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Washington State LUG to Hold "Nerd Auction"

elrous0 writes "As part of a PR stunt, a Washington Linux user group is holding a "Nerd Auction" and appealing to local sororities to exchange dates and makeover advice for their computer skills and homework assistance. 'The problem is that we're all still nerds. Let's face it, guys. If anyone's going to bid on us, we'll need some spicing up,' writes Washington State Linux Users Group president Ben Ford on the group's website. 'And who better to help with that than sorority girls who like nothing better than a makeover?' So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines."

376 comments

  1. How to help... by psychicsword · · Score: 5, Funny

    So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines.
    Isn't it obvious, by installing linux.
    1. Re:How to help... by IdleTime · · Score: 4, Funny

      Like, only if your brain isn't like a sorority girl, like!

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    2. Re:How to help... by happyemoticon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, and the superior stability of Linux means her computer will never get infected with adware, viruses, or even slow down on boot time. In fact, it'll never have any problems short of a hard drive crash, motherboard failure, or power supply failure. What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.

    3. Re:How to help... by Arabani · · Score: 1

      What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.
      There's always the command line ...
    4. Re:How to help... by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's exactly what will happen. The geeks install linux, and the sorority girls kick the geeks in the nuts for ruining their computers. In this way, everyone wins. The sorority girls get to tell their professors they can't do their homework because their computers are toasted, thereby giving them more free time to attempt to get impregnated by the football team, and the geeks get more contact from a human female than they have ever gotten or will ever get again.

      This is the very definition of "win-win".

    5. Re:How to help... by fuzzix · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, and the superior stability of Linux means her computer will never get infected with adware, viruses, or even slow down on boot time. In fact, it'll never have any problems short of a hard drive crash, motherboard failure, or power supply failure. What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.
      This is why you make sure her sshd is available from outside... ;)

      "Your research paper DISAPPEARED?! That's awful... Two months of work, you say? I'll be right over!"
    6. Re:How to help... by misleb · · Score: 1

      You've heard the joke about the engineer and the talking frog, right?

      --
      "THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS ONLY ME." -Death
    7. Re:How to help... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      Ok, so how will the Linux geeks help them with their cute little pink iMacs and iPods?

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    8. Re:How to help... by the+dark+hero · · Score: 1
      Ilsa: But what about us?

      Rick: We'll always have Linux.

      --
      You constantly struggle for self improvement - and it shows.

      Hooray for bad Engrish on fortune cookies

    9. Re:How to help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's funny cause it's true.

    10. Re:How to help... by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 4, Funny

      What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.

      Like you didn't give yourself a shell account with superuser access. Come on. You'll be able to make that thing stop working at will!

      That and you'll install software to remotely control her webcam anyway. You'll definitely be seeing her...

    11. Re:How to help... by happyemoticon · · Score: 4, Funny

      I just looked it up. Pretty funny. I'll quote it for anyone equally uninformed:

      An engineer was crossing a road one day, when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week." The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket. The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you for one week and do ANYTHING you want." Again, the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked,

      "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, and that I'll stay with you for one week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The engineer said, "Look, I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."
    12. Re:How to help... by SpottedKuh · · Score: 1

      What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.

      Umm, I think that may have been a given to start with... :)

    13. Re:How to help... by jackb_guppy · · Score: 1

      If ladies can be talked out of their OS, what else do you think the guys can talk them out of...

    14. Re:How to help... by Bender+Unit+22 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And what is more important, she wont be able to figure out how to make som private home video for all of us to see.

    15. Re:How to help... by kgskgs · · Score: 1

      Worry not.
      Legendary user friendliness of desktop Linux will take care of it.
      Every time she needs to change screen background or use her flash USB drive, you will get call.

      K

    16. Re:How to help... by snowgirl · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm thinking about attending, I could maybe find a cute guy who knows a lot about computers, and have him, er... root my box?

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
    17. Re:How to help... by jlarocco · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Funny how you can always tell the people who haven't booted Linux in half a decade.

    18. Re:How to help... by bl8n8r · · Score: 1

      > What good is that? You'll never get to see her again.

      I like to leave my id_dsa.pub key in her home directory and login once in a while and 'cat /dev/urandom > /dev/audio' for a few seconds. It is amazing how fast the phone rings :D

      --
      boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
    19. Re:How to help... by RockoTDF · · Score: 1

      ....at least Macs are Unix based?

      --
      There is more to science than physics!

      www.iomalfunction.blogspot.com
    20. Re:How to help... by GaryOlson · · Score: 3, Funny

      Only if your box is snatched^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hpatched to the network with easy access for everyone who wants a response to their probe.

      --
      Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
    21. Re:How to help... by snowgirl · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, I have port knocking setup, so if you don't know how to get me to respond, I don't have to worry about being rooted.

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
    22. Re:How to help... by aichpvee · · Score: 1

      Install Linux on them, too.

      --
      The Farewell Tour II
    23. Re:How to help... by BertieBaggio · · Score: 1

      I'm thinking about attending, I could maybe find a cute guy who knows a lot about computers, and have him, er... root my box?

      For those of you unfamiliar with Aussie vernacular, here's an explanation (scroll down). This pun was a real beaut.

      --
      If all you have is a grenade, pretty soon every problem looks like a foxhole -- MightyYar
    24. Re:How to help... by IdleTime · · Score: 3, Funny

      Careful now!
      Someone may leave behind a rootkit and you'll need a doctor...
      Btw, do you come with a spam blocker?

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    25. Re:How to help... by Enigma+Deadsouls · · Score: 4, Funny

      Before I go about rooting your box, I'd like to know more about you. Let me finger you first.

    26. Re:How to help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Jesus fucking Christ, Slashdot.

    27. Re:How to help... by nschubach · · Score: 1

      And I thought a "stubby" was something else!

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    28. Re:How to help... by compujunky · · Score: 1

      LMAO isn't that the trueth

    29. Re:How to help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The whole thing smells like a sexual harassment suit shouldn't they get a fund set to hire a lawyer?

    30. Re:How to help... by snowgirl · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ick! Well, fortunately, I'm rootkit free as of now, and I don't do anything that would put me at risk for being infected.

      And while I don't come with a spam blocker, I do have a fairly strict spam filter. And if any spam comes in with any person information, I don't just put it in the bit bucket, but rather, I make sure that it's securely deleted.

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
    31. Re:How to help... by dintech · · Score: 1

      I have exclusive admin rights to that box. I've respond quickly to incidents of fingering from the outside world.

    32. Re:How to help... by rtyall · · Score: 1

      OK, this is getting less hot, we need more "fsck" and "mount" action going on.

    33. Re:How to help... by StarRoamer · · Score: 2, Funny

      And from the other side....

      The Princess and the Talking Frog

      Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.

      The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said: " Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so. "

      That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself: I don't f*#$%' think so.

    34. Re:How to help... by mikiN · · Score: 1

      After finger works out OK, you can always ask her if it is alright to follow up with some penetration testing. but be sure to setup some port-blocking firewall rules first.

      --
      The Hacker's Guide To The Kernel: Don't panic()!
    35. Re:How to help... by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      You sound like a honey--pot

    36. Re:How to help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Yeah, and the superior stability of Linux means her computer will never get infected with adware, viruses, or even slow down on boot time."

      But it won't stop her from giving you a virus.

    37. Re:How to help... by snowgirl · · Score: 1

      When did you get admin rights to my box? I don't recall ever giving them to you.

      However, if you're interested in obtaining admin rights, I'm willing to give up the few shell accounts that I am hosting right now, and actually consider it.

      However, you must be on hand to help me with any issues... I don't like remote administration.

      --
      WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
  2. One good reason for windows by Anonymous+Custard · · Score: 3, Funny

    If there's one good reason to support windows, it's to help sorority girls upload their pajama party photos to your^H^H^H^H their flickr account.

    1. Re:One good reason for windows by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 3, Funny

      If there's one good reason to support windows, it's to help sorority girls upload their pajama party photos
      Why? Is there a problem with the photos I took through the second story window from a ladder? I know they're only 6 mega pixels and the lighting is a bit uneven, but I thought they looked kind of "arty"...
      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  3. NOT Washington State LUG. by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is not the Washington State LUG, it's the Washington State University LUG

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hello mister pedantic,
      In case you were wondering, it is very, very common when talking about state schools to say "[whatever] State" when referring to the school "[whatever] State University/College".

    2. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by ampmouse · · Score: 1

      Well, it confused me for a few minutes, and I am sitting in a (required visual studio based *grumble*) programing lab at Washington State University. Just calling it Washington State University would have made it a lot clearer. Maby if the context was football I would have understood, but outside of a context typically associated with college it becomes confusing.

    3. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by metlin · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Yes, because when they mean Penn State or Georgia State, they refer to the respective states (as opposed to, say, the State of Pennsylvania or the State of Georgia).

      Gee.

    4. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      This was not stated explicitly, and he had a legitimate point. There are University of Washington organizations, Washington State University organizations, and just plain Washington State organizations. For those who do not take the trouble of putting two and two together, a bit of clarification was probably in order.

      For example, someone who read the post but not the actual article might well conclude that this event was being held by the local University of Washington chapter of the Washington State LUG. But that is far from the case... the two towns are about 250 miles apart.

    5. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Considering that there's also a city named Washington in this country, "Washington state" is a good way to disambiguate the state from the federal capital.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    6. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by treeves · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's quite common around here to hear people say "I live in Washington State". AFAIK this is the only state where this is said, and I suppose it distinguishes between it and Washington D.C.
      I went to WSU, but I live in Oregon now. A similar problem we face locally is when you say Vancouver and you mean Canada, you have to say Vancouver BC, otherwise Vancouver, WA is assumed.

      --
      ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
    7. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by treeves · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Bottom line is, "Penn State" is obviously the school, while "Washington State" is ambiguous.

      --
      ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
    8. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Nasarius · · Score: 2, Informative

      AFAIK this is the only state where this is said,
      Nope, it's a needed disambiguation in New York too.
      --
      LOAD "SIG",8,1
    9. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      With New York it helps very little. You can say New York State, and then their minds will jump out of the city, about 20 miles north, into suburbs.
      You need to say Upstate New York, which will get people to think buffalo, but thats much better than Westchester.

    10. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by livewire98801 · · Score: 1

      It should be noted that there is a Washington State University, an Eastern Washington University, a Central Washington University, and a University of Washington. And, we refer to our home state as Washington State, 'cause anyone not from the west coast thinks of Washington DC when you just say "Washington".

      Yesh, it's enough to make your head hurt, even if you have lived here your whole life :-/

      --
      "He may be mad, but there's method in his madness. [...] It's what drives men mad, being methodical." G.K.Chesterton
    11. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by BootNinja · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maby if the context was football I would have understood, but outside of a context typically associated with college it becomes confusing.

      You mean, like a sorority?

    12. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by scottv67 · · Score: 1

      Hello mister pedantic,
      In case you were wondering, it is very, very common when talking about state schools to say "[whatever] State" when referring to the school "[whatever] State University/College".


      Really? I've never heard anyone say "Wisconsin State". Ever. The most well-known (and the largest by enrollment) non-private university in the state is the University of Wisconsin-Madison (or ewe double-ewe Madison). The smaller state universities are also known as ewe double-ewe $city_name. No one says "Wisconsin State".

      Can I get an "Amen!" from Dave Schroeder?

    13. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by ampmouse · · Score: 0

      Wait, They have those here? I need to get out of the "Math, Science, and Engineering" residence hall more often!

      Seriously though, where does it mention a sorority in the headline? I had it figured out by the time I got halfway through the summary to where it mentioned that there were sororities involved.

    14. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here in California, there are two university systems: University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU). The smaller colleges are in CSU and usually called Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Fresno, etc, with the exception of San Jose State University (San Jose State).

    15. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by treeves · · Score: 1

      or their mind jumps to that crummy Billy Joel song:
        I'm In a New York State Of Mind.

      I lived in Saratoga Springs for a while and I never heard anyone NY State. Upstate NY I've heard.

      --
      ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
    16. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It should be noted that there is a Washington State University, an Eastern Washington University, a Central Washington University, and a University of Washington.

      How dare you forget Western Washington University!?

    17. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by adarn · · Score: 1

      I usta live in New York State.

      As opposed to city.

    18. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      But unlike Pennsylvania or Georgia, when people say "Washington state" they *are* often referring to the actual state, because they want to avoid confusion with Washington, DC.

      Chris Mattern

    19. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by cloak42 · · Score: 1

      Well, maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions by just reading a headline, then. :)

    20. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is not the Washington State LUG, it's the Washington State University LUG


      as a university of washington grad, that explains a *LOT*.
    21. Re:NOT Washington State LUG. by xappax · · Score: 1

      'cause anyone not from the west coast thinks of Washington DC when you just say "Washington".

      But the funny thing is that people actually from Washington, DC simply call it "DC". To residents, "Washington" is usually used only in the context of national politics (The Russian ambassador visited Washington...), and so refers to capitol hill, politicians, and the federal institutions in the city. "DC" is how they refer to the city where they actually live, which is both shorter and unambiguous.

  4. Optimistic by spleen_blender · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The sorority girls probably aren't going to bite. They know they can get nerds like us to work on their computer and homework assignments and have to give nothing in return. They just have to be... girls. This is sort of like people boycotting gasoline... it just won't work. They can hold out indefinitely since they have other sources of income (read: non-nerds sexing them up) where as we will sit there demanding cheaper gas (read: any sexing up).

    1. Re:Optimistic by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but we're nicer than the pretty boys. Then, when they hit 35 and they want to get married, they'll come looking for their nerd. Of course, they'll also say "Oh, Russell, what was I thinking? I let SO MANY great guys slip through my hands." which by "great" she mean "nerdy", of course.

      --
      Don't piss off The Angry Economist
    2. Re:Optimistic by revlayle · · Score: 1

      I dunno.... most of the nerds I have ever known never fell for that. Then again, I have known a lot of cynical and bitter people over the years....

    3. Re:Optimistic by Stringer+Bell · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Confidence is sexy, according to my wife and most of her girlfriends. Be nervous, introspective, self-conscious, and "girls don't like nerds" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    4. Re:Optimistic by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      The truth is they probably don't need the exchange. A lot of them like giving makeovers.

    5. Re:Optimistic by bladesjester · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Confidence is indeed sexy. However, you don't have to be self-conscious to be introspective. It's actually a positive way to gauge where you are and where you want to be. The only thing is that you can't do it all the time, and you can't let it make you constantly second guess yourself.

      I'm rather confident, and am also introspective. I also generally have no real lack of companionship when I want it.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    6. Re:Optimistic by cromar · · Score: 1

      Confidence is sexy

      Definitely agree with that. The single best piece of advice in dating. Remember: it's better to be wrong than to do nothing.

    7. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      They know they can get nerds like us to work on their computer and homework assignments and have to give nothing in return.

      Would you feel better if she went on a date with you simply because you provided computer help? Because she owes you a favor? You don't want to go on a date in exchange for goods and services. The woman will be shallow and she's really not worth dating.

      Not to mention, the idea smells a bit like prostitution, which is generally bad for your self image.

      You deserve better. There's probably a cute geeky girl right down the hall, or who is a friend of a friend, etc. Talk to HER.

      Looking back at my college years, I can't believe how many cute geeky girls there were. None of them were in a sorority.

    8. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I let SO MANY great guys slip into any convenient orifice

      Fixed that for you.
    9. Re:Optimistic by Chuckstar · · Score: 4, Funny

      "I also generally have no real lack of companionship when I want it."

      Your cat doesn't count. ;)

    10. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      That behaviour sounds very familiar. That's basically why every woman I've ever dated has gone out with me: I'm paying for dinner/movie/whatever and/or they have a computer that needs fixing. Then it's "oh, gee..look at the time. goodbye".

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    11. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      No, they come looking for a guy with $$$ that doesn't embarrass them too much in public.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    12. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't play the piano. I mean I really sucked at it when I had to take lessons as a kid. Really, really sucked. It was something terrible, let me tell you. I have stupid, clumsy fingers despite the fact that they're long and otherwise suited to play. Also I have zero musical talent, any instrument would be hard. I didn't particularly enjoy it either but I really didn't have a say, my parents made me take lessons and who the fuck knows why. The point I'm trying to make is, I know I can't play the piano, my instructor eventually figured that out too, it would be pretty unrealistic for me to have dreams of ever being a concert pianist (or any type of professional musician). Just can't do it. Is this anyone's fault? Not really. I guess technically it is my fault but there's no one to blame for it. This anecdote is on topic, the point I'm making here is; set realistic goals. The amount of effort you put into something should be proportional to the expected returns you can get from it. If you have zero chance of success, why are you still wasting your time with the piano?

    13. Re:Optimistic by Surt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're thinking of dogs, cat's aren't like that.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    14. Re:Optimistic by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Confidence is sexy, according to my wife and most of her girlfriends. Be nervous, introspective, self-conscious, and "girls don't like nerds" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

      Yet "cockiness" is a turnoff. How do women distinguish? If he's not attractive it's cockiness, if he is its confidence.

    15. Re:Optimistic by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Yet "cockiness" is a turnoff. How do women distinguish?

      It isn't. They don't.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    16. Re:Optimistic by Rycross · · Score: 1

      "Be confident," is the dating equivalent of telling someone that water is wet. Everyone knows that confidence is important in dating, and yet people still trot it out as if they're the sole possessor of this great hidden nugget of wisdom. The fact of the matter is, learning to exude confidence is tough for people who are not already socially adjusted. Telling them that they just need to be confident is kicking them when they're down. If they knew how to build up their confidence, they would not be having any problems with women.

      If you read any of the materials designed around helping men with women, then you'll find that they spend little time telling the reader that they need confidence, instead opting to teach them how to be confident and show it.

    17. Re:Optimistic by Stringer+Bell · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You honestly don't know the difference between confident and cocky? Humility is part of confidence, but it's the opposite of cockiness.

    18. Re:Optimistic by Toonol · · Score: 1

      Not to mention, the idea smells a bit like prostitution, which is generally bad for your self image.

      Prostitution in the wider sense (granting attention in return for favors) is practiced by every female in existence, and is socially approved of. So don't think it's some stamp of shame.

    19. Re:Optimistic by Stringer+Bell · · Score: 1

      Materials designed around helping men with women? That's a new one. Anyway, my point wasn't that I'm the "sole possessor of this great hidden nugget of wisdom." My original post was pointed squarely at self-deprecating tone of the post to which I was responding. In my experience, nerds spend way too much time kicking themselves when they're down, so they don't need anyone to help them. There's been a handful of posts just in this sub-thread that illustrate my point nicely..."Women are only interested in money"..."Women will use me for my computer skills and then discard me"..."Women are only after jocks"...etc. I had a roommate in college that told me one time "Whenever I see a beautiful girl walking down the street, I figure she's probably laughing at me." Ouch. The first step is to stop the mantra-like chanting in our heads repeating these kinds of lies. Probably a *few* girls laughed at my roommate, but it's highly unlikely *most* or *all* of them did. His over-generalization did more damage to his self-esteem (and his dating prospects) than the derisive laughter of pretty girls.

    20. Re:Optimistic by Ricin · · Score: 1

      You're thinking of dogs, cat's aren't like that Correct. Cats tend to seek your companionship when you *don't* want them around. Pondering whether or not that is a sign of empathy is ... well, tiring. That's why they sleep so much I reckon.
    21. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, that's what he meant when he told me his had "all the pussy he could handle". Must be a big cat?

    22. Re:Optimistic by chochos · · Score: 1

      I think you meant introvert, not introspect. And if someone's an introvert, there's not much they can do about it.

    23. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 5, Funny

      Cats seek your companionship when they want to be fed.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    24. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      the rest probably just ignored him like they do other pests.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    25. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      The male:female ratio at my college was ranged between 3:1 & 4:1 and only a few that were remotely attractive. It's bad when a high school class of 36 people had more attractive women than your freshman class in college and it only got worse as the years went by. But not everyone can say that their volleyball team could probably kick the football team's ass. The weight difference was certainly negligible.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    26. Re:Optimistic by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 1

      Neither does drawing lipstick lines on his hand.

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    27. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >> every female in existence

      And every male does the same thing.

      I'm not talking about Prostitution in the broader sense, but in a narrow sense.

    28. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's bad when a high school class of 36 people had more attractive women than your freshman class in college and it only got worse as the years went by.

      Where'd you go to school? Dustbowl University?

      few that were remotely attractive.

      I find that hard to believe. It sounds like your standards are unrealistic. Perhaps you spend too much time daydreaming about Playboy bunnies and the airbrushed models in the magazines, and not paying attention to the real women around you.

      I'm not asking you to lower your standards. I'm asking you to get some real standards. But judging by your UID, you're not a kid, and you're probably set in your ways.

    29. Re:Optimistic by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      Oddly enough, my cat doesn't just seek me out when I don't want to be bothered. He's weirdly co-dependent for a cat. It's especially weird considering that he's part bobcat.

      That's not the kind of companionship I was talking about though :P

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    30. Re:Optimistic by thynk · · Score: 1

      So do a lot of women for that matter :-)

      --

      Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
    31. Re:Optimistic by fractoid · · Score: 1

      If he's not attractive it's cockiness, if he is its confidence. Kind of like the way that if you're hot, then it's flirting, if you're not, it's sexual harassment.
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    32. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh great, so we're supposed to ignore the entire premise of this [fantasy] story submission because it stinks of..prostitution? Prostitution is a right that every woman has! It's called the sex industry, you insensitive clod! They are sex workers. You are NOT paying attention to political correctness and you WILL pay dearly along your career path. I, for one, support prostitution. In soviet washington, prostitutes install Linux for YOU!

      Now let the poor nerds get back to their serious discussion of whether this will or will not work out.

    33. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being a nerd doesn't make you nice nor ugly and being a jock doesn't make you stupid, pretty, or an ass some of us "jocks" have high IQ s and are quite computer literate

    34. Re:Optimistic by LordHatrus · · Score: 1

      >> Cats seek your companionship when they want to be fed. I read this as "when they are a Fed", and I turned around and looked at my cat suspiciously. Sorry, Mr. Whiskers. I know you don't work for the NSA... I think?

    35. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being cocky works great just not for me. They always get the girl.

    36. Re:Optimistic by ribo-bailey · · Score: 1

      After all the publicity, we have 4 sororities already willing to participate.

      http://lug.wsu.edu/~haven/WSULug-Fox-News.swf

    37. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But now some nerds have become PUA's, and some other nerds have become naughty boys (I'm the latter).. hehe we've studied for a long time and we start to practice late, but we'll be better than all those football guys.. hehe even kinkier too

    38. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They can.
      Used to be one myself.
      Now I'm confident and in the middle of the introvert/extrovert scale..
      Lots of stuff helps, self-improvement, hypnosis, books, experience,...

    39. Re:Optimistic by that+IT+girl · · Score: 1

      That is true. Some girls like nerds, though. I do :) I'm dating a terrific one right now. We spend our time playing video games, watching/reading sci-fi, and more recently, experimenting with different Linux distros on a machine I built.

      The point is, for a real relationship anyway (not just sex), the sorority girl is not the type you want anyway. Even if you try to change or hide who you really are and get her to like you more, she's really not liking YOU. Find someone who appreciates everything about you (not just tolerates, enjoys and shares!). We're out there :) you just have to look.

      --
      10 FILL MUG WITH COFFEE
      20 DRINK COFFEE
      30 GOTO 10
    40. Re:Optimistic by jeephistorian · · Score: 1

      So do girlfriends.

      --
      Huh?
    41. Re:Optimistic by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1

      ... great the nerd girls are also dating the hot girls

    42. Re:Optimistic by Eivind · · Score: 1

      Ok, so that may be. Perhaps because it's obvious though. There are two ways of being confident. One is being it without really knowing what you're doing, which means deluding yourself or plain-out lying. That's a bad idea for several reasons, I guess if you want to do it, take up acting is the best advice.

      The other though, is just plain knowing what you're doing. It's not hard at all being confident about something when you actually have a clue. This is the problem for some nerds; they aren't really used to flirting, so it's hard for them to do it confidently. How do you come across as if you know what you're doing, when infact you don't ?

      It's not hard: Change the game. Play a game you know how to play, or if you don't think you know how to play any games that would appeal to girls, learn. It's something nerds are supposed to do well, rigth ?

      Knowing how to repair computers is unlikely to help much. You may do it confidently, but it's not interesting to most people, female or not.

      So, learn how to do something else well. Learn to take good photos (not snapshots!). Learn to dance well. Learn to cook well. None of these are hard in the sligthest, furthermore you don't need to know it *all*, only a part. You don't need to be a professional cook, but if you damn well know how to make a delicious lasagne, it's not hard to do so confidently. Girls that don't care for lasagne ain't worth having anyway *grin*.

      If you really know how to do -nothing- that interests a particular girl, why the hell should she then be interested in you ? Girls are just as diverse as males so it doesn't much matter what you know, someone is likely to find it interesting regardless. It's just, there's a lot more girls that fancy a well-made romantic dinner than a smoothly-running computer.

    43. Re:Optimistic by Kelbear · · Score: 1

      I love pussy!

    44. Re:Optimistic by Kelbear · · Score: 1

      Confidence is knowing you are ______.

      Cockiness is telling other people you are ______.

      It's much more impressive and less irritating when people discover what these good qualities are. It also gives the added bonus of "mystery" in finding out why this guy is able to be so sure of himself.

    45. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought you were married though... What happened of that? Was he a geek?

    46. Re:Optimistic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Confidence is sexy, according to my wife and most of her girlfriends. Be nervous, introspective, self-conscious, and "girls don't like nerds" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

      Tell that to Hugh Grant.

    47. Re:Optimistic by sanosuke76 · · Score: 1

      I don't think that's necessarily the case. Computer science departments are sometimes segregated off on one side of campus with the 'hard sciences' buildings, which women tend not to go for. As a result, you've got the one side of the campus that the hot women are at, and then there's the side where all the compsci geeks, physicists, and mathematicians hang out at. And at least at my uni, during the rare occasions when there would be an attractive (or even AVERAGE), single compsci major, she was generally dating a jock and didn't hang out in the compsci area other than during classes.

      It's also a matter of money, too. If you're attending a low-cost university, there are less likely to be attractive women there. Attractive people are more likely to score scholarships and move on to other schools. I've found that the pricier the university, the hotter the women are that attend. Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN was always short on attractive women in the compsci program during my tenure there ('91-'98 or so).

      --
      My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
    48. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      It would have been a bit north of DU. But no, they were real women...real fat & ugly...some looked like ugly guys and you couldn't tell what they were except by what dorm they lived in. That's right. No co-ed dorms. Of course, that made it much easier for people to park horse trailers in front of the doors of the female dorm or put up cattle crossing signs. The "hot women" would have been considered plain to average at most colleges. After a while some of the 'normal gals' on campus would start to look ok. A visit to one's hometown and seeing someone that you went to high school would result in an "OMG WTF was I thinking" moment that would snap you back to reality very quickly. Spare time was spent studying, getting drunk, or watching lots of TV re-runs. My college roommate had memorized all the dialog to M*A*S*H.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
    49. Re:Optimistic by ksheff · · Score: 1

      It was an engineering college, so there wasn't any segregation to one side of the campus. The liberal arts department existed only to satisfy the state arts/humanities requirements and did not offer any degrees until later on - and that was in "interdisciplinary sciences" where you basically took a wide combination of science, math, engineering, & lib arts courses. It was mainly a way to get some non-geek pre-med women on campus. The dean of students would sometimes have little open forum type meetings in the dorms to ask students for their ideas on how to make campus life better. Recruiting and keeping more female students was always brought up...quite a few would leave their freshman year after getting their Mrs degree from a graduating senior with a job offer and continue their education somewhere else. Severe alcohol abuse, bad grades, and the thought of living like a monk for 4 years would get rid of many of the male students after the 1st couple years. It was a good place though if you just wanted to study and not have a "typical college social life". Having a girlfriend in the real world was another reason to look forward to graduation and getting a job.

      --
      the good ground has been paved over by suicidal maniacs
  5. End nerd persecution! by HaeMaker · · Score: 1, Funny

    Gibert: I just wanted to say that I'm a nerd, and I'm here tonight to stand up for the rights of other nerds. I mean uh, all our lives we've been laughed at and made to feel inferior. And tonight, those bastards, they trashed our house. Why? Cause we're smart? Cause we look different? Well, we're not. I'm a nerd, and uh, I'm pretty proud of it.

    Lewis: Hi, Gilbert. I'm a nerd too. I just found that out tonight. We have news for the beautiful people. There's a lot more of us then there are of you. I know there's alumni here tonight. When you went to Adams you might've been called a spazz, or a dork, or a geek. Any of you that have ever felt stepped on, left out, picked on, put down, whether you think you're a nerd or not, why don't you just come down here and join us. Okay? Come on.

    Gibert: Just join us cos uh, no-one's gonna really be free until nerd persecution ends.

    1. Re:End nerd persecution! by hawk · · Score: 1

      Well, *that* should justify an opening bid of seventeen cents and an empty lipstick cannister . . .

      hawk

    2. Re:End nerd persecution! by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      Flippin' sweet!

    3. Re:End nerd persecution! by ILuvRamen · · Score: 0

      lol just think how mad you'll be if the auctionmaster person shows up in a purple suit with leopard print edges and a cane. Come on, doesn't this sound just like technical pimping? lol

      --
      Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
    4. Re:End nerd persecution! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where's the punchline? The mods gypped me.

  6. That's Washington State University by L-Train8 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    That is the Washington State University LUG, located in Pullman, WA. The post left that unclear, but the fact that this is a college-based LUG in a university town helps to explain why there are sorority girls involved.

    --

    Don't forget that Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.
  7. Protection by SuperBanana · · Score: 3, Funny

    So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines

    Lots of protection.

  8. Washington State University by ViennaSt · · Score: 1

    It's the Washington State University LUG not the Washington State LUG.

    --
    "Engineering. Where the noble, semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream." -Sheldon
    1. Re:Washington State University by kan0r · · Score: 1

      Didn't you read Lord of the Ring in high school?; No, I had sex in high school. At least name the source of your quote if you insist on posting dupe comments, Joey Tribbiani!
  9. Mustn't RTFA... by Otter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I submitted this yesterday, but apparently a working link to the story is considered bad form.

    1. Re:Mustn't RTFA... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      Maybe, but it's as lame a story today as it was yesterday. You need to get out more, maybe get laid now and then.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  10. I thought LUG stood for... by who's+got+my+nicknam · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lesbian Until Graduation. That makes the headline of this article even more interesting!

    --
    "Apparatus dignosco occultus, satis non supernus."
    1. Re:I thought LUG stood for... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a similar slang word to LUG (Lesbian Until Graduation) for men in prison: GURD - Gay Until Release Date.

  11. well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new sorority girl overlords.

    1. Re:well... by punxking · · Score: 1

      I, for one, welcome our new sorority girl overlords.

      Oh man, Sorority Girl Overlords has "fundraiser calendar" written all over it.

      --
      You can have my cynical agnosticism when you pry it from my cold, dead logic.
    2. Re:well... by Plutonite · · Score: 1

      In Soviet Russia, sorority girls [like,] install [like,] Linux for you!

  12. Hmmm! by BlueMerle · · Score: 1

    This brings a whole new meaning to "Got Root?"

    1. Re:Hmmm! by Evil+Pete · · Score: 1

      I don't think most readers here would understand the Australian slang for root. That is, 'fuck'. Pity we don't have sorority girls here, I'm sure they would be the ones coming out with the things like "you can root that machine but not me".

      --
      Bitter and proud of it.
  13. Beauty and the Geek by filterban · · Score: 1

    Bring a video camera to this event and you'll have the entirety of the next season of Beauty and the Geek .

    Who will be eliminated first? Oh, the suspense.

    --
    rm -rf /
    1. Re:Beauty and the Geek by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Who will be eliminated first? Oh, the suspense.

      Indeed, the first thing they eliminate is the suspense. It all goes downhill from there :)

  14. Don't worry guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You haven't got any viruses yet, and you're not going to start now.

  15. This is doomed to fail... by TexNex · · Score: 1

    Its a nice idea but doomed...the geeks will be far to interested in rooting the girls box which leaves little if any time for a makeover. If, that is, the girls will get anywhere close to the geeks. Is anyone else here having flashbacks of "Revenge of the Nerds" on this one?

    1. Re:This is doomed to fail... by Pfhorrest · · Score: 1

      the geeks will be far to interested in rooting the girls box which leaves little if any time for a makeover In both senses of the phrase.
      --
      -Forrest Cameranesi, Geek of all Trades
      "I am Sam. Sam I am. I do not like trolls, flames, or spam."
  16. Geek = Nerd? by krgallagher · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I have seen this reported in a couple of places in the last two days, and every time it makes my skin crawl. The reporters are all happy to make a joke out of it, and the LUG is too, so maybe I should not get upset. Still, I am proud to be a geek, but I do not consider myself a nerd. The quote that gets me in this article is "The idea is to trade their computer skills to sorority girls in exchange for a makeover and, possibly, a date."

    I can see a number of problems with this.

    • Just because I use Linux does not mean I can't get a date.
    • Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd.
    • Why does the reporter assume the LUG members have the ulterior motive of getting laid?

    OK, I'll admit that most men have the ulterior motive of trying to get laid. Still, the tone of every report I have read is, "Look what the nerds will go through in an attempt to get laid." They are propagating a stereotype and no one seems to care.

    --

    Insert Generic Sig Here:

    1. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      > OK, I'll admit that most men have the ulterior motive of trying to get laid. Still, the tone of every report I have read is, "Look what the nerds will go through in an attempt to get laid." They are propagating a stereotype and no one seems to care.

      Stereotypes work both ways. I read it as "Look at what sorority girls will put up with in an attempt to keep running Windows!"

    2. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Okay, I'll bite (anonymously). What's the difference between a geek and a nerd and what's so terrible about conflating the two?

    3. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      We can create a simple predicate to differentiate between the two.

      (define (nerd? person) (and (geeky? person) (on-slashdot? person)))

    4. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Just because I use Linux does not mean I can't get a date. I find this obnoxious as well..

      Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd. So just USING a certain piece of software can make you a geek?? You know, I thought being a geek was more than just the clothes you wear, the software you use, etc. More likely, you use linux BECAUSE you are a geek. Though I won't deny there are people who want "geek cred" or whatever... I find it ironic though. Besides which, the articles quotes the LUG president calling themselves nerds!

      Why does the reporter assume the LUG members have the ulterior motive of getting laid? I don't think the reporter DOES assume that--in fact, the article goes into the origin and reason for the auction (PR class, networking, etc). How about the quote "And who better to help with that than sorority girls who like nothing better than a makeover?" -- how insulting is THAT? Not all sorority girls are mindless, boycrazy morons...

      OK, I'll admit that most men have the ulterior motive of trying to get laid. Still, the tone of every report I have read is, "Look what the nerds will go through in an attempt to get laid." They are propagating a stereotype and no one seems to care. I'm not sure who "they" is--the reporters, or the LUG? Because from what I've read, it seems like the LUG and the LUG president are doing just fine propagating some negative stereotypes all around.. OTOH, if it works, some good might come out of it.. It's actually a kind of interesting idea--just seems like the LUG isn't doing itself any favors with the nerd quotes.
    5. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its not really much of a stereotype if your the only person who thought that.

      "Oh those sorority girls.. you know how they LOVE Windows XP."

    6. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Hatta · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why does the reporter assume the LUG members have the ulterior motive of getting laid?

      Because they're male.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    7. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still, I am proud to be a geek, but I do not consider myself a nerd.

      Good for you! Just because you bit off chicken heads doesn't mean you have to be fascinated with technology.

    8. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Surt · · Score: 1

      Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd.

      I'm not sure that using linux makes you either:

      http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geek
      http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerd

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    9. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so maybe I should not get upset.
      You're right, you should not get upset.

       

      Still, I am proud to be a geek, but I do not consider myself a nerd.
      The words "geek" and "nerd" are mostly synonymous and therefore interchangeable in the minds of most people, especially people who don't identify with either of those labels.

       

      The quote that gets me in this article is "The idea is to trade their computer skills to sorority girls in exchange for a makeover and, possibly, a date." Just because I use Linux does not mean I can't get a date.
      This article talks about a particular group of geeks/nerds (or whatever) that want to exchange computer skills for dates. Nowhere in the article does it say "All geeks can't get dates" or "All nerds can't get dates." You're overgeneralizing what was actually said. Sure, that may indeed be the point of view of the author, but then again it may not be. Aside from the fact that the entire story revolves around silly stereotypes, I don't see any reason you ought to be offended.

       

      Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd.
      Again, the article did not say that. Didn't you ever take a logic course and learn about syllogisms? You know, things like:

      Major Premise: Some A are B.
      Minor Premise: Some B are C.
      Conclusion: Some A are C.

      Some syllogisms produce logically valid conclusions. Others, such as the one above, are logical fallacies. It seems to me all your complaints about the article are based on incorrect syllogistic reasoning, such as:

      All Linux users are geeks.
      Some nerds are Linux users.
      Therefore, all geeks are nerds.

      That's the basic logic that you're accusing the author of following, but nowhere in TFA did he say all geeks are nerds.

       

      Why does the reporter assume the LUG members have the ulterior motive of getting laid?
      The article talks about makeovers and dates. The rest is your own imagination, and mine as well, and probably about everybody on the planet who read the article. That's because, as you said yourself, most men do have the ulterior motive of getting laid. That truism is not the author's fault.

       

      They are propagating a stereotype and no one seems to care.
      You're right. I don't care. I mean, come on. How sensitive are you gonna be? As stereotypes go, this one is about as harmless and benign as it gets. Seriously, if you're getting all upset about a geek/nerd stereotype, count yourself lucky, because apparently you don't have any real problems. Or perhaps you really do have big problems, such as being paranoid and delusional. Take a deep breath, man. This article isn't an assault on your civil rights. It's not an attempt to label you and discriminate against you based on your usage of Linux. It's just a mildly amusing, tongue-in-cheek piece of news fluff. Take a chill pill.

      By the way, how did such a silly, illogical rant get modded +5 insightful??? I didn't realize geeks and nerds were so melodramatic.
    10. Re:Geek = Nerd? by ookabooka · · Score: 1

      OK, I'll admit that most men have the ulterior motive of trying to get laid.
      You should have read just 1 sentence further before hitting the reply button :-D

      --
      If you are about to mod me down, keep in mind that this post was most likely sarcastic.
    11. Re:Geek = Nerd? by dangitman · · Score: 2, Informative

      Still, I am proud to be a geek, but I do not consider myself a nerd.

      So, you are proud to bite the heads off of chickens in a carnival show, but you aren't interested in technical and academic matters? Perhaps slashdot is not the right website for you? Sounds like you should be at www.chickenbeheaders.com.

      Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd.

      I don't see how. Using Linux does not require you to bite the heads off of chickens.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    12. Re:Geek = Nerd? by kaizokuace · · Score: 1

      Just because I use Linux does not mean I can't get a date.

      Depends, are you a Gentoo user? If so you don't got the time for a date!
      --
      Balderdash!
    13. Re:Geek = Nerd? by dwye · · Score: 1

      > What's the difference between a geek and a nerd

      Geek - A carnival freak who bites the heads off live chickens
      Nerd - An excessively studious person. Frequently enjoys obscure recreations, like D&D.

      Ozzy Osborne is a geek.
      Bill Gates is a nerd.

      Ozzy had a reality TV show of his life.
      Bill Gates is worth more than most countries. Should he chose, he could buy his own reality show, The Nielson Rating Service, and at least one newspaper chain, and release evidence that his reality show was the highest rated show on TV.

      You decide who you would rather be.

    14. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Analog+Squirrel · · Score: 1

      Wish I had some mod points for ya... :-)

      --
      I'd rather be flying
    15. Re:Geek = Nerd? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the best explanation I've heard:

      geek: obsessed with a particular area of interest (e.g., computer geek, car geek, accordion geek)

      nerd: high IQ; "book smart"; good at "Jeopardy!"

      dork: oblivious to social conventions; not very self-aware

      Of course, a person can be in more than one set (and present company often is).

    16. Re:Geek = Nerd? by freakmn · · Score: 1

      I think you have that backwards. During a recompile of say, Openoffice.org, there's plenty of time for a movie, dinner, and more! As long as you don't depend on your computer for dating, in the case of internet dating, you are probably even more likely to have time to date.

      --
      warning: This post is likely to contain gobs of dripping sarcasm. Consume at your own risk.
  17. Will you pay money for a date with a sorority girl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    appealing to local sororities to exchange dates and makeover advice for their computer skills and homework assistance

    You're going to exchange a service (computer help) in exchange for a date (An intimate service). Don't we have a word for that? If you paid money for the date, would it be different?

    Do you really need to date sorority women? What can they provide that non-sorority woman cannot?

  18. Getting a kick, etc... by ZerMongo · · Score: 1

    WSU student here, I've been to a LUG meeting before and sausage-fest doesn't begin to describe it. Those hideous chuds will be lucky if they can make more than $10, especially from sorority girls. Sororities aren't stupid, they let the "less-than-supermodel" girls in who have usable skills, especially in regards to computers. The amazing story here is that somehow this made the AP wire.

    1. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've been to PLENTY of WSU LUG meetings and I choose to remain anonymous for now. It's sick. Ben Ford comes up with this idea "in the shower." Does anyone want to know what he *does* in the shower? I'll just say it has to do with sorority girls and barn yard animals. The sad part here is, girls and computers always come first in his life. I hardly see why this is making the news. He is over $6,500 in past child support, continues NOT to pay it, yet has time for dating sorority girls but not time for his own kids. There's a reason why there aren't many females in the wsu LUG. Any girl who sees these guys should run away, and FAST.

    2. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Sorry to ruin the day of anyone trying to trash-talk Ben and the WSU LUG, but I can attest to the fact that the previous post here is completely false and a blatant lie!!! I could get into how much he does love his children and the amount of time he spends with him but I won't sink so low as to bring his personal life into this! If you are going to talk about the LUG and the auction, that is fine, but leave their personal lives out of it!

    3. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, typo in my previous post. It should read "the amount of time he spends with them" rather than "spends with him."

    4. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by MarinaSH · · Score: 1

      Sounds to me as if cowardly "anonymous" is really pissed that Ben has a life and "anonymous" is pissed at that fact - plus the fact that she is no longer part of his life, which was "anonymous"' own choice. If she didn't do in actuality what she claims Ben does in the shower, she'd still be a big part of his life. And, BTW, he loves and gives more of his time and heart to his daughters than "anonymous" ever will. "anonymous" is also pissed because the court lowered the amount of support owed her (which is not past/going unpaid). (BTW - "anonymous" is deliberately NOT capitalized.)

    5. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by MarinaSH · · Score: 1

      BTW, in the above post, reference to "anonymous" is to burntpenguin - his ex-wife, who wasn't a good & faithful wife as far as wives go...and since she wants to use and slander his name in public, HER name is lori ford. Again, deliberate non-use of capitals.

    6. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 0, Troll

      I can "personally attest" that you need to get laid. Maybe you should join the WSU Linux User's group? They have this female scholorship program now, have you heard of it?

    7. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      My name is Mike. And Ben is a queer. You haven't been laid forever and you are a psychopath. And no, he hasn't paid child support. But you are off topic. This is about Ben coming up with an idea to have girls pay to get him laid, sorority girls to be exact. You should be so proud of him.

    8. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by MarinaSH · · Score: 1

      "personally attest" ????? dearie, you've never been in my bed, nor ever will. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. It really bugs ya that you can't hurt Ben anymore, doesn't it? hahahahahahahahahaha Grow up & get a life, lori.

    9. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      again, like I said. I'm male. My name is Mike. I'm glad you're laughing and very off topic, as I stated previously.

    10. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't personally attest to anything about me! You don't even know me! I intentionally said I wasn't going to go down and get dirty so get back to the topic, why don't you? The whole point of this is a PR event and a fundraiser, not to get Ben laid! So, just grow up and if you have an actual point to be made about the event, go right ahead, otherwise, just shut up!

    11. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by MarinaSH · · Score: 1

      Just a few inconsistencies here: "Ben is a queer"/"have girls pay to get him laid". And the idea is as a fund-raiser, dork. Talk about off-topic! Yup, I'm a LOT prouder of him than of that thankfully- FORMER daughter-in-law who spent her entire marriage sleeping around and shacking-up. But then, you already know well about this, don't you? From personal experience...won't be long before she's at it again, if not already...

    12. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      New information? Noway!! Let me go check on MY WIFE real quick. Hmmm, kids have been in bed for a long while and she is sound asleep in bed. No, now it is about a female CS scholarship. I've known MY WIFE for a lot longer than Ben Ford. But this isn't about her. I'm glad he's getting some publicity. Right up there with Britney Spears. Although he could use a haircut like hers. ;) I guess any publicity is good publicity?

    13. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      People always get offended and use the term "you don't know me!" when you hit something that is the truth. It's nice he has enough time to spend on these charity events when he can't even work to support his kids or even spend time with the kids. Why doesn't he just give them up and let me adopt them then he won't have to worry about spending money on them. But alas, arguing online is like the special olympics- even if you win you're still retarded, but I guess in your case it's more like a pringle's commercial. "Once you pop you can't stop." Go ahead. I know you want to comment again. Hmm, come to think of it. . . Ben's WSU Lug "fundraiser" is like the special olympics. Even if they get sororities to join they're still retarded. Sorority girl: Durr what happens if I press *THIS* button? WSU GEEK: drip drip drip Sorority girl: I have to do WHAT to get a scholorship??!?! What's going to happen if sorority girls join the wsu lug would be: STDS. And can you think of all the broken up relationships that will happen if there are girls and guys together? Or maybe they will all marry each other. Either way, I still feel as others do, it is a desperate attempt to get (ben) LUG geeks laid.

    14. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by dintech · · Score: 1

      Wow, this stuff is gold. It's like our very own Slashdot soap opera!

    15. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by Reservoir+Penguin · · Score: 1

      I'm bookmarking this!

      --
      US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
    16. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      It's great Ben Ford is getting to go on Fox news and all but to me it is like watching Britney Spears shave her head on tv. Sure, it is publicity but is it GOOD publicity? Do you really wanna be remembered as the retard geek who couldn't get a date? I can think of a million better things to put on fox news.
      Did everyone check out his lisp? haha. And his hobby is his dog? You don't see him mentioning that he has 2 kids and lost his wife partly because he spent all his time at the linux user's group. He's too busy trying to get in sorority girl's pants, doesn't even see his kids much anymore. I guess you trade family for fame. I wonder if these sorority girls should know he's been trying to attempt to uncircumsize his weiner for years now. Maybe they're into that though, who knows!


      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9seeGc87AU

      Check out the video, what a looker!

    17. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by dintech · · Score: 1

      Wow, you seem to really know a few things about him. Your views and opinions are certainly riveting reading. Sure he might be more of an asshole than the public are aware but take care not to make this a very personal character assassination. That's a dangerous game as that sort of thing always becomes a public mud-slinging contest. It seems this guy has screwed you over once already, don't put yourself in the position where he (or his comrades) can do it again.

      Also, I wouldn't worry about the fame thing. It's impossible that it will last more than a days news story unless something really bad happens.

    18. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      mreh, I'm done. It was good for a laugh.

    19. Re:Getting a kick, etc... by italianprincess · · Score: 1

      Honestly, the really sad thing is that he doesn't even realize people are laughing AT him, not WITH him. Of course, he's never really been able to distinguish the difference. ;)

  19. hah by trybywrench · · Score: 1

    nice way to find some pics and install vnc server and write down some ip's and.. ect.
    fyi, sorority girls like coorslite, 2 pitchers ought to do it

    --
    I came to the datacenter drunk with a fake ID, don't you want to be just like me?
  20. So what's the minimum bid that the nerds need to come up with to get near the girls? Oh wait...

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    1. Re:Bid by everphilski · · Score: 1

      Heh, can we bid on them? How long do we get them for? I have some programming work that needs doing ... :P

  21. Our name is stereotype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Binky: Gee Ben, what are we gonna do tonight?

    Ben: The same thing we do every night Binky: reinforce offensive gender role stereotypes!

    Binky: NARF!
    1. Re:Our name is stereotype by jiawen · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Mod parent up!

      Are there seriously no women in their LUG? Why not? Reaching out to sororities makes a good joke, but it does almost nothing to address the real issues. Maybe they should actually reach out to, and acknowledge, the geek women who already exist.

      But then, this is Slashdot, where it usually seems that every poster is assumed to be male, and where every Linux user is assumed to be male, and every geek and nerd is assumed to be male, so I'm probably just asking for a headache.

    2. Re:Our name is stereotype by c_sd_m · · Score: 1

      Are there seriously no women in their LUG? Why not?

      It's quite simple really: every LUG has at least one guy who doesn't shower regularly (or douses himself in cologne making it impossible to tell whether he showers). Unlike a CS class there's no obvious gain to going to the LUG meeting and you can't really sit on the opposite side of the room. Sure, you can claim that men can smell the stink are in the LUG anyway but that's the part that I find inexplicable.

    3. Re:Our name is stereotype by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 1

      Oh, and the problem goes just as bad for all-CS residential areas. Dear Lord, next year I'm living in Southwest (the school party area) or Northeast or something. Everyone there showers. Here? We have to go down a floor to find fun people or girls, and our hall (Computer Science Talent Advancement Program) smells.

    4. Re:Our name is stereotype by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Maybe they should actually reach out to, and acknowledge, the geek women who already exist. At a going rate of 10 or more geek men to every geek woman? Be one of the lucky few, or learn to care for, feed and love a non-geek.

      It's pretty clear there's a genetic factor involved. Think of the gender ratio in university classes studying Cognitive Science, Sociology etc, then compare them to Engineering, Computer Science et al. That's not just cultural - while geek women do exist, most women are just *not interested* in geeky stuff. You have to be in exactly the right place at the right time to find a girl who will actually say 'lol' instead of laughing... ;)
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    5. Re:Our name is stereotype by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      *chuckles* And Ben is the key member who doesn't shower. =)
      Maybe they could do a soap fundraiser?

  22. Desperation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I like the implication that sorority girls are the kinds of women that nerds would spend any significant time with. Hilarious.

    Seriously, sororities are about conformity and groupthink, and being a nerd ([i]especially[/i] a Linux-using nerd) is about fighting that. As the saying goes, "This won't end well."

    They should instead try to hook up with the kinds of girls who don't care for sororities. Sure, they may not be Cosmopolitan model wannabes, but you've got a better chance of a real relationship there.

    1. Re:Desperation... by Hatta · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Seriously, sororities are about conformity and groupthink, and being a nerd ([i]especially[/i] a Linux-using nerd) is about fighting that.

      I think anyone who has read /. for any length of time knows that is not true.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    2. Re:Desperation... by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Isn't it funny how many highly-moderated posts complain about the Slashdot groupthink? Why doesn't the groupthink mod them down?

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    3. Re:Desperation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The most important part of the groupthink is to acknowledge the groupthink, so that it can't be subverted with comments about it. Duh.

  23. this will end by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    poorly

  24. You bet! by nrgy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Protection is nice and all but it doesn't hurt to see if shes infected before hand to, I recommend a full OPEN PORT scan just before you sync up with her.

    lolita.crabs.exe, lawlerskates_herbies.ini and parishilton_nude_genetal_warts.bat are some pretty nasty viruses. Wouldn't wanna infect your kernel with those if you know what I mean.

  25. How much do they expect to get for these guys? by 91degrees · · Score: 1

    And how does that compare with calling someone out to fix a PC?

    And why am I asking here? Anyone posting on Slashdot already knows how to fix their own PC and most likely knows where to get nerds for free.

    1. Re:How much do they expect to get for these guys? by kaizokuace · · Score: 1

      Money for nothing and nerds for free.

      --
      Balderdash!
  26. Nerds and Smarts by bziman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As a Linux user for well over a decade, I'm periodically tempted to drop by the local LUG, but every time I do, I find myself annoyed at the, well, nerdiness of the people there. I mean, sure, I know fourteen programming languages, I was a software engineer for a decade, and I'm working on a PhD in Computer Science (after already having studied Physics and Linguistics), but I just don't fit in to "Nerd" culture. This is because when I'm not doing something useful with Computer Science, traveling around the world, or I'm at the gym, or playing the piano, or sitting court-side at an NBA game or at any number of other social events. Your sorority girls are happy to have a smart guy who can fix their computer — but they're going to go for the ones who can function in society before they go to the fat, bespectacled, social outcasts that seem to congregate at LUGs.

    -brian

    1. Re:Nerds and Smarts by SparkleMotion88 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh yeah? Well I worked as a software architect for 30 years while being a full-time professor in math and African history. I know 37 programming languages and 12 natural languages. When I'm not busy being intellectually awesome I like to go rock climbing, practice ninjitsu, wrestle bears, make 100 ft tall bronze sculptures, and play oustide linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. So I don't think I'm a nerd either -- I'm entirely too awesome. I don't need to offer to fix a woman's computer in order to spend time with her. I usually just walk around and they are attracted to my awesomeness as if it had its own gravity.

      I also think people who join LUGs are pathetic losers who probably couldn't attract a desperate woman *or* successfully wrestle even a small bear. I'm way better than them, and I'm glad to see that there are other folks out there who are just like me (only slightly less awesome).

    2. Re:Nerds and Smarts by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 1

      Yup. This is going to be a debacle, provided they actually have someone socially skilled enough to make it happen.

      --
      <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
    3. Re:Nerds and Smarts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Normally i can recognize dry humor or sarcasm, but you confound me. I have to post AC because I moderated on this discussion, but I found your comments rather droll., As a geek for many many years I cannot fathom that I would comment on one's exterior to measure how I function in society.

      I know many languages, I sail, I ride horses, I am active in life find and women go for many things that may be beyond the amount of fat around the middle.

      I don;t mind saying...Get a life. Not the holier then thou life you seem to have, but one that begins to see people, by their character first, the waist line second. Were I a woman I'd find you a bore sicne you feel impressing people about your accomplishments defines who you are.

    4. Re:Nerds and Smarts by NetNed · · Score: 1
      Ah yes and this is why you are reading and posting about a nerd auction on /.?

      Interesting. Tell us more?

      side note: is html not one of those languages?

    5. Re:Nerds and Smarts by fractoid · · Score: 1

      You're far too humble. If you had higher self esteem chicks would dig you even more.

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    6. Re:Nerds and Smarts by kaizokuace · · Score: 1

      OH YEA?????!!!1one!!1explicative! Well back in the early 80's when I was like 10 or 11 I was usually hanging out in unprotected waters bringing down ships and raping and pillaging cruise liners gone astray, and holding oil tankers for ransom. With the money I made from piracy I bought an island and buried the rest of my money(which I turned into gold coin and gems (cuz gems are lighter than platinum and gold pfft! anyone who has rolled a 20 knows that!) Now I am just busy killing ninjas cuz I'm too bored of all them wenches.

      --
      Balderdash!
    7. Re:Nerds and Smarts by dintech · · Score: 1

      I see the point you're making. There's a lot to be said for being a balanced person. If someone looks after the intellectual, creative, social and physical aspects of their life then they are likely to be a more attractive person as a whole. A lot of LUG type guys are usually only developing themselves in the first of those four areas.

    8. Re:Nerds and Smarts by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah? Well, I can write an MPEG-4 encoder in Brainfuck! Beat that!

    9. Re:Nerds and Smarts by buzzcutbuddha · · Score: 1

      I was going to say that you indeed so awesome that we should call you "Captain Awesome" but it occurs to me that if you're a computer geek who's also an outside linebacker you might actually have your own gravity.

    10. Re:Nerds and Smarts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am Chuck Norris.

    11. Re:Nerds and Smarts by baKanale · · Score: 1

      Is that you, Buckaroo Banzai?

    12. Re:Nerds and Smarts by doombob · · Score: 1

      Wow! Donnie Edwards is a slashdot user! And apparently related to Bill Brasky.

    13. Re:Nerds and Smarts by mkarcher · · Score: 1

      Is that you, Dr. McNinja?

      --

      These opinions are my own and not necessarily
      the opinions of God or any other supreme being.
  27. Are they no female nerds? by destinyland · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe the female college students are already smart enough to fix their own computers, and don't need a big strong man-brain to show them how. For that matter, aren't there any female nerds who'd like also to be appreciated for the technical skills? Can they auction themselves off to the highest bidder too? This story is demeaning to women and to geeks.

    1. Re:Are they no female nerds? by KGIII · · Score: 0

      I'm not bashful. I'll bid on a female nerd. Just don't tell my girlfriend.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    2. Re:Are they no female nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a life, dude. It's for fun.

    3. Re:Are they no female nerds? by huckda · · Score: 1

      Maybe the female college students are already smart enough to fix their own computers haven't been on many college campuses lately have you? ;)

      J/K =)
      --
      "Just Smile and Nod." --Huck
    4. Re:Are they no female nerds? by crabpeople · · Score: 1

      "Maybe the female college students are already smart enough to fix their own computers"
      Did you even read what you wrote? they are female students. You do know that a "computer" isnt the same as a "tasty meal", right?.

      --
      I'll just use my special getting high powers one more time...
    5. Re:Are they no female nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was in college for six years and met exactly ONE woman who could fix her own computer like these guys probably can. And she had serious .. let's call them "personality issues". And her shoulder blades were larger than her tits (and her tits were pretty big).

      Stereotypes exist for a reason, bro (or sis).

    6. Re:Are they no female nerds? by roystgnr · · Score: 2, Funny

      For that matter, aren't there any female nerds who'd like also to be appreciated for the technical skills?

      Of course there are, but currently their numbers are unfortunately more limited.

      Can they auction themselves off to the highest bidder too?

      Yes, or to the victor in a no-holds-barred fight to the death if the mood strikes them. Supply and demand are powerful forces. Of course, that demand is often limited to male nerds, so "to the death" might take a while.

    7. Re:Are they no female nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Get back in the kitchen, woman!

    8. Re:Are they no female nerds? by dintech · · Score: 1

      Maybe the female college students are already smart enough to fix their own computers

      And then Microsoft did smileth down apon the geeks and said unto them, "Behold, I give you Windows Vista!".
      The geeks looked upon the operating system and knew that it was good.
      "From this day forth there will be much confusion and wringing of hands. All the peoples of the earth will flock to you as sheep, even female college students are already smart enough to fix their own computers."

    9. Re:Are they no female nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I completely disagree with that assessment.

  28. Oblig. Simpsons.. by sayfawa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Administrator: How can we get these nerds to socialize better so that more girls will take CS?

    Nerd: Well, you could maybe stop calling us nerds?

    Administrator: Dweeb, wonk, spaz -- it's all good.

    --
    Free the Quark 3 from asymptotic confinement! Bring your charm! Don't get down! All colours and flavours welcome!
  29. Meh..boxes by Liquidrage · · Score: 5, Funny

    "So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines"

    Meh, if you've seen one box you've seen them all.
    When you're really break it down they're all nothing but I/O devices. Sure, some might have a few more bugs then others. And sure, some are more easy to get into then others. But at the end of the day a box is a box.
    Oh, and beer never hurts.

    1. Re:Meh..boxes by Chelloveck · · Score: 4, Funny

      Meh, if you've seen one box you've seen them all. When you're really break it down they're all nothing but I/O devices. Sure, some might have a few more bugs then others. And sure, some are more easy to get into then others. But at the end of the day a box is a box.

      Wait. Are we talking about the computers or the girls here?

      --
      Chelloveck
      I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
    2. Re:Meh..boxes by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Yes, that was the joke.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    3. Re:Meh..boxes by necro2607 · · Score: 1

      Whoa, dude, I honestly can't tell if you're talking about Windows machines, or female anatomy...

    4. Re:Meh..boxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Meh, if you've seen one box you've seen them all.

      Wait, are you talking about computers or pussies?

    5. Re:Meh..boxes by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Ah, ahah! You see what he did there? He deliberately set up an ambi-guuu-ity so that you could either read what he wrote as a simple technical statement, or as a discussion of va-giii-nas! How clever! Oh, how I love double en-ten-dres!

      In other news, if you cross "innuendo" and "doble entendre" you get "double nintendo" which is always good.

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    6. Re:Meh..boxes by Spacezilla · · Score: 1

      So some people got it and modded the joke funny. Other people didn't get it until the second time and modded the repeated joke funny. Go figure. :)

  30. I was once sold as a slave by LM741N · · Score: 1

    We had a slave auction for charity at the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity where I lived. I remember being sold for $500, but for the life of me, I can't remember to who or what I ended up having to do. Thank you alcohol.

    1. Re:I was once sold as a slave by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had a similar experience... my ass was really sore the next day, and I can't for the life of me figure out why!

    2. Re:I was once sold as a slave by garett_spencley · · Score: 1

      No offense (I mean I don't know who you are or what your specialties are) but if someone paid $500 for you to be their slave for a night I am sincerely happy for you that you can't remember what happened.

      I see suppressed memories surfacing in a therapy session one day in your future...

    3. Re:I was once sold as a slave by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Auctions like that are against LCA national bylaws.

    4. Re:I was once sold as a slave by LM741N · · Score: 1

      This was 27 years ago. There weren't many bylaws back then, lol.

    5. Re:I was once sold as a slave by bucky0 · · Score: 1

      Weird. I was also a LXA, and as our community service, we would dress up in drag and auction ourselves off. (The community service part was that we would donate the proceeds to a battered women's shelter) I _always_ ended up in someone else's room that night, and it always rocked.

      --

      -Bucky
    6. Re:I was once sold as a slave by LM741N · · Score: 1

      Ahh, you are bringing back fond memories:
      1. Stealing bamboo from the Buddhist temple for Island Party
      2. Having Roman Candle battles in the hallways (everything was too
      beer drenched to catch fire)
      3. All new pledges got taken to California Girls massage parlor paid
      for by their big brother.
      4. Little Sisters are for cookies, not for nookies. Well I violated
      that one.
      5. Having our frat in the national news, picked up in PA by my Mom in
      the local paper as we were having a big dispute with neighbors over noise.
      6. The insane lady who called to complain even when the hot tub was off
      etc

    7. Re:I was once sold as a slave by bucky0 · · Score: 1

      Nice. I went to a much smaller school than you (I'd imagine), so we only had two rooms for residents in the house. Sucks, because I feel like I missed out on a lot of shenanigans.

      We didn't have little sisters, but there were some girls that just spent all their time at the house. After ritual one year, they made a boat-ton of pancakes and brought them over.

      Once, we had a 300-themed mock initiation put on by the AMs. We dressed up like spartans (using diapers instead of loincloths), had a couple drinks, then ran to the Beta house next door. We stole their wood and started a fire in the back yard. Then, like the fist of God opened up over us, it rained hard enough to put the fire out, so we took the now-unlit logs and put it back at the Beta house. They never did figure out why their firewood got half-burned...

      --

      -Bucky
  31. Some Answers by lgbr · · Score: 5, Informative

    To clarify on some details: We are the Linux Users Group at Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington. Enrollment in general in Computer Science has been down for the past few years. This has more greatly affected female enrollment, than anything else, where the number of females in WSU's Computer Science department is somewhere below 10%. What I'd like to make clear is that this event is not being put on to get geeks laid. Rather, it is to make the rest of campus aware that we exist, and are human. Our president, Ben Ford, and a female member came up with the idea to run this event. We hadn't planned for it to be much more than a fund raiser. But when the Associated Press ran a story on this yesterday, things started to blow up. Since then, our president has been shipped off to news studios. I've been on TV twice, and can hardly keep my phone from going off long enough for me to be interviewed. At the time of this writing, three sororities are in full participation for the event. The support has been so huge, that instead of a small fund-raiser like we were intending, the goal now is to raise enough money for a female scholarship in Computer Science.

    1. Re:Some Answers by Karl+the+Pagan · · Score: 1

      Mod parent... yea you know.

      Grats again :)

    2. Re:Some Answers by Toonol · · Score: 1

      Really amazing. It sounds like it's being competently handled, which is great. And it's wonderful that it may be successful enough to actually create a scholarship.

      Having the press show up certainly helps get buy-in from the sororities, eh?

    3. Re:Some Answers by sandalle · · Score: 1

      Grats on the coverage!

      --
      "To many, a tux is something you wear for formal events, to those of substance, Tux is a symbol of freedom." --sandalle
    4. Re:Some Answers by Myopic · · Score: 1

      Instead you should raise funds for a Nerd Scholarship In Physical Education.

    5. Re:Some Answers by glwtta · · Score: 1

      many nerds would take offense to having their demographic being portrayed as a group that needs to be auctioned off to meet women

      Uh, yeah, because if you can't get laid, having people pay for it makes it that much easier. No wonder these kinds of events are so often held by groups desperate for female companionship, such as doctors and firemen.

      Contrary to public belief, there are many fraternities and sororities that do a lot of good for their school campuses and local communities.

      Yeah, and this is a fucking example of just that!

      God, when did Slashdot turn into this bizzare, humorless exercise in ad absurdum political correctness? Next we'll be hearing from all the nerds who are "offended" because you called them nerds.

      --
      sic transit gloria mundi
    6. Re:Some Answers by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      The support has been so huge, that instead of a small fund-raiser like we were intending, the goal now is to raise enough money for a female scholarship in Computer Science.

      Maybe you should raise money for not perpetrating sexist stereotypes. Oh, wait.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    7. Re:Some Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      See, this is great and all, however; the fact that CS enrollment is down has nothing to do with the women. It has to do with the fact that we have a crappy CS department. I was a CS student, I worked for the Tech area of the department for a year and a half and yet we have not done anything to fix the fact that we have terrible intro-professors, insane upper division professors and a straight-up ridiculous course catalog. I'm sorry, but if you want CS you don't go to WSU. With over 2 years involved with the department, I can say that it has been over run by bureaucratic imbeciles that either have the intention to run it into the ground or are desperately failing at letting it succeed.

      I like the idea, but really our problem doesn't come from our students or our outreach, it is directly and irrevocably involved in the faculty and staff that make the computer science department the most ridiculously out of touch department on the university campus.

    8. Re:Some Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're trying to boost female interest in their CS department. Stop acting like that's a bad thing, jerk.

    9. Re:Some Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "...it is to make the rest of campus aware that we exist, and are human. ..."

      Er.. I think you're aiming too high for a first shot, dude..!!

    10. Re:Some Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... So you're going to buy a girl for your LUG? That's just fantastic. Really.

    11. Re:Some Answers by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      They're perpetuating the very stereotypes that keep women out of CS departments. They're idiots if they think this will do anything to boost female interest in computer science. Remember when Slashdot switched over to the "OMG Ponies" color scheme, joking that they were trying to increase female readership? This is just like that, except it's not a joke.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    12. Re:Some Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At the time of this writing, three sororities are in full participation for the event.


      sorry, but you misspelled fraternity.

      wazzu... where the sororities are fraternities, too.

      go huskies!
  32. Why a Sorority? by ChocolateAddict · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why do they specifically need sorority girls? There are PLENTY of hot social women in technical majors that would gladly help them present themselves better. I speak from first hand experience. When I was in college, I lived in a dorm building with about 40 women in science and engineering majors. While not all of them are hot (maybe 60% were), about 90% of them were social, fun, and smart. And that was just in one dorm building. If they really must have a sorority, why not try Alpha Omega Epsilon? It's an engineering sorority (yes there is such a thing).

    1. Re:Why a Sorority? by girlenginerd · · Score: 3, Informative

      As a female engineer at WSU I am VERY aware of the lack of women in our field. Having an already somewhat small department, there is only a handful of women who are active in clubs. Even if they could get those women to help with the auction, it wouldn't attract the same attention that having a sorority participate has. We do not have a chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon at WSU (Yes, I know that it is an engineering sorority. I am a member of AOE from a previous institution). We also do not have any chapters of the several engineering fraternities. Knowing a majority of the guys in the auction and organizing it, I don't think they are being sexist or ignoring the fact that women can be in technical majors. While it may not be the best way to encourage women towards CS or Linux, I don't see anything particularly disturbing with the event.

  33. You can lead a horse to water... by SwordsmanLuke · · Score: 1
    But Sorority gals won't date geeks.

    Ford...has spoken to several sororities, but so far none has committed to the project Not to put us down, guys, but on the surface of this, I don't see this turning into anything more than another "Human Interest" piece. There's plenty of stereotyping on both sides of this, but the thing is - in general sorority gals don't date geeky guys. Offering computer help is not going to change that. You want to date a sorority gal, dress up, act confident, get in shape and go to the parties they throw. Ta-da, done.
    --
    Any plan which depends on a fundamental change in human behavior is doomed from the start.
    1. Re:You can lead a horse to water... by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      But Sorority gals won't date geeks.

      Funny that. As a geek, I was one of the better known people on a campus of approximately 20k just counting the undergrads and was chased by quite a number of girls - several of them in sororities. I really didn't lack for attention and rarely bought my own drinks.

      The difference is that I did other things in addition to programming. I helped teach the fencers, occasionally played with the higher ranked students in various martial arts there (it's apparently one of the things that training in kung fu for most of your life will get you), got out on the weekends when I wasn't up to my neck in code for classes, and, among other things, even DJ'ed off campus on occasion.

      It turns out that girls seem to like that sort of thing (confidence and a sense of humor doesn't hurt either).

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    2. Re:You can lead a horse to water... by SwordsmanLuke · · Score: 1

      You want to date a sorority gal, dress up, act confident, get in shape and go to the parties they throw. Sounds like you followed my advice, then! ;)
      --
      Any plan which depends on a fundamental change in human behavior is doomed from the start.
    3. Re:You can lead a horse to water... by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      Actually, I dressed fairly normally as a general rule and, despite the activity, I still had some extra weight.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
  34. not what its called by Mr+44 · · Score: 2, Informative

    True, except that no-one calles WSU "Washington State". It's referred to most commonly as "Wazzu" or sometimes W.S.U.

    1. Re:not what its called by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      I've been going to WSU since 2003. "Washington State" is attested usage. I have a sweatshirt that says "Washington State" on it.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    2. Re:not what its called by MostAwesomeDude · · Score: 1

      Come down and visit Oregon sometime. We call it "Washington State."

      --
      ~ C.
  35. Re:Will you pay money for a date with a sorority g by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 1

    They don't call 'em sorostitutes for nothing.

    --
    <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
  36. No hope... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On the very top of the LUG's webpage is the following sentence: "We've also been asked by the CS department to try and increase our female membership in the hopes that this will translate into increased female enrollment in the department."

    Is there anyone out there who thinks that this kind of stunt is going to *increase* the number of female geeks they'll get? More likely, any female geek will more inclined to stay the hell away from these guys... And they'd be right.

  37. Visual appeal by dontspitconfetti · · Score: 1

    So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines. Hey, who knows, they might like the look of Tux the penguin. He is so much cuter than the Windows logo!
  38. You know the best thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Forgive me for not logging in on this machine.

    I think the best way to get woman interested in CS starts in elementary school. Stop treating little girls like fragile little flowers that need only worry about looking nice, compliment girls on academic acomplishments, not just saying "Oh look aren't you pretty!"

    Also the fact that every CS class I was in with girl, woman were treated like a circus sideshow instead of a classmate. When I was in data sctructures and algorithms there was one girl that really didn't fit the stereotype, very pretty, great body, and a CS+Math major. The way some of the geeks(I am a geek btw) would faune over her and just act weird around her probably made her uncomfortable. Being like "OHHH LOOK A REAL GIRL *DROOL*" doesn't exacly make woman comfortable.

    1. Re:You know the best thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Before the invention of electronic computers, "computer" was a job description, not a machine. Both men and women were employed as computers, but women were more prominent in the field. This was a matter of practicality more than equality. Women were hired because there was a large pool of women with training in mathematics, but they could be hired for much less money than men with comparable training. Despite this bias, some women overcame their inferior status and contributed to the invention of the first electronic computers.

      http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/event.php?id=3456967&lid=1

  39. Duh by Aaron_Pike · · Score: 1
    So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines.

    I would have thought that to be pretty obvious.

  40. As I've been saying before by Moraelin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As I've been saying before, the situation is pretty skewed for both genders.

    - About half the guys in a high school or university want the top 10 super-models. Move a bit lower and about 90% of the guys want the top 10% girls. Some might eventually get realistic enough to settle for a bit less, but only grudgingly.

    - About the same applies to the girls. Half the girls want the top 10 jocks. Some 90% of the girls want the top 10% most desirable guys.

    Interestingly enough, according to a recent study, girls seem to be a bit more realistic as to who they can actually get. Guys will tend to aim above what they can get.

    Basically anyone who says that someone can get laid anytime she wishes and by anyone she wishes because she's a girl, probably is doing the same daydreaming: thinking about those top 10 most popular girls in the whole damn college. Noone thinks of the shy, flat, nerdy girl in the back row when they make such generalization. That's her problem in a nutshell: to 90% of the guys she's just short of invisible, or little more than a piece of decor.

    To put it even more bluntly, half the western culture (of both genders) is generally more about getting a status symbol than someone they actually plan to get along with. It's the same as getting, say, the sportiest BMW you can afford: it's typically not as much because you actually need something that expensive and that much of a gas guzzler, but just to show everyone that you can afford what most others can't. Same here: girlfriends and boyfriends get chosen as status symbols more than anything else.

    And same as almost noone wants the lower half of the guys, if they have a choice, noone wants the lower half of the girls either. Note that I'm not talking about the butt-ugly gang of either sex. Just being _average_, already isn't much of a status symbol.

    So my take of what's going to happen is basically:

    1. They _will_ find a bunch of girls noone else wants, willing to give it a try. Then they'll get to go, "eeew" as they discover that they didn't get some smooth and highly desirable jock. (Who just happened to be single and limited in nerdiness to knowing how to install Windows.)

    2. The guys, conversely, will drool at the thought, right until they find out who they got to meet. And that it's not the horny super-model with huge tits, that they thought they _deserve_ for being so smart and for knowing all that command line stuff. Cue the mandatory "eew" from the guys too.

    Nice try, but probably no banana.

    Both groups will eventually settle on something more realistic, but if we're talking university LUGs and sororities, not yet. Well, not for most of them.

    (And before anyone accuses me of being sexist, note that I've talked about both genders.)

    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
    1. Re:As I've been saying before by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's a very good point, and a great summary. However, I believe there is one asymmetry:

      A non-desirable guy can be converted into the top 10% merely by giving women the appearance that other women want him. The converse is not true: making that ugly, nerdy girl appear to be fawned over by guys, won't make her suddenly attractive to the guys.

    2. Re:As I've been saying before by Ajehals · · Score: 4, Funny

      That ugly, nerdy girl just needs to let her hair down, shake her head, take of her glasses and change her clothes, then it will become clear that she is in fact the most beautiful person there and also has personality.

      Its true, I saw it in some movies.

    3. Re:As I've been saying before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've obviously not read the "Consumer Guide to MIT Men". I've met one of the women who wrote it, and if Roxanne Ritchie was getting sex regularly enough to write that guide, then it must be easy to get men. Of course, getting them drunk at the "Strat's Rat" bar at MIT helped. But the technique of getting them drunk and following them home seems to work a lot better for women than it ever did in my undergraduate days.

    4. Re:As I've been saying before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, no. That top 10% that women want are the gay men: once you've become gay, you can have all the women you want.

      The top 10% of the women turn gay, usually because they've been harassed endlessly by the bottom 10% of men.

    5. Re:As I've been saying before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least with respect to girls getting sex this is just flat out not true. An average looking horny girl can find a willing participant pretty easily. No as true for men.

      See, we're talking about sex here, not love or marriage. 90% of men may want the top 10% females as trophies or whatever, however they would readily accept pretty much anyone for sex.

    6. Re:As I've been saying before by big_paul76 · · Score: 0

      Really, I think the nerdy guys have a lot easier path ahead of them than the "less-desirable girls". First of all, there's a lower premium on male attractive-ness, and confidence, amongst other things, can compensate for a lot. Lots of guys who aren't considered attractive by many women can do a lot with a decent haircut, bit more care for personal hygiene, and some better clothes. How often (especially in nerd-circles) do you see some guy with black shoes & white socks, or pants that have been out of style for years or something. Finally, the other big thing that makes a person (male or female) unattractive is being overweight, and men lose weight AND build muscle faster than women through the magic of testosterone. So overall, men have less work to do to get to the "desirable" range than women do. Personally though, I'm just as happy with the current situation. Most men are so undesirable (or, attractive men get less desirable as you get to know them better via personality traits) that it means average looking guys like me can do well by just not sucking as much as other guys do.

      --
      The plural form of "anecdote" is "anecdotes", not "evidence".
    7. Re:As I've been saying before by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      Basically anyone who says that someone can get laid anytime she wishes and by anyone she wishes because she's a girl, probably is doing the same daydreaming
      I counter your argument.

      My evidence: The state of Alabama.
    8. Re:As I've been saying before by drsmithy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      - About half the guys in a high school or university want the top 10 super-models. Move a bit lower and about 90% of the guys want the top 10% girls. Some might eventually get realistic enough to settle for a bit less, but only grudgingly.

      - About the same applies to the girls. Half the girls want the top 10 jocks. Some 90% of the girls want the top 10% most desirable guys.

      Interestingly enough, according to a recent study, girls seem to be a bit more realistic as to who they can actually get. Guys will tend to aim above what they can get.

      Do you have a source for that ? I'd be interested to read it, because - along with your conclusion - the result certainly seems arse-about-face to me.

      On a related note, I also recall some study done recently (on a university campus, maybe ?), basically on how successful the "Wanna fuck" pickup line works on males vs females (obviously they werent quite that crude, but it sums up the objective). From memory, the "success rate" of males vs females was something like 20% vs 80% (ie: 80% of women received a positive answer to their attempt, only 20% of men did - certainly the difference was dramatic). Further, of the men who declined, the reason was almost always due to some form of outside restriction on their ability to say agree (spouse/significant other, unavailable at the requested time, inappropriate relationship, etc) rather than not being interested in the sex. For women, the reasons were basically reversed - most said no because they weren't interested.

      Certainly, the idea that men are more selective than women goes against everything I've ever read about (and experienced, but that's anecdotal) so I'd be interested to read your source for suggesting otherwise.

      Basically anyone who says that someone can get laid anytime she wishes and by anyone she wishes because she's a girl, probably is doing the same daydreaming: thinking about those top 10 most popular girls in the whole damn college. Noone thinks of the shy, flat, nerdy girl in the back row when they make such generalization. That's her problem in a nutshell: to 90% of the guys she's just short of invisible, or little more than a piece of decor.

      Actually, no, I'm thinking about the ~50% of average women out there, plus the ~25% of "more desirable" women.

    9. Re:As I've been saying before by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Noone thinks of the shy, flat, nerdy girl in the back row when they make such generalization. That's her problem in a nutshell: to 90% of the guys she's just short of invisible, or little more than a piece of decor. Trust me, that shy, flat, nerdy girl probably gets more than all of the skinny, awkward, nerdy guys around her put together. That was what really put me into a spin at university - not that the few hot chicks had offers coming left right and center, you'd expect that, but that the unattractive chubby wench next to her ALSO has a bunch to choose from. That's what you get for doing engineering, 10 girls in a class of 300.

      Face it, guys probably shoot higher in their daydreams, but in terms of what they're prepared to actually get with, they have much lower standards than girls.
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    10. Re:As I've been saying before by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Its true, I saw it in some movies. Hell, I saw it in real life when I met my now-fiancee. It's awesome when you meet a girl, are attracted to her personality, and find out later that when she takes off her glasses and lets her hair down she's one helluva hottie... :D
      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    11. Re:As I've been saying before by pcgabe · · Score: 3, Funny

      noone wants the lower half of the girls
      What are you talking about? The lower half is my favorite part of a girl!
      --
      Don't put advice in your sig.
    12. Re:As I've been saying before by Germik · · Score: 1

      I happen to like that shy, flat, nerdy girl who sits unnoticed by everyone taking amazingly well-organized and concise notes. She's far more interesting than the rest of the lot.

      I guess I'm weird.

    13. Re:As I've been saying before by jawtheshark · · Score: 1

      Nope, liked one of those very very much, but she was too shy, I was too shy.... and well, that doesn't help.

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    14. Re:As I've been saying before by Slashdot+Parent · · Score: 1

      Basically anyone who says that someone can get laid anytime she wishes and by anyone she wishes because she's a girl, probably is doing the same daydreaming: thinking about those top 10 most popular girls in the whole damn college. Noone thinks of the shy, flat, nerdy girl in the back row when they make such generalization. This, I'm going to have to disagree with.

      If the contest to get laid is between a girl and a guy of equal attractiveness (or lack of attractiveness), the smart money is on the girl every time. I'd say even the awkward girl you describe would have zero difficulty getting laid any time she wants. Granted, it is not going to be with one of the "top 10 jocks", but she should be able to get laid by a guy who is at or above her own attractiveness level.

      On the flip side, the advantage seems to go to guys when it comes to relationships. How often do you see a couple where the guy is more attractive than the girl? Sure, you may see it in a 45-year old couple, after the wife has had 5 kids. But in college? Never.

      But the fact still remains, if you are female, you can get laid whenever you want. The only exception is made for the morbidly obese women. As an old friend of mine once put it, "If you're ugly, you can always turn out the lights. But if you're fat, you've got nowhere to hide."
      --
      They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
    15. Re:As I've been saying before by kaizokuace · · Score: 1

      Yes I totally agree with your statement. To add to it, all it takes to make a guy in the top 10% or whatever the top would be, basically a totally desirable guy, is to work out lose weight or bulk up if you are a skronny mofo(essentially become physically fit cuz that always makes anyone look good), put on some good clothing, get confidence (its not that difficult to gain confidence you just need experience points) and maybe show off a little of your nerd cash money (cuz you are smart so you know how to make some cash money i hope). Women essentially want a man with assets. Being able to provide for them allows them to do less work in life. But you can trix them! Man I sound like a sexist pig! oh well. It worked for me it can work for you. Confidence in yourself i think is the most important though. Just gotta get over your shit and its smooth sailing.

      --
      Balderdash!
    16. Re:As I've been saying before by RMH101 · · Score: 5, Funny

      From memory, the "success rate" of males vs females was something like 20% vs 80% (ie: 80% of women received a positive answer to their attempt, only 20% of men did Can you guys just do without me for a couple of minutes? Got to go and ask five women in the office something...
    17. Re:As I've been saying before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      with many species, the females are looking for a desirable, dominant male to provide genetic material, and are so more selective. males are looking to spread their genetic material to as many females as possible.

    18. Re:As I've been saying before by dintech · · Score: 1

      Ah yes, that's why you shouldn't have your first date during happy hour.

    19. Re:As I've been saying before by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Actually I was at a birthday party, and had already had enough to drink that I was past my 'do not ever be that guy and hit on girls once you get this drunk' limit, we got talking, she got my phone number... And that's the other thing, and I've seen it more than once - if a geek chick picks you, she probably won't have any problems with tracking *you* down. Just gotta get out there, have fun at a few parties, and wait for lightning to strike. ;)

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    20. Re:As I've been saying before by dintech · · Score: 1

      I like it when this sort of things happens. This is almost exactly how I met my previous long term girlfriend. Good skills sir. :)

    21. Re:As I've been saying before by daniorerio · · Score: 1

      Ooooh, so they found out again that women are the ones to make the final decision as to choosing partners?

    22. Re:As I've been saying before by DrLang21 · · Score: 1

      No, leave the glasses on please.

      --
      I see the glass as full with a FoS of 2.
    23. Re:As I've been saying before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On a related note, I also recall some study done recently (on a university campus, maybe ?), basically on how successful the "Wanna fuck" pickup line works on males vs females (obviously they werent quite that crude, but it sums up the objective). From memory, the "success rate" of males vs females was something like 20% vs 80% (ie: 80% of women received a positive answer to their attempt, only 20% of men did - certainly the difference was dramatic).

      This is probably the study you are thinking of:

      Gender Differences in Receptivity to Sexual Offers
      https://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=TCTEMLXXP08T9LH3V6UMCDT9WJCQ12QD&ID=79761

      "The great majority of men were willing to have a sexual liaison with the women who approached them. Women were not. Not one woman agreed to a sexual liaison."

    24. Re:As I've been saying before by rizole · · Score: 1
      Not quite on topic:

      There was a study on rhesus monkeys that basically found that they like looking at high status monkeys. The study was a bit subtler than my summery suggests but...Here it is:abcnews.

      I also remember a while back a study that found there are health benefits to men that look at pretty women or something - can't find the study. I imagine both hold true for both sexes. Seems to me that it's more about status than looks. I bet that most people will perceive higher status people(or monkeys) as prettier/more desirable. Take a look at Nicole Kidman. I wouldn't; even if she begged me; if I didn't already know she was famous. As it is I'd want the lights out.

      I also bet that the pretty and more desirable are perceived as higher status too.

      I also imagine these tropes to hold true for any social animals, even quite simple creatures like antelope and LUG members. *ducks*

      The more I think about it....well I wouldn't touch her with yours...

    25. Re:As I've been saying before by apt142 · · Score: 1

      Should we break it to him that he's still got a 32% chance of failure?

    26. Re:As I've been saying before by sanosuke76 · · Score: 1

      Eh, part of this can be gender bias too. After all, if you're a straight male, you won't be able to assess a male's attractiveness as well as a straight female (i.e. the one with him).

      --
      My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
    27. Re:As I've been saying before by Kopretinka · · Score: 1

      And before anyone accuses me of being sexist, note that I've talked about both genders.

      Funnily enough, you can still be racist even if you mention all the races you know, so you can be sexist if you talk about both genders, too.

      Anyway, since we're talking about (probably mostly) undergrads, yes, they'll be too young to consider settling for what they can get. But if a relationship or two spring up from this thing, it'll be better than nothing.

      --
      Yesterday was the time to do it right. Are we having a REVOLUTION yet?
  41. I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    what is your people's problem? get out of the basement.

    1. Re:I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by raehl · · Score: 1

      what is your people's problem? get out of the basement.

      The problem may have more to do with getting into the shower than out of the basement.

    2. Re:I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seconded. I mean really, WTF?

    3. Re:I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obsession and introversion are defining characteristics of geekiness. You might well be intelligent and good with computers - maybe even some sort of wacky non-conformist, but if you are social and have time to spend doing something other than poring over the minutiae of your obsession then you aren't a geek. Period.

    4. Re:I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thirded...?

    5. Re:I am a geek and get mad pussy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My people don't have a problem at all. Why you insult county of me, great nation of kazakhiztan!!

  42. LUG and Windows? by Samurai+Cat! · · Score: 3, Funny

    "So far there has been no comment on how a Linux user group is going to help sorority girls with their Windows machines."

    These guys will just lower their standards and deal with the Windows stuff.

    Just like the sorority girls will be lowering their standards by going out on dates with these guys.

    It's a win-win!

    --

    "People" using "unnecessary" quotes should be "shot".
  43. Lesbian Until Graduation auction? by GoblinJuice · · Score: 0

    Lesbian Until Graduation... auction?

    Well, okay, I'll bid... as long as I get to collect after they receive their English Lit degrees.

    They'll be so hard up for a man that I'll qualify! =D

  44. Congradulations by Karl+the+Pagan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Truly fine promotional work. I joined the WSU LUG my freshman year after playing willing victim with my Windows 95 box to a few exploits a member showed me. My passion for computer security and quality operating systems has never waned. Since I left WSU in 2001 I've kept in contact and Ford has been one of the remaining members who has put in a great deal of personal effort into sustaining the group. Congratulations and I hope you have a fabulous year.

  45. Pets don't count.. by msimm · · Score: 1

    no matter how confident it is you are that they do.

    --
    Quack, quack.
  46. Re:Give her Vista instead. -=sSLAPp=- Re:How to he by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm, this account uses the same writing style as you, replies to the same threads and links to the same things.

  47. It's called BEER by timmarhy · · Score: 1
    The number one way people get laid if beer ok.

    it's the universal equaliser. forget your over complicated dating setup, just buy a fucking keg people.

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  48. Beauty & Teh Geek copy missing ingredient. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A large cash prize.

  49. Why do you all play up to this stereotype? by Conspicuous+Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Why do so many people here play into this wretched stereotype of the Linux user as a socially inept weird guy whose only chance of procreation is if some dumb sorority girl offers him a mercy fuck after he fixes her computer...
    I find it profoundly depressing that so many of you have internalized this kind of nonsense to the extent you actually repeat and propagate these stereotypes of yourselves.

    This "nerd auction" simultaneously insults and stereotypes women(as sex objects who need a man for anything technical) and Linux users(as socially inept nerds).

    I'd expect the former on a male dominated computer-user forum, depressing as it is. The way in which people here propagate these negative stereotypes of themselves is genuinely surprising to me though. Is this an American thing? Do all intelligent young people get beaten so badly in high school that they lose all self esteem? Or just what the hell is this all about Slashdot? I Demand answers dammit!!

  50. Pfft! Amateur. by Penguinisto · · Score: 4, Funny
    Get root on the machine, then type this:

    # echo "10 17 * * 5 root (ifconfig eth0 down ; ifconfig eth1 down ; wall "Your computer is broken, please call $NERD at $PHONE immediately")" > /etc/crontab

    ...guaranteed you'll have at least one babe calling you once a week, ne? And be sure to set your frickin' variables before you type that.

    (I swear, it's like the mere mention of meeting a chick turns off the whole BOFH part of the brain with you people...)

    /P

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    1. Re:Pfft! Amateur. by nschubach · · Score: 2, Funny

      BOFH

      Burning Off Fran's Hair
      Bend Over For Him
      Beached Old Fat Hag
      Boys Obedient For Herbert

      Damn it... Why can't I think of that acronym!
      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    2. Re:Pfft! Amateur. by CrossChris · · Score: 2, Informative

      Bastard Operator from Hell http://www.theregister.co.uk/odds/bofh/ A legend!

    3. Re:Pfft! Amateur. by zeylisse · · Score: 1

      No babes will be calling you if you forget to escape \" in your shell-script.

    4. Re:Pfft! Amateur. by Penguinisto · · Score: 1
      True - and wall don't work so hot if she's using X11/Xorg either.

      ...but you get the idea :)

      /P

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  51. Makeovers by Ilan+Volow · · Score: 4, Funny

    These sorority girls really know their makeovers. Once LUG members have been given advice on mascara, making their boobs look bigger, and looking good in a belly shirt no man will be able to resist them!

    --
    Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!
  52. Real Genius quotation by LineGrunt · · Score: 1

    "CHRIS KNIGHT:
    These girls are not used to geniuses. You might impress them.

    CORNELL:
    I don't see how.

    CHRIS:
    Let me put this another way. Given the type of people you are and the environment you're in, you guys have to admit the strong probability that this may be the only chance you'll ever get in your entire lives to have sex."

    1. Re:Real Genius quotation by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      "They're *beauticians*?!!??"

      I love that movie =]

      This? This is ice. This is what happens to water when it gets too cold. This? This is Kent. This is what happens to people when they get too sexually frustrated.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
  53. Re:Why do you all play up to this stereotype? by skeeto · · Score: 1

    Why do so many people here play into this wretched stereotype

    I think it is because everyone here thinks that he is the exception to the stereotype. It's along the same lines as the old story about some marines about to go into a hopeless battle:

    Colonel: "This is a difficult mission. I am sorry to say that only 1 in 3 of you will come out alive."

    Each marine looks to the guys on his left and right and thinks, "Those poor bastards."

  54. Photos of typical geeks by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

    Anyone got a link to the famous photograph of Linux users taken at a conference a year or two ago? You know, the one with the T-shirted lank-haired nerds standing around with hands in their pockets, and (my favourite bit) the random old bearded guy wearing a propeller beanie?

    --
    -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    1. Re:Photos of typical geeks by chochos · · Score: 1

      you might as well post any picture from Napoleon Dynamite...

    2. Re:Photos of typical geeks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    3. Re:Photos of typical geeks by bahstid · · Score: 2, Funny

      Are you thinking of this? ... was as easy as googling an edited version of your post.

    4. Re:Photos of typical geeks by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      Thanks, that's the one - I tried searching for various combinations of 'linux', 'nerds', 'photo', 'propeller' and so on but all I found was a glamour photo of Linus himself.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    5. Re:Photos of typical geeks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Warning, Goatse link.

    6. Re:Photos of typical geeks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMG! NERDS!!

  55. To help with Windows by Pasajero · · Score: 0

    You only need a bucket, a sponge, some soap and plenty of water.

    Oh, and maybe a ladder if you want to reach the ones in the upper floors.

  56. Bill and Linda Gates are the Penguins parents by singingjim1 · · Score: 0

    We all started with Windows at some point. I'm sure Linux boys will have no problem changing the desktop resolution and setting the wallpaper to Fall Out Boy.

  57. Nerds read the manual by thethibs · · Score: 1

    Maybe someone could explain to the sorority girls that the difference between a jock and a nerd is that nerds read the manual. A nerd may have a problem getting the girl, but he won't have any trouble keeping her.

    --
    I'm a Programmer. That's one level above Software Engineer and one level below Engineer.
  58. don't waste your time by Dwindlehop · · Score: 1

    Nerds: have you ever talked to sorority girls? Go to your school's newspaper or theatre or improv group and interact with nice girls instead.

    --
    Jonathan Pearce jonathan@pearce.name
    3EAAFB2A http://www.jonathan.pearce.name/
    1. Re:don't waste your time by jawtheshark · · Score: 1

      That's the best advice I read in this whole thread.

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
  59. Re:Give her Vista instead. -=sSLAPp=- Re:How to he by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how's the krusade going willy? all good?

  60. Bastard Operator From Hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey, have you been reading those B.O.F.H. stories again?

  61. I call bullshit. by Lord+Kano · · Score: 1

    When you get to college, being a "nerd" isn't necessarily a bad thing when it comes to dating. When you leave high school, women gain an appreciation for a man who can say something more substantive than "DUH. I was on the football team."

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  62. Not to worry . . . by pushf+popf · · Score: 0

    When the nerds get out of school and land jobs with good hours, good pay and good benefits, they'll immediately become attractive to girls.

    The dating BS from school fades like a fart in a hurricane when exposed to real life.

    1. Re:Not to worry . . . by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Which does kind of suck when you realise that by the time it's "your turn", (a) they've been with every guy on the football team, twice, and have all sorts of interesting diseases, and (b) you now have to pay for 20 years of school fees and lunches while they lose interest in sex (with you at least).

      God I'm a pessimist. :P At least I'm safe from that situation. :) I thought for ages that I wouldn't be though. :(

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    2. Re:Not to worry . . . by crucini · · Score: 1

      Why are you safe? Married? Gay? Taking drugs to suppress the libido? (Probably an excellent investment).

    3. Re:Not to worry . . . by fractoid · · Score: 1

      Engaged, to one of the maybe three geek girls I've met in my *life* that were both single and not related to me. :P Better than winning lotto, in my opinion. :)

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    4. Re:Not to worry . . . by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1

      Only if the girls you want to date judge you by the car you drive, your paycheck, and your house/apartment. Then when someone comes along with a bigger car/house/apartment/paycheck they will leave you.

    5. Re:Not to worry . . . by rawler · · Score: 1

      One vote for drugs.

  63. Congrats Ben by JimboFBX · · Score: 1

    Hey Ben, congrats on getting your name on a site that gets like a million page views a day! -James

  64. Mad Pussy? Like foaming at the mouth? by Ellis+D.+Tripp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sounds like a yeast infection to me. Tell her to get that checked out....

    --
    Remember "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters"? Help make it a reality again! http://soylentnews.org
  65. Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by italianprincess · · Score: 2, Funny

    I happen to be Ben Ford's ex-fiance, and I can assure you, Ben's intentions are probably not totally pure. It is no coincidence that he came up with the idea in the shower. Way to go Mr. One-socked Wonder!! Somebody needs to save those poor sorority girls...

    1. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I can tell you that Ben's intentions are considerably less suspicious than yours are!!! Those "poor sorority girls" would be in much better condition being around him than many of the other guys around here! If he was such a bad guy, Ms. Ex-Fiancee, don't you think he would have less of a support system around here than he does?!?!?! You may be bitter and have joined up with a certain other EX but keep your trap shut! You have NO right to talk like that about him!

    2. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      *smells cobwebs* You're part of the wsu lug, right? You could go for that scholarship and be just like your brother! You could be on the news too for trying to get with college frat boys, although I dunno what Jesus would think about that. "Lily Ford the teacher at CCCC, proud member of WSU LUG, prays for forgiveness after auctioning herself off to a sorority girl." *Lily sobs.* "I was just trying to be root." ...stomps off.

    3. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I'm so freakin' afraid of you! Poor me, you know who I am! Darn it anyway! Imagine, a sister coming to her brother's defense, who woulda thunk it?!?! You didn't humiliate me with anything you said there because I know the truth about the whole frickin' thing! Yeah, you got me pissed off but you didn't humiliate me. Sorry to ruin your day! Again, need I remind you that I didn't go into this to intentionally bash you, merely to defend Ben and get things back onto the topic of the auction; the fundraiser; the PR event!?!?!?! Leave us all alone, why don't you? None of it has anything to do with you!

    4. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      Ben can't defend himself? I guess you do carry the weight for the family.
      Your mom brought my wife into the conversation.
      Niki was making an honest opinion, you are the fat ass who brought it into left field.
      And I have every right to defend my wife and my friends, so be scared of me because I won't let you push them around.

      Do you talk to the kids at community child care center with that mouth?
      Are you going to cry? ='(
      Props to ben for getting something so retarded into the media!

    5. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have copyright on the term one-socked wonder and demand renumeration.

    6. Re:Suspicious intentions from someone who knows by italianprincess · · Score: 1

      Oh, so you've dated him too?? Only his exes know his dirty little secret. ;)

  66. now that I graduated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fantastic idea guys! Go Cougs.

  67. What a crock by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

    So Linux users talk about Microsoft ripping off ideas now we have a Linux group ripping off ideas calling it their own and getting attention for it. I thought we were better than that. "so I'll fix your computer if you have sex with my hairy pimply ass and after you can do my makeup" real men with real personalities can get dates without paying for it no matter how nerdy they are. If this is how you get members I think your group is going to fall apart. Very desperate attempt and I guess even retards can be sexist.

    What a waste of space, time, and thanks for making a fool of yourself so I can have a laugh.

    (Ben Ford and Rosey Palm)
    (hmm wouldn't it be nice to have sex with a real chick)
    Time to go think about sorority chicks in the shower and get a life!

    1. Re:What a crock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just because he doesn't want to have sex with you anymore! Some people have higher standards than that, sorry dear! Get a life and leave him alone!

    2. Re:What a crock by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      I'm a male, so are you saying he's gay? Who was the one posting about not bringing his personal life into this?

    3. Re:What a crock by compujunky · · Score: 1

      I agree with burntpenguin I think the whole thing is hilarious if they were for real they would put the thing on for frats and any one interested in linux

    4. Re:What a crock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a life. I am completely done with this and way more mature than this! Have a good life.

    5. Re:What a crock by burntpenguin · · Score: 1

      You're so mature you've never had sex- no wonder your royal fatness is so bitter!

      I'm surprised you are all gunho for this idea. You don't seem like the sorority girl type.
      But you're done with this, completely so you won't read this.
      I have a *GREAT* life!
      Jealousy is a disease, get well soon!

  68. Humor by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    It's called humor. If your sense of humor is good enough you can make fun of the stereotypes you've been labelled with, and recognize when this is being done.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  69. Stereotypes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am a sorority girl. I also read slashdot. I also run Linux. I don't see how those things are so incompatible.

  70. Shameless Plug by rock_climbing_guy · · Score: 1
    Nerds should read this book: The Game, by Neil Strauss. You can also find videos of Neil on YouTube. The Game tells about Neil's transformation from a nerd to a super-hot guy. It's definatly worth reading. It changed the way I view the relationship between the sexes. It's not what you probably think.

    And just so I said it, I am not affiliated with the author or publisher in any way. I just like the book.

    --
    Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
  71. Sure, here's the link by Moraelin · · Score: 1

    Do you have a source for that ? I'd be interested to read it, because - along with your conclusion - the result certainly seems arse-about-face to me.


    Sure: Men want hot women, study confirms

    The short and skinny version (of what's already a summary) is that:

    1. Guys may write on a questionnaire that they're looking for this or that personality trait, but then base their actual decision 100% on looks. (I guess "she's got a great personality" _is_ an euphemism to the average guy;) Women tended to actually choose what they said they wanted.

    2. Women tended to be indeed more choosy, but adjusted their aim to what they think they can actually get and keep, no higher. Less attractive women aimed for less desirable guys. Men seemed to have the same (or similar) threshold regardless of how attractive or desirable he actually is.

    So basically, ok, looks that I was remembering wrong that guys generally aim too high, but not by much: some guys still aim too high. Even the least desirable guys will still aim above that threshold. (And since we're talking nerds here, yeah, they won't aim for a woman who'd actually want them.)

    The other conclusion still stands, though: a _lot_ of women will be ignored every time.

    Note however that the ages involved in this study are 26 to 40 years old, i.e., when people already start being a bit more realistic. I'm still under the distinct impression that if we're talking high school and, to a somewhat lesser extent college, choosing a girlfriend or boyfriend is a lot more of a status-symbol exercise. How you think at 26 is quite a bit more mature than how you think at 16, and how you think at 21 is still closer to the former than to the latter.

    At 26, or better yet at 40, you might settle for "oh well, I'll just get a wife who doesn't look too bad", but I'd be genuinely surprised if many 16-year-olds thought like that. High school is an artificial status-symbol based society. It's all about being seen with the coolest guys or gals, being allowed at the most popular kids' table, etc.

    On a related note, I also recall some study done recently (on a university campus, maybe ?), basically on how successful the "Wanna fuck" pickup line works on males vs females (obviously they werent quite that crude, but it sums up the objective). From memory, the "success rate" of males vs females was something like 20% vs 80% (ie: 80% of women received a positive answer to their attempt, only 20% of men did - certainly the difference was dramatic). Further, of the men who declined, the reason was almost always due to some form of outside restriction on their ability to say agree (spouse/significant other, unavailable at the requested time, inappropriate relationship, etc) rather than not being interested in the sex. For women, the reasons were basically reversed - most said no because they weren't interested.


    Well, I can believe that very easily, but that doesn't modify the problem by much IMHO.

    1. For a start you don't tell me how good the guys or gals doing the proposal looked. I'd be genuinely surprised if there was no threshold whatsoever there.

    2. Women wanting a stable relationship (or at least more than one date) before they take off their panties, well, for most guys just means you have to go that route. And there we're back to the previous problem. (Some) Guys may fuck almost anything once, but, see the study I linked: they may not want a second date with someone who doesn't pass certain attractiveness criteria.

    Basically I largely still stand by what I've said: the average looking girl in the back row might be technically able to get laid if she went to a nerd and asked "wanna fuck?" But talk about a second or third date, and she goes back to being invisible again.
    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
    1. Re:Sure, here's the link by sanosuke76 · · Score: 1

      Eh, for your average nerd who gets an average of one date a year (which was my case in college; then again, I started at 16), there'd have been minimal risk of going back to invisible. :p

      Guys will take what they can get. Unless she has some serious -charisma modifiers, the average dateless nerd will certainly talk to someone who'll talk to him. Especially if he's gotten laid by her already, and sees it as a repeat opportunity.

      --
      My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
  72. Problem-solving does not win status by crucini · · Score: 1

    There was a study a while ago which I can't find right now. In a monkey tribe where food was scarce, the researchers taught certain low-status monkeys how to get food. Soon the whole tribe knew that these monkeys could bring them precious food.

    The interesting thing is that their status didn't change. They remained at the bottom of the totem pole.

    Sound familiar? No amount of cleverness will raise your status.

    While searching for this study, I saw quite a few monkey studies. Almost all made similar, depressing points. Like this story about monkey celebrity fever.

  73. until she asks you... by RMH101 · · Score: 1

    ...how to video chat with her friends using MSN...

  74. geek PUA's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some geeks are PUA's now remember... hehe
    it's not like you think..

    1. Re:geek PUA's by sanosuke76 · · Score: 1

      What's a PUA?

      --
      My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
    2. Re:geek PUA's by sanosuke76 · · Score: 1

      Just managed to figure out (after searching a bit) that he meant "pick up artist", and assumed we all knew what he meant.

      --
      My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
  75. rockclimbing :-_ by slashbart · · Score: 1

    Lots of rockclimbing nerds out there :-)

    Me too!

    Did you know that there is german research that clearly shows that elite rockclimbers are very much above average intelligence? My wife had a look at that, when she was studying psychology. This is quite unique to rockclimbing, and not found in other sports.

    Bart

    1. Re:rockclimbing :-_ by rock_climbing_guy · · Score: 1

      Honestly, sir, I can't say that I know of any rock-climber who isn't at least a little bit 'eccentric'.

      --
      Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
  76. Fox News? by dcorking · · Score: 1

    Congratulations!

  77. FYI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the formal definition goes like :-

    Nerd - Doesn't get invited to the party but stays at home getting fairly high scores at computer games.

    Geek - Doesn't get invited to the party but stays at home writing computer games.

  78. This is the Root of the Geek Problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Women actually prefer men who are useless - they feel sorry for them. Also, useless men ask women for help, having learned that other men will despise them for being useless but women will love them for it.

    A man being "clever" is a triple negative. (1) He does not need to go to women for practical help, so less interaction (2) If a woman asks him for practical help he delivers it quickly and deals with it effectively first time, so less interaction again, and (3) Women dislike "clever" men anyway.

    I have always taken a pride in self-helping. For example I repair my own cars, which I regard as a red-blooded male thing to do. But a while ago an attractive woman at work came around asking for a recommendation for a local garage to repair her car. As I do not use them I could not recommend one, but another man, who I despise as an effeminate jerk, knew all about local garages, who he relied on even to top up his oil. So he ended up in a long conversation with the woman and I did not. I sometimes wonder how the species ever improved by evolution.

    Don't get me wrong. This isn't sour grapes - I am happily married to an even more attractive woman than she was. I'm just making factual observations.

    1. Re:This is the Root of the Geek Problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have always taken a pride in self-helping. For example I repair my own cars, which I regard as a red-blooded male thing to do.

      Unless you have a very low-paid job, fixing your own cars is not a particularly "clever" thing to do. Did you skip the Econ 101 lecture about comparative advantage and division of labor?

      "Just as the various trades are most highly developed in large cities, in the same way food at the palace is prepared in a far superior manner. In small towns the same man makes couches, doors, ploughs and tables, and often he even builds houses, and still he is thankful if only he can find enough work to support himself. And it is impossible for a man of many trades to do all of them well. In large cities, however, because many make demands on each trade, one alone is enough to support a man, and often less than one: for instance one man makes shoes for men, another for women, there are places even where one man earns a living just by mending shoes, another by cutting them out, another just by sewing the uppers together, while there is another who performs none of these operations but assembles the parts, Of necessity, he who pursues a very specialised task will do it best." --Xenophon

    2. Re:This is the Root of the Geek Problem by happyemoticon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Economic sensibility is not implied by "clever." You must be thinking of "shrewd." Very clever inventors often die in poverty, or see little for their revolutionary inventions.

      My thinking on the do-it-yourself instinct is this: I work my 40 hours a week. What do I do with the rest of it to better myself? If I wanted to do more work, I would have to do some consulting on the side. This would require a significant amount of networking and other energy expenditure on my part to maintain, and while it might be a good long-term career move, in the short-term it would take a lot of time for relatively little money. Plus, I spend my whole day talking business - I hardly want to keep talking about it for hours after 5:00.

      On the other hand, I could take up auto repair a hobby and maybe save some money on basic repairs and maintenance. It's meditative and interesting. Plus, I learn something, and I don't have to worry about being cheated by dishonest technicians.

    3. Re:This is the Root of the Geek Problem by PitaBred · · Score: 1

      That means you're not using your skills right. What you should do is offer to look at it for her, since you do your own car repair, and could tell her if it was just cleaning off the corrosion on her battery terminals or if she needed a full rebuild. All of a sudden you're attractive and useful, and you have a reason to spend more time with her. The root problem is that you're technically inclined, but not interpersonally inclined. Recognizing you have a weakness is the first step to solving it ;) He may be an effeminate jerk, but he saw his opening in the conversation and took it, and you didn't see yours.

  79. Confidence vs Cockiness, a hard-won life lesson by shrubya · · Score: 1

    Remember the following advice. Honestly, it may set a record for the number of people who get laid due to something they read on Slashdot.

    Young women often can't distinguish between confidence and arrogance in males. This is why they date assholes, then complain to their "nice" male friends about it (argh, that got so tiring to hear). Telling the difference is skill they learn through experience.

  80. Oh well. After RTFA. by Big+Man+on+Campus · · Score: 1

    Meh. Come to find out, the sorority is Omega Moo.

    Pass.

    Although, I've been out combing the high schools all day.

    -Nino

    --
    Everyone who believes in telekinesis- Raise MY hand.
  81. The game, in nerd speak... :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Noone thinks of the shy, flat, nerdy girl in the back row when they make such generalization. That's her problem in a nutshell: to 90% of the guys she's just short of invisible, or little more than a piece of decor.

    As you've mentioned, 90% of the shy, flat, nerdy ones will shoot you down just as fast as the hot ones if you aren't in the upper 10%. I think your ratio is a little off, but the logic is solid. To me, it's best just to have looooow standards! Then every girl you snag is a hot girl ;) I have no 'game,' so it works for me :D

    Same here: girlfriends and boyfriends get chosen as status symbols more than anything else.

    Personally, I want a hot girl because of genetics rather than status. It's a pretty well established fact that beautiful people get all the breaks, where the rest of us have to work our asses off. It is my hope that I can provide my children with an easier life than I have had. The problem most guys run into with hot girls is that most hot girls are super bitches just to deflect a large part of the overwhelming attention. It's the same as movie stars and paparazzi.

    The trouble for guys is twofold: You're all just paparazzi. If you do establish a relationship, she's very "high maintenance." She's so used to having everyone shower her with attention and gifts that she's very spoiled with a huge sense of entitlement. Trying to be more attentive and gift more than the rest is a sucker's game. She can get that anywhere. You have to be able to capture her attention and maintain a very high level of interest from her to succeed.

    Men hunt. Women lure. If a woman isn't luring you in the first place, you're usually wasting your time. Learn to recognize luring; Body language. To women, men are not people. They're just big dumb hormone driven animals. That attitude is pervasive in American pop culture's portrayal of men. 90% of women buy into that portrayal. You must learn to remain nonchalant and let her feel like she is trapping you. She doesn't want a bumbling idiot that sees her trap and jumps in it. When a minnow eats her bait, the big fish gets away and it irritates her!

    In a similar fashion, just walking around saying "Come here often?" is 'man spam' and it doesn't work too well unless you're a knockout yourself. You have to have the confidence to make an approach but you must appear to be classy enough not to approach every woman you see. Either way, a hottie must be interested before she's going to lure you.

    How do you get that interest? Well, parent is on track. Girls want the arm candy that will make them the envy of the other girls. In order to attract a hot girl, you must attract girls. It's sorta circular, but it's all about starting small and building out.

    Step one: Lower your standards and start talking to any girl. You have to build experience first. If you can't snag a plain girl, what makes you think you can snag a hot one? If your warrior can't slay orcs, he doesn't have a prayer against dragons. Start with orcs!

    Go out and get a plain girl and her friend eating out of your hands. They'll be catty and competitive like girls usually are, so it's easy to play off that. Let them battle for your attention without letting either win too much until they're throwing themselves at you. Then suggest a change of venue.

    Show up at the new location with a woman on each arm. Make your entrance and attract as much attention as you can. Careful not to let your arm candy see you attention whoring, or they will drop you and you have to start over. Ideally, you want to maintain friendly relations with the plain girls as you advance to hotter and hotter girls.

    Anyway, the more attractive girls at the new venue automatically want you because you've got two girls eating out of the palm of your hand. It's okay if the two you show with aren't the hottest in world. The slightly hotter girls will try to steal you away. They aren't e

  82. WOW by TheSoggyCow · · Score: 0

    WOW

  83. Please don't tease the nerds! by johndiii · · Score: 1

    It's cruel.

    --
    Floating face-down in a river of regret...and thoughts of you...
  84. Some girls like geeky/nerdy guys! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a long term female geek/nerd (choose your preferred term) lover, I know one definite problem with this whole mess. When I was with a geek/nerd, I was considered "safe" to the other geeky/nerdy guys, thus, they would speak to me, because I wasn't a real girl, I was just "so-in-so's girlfriend". Many of them would seek counsel as to how to get the attention of {insert name of hot, very superficial girl, who has her pick of all guys here}. These guys had no sense of reality. 98% men seem to feel entitled to the same 2% of females. Some of these same geeky/nerdy guys had intelligent females who would have LOVED to go out with them! These girls were the ones who could, and would carry on a conversation with these same guys! Gee, what a notion, someone who will speak to you, listen to you, and understand you, (as much as the biological gender divide allows) DO they ever think of what they would do if they ever landed Ms. Superficial? What would they talk about? What would they do?

    I've always been happier with nerdier/geekier guys, and I know other women of my ilk. It's just hard to get this through the thick skulls of the geeky/nerdy males! Geekettes don't blow all of your cash on expensive purses and shoes. We're probably buying the same toys that you are.

    Posting AC, sign me as

    Geekette (who reproduced with geeky/nerdy type, thus continuing the nerdy/geeky genotype!)

  85. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion