So I was waiting for a train, while reading the geek history “On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore” (which — in my humble geeky opinion — really is excellent). The station host lady looked at it, and (given its lovely hardback binding and olde booke looke when it’s out of its dustjacket) asked if it were some classic piece of literature or history.
I said no, it was a history of electronics. (I dumbed my answer down a tad.)
She paused, her interest in it completely quashed, totally pounded without mercy into the ground. It would be a cold day in hell before she’d even consider glancing at such a book.
Then as politely as possible: “We really are all different, aren’t we.”
I couldn’t help but agree.
4 replies on “Geek history books”
It is nice to connect with people who are very different to yourself. No matter how different you both are, you can still exchange nice words. Now what’s the bet if you had said it was about the Commodore 64 computer from the eighties? she might have had a vague idea.
I have the exact same reaction to books by Danielle Steele.
Geekdom is way beyond my capacity … but I love the benefits to me, like responding to a blog (what’s a BLOG!!??) written by someone who I will never cross physical paths with, about … well, everything in life. Long live geekdom (within reason of course)!
ps love the Tuesday Age Geek spread. I read most words, understand that it is in English, understand that it is about technical things, but really only understand a small percentage of stuff, viz this Tuesday’s dicussion of packets, and billions and billions of internet addresses not being enough to go round. I am proud though of knowing what Voip protocol refers to, but amazed that this all started in 1980, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, and I didn’t catch up to it till it was well established. Where will it all end? Well, dammit, somewhere where I won’t be around to see it!
Andrew: Fair point. One shouldn’t judge by appearances… she might remember.