2007, 09:25 PM

I've had them for years in mp3 format, just never found the time to listen to them. I love the idea of audiobooks and I've collected a few, but unfortunately I can't seem to fit listening to them into my life.

rabidbadger

04-24-2007, 09:36 PM

Movie wise, if you never saw Tron then turn in your geekbadge now...

Games, on the other hand, do not equal geekness, they equal gamer...

Now, if you're talking about absolute geekcred here, anyone who has never at least tried coding anything by hand, even HTML, then they are not even close to geekness, just geek observers, hangers-on, wanna-bes...

rabidbadger

04-24-2007, 09:37 PM

Also, don't get why back to the future equals geekdom? Just a time travel movie...

casework

04-24-2007, 09:46 PM

Now, if you're talking about absolute geekcred here, anyone who has never at least tried coding anything by hand, even HTML, then they are not even close to geekness, just geek observers, hangers-on, wanna-bes...

Now that's something I've got some street cred on. Spending 5 hours coding a bracket, until 5 AM, with no major breaks, and waking up at 9 AM to update it Live, and no one really cared...

kwok_talk

04-24-2007, 09:54 PM

Yikes I’ve only met 2 of the 4 criteria! (Star Wars, Back to the Future). The essentials are always debatable, though

kowgod

04-24-2007, 09:59 PM

I think I need to go pray.

rabidbadger

04-24-2007, 10:05 PM

Now that I think about it, all three movie series mentioned were loved by both mainstreams and geeks, middle class moms and grampas raised on Bradbury and Superman comics...

No real specific geekness here...

Hitchhikers is really the only one that falls into the truly geekhoodness, 'cause until the recent (bad) movie, you really had to seek it out, or have it recommended by fellow geeks...

What is Really the one singular thing that all geeks have in common, do you think?

tokenuser

04-24-2007, 10:23 PM

Going the old school geek cred ...

Star Wars Sextet - check. Extra credit for seeing SW4 at a drive in, and all others as they were released at the cinema.
Back to the Future - check. Extra credit for doing a BttF 1 & 2 marathon (at a local cinema that like playing series back to back), a break for lunch, then seeing BttF 3. Extra extra credit for doing the BttF ride at Universal Studios>
Indiana Jones - check. Again, all as released in cinema.
H2G2 - read the books (all of them), listened to the BBC radio plays, watched the BBC TV show, saw the movie (boo!), played the video game. My copy of the book is the 14th printing (1983 ... it was only released in 1979, so 14 printings is a lot).

Can I have my membership card or am I over compensating?

kowgod

04-24-2007, 10:39 PM

My point wasn't to say Star Wars, BttF, HHGTTG and Indiana Jones are musts to be considered a geek. They were simply the impetus for starting this conversation.

Although, I would heartily disagree with anyone who wouldn't include Star Wars eps 4-6 on their list.

My question is, what should be included on a musts list?

rabidbadger

04-24-2007, 10:49 PM

Tron
Jules Verne Books
Omni magazine (defunct now) collection that you still paw through
Ray Bradbury short stories
The Original War of The Worlds movie.
Knowing what EPICAC is

kowgod

04-24-2007, 11:05 PM

Man, it is just hitting me... I have been numb over such apathy for Star Wars. These movies were life defining for me, growing up. You people have torn my world apart! I don't know what to think, anymore. I'm gonna go booze it up and buy some hookers. I've wasted my life!

divadawg9234

04-24-2007, 11:06 PM

I never saw the original three Star Wars movies until they were re-released in theaters in the 90s (when I was in middle school) Even though Star Tours was arguably my favourite Disneyland ride as a kid. I admitted this to Danny once and he has been good about keeping my secret :) But, I will say that seeing them for the first time on the big screen changed my life... I love Star Wars.

I bought the Back to the Futures on dvd this weekend (I've had them on VHS for years, chill!) and when I excitedly showed my roommate she shrugged saying that they were ok movies, but not ones she's really feel the need to see again... I was so heartbroken :(

wideawakewesley

04-24-2007, 11:23 PM

I bought the Back to the Futures on dvd this weekend (I've had them on VHS for years, chill!) and when I excitedly showed my roommate she shrugged saying that they were ok movies, but not ones she's really feel the need to see again... I was so heartbroken :(

While I'm not really one to rewatch my DVDs, Back To The Future is one of those movies you know you'll enjoy everytime you see it. I can say the same about Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Aliens etc etc...

I'm not sure I can say the same about many films made in the last ten years. Even Lord Of The Rings I find hard to rewatch, simply because of the length.

Wes

tokenuser

04-24-2007, 11:34 PM

Omni magazine (defunct now) collection that you still paw throughDamn, they are all in a filing box ... right along side my 2 boxes of Wired back issues.

calvinslug

04-24-2007, 11:51 PM

So, kowgod, I have to disagree with you for a number of fundamental reasons:

1. Your criteria do not stand the test of time. If I will have been born in 2070, and all memories of 20th century cinema have passed, or greater geek films have been made, is there no possibility that I can have been a geek?

2. Your criteria are far too medium restricted. What if I've loved every Star Wars comic and book, but never bothered to see the movies? What if I'm not allowed to see movies, can I not be a geek? This also carries through to rabidbadger - many many geeks out there have little more interest in computers than getting their webcasts and porn. Hell, I work in technology and haven't the slightest idea how to code. No interest in it whatsoever.

When you try to define a state of being by a restricted set of activities, it is very easy to fall far short of a true definition. To make a poor analogy, you could be arguing, "In order to be homosexual, you must have had sex with someone of your own gender." Trust me, there are many, many homosexuals who have never had sex with someone of their own gender . . .

Oh shit, did I play the gay card too soon?

scottyneox38

04-24-2007, 11:52 PM

Someone should make a wiki

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 12:57 AM

some how I don't believe you...

I could be wrong but I never know when you're being sarcastic...

OMNI RULES!

did I spell that correctly, rewls?

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 01:00 AM

masherscf

04-25-2007, 01:34 AM

I thought I could come up with a funny picture to go with the "Gay Card" reference. Alas, there was nothing usable.

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 01:36 AM

I could find something, but I'd be banninated...

masherscf

04-25-2007, 01:46 AM

I could find something, but I'd be banninated...

I am thinking of a queen of diamonds that is really the jack of spades in drag. That sounds like a pretty gay card...

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 02:01 AM

Actually I had to turn in my gay card, cause the only gay thing about me is that annoying sex with men thing. No Liza, no special grooming, no floral arranging, I got banninated from gaydom, cept for getting lucky once in a while.

Any way. Back to geekdom. Any gay geeks out there? Feeling kinda lonely...

kowgod

04-25-2007, 04:27 PM

http://www.kowgod.com/images/shock.jpg

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 08:25 PM

Huh?

78906

kowgod

04-25-2007, 08:44 PM

Huh?

78906

That's a picture I snapped of myself reading this thread this morning.

tokenuser

04-25-2007, 09:09 PM

OMNI RULES!I'll need to do some digging. NFI where those boxes are ... in fact, thinking about it, I absolutely know I have my Wired Mmagazines around, and a box of Dr Dobbs, but since I read Omni back in Australia, they might be sitting in the closet in "my" room at Mum's place. If they are in the store room (which is now blocked due to a collapsed shelf ... lucky there is nothing in there we need) I'll try and find them.

Why does she call it "my" room? I have no idea ... we haven't lived in the same house for about 15 years, I have lived in 6 houses/apartments since then, and she has moved 3 times herself.

masherscf

04-25-2007, 09:24 PM

Actually I had to turn in my gay card, cause the only gay thing about me is that annoying sex with men thing.

Oddly enough, I think sex with men is the only official criteria. I could check the rulebook though.

I love OMNI. It reminds me of Hustler.

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 10:36 PM

Well, it was created by the son of Penthouse publisher Guccione. (sp)

masherscf

04-25-2007, 10:39 PM

Well, it was created by the son of Penthouse publisher Guccione. (sp)

I recognized the pedigree.

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 10:41 PM

I miss the silver pages. :(

They were like the penthouse forum letters of geekdom.

masherscf

04-25-2007, 10:55 PM

I miss the silver pages. :(

They were like the penthouse forum letters of geekdom.

Do they still publish it?

I need another magazine subscription. It can sit in the john next to Popular Photography, Gamer Informer and Sabrina's TV-Guide.

Edit - I guess not :(

rabidbadger

04-25-2007, 11:02 PM

Nope, not in years, decades actually. Shame, and nothing filled its niche.

Wonder if they could republish best-ofs online? Though it was all pre-mac, so it is not digital. Would be huge undertaking to retype everything, or OCR...

calvinslug

04-26-2007, 02:52 AM

Oddly enough, I think sex with men is the only official criteria. I could check the rulebook though.

Umm, better check that rule book. I don't think Tom Cruise has sex with men.

masherscf

04-26-2007, 02:59 AM

Umm, better check that rule book. I don't think Tom Cruise has sex with men.

You mean... 'yet'

tokenuser

04-26-2007, 03:27 AM

Umm, better check that rule book. I don't think Tom Cruise has sex with men.Is there a special Scientologist supplement? I am sure that consensual sex between people of compatible thetan energy is OK, regardless of gender.

"BE GONE FOUL DEMONS!"
"Whats that Tommy boy?"
"Nothing Chet, bite down harder."

johnnysix

04-26-2007, 06:58 AM

If we're making a list of "Musts", I would say having played Doom is a prerequisite. Points given for other early shareware titles, like Commander Keen.

wideawakewesley

04-26-2007, 09:10 AM

Pfff, screw Doom, having played Duke3d should be a prereq!

kowgod

04-26-2007, 03:23 PM

Wolf3D.

And you have to have played it using a bootdisk to allocate enough resources, for it to count!

wideawakewesley

04-26-2007, 03:26 PM

If Wolf3D was actually any fun to play I'd agree.

:p

Wes

johnnysix

04-26-2007, 10:55 PM

Dude... Wolf3D was fun. Mecha Hitler?
I was going to say Wolf3D but for me, Doom sealed it. I mean network play? Come on!
I remember downloading that sucka from a BBS (shareware episode only of course..) and firing it up for the first time...
I'd seen it at a mates house and it just changed gaming. For me, Doom changed gaming.
And Duke 3D network play...hell yes! I learned some of those maps in the kind of intimate way that should be reserved for more... sociable activities....
I don't think any game has come close to the kind of fun that could be had with trip mines, pipe bombs and holo-dukes...

Surely being able to name at least 3 Masters of the Universe characters should be a prerequisite. And any mention of Gwildor should be grounds for instant dismissal.