Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes

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Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes

Posted by michael on Tuesday November 30, 2004 @05:15AM 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."

13 of 361 comments (clear)

Of course... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-11-30 05:17 · Score: 5, Funny

this doesn't mean chicks will sleep with geeks now or anything.
1. Re:Of course... by Dav3K · 2004-11-30 05:27 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  uh, they sleep with rich geeks... you just gotta take your game to the next level, man.
Open Source Geeks Considered Modern Heroes by gowen · 2004-11-30 05:19 · 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 · 2004-11-30 05:42 · 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 · 2004-11-30 05:52 · 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 · 2004-11-30 06:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Any time a geek catches a woman it's exceptional.
Am-Pros by FuzzyDaddy · 2004-11-30 05:22 · 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.
Re:Ok then... by Kenja · 2004-11-30 05:27 · 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?"
Re:Ok then... by fracai · 2004-11-30 05:28 · 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
Re:Ok then... by DrCode · 2004-11-30 05:30 · Score: 5, Funny

And where are my groupies?
Re:Ok then... by fracai · 2004-11-30 05:33 · Score: 5, Funny

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

--
-- i am jack's amusing sig file
Top Five Pro-Am activities by rodentia · 2004-11-30 05:49 · 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
Re:Ok then... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-11-30 06:00 · 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.