When I saw the front page of the RedEye edition this Friday, I became out-of-proportionally indignant. I wanted to stand up in the middle of the commuter train, wave the newspaper in front of people and scream at the top of my lung:
I am so fucking tired of this!
Yes I am.
I am so fucking tired of this. Stop trying to make “geeks” or “nerds” cooler! They are cool and adorable the way they are!!! You are trying to transform them so they can attract women who do not like them for who they are. Do you realize how fucked up that is? There are plenty insightful, smart women who are fans of these men. If some bimbo cannot look past the appearances, why are we trying to match these smart (and OMG also RICH!) men with these non-deserving females?! Fuck that! Paws off OUR geeks and freaks! They are perfect just the way they are!
I know I have shared this sentiment on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook. Sorry. I am a bit obsessive whenever I find a “cause”. I am repeating myself right here.
The story was about how 27-year-old Daniel Kibblesmith (who by the way works for Groupon. Remember Groupon? Google tried to them for $6 billion and they said “No, thanks”?) for some reason was featured in an upcoming episode in Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo. And yes, the celebrity matchmaker did try to hook him up with the “gossip girl” city-stalking night-life-seeking type. Every single evidence listed to prove that Mr. Kibblesmith is in need of a transformation comes off as endearing, IMO, and I already like the kid and believe he is a hoot to hang out with without even meeting him:
Evidence #1: He mispronounced the Matchmaker’s name.
He said her last name reminded him of Egon Spengler, the parapsychology doctor in the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters” played by Harold Ramis. He went on to compare Stanger to Mothra, a giant insect that battles Godzilla, “but not in a monstrous way. She was like a goddess. But she was a goddess who happens to be a giant island moth.”
Evidence #2: He did not make a good first impression.
“I think that she saw me as a sort of a shambling scarecrow probably raised in the darkness of the video arcade,” Kibblesmith said. “There were a few [Facebook creator] Mark Zuckerberg references.” [This kid can definitely write, can’t he? After all, he is the senior copy writer at Groupon]
Evidence #3: He may have come off as inept.
“I hope I don’t come off as too inept,” he said. “I tried to be polite and follow all of the instructions I was given.”
Evidence #4: He works late and hangs out with his buddies.
Before the show, he would work late, then come home and watch “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” with roommates.
And for all of the above offences, he is in need of a makeover, a transformation because there is something wrong with him.
Even my 8-year-old saw this as problematic. He walked in the room and saw this picture, “Oh my goodness. That is so stereotyping people!” This frontpage headline along with millions of media messages continue to perpetuate the tendency of labeling people and thus putting people into little boxes and propagating preconceived notions associated with these labels. These labels are drilled into the minds of the youngsters day in and day out. They are everywhere you look, especially on the Disney channel. It is so pernicious that even the smart people, the so-called Geeks and Nerds believe in these labels themselves.
I call Bullshit.
I call If you cannot tell Clark Kent is Superman because of his dorky glasses you are as stupid and superficial as Lois Lane who does not deserve Superman/Clark Kent in the first place.
Leave the Nerds alone!
It’s Duckie all the way!
Paws off of the Geeks and the Nerds and the Dorks and the Freaks if you cannot appreciate them for who they are.
Actually, the above rules should apply to every other person.
Now go lip-sync to the chorus from F**kin’ Perfect by P!nk please. I am.
thank you for posting this I felt the same way. How dare that woman tell him to burn his clothes and change. If someone doesn’t like/love you for who you are then they aren’t the right person for you in the first place. I heart geeks and loaded or not if he lived in my state I’d so go out with him. Every guy I’ve dated was a geek and they are usually the most faith guys on the planet. I really hope he finds a nice girl who will love him for who he is and not what’s in his wallet because he seems like a shy but gentle loving soul. Geeks United Rock On Daniel!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Sorry that it did not work the first time.
What you said. Right on!!! And you don’t know, he may consider moving to where you are. Groupon could be expanding to multiple offices! 😉
thank you for posting this I felt the same way. How dare that woman tell him to burn his clothes and change. If someone doesn’t like/love you for who you are then they aren’t the right person for you in the first place. I heart geeks and loaded or not if he lived in my state I’d so go out with him. Every guy I’ve dated was a geek and they are usually the most faith guys on the planet. I really hope he finds a nice girl who will love him for who he is and not what’s in his wallet because he seems like a shy but gentle loving soul.
I second your indignation.
And your affection for Duckie.
I can’t believe she chose Blaine. For more than 25 years I can.not.believe.she.chose.Blaine. That’s a major appliance; it’s not a name.
The nice thing about geeks is that they’re not dumb. They know if someone is in it for the money. Don’t you worry about all the dorks out there. They will get the right partner.
All the *other* Brat Pack movie let the geeks get the right partner. Actually, no, the misfits were paired but the geek was always alone.
Dag!
Naptimewriting recently posted…Wordless Wednesday
Groupon irritates me. They were idiots for blowing off the $6 billion and their actions including that stint on the MM may have cost them their IPO. Duckie wasn’t stupid- he would have taken the damn $6 billion and been happy with it.
Jack@TheJackB recently posted…Blog Comments Are Not Currency
rock on! i’m so with you. geeks/nerds often intimidate me as soon as i realize they are way smarter, original, imaginative, and creative than i’ll ever be. i wish we’d leave them alone and stop trying to strip them of all that makes them special and mold them into something all the hyped up assholes can get their paws on.
pattypunker recently posted…you’re not the match of me
Rock on sister!
I haven’t been around in the blogosphere awhile and when I come to this corner, it hits me that I’ve been missing out!
Amen to your cause. Preach it sister! I’m with a nerd myself and have always loved geeks over any other archetypal male. You’re right, they don’t need any other reason to be cool. They already are and the women who can’t see that in the first place don’t deserve them.
Love your Clark Kent/ Lois Lane rant! Oh and your 8-year-old who called out the blatant stereotyping? Wow. I need to know your parenting secret because your kids are awesome
You’re one of my favorite nerds too. In case you didn’t know 🙂
p.s. BTW I picked up the Red Eye today for the first time in ages because Ryan Gosling is on it . What does that say about me?
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XXOO! And this is for you:
http://youtu.be/xafK8dzhWhI
I love my nerds. I need to improve my nerd status. Fortunately there’s a Star Wars marathon on TV this weekend. Yay team!
Elly Lou recently posted…Tennis and Vaginas – Yes, There’s a Correlation
You hang out with us. I thought that was enough for your stats. 😉
I always felt the same way about Lois Lane – why was he even interested in someone who was so swayed by the idea of a superhero she couldn’t see the man she knew?
secret agent woman recently posted…College Drop-Off, Part 2.
I absolutely abhor Lois Lane, esp the one in the first Superman movie. *Puke*
Back in the 90s, my daughter’s elementary school had “spirit week” during which their student council thought of different ways for kids to dress up to show their spirit. One was to dress like a nerd or geek. I paid a visit to the principal to let him know that, as a nerd/geek, I was offended by the stereotyping being reinforced at the school.
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GOOD FOR YOU!!!
I haven’t seen this episode yet. I only watched the show for the first time yesterday and I think I saw this one previewed. I’m guessing this is the one where the matchmaker snipes, “He’s never been laid, has he” as more of a statement than a question. I’m going to tell you something that I will bet you find heartening. I work in a small city in a center that focuses on technology and science entrepreneurship (people like your Groupon guy). Maybe I am just too immersed in this world to give an objective opinion but it seems to me that in this city, the geeks rule. They are seen as the cool ones. In fact, some of them kind of think of themselves that way, too, being as smart as they are, but then it becomes a little offputting. So not all the geeks are adorably geeky and sweet. Some of them are superior and arrogant. Wait…I forget where I was going with this? Wherever it is, I’m totally in agreement about not stereotyping. In fact, once, at bandcamp, I met a jock I liked. Totally smelling my armpits right now.
I know what you are saying: sometimes smart people do come off as a bit well off-putting. But it is the same the other way around how the “business” people make fun of the “nerds” and “geeks”. I get upset every time people make fun of D&D and then they turn around and play fantasy football. If you think about it, Fantasy Football is D&D in Pigskin!
And OMG I cannot believe that matchmaker said that! That’s just vicious and despicable.
Honestly, why would he subject himself to that crap? My only guess is that after he and his buddies watch Aqua Team Hunger Force they have a huge group giggle about how easy it would be for them to take over the world as the general public is mindlessly watching such crap “reality” television.
Nerds are beautiful!
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They are taking over the world indeed and the world would be a much nicer place for it.
Nerds are classic as they are. No doubt about it.
BigLittleWolf recently posted…Emperor’s New Clothes
Duckie love. You should make t shirts.
xo
jotter girl recently posted…Just
Great idea! Duckie needs a fan club! (I think he already did actually…)
I make fun of my husband for being a total nerd but honestly? I’d have it no other way. I’m so over people trying to change others so they fit into a mold…duckie all the way my friend!
Yes! Duckie is my man. For that same reason, Andie annoys the hack out of me too.
“If you cannot tell Clark Kent is Superman because of his dorky glasses you are as stupid and superficial as Lois Lane who does not deserve Superman/Clark Kent in the first place.”
Brilliantly said!
Kathy
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I cringe every time I see Lois Lane. I esp. cannot stand the one in the original Superman movie *shudder*
I married a computer geek and things turned our pretty well for us; 24 years and counting! That matchmaker chick is heinous.
Meg at the Members Lounge recently posted…I Can’t Help Myself Friday. Natural Disasters.
Yup. And Congrats! 🙂
I agree with you. He seems practically perfect just as he is!
I don’t like that matchmaker lady for one second. She is so icky!
Life with Kaishon recently posted…When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try one more time." Unknown
She is the epitome of tacky. I think the guy was being kind.
Seems like everything, even being a nerd or a geek, is a popularity contest these days. And if some TV network can make a quick buck off of it, even more so.
Thanks on behalf of all nerds everywhere for being our spokesperson.
Vinny C recently posted…Just Where Have You Been This Week? – Getting Fit For Robopoclypse.
Don’t think I am qualified to be the spokesperson. I am obviously biased since I am married to one and I am proudly raising two. 🙂