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I knew exactly how she felt

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Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#11

Post by rdouble »

jerrya wrote: post #9

I said that’s what happens when we hold events for women in IT when there aren’t that many women in this industry – we tend to broaden the definition of women in IT. I can't really speak to this point, but I am curious, when did computer science and software engineering get rolled into IT? 15 years ago, I would not have said software developers, software engineers, or test engineers were part of IT. IT was that depar…

Outside of Silicon Valley anything that has to do with a computer has always been called IT.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#12

Post by xradionut »

I've observed that most people allow themselves to go along with the social norms gender wise, with a few exceptions. Then I realize what a wonderful geeky outlier of a spouse that I have. My female coworkers are amazed by my tales of my wife's exploits in auto repair, gaming, hunting and appliance repair.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#13

Post by venomsnake »

noonespecial wrote: post #2

I'm not sure the author quite understood the seeing Star Wars thing was a super low bar fitness test. Once long ago my new wife asked me why geeks always wear tshirts with obscure references that no one gets. I was slightly put out by the question until I figured it out. They're a uniform. It's how we id the friendlies on the battlefield.

I think this article can also help http://io9.com/5928739/the-secrets-of-geek-mating-rituals geeks really value smarts in both sexes. So we always try to outsmart all and are delighted when we don't succeed. I have had a few relationships break down just because my gf would never understand that I will argue for everything just for the sake of flexing my brain.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#14

Post by breadbox »

jerrya wrote: post #9

I said that’s what happens when we hold events for women in IT when there aren’t that many women in this industry – we tend to broaden the definition of women in IT. I can't really speak to this point, but I am curious, when did computer science and software engineering get rolled into IT? 15 years ago, I would not have said software developers, software engineers, or test engineers were part of IT. IT was that depar…

It probably varies depending on the industry. I first heard the term in 1985, and it referred to the computer programmers as well (or software engineers, if you prefer, but nobody I knew back then used such a pretentious-sounding title). I'm sure the term is older than that.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#15

Post by pavel_lishin »

> One of them told her to stop making them feel stupid all the time.

The world is full of idiots. What she experienced isn't unique to women, it happens to anyone who ends up spending time with people who do not care about knowledge.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#16

Post by 14113 »

venomsnake wrote: post #13
noonespecial wrote: post #2

I'm not sure the author quite understood the seeing Star Wars thing was a super low bar fitness test. Once long ago my new wife asked me why geeks always wear tshirts with obscure references that no one gets. I was slightly put out by the question until I figured it out. They're a uniform. It's how we id the friendlies on the battlefield.

I think this article can also help http://io9.com/5928739/the-secrets-of-geek-mating-rituals geeks really value smarts in both sexes. So we always try to outsmart all and are delighted when we don't succeed. I have had a few relationships break down just because my gf would never understand that I will argue for everything just for the sake of flexing my brain.

On the flipside, I've had relationships that break because both sides try to argue everything. A certain amount of testing and probing is good, but continually it creates a really hostile environment that (for me at least) is just too psychological tiring to try and live in.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#18

Post by pavel_lishin »

bluedino wrote: post #3

She shouldn't feel bad. I've never seen more than a few minutes of Star Wars or Star Trek. Never seen Dr. Who or any of the Monty Python stuff. I've never seen a single Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter movie (or read the books). But I keep telling myself that one day I'll binge through them all online.

Don't force yourself to sit through something you hate just to get an imaginary badge. I can't stand Dr. Who, I'm often baffled by British humor, and LotR is the geek equivalent of having read all of Dostoyevski's novels.

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#19

Post by katherineparker »

I understand the author as a fellow woman in I.T. (programmer). I never fit in with the gossipy fashionista crowd either. I was a total geek in the library. I don't wear the geeky t-shirts though. I like to wear pencil skirts and kick my high heels off under my desk. Only downside, like noonespecial mentioned, is that nobody just assumes I'm a programmer since I lack the "uniform". Anyways, that girl she spoke to in the article seems very smart and ambitious. I wish her the best of luck in her future career :) Be who you want to be

Re: I knew exactly how she felt

#20

Post by alex_doom »

bluedino wrote: post #3

She shouldn't feel bad. I've never seen more than a few minutes of Star Wars or Star Trek. Never seen Dr. Who or any of the Monty Python stuff. I've never seen a single Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter movie (or read the books). But I keep telling myself that one day I'll binge through them all online.

But at least you'd understand what the references are coming from.
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