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Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes

Posted by michael on from the i-need-a-hero dept.

loconet writes "The BBC reports that a report by Demos says that the all-consuming passions of geeks and nerds may actually be beneficial for society. The UK think tank's report published today, underlines the importance of 'Pro-Ams' -- amateurs who pursue a hobby or pastime, in many cases an all-consuming passion, to a professional standard. The report says Pro-Am astronomers have made 'significant contributions' to the knowledge of the universe, while Pro-Am computer programmers are providing the only serious challenge to Microsoft's dominance of personal computing."

31 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. Of course... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    this doesn't mean chicks will sleep with geeks now or anything.

    1. Re:Of course... by Dav3K · · Score: 4, Funny

      uh, they sleep with rich geeks... you just gotta take your game to the next level, man.

    2. Re:Of course... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      It's all in the ladder theory, you intellectual whore.
      here you go

    3. Re:Of course... by Tim+Browse · · Score: 2, Funny

      You should tell them that. It sounds like a winning line.

    4. Re:Of course... by ArsonSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

      Extreamly hot

      --
      Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
  2. Ok then... by krmt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where's my damn cape then?

    --

    "I may not have morals, but I have standards."

    1. Re:Ok then... by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny
      "Where's my damn cape then?"

      Its in the wash. Your mother got tired of the smell comming from your room (or as you call it, your fortress of solitude) and had to clean it.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:Ok then... by fracai · · Score: 4, Funny

      Trust me, you don't want one. I saw this documentary a few weeks ago about this whole series of guys killed due to their cape wearing ways. I myself was amazed at this lesser known killer.

      --
      -- i am jack's amusing sig file
    3. Re:Ok then... by DrCode · · Score: 5, Funny

      And where are my groupies?

    4. Re:Ok then... by fracai · · Score: 5, Funny

      It was still the best documentary I've seen since Highlander.

      --
      -- i am jack's amusing sig file
    5. Re:Ok then... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      crappy, boring and predictable btw, just in case someone's planning to buy tickets for it

      Ohh let me guess, you'd rather look angsty in an art house theater while you wait for the second showing of the classic 1940's La Femme avec le fromage, sub-titled in Hindi for the hard of thinking.

    6. Re:Ok then... by javax · · Score: 3, Funny

      money for nothing and the chicks for free... eh? ;)

  3. Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by gowen · · Score: 4, Funny
    Sure the headline may say
    Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes
    But be sure to read the small print:
    ... Exception : women
    Rats.
    --
    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    1. Re:Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by SlowMovingTarget · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah... I should've read the class description a little better before starting my geek character:

      INT +10
      WIS +4
      CHA -7
      STR -5
      DEX -2
    2. Re:Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by PW2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      ... Exception : women

      Just add a catch() statement and you'll be fine.

    3. Re:Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by krunk7 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Any time a geek catches a woman it's exceptional.

    4. Re:Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by ThousandStars · · Score: 3, Funny
      The scary thing is that you're modded insightful and not funny.

      Although I'm also a bit frightened by the fact that I read your post and thought "wait, what's his CON" before I laughed.

    5. Re:Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hmm.. probably because they forgot to try{}

  4. Am-Pros by FuzzyDaddy · · Score: 5, Funny
    People who work as professionals that perform at an amateur level.

    Yup, I've known a few.

    --
    It's not wasting time, I'm educating myself.
  5. Unappreciated by the opposite sex by The_Real_Nire · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's too bad they/we cant get laid more often.

  6. That's great news! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh, the bad news? You still won't get laid.

    1. Re:That's great news! by Stradenko · · Score: 2, Funny

      News News (n=uz), n From New; cf. F. nounelles. News is plural in form, but is commonly used with a singular verb.
      1. A report of recent occurrences; information of something that has lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tidings; recent intelligence.

      I hate to tell you, but not getting laid doesn't qualify as "news" for 90% of us here. But thanks for reminding us, jerk.

  7. Re:Use of 'hero' gratuitous? by ERJ · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't know...over the years trying to comprehend man files has raised my blood pressure more then a few points.

  8. Re:I Am by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You're a loony.

  9. Top Five Pro-Am activities by rodentia · · Score: 4, Funny

    The guy sourced for the article happens to be an OSS geek. Anorak in the hed. Hello, slashdot? Is the BBC reduced to astroturfing?

    Top five pro-am activities:

    Gardening
    DIY
    Sports
    Arts and Crafts
    Photography

    And the number one most popular pro-am activity:

    Sex.

    Go ahead, London.

    --
    illegitimii non ingravare
  10. Re:Use of 'hero' gratuitous? by javax · · Score: 2, Funny

    and of course knighted Bill...

  11. I'm a hero!! by mogrify · · Score: 2, Funny
    if isBurning($building) {
    putOn($costume);
    foreach $person (@trappedPeople) {
    save($person);
    $karma++;
    }
    }
    --
    perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
  12. I, for one... by gotgenes · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our Geek Hero Overlords.

    --
    It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.
  13. Re:Not porn.... by narcc · · Score: 2, Funny

    on the web that's not porn....
    Don't be so sure...

    --
    Required reading for internet skeptics
  14. Re:Heroes? No. The future? Maybe... by Black+Perl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Any other use of the words "amateur" or "professional" are inconsitent

    That would be "inconsistent"

    what's known as descriptive grammer flaws

    That would be "grammar"

    my education was in literary arts, not science

    Hmm...

    Other people's milage may vary.

    That would be "mileage"

    --
    bp
  15. Uh... that's contradictory by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 3, Funny

    The moment you catch a woman you _STOP_ being a geek. :-P

    And no, Anime DOESN'T COUNT.