Your Social Life

[JN]

I am asking you lot, are you nerds? Do you feel you have a social life or does computing take over your life, are u happier in front of the comp than out with friends, if you have any!

It scares me to think that some people value their e-life over their real one.

I honestly don't think there is such thing as a nerd anymore. Back when I was in my teens I would have probably been considered a nerd because computers and the internet were NOWHERE near as widespread as they are now.

I think people should do whatever makes them happy. If they are happier in front of a PC screen rather than out with friends, then so be it. Nowadays there is a lot of pressure to look a certain way and act a certain way, and for those of us who don't or cant conform to these social standards, then the internet is the next best thing.

 

[llwyd]

I spend most my time on the PC as there isnt really much else to do here, dont have the money / dont like the people around here enough to go out drinking and its too cold and wet atm for me to go skating so I sit here and try to learn things

As soon as the sun is a bit more predictable im gone

 

[Dav0s]

I honestly don't think there is such thing as a nerd anymore. Back when I was in my teens I would have probably been considered a nerd because computers and the internet were NOWHERE near as widespread as they are now.

I think people should do whatever makes them happy. If they are happier in front of a PC screen rather than out with friends, then so be it. Nowadays there is a lot of pressure to look a certain way and act a certain way, and for those of us who don't or cant conform to these social standards, then the internet is the next best thing.

very good point mate, i suppose if you social life IS infront of a PC then it doesnt affect it.

 

[equk]

I'm not ranting at people, I just can't really see you can ask the question accurately.

It's a personal question really and I'm soz if I percieved the intent wrong, but it seems to me that it is a rant about what you percieve to be 'nerds'.

By the way you worded it, I don't think anyone will profess to being a 'nerd' as I don't really think there are people with no social life. People socialise on the internet and even 'geeks' meetup in real life.

As doddsy has said, there are reasons for people to spend a large amount of time on a computer.

I spend time on my pc to learn about stuff as I see knowledge being usefull. I just really hate it when people use inaccurate stereotypes.

I used to try to conform and be normal when I was at school, looking down on and using certain stereotype's. I even used to go out every weekend just to get drunk.

As soon as I went into the real world and started working I began to realise different things and became my own person. Meeting so many different people while travelling the UK is one of the things which changed my mind on being conformist/normal etc.

I see myself possibly as a 'geek' (in a good way) but only because I have a massive interest in computers and both my work and my hobbies are computer related. In how you put the question (not going out socialising etc) I am not a 'nerd' as I travel around fixing pc's meeting people aswell as going to the pub on the odd occaision.

 

[Toxcity]

I honestly don't think there is such thing as a nerd anymore. Back when I was in my teens I would have probably been considered a nerd because computers and the internet were NOWHERE near as widespread as they are now.

I think people should do whatever makes them happy. If they are happier in front of a PC screen rather than out with friends, then so be it. Nowadays there is a lot of pressure to look a certain way and act a certain way, and for those of us who don't or cant conform to these social standards, then the internet is the next best thing.

That is some good logic there!

WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT!

 

[equk]

That is some good logic there!

WHAT EVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT!

idd, as I said in my first post:

each to their own tbh.

 

[Dav0s]

I just really hate it when people use inaccurate stereotypes.

i thought sterotypes couldnt be defined?

what I seem to have gathered from this thread is that a lot of people have their main social life on the internet. lots of conformists would view this as being unhealthy, but i suppose it sort of shows the change in society that is happening.

my personal opinion, is that everybody needs real life social interaction, but i can see that for a lot of people, their main friends are online. at the end of the day, its a case of whatever floats your boat i suppose.

 

[equk]

i thought sterotypes couldnt be defined?

is that not what makes them inaccurate?

what I seem to have gathered from this thread is that a lot of people have their main social life on the internet. lots of conformists would view this as being unhealthy, but i suppose it sort of shows the change in society that is happening.

Yup, that's interesting.

at the end of the day, its a case of whatever floats your boat i suppose.

Exactly

 

[FarFarAway]

There is no such thing as an "inaccurate" stereotypes as they are by definition inaccurate and usually have attached to them a social stigma and a perceived variety of attributes by society.

Basically how about not get so offended about everything. If you don't like it then ignore it...that's what I do.

What Dave is asking in a roundabout Dave kinda way is "if I go on a CompSci course @ Uni will I start having no social life"

The answer is basically no as at Uni you choose what social life you want to have and it doesn't necessarily have to be with your course-mates.

The greatest thing about Uni is the fact that you can always fined a group of like-minded people that are interested in doing the type of things you want to do.

I miss Uni as being aty work forces me to socialise with people I would otherwise stay away from.

However variety is the spice of life I spose

 

[mrapoc]

Well i get called a "computer nerd" at school just because ive built a few, know how to google and solve errors and play pc games....

But for example all last night i was partying at a friends, drinking, watching dvds generally having fun and went out to the cinema also today. Pretty much every weekend i meet up with friends which is a LOT more than those "cool" kids who actually spend most of their time ON MSN...whereas most of my time i spend on the pc is either gaming or socialising (sensible amounts, no more than 4 hours a day)

So yeah, it seems knowing anything about pcs brands you with the word nerd/geek whereas a lot of us have a lot better social life.

 

[equk]

There is no such thing as an "inaccurate" stereotypes as they are by definition inaccurate and usually have attached to them a social stigma and a perceived variety of attributes by society.

Is that not a contradiction?

They're not inaccurate, but they are inaccurate?

or do you mean (as I said) all stereotypes are inaccurate?

 

[FarFarAway]

Well your saying that the stereotype that Dave has said is inaccurate as he has defined it, whereas it isn't as it is society's view of a "geek" or "nerd".

However a lot of us may find society's definition to be inaccurate as it no longer applies/is true.

The trouble is that people's perceptions move a lot slower than the actual truth of the situation.

Anyway enough discussion of this, please keep this on topic and answer Dave's question

 

[Dav0s]

what matt is saying in a roundabout matt kinda way is that sterotypes are defined by society to fit into a set of characteristics. some people fit soem of the characteristics, but everybody is different, hence you can adhere to some of the defined stigmas, but sterotypes are by definition inaccurate because nobody can be exactly the same as anybody else.

anyway, mrapoc...

to me that is a perfect case of not letting your computing hobby interupt your social life, glad you can combine the two, makes me feel better

 

[NickS]

I have found that computers have taken more time out of my social life than I'm used to and that I'm comfortable with but I still have friends and all. I don't go out as much as I used to, but I still do. I'll probably become less infactuated with my e-life as soon as summer rolls around so I'm not worried.

 

[PP Mguire]

Im your typical average geek with a cool side. Im a musician and i had a gf that was into computers as well (im getting her back yay). I have a social life but not much because im constantly doing something. Im either with her, playing my guitar/drums, or working on the weekends. During the day in the week im outside restoring 2 cars with my dad and sister as much as we can. The weekends if im not working im either at a movie, or at a mini LAN with my friend. I also do alot of other things like work out and honestly i havent actualy played a game (where i got into it) for like 2 months. Most people dont know im into computers unless they know me. I dont hide it, i just dont flaunt it. I do wear some computer shirts, but i also wear like band shirts and on the side some polos and button ups. Im your all around kinda guy nowadays. Go with the flow i guess.

 

[limqareb]

well ppl who use computers dont have a life? , ppl who work all day long , ppl all the time reading and ppl who are all the time doing concerts , you can say they dont have a life too imo its different to every person

 

[PP Mguire]

It all depends on what each person defines as having a life. To me, going out, making a few bucks, and hanging out with friends (even if it DOES involve PC games) is having a life. Sitting at home all day on your PC playing games or browsing interwebz to me is not having a life.

 

[limqareb]

It all depends on what each person defines as having a life. To me, going out, making a few bucks, and hanging out with friends (even if it DOES involve PC games) is having a life. Sitting at home all day on your PC playing games or browsing interwebz to me is not having a life.

yep thats about it , its different to every person

 

[equk]

The type of people who you know get bullied at school, you know have very few friends

are u happier in front of the comp than out with friends, if you have any!

I think this is probably where I got the wrong idea?

With the number of people who use computers these days, I'd be surprised if people got bullied for being seen as a geek or that they'd have few friends?

 

[FarFarAway]

Thread closed as I have already said move on.

equk if you can't just have an on-topic discussion without having an argument then don't post in the thread