I Brake For Computer Geeks

Written: 8/11/99
Written By: Tammy "Tech Babe" Callaway

The Greats

Okay, my fellow computeranians (wait, that makes us sound like a breed of dog)…oh heck with it.  On to my question.  Can you successfully match the following computer gurus with their amassed fortunes, which are calculated in…must I, actually, put this in writing…billions.  Yes, BILLIONS, I say!!!  (Please hold for a slight moment of temporary depression about my own lackluster bank account……………………………).  Okay, now you can get to work!

Now that you have studied, matched, re-matched, or given up, let me ask you another question.  Who cares?  What difference does it make?  Each and every one of them has more money than they could ever possibly know what to do with (so why not pay off my car?).  How often I’ve wanted to look at someone and say those seven little words that mean so much…”I could buy you and sell you.”  These guys can, actually, do it!

That said, let’s take a look at how those known as computer “geeks” have reinvented themselves and changed the way we view them.

The Geek Within

In high school, everyone could pinpoint a “geek”.  They were members of a very special society.  They were a skinny, pocket-protector wearing, keep-to-themselves type.  They were shy and quiet, wearing pants that were way too short and glasses taped together across the bridge of their noses. Athletes and cheerleaders usually made fun of them, and they, typically, stood against the wall at the homecoming dance and prom. They always had their nose in a book and aced the final biology test covering chapters 5-27. They were, however, at peace with themselves, perfectly happy to spend weekend evenings at home, looking through their microscope or working on a project that would one day assist in their admission to the Harvard Graduate School.  Thus content in their way of life, there were no pressures. No one to impress with any physical appearances or prowess. And left to their own curiosities and imaginations, the young men of the “geek” society transformed themselves from a question mark in the yearbook to some of the most powerful businessmen of all time.

The 90’s Geek

Today’s geeks may stem from the geek of yesteryear, but these individuals are now calling the shots in the world of business.  No floods here. They are dressing for success, making presentations to the bigwigs (or are the bigwigs, themselves), and, obviously, drawing incredible salaries. They know what’s hot and how to make it, package it, and sell it. The 90’s Geek can create anything from online games to programs on managing your household budget and bank account. They feed a growing hunger for anything better; faster; more educationally or monetarily beneficial; and, most of all, anything more entertaining. They are the bosses, hiring those that wouldn’t sit next to them at the lunch table in the high school cafeteria. They are sought after to solve problems, make decisions, and take companies to newer heights, and they know exactly what it takes to get just what they want.  Such characteristics are of great assistance in all areas of life for the geek of today.

The Call of the Geek

“Geeks” are also….shall we say…finally, conquering the world of el love-o.  And what’s not to love? They’re smart, they’re motivated, and they’re financially secure. They pay attention to details and spend more time running and repairing programs than watching them on television. What’s more, you always know where they are! They are confident in what they do, know what they want, and know how to manage their money. They may not always look organized, but inside those noggins, the little gray cells (as Hercule Poirot, so aptly puts it) are constantly churning.

Their combination of smarts and drive make these men, billionaires or not, a most intriguing prospect to women.  I mean, no female wants a guy who lies in his recliner all day belching and gulping down beer nuts with cries of “Brang me another bare” to his wife who has just come in from mowing the yard. Just like men categorize women into those they want to date and those they would marry and take home to Mom, so too do women seek out men who have more than half a brain, along with the ability to use it for something other than memorizing all characters of the World Wrestling Federation and which one has kidnapped another’s girlfriend or the prize of all prize, the championship belt, itself.  Women love men with smarts, power, and the retained knowledge of their 11^th grade biology final, which included an extended section on the human anatomy.

Final Thoughts

Geeks have made a definite niche for themselves in today’s society. No longer the stereotypical guy with his days of the week pocket protector and calculator in tow, many of today’s “geeks” are moguls. They have staked a claim on how to satisfy and increase American interests and reaped the rewards. While some may hate them for their success (a little emotion better known by its technical term, the green-eyed monster), we so admire them for their intelligence and gumption…their ability to create things we’ve never had before, but can’t seem to live without once we put our hands on them. Take that, high school preps!

Talk about Tammy's article in The Tech Zone Fourms

Other articles by Tammy

Associate Editor Tammy "Tech Babe" Callaway was first runner-up in the Miss Alabama Pageant in 1993. She has  written and published a book on three easy steps for students to follow in order to get into the college of their choice AND have someone else pay for it. She also corresponds regularly with former President George Bush on foreign diplomacy issues. 

Now if you believe all that, I have a wall in China to sell you. :-) She does hold a degree in Communications, and is, currently, taking courses toward her Master's Degree in Literature however. You can visit Tammy's home page right here. Emails to Tammy should be sent to techbabe@thetechzone.com