I am writing a paper for my Nonverbal Communication class regarding classifications people make based on appearance. I wasn't sure if "computer geek" was an offensive term. To me it's not (after all I term myself a math-nerd) but to others it may be. I called my husband, who works in computers, and asked him. He thought the term would be just "okay." I asked if there was a better term. He said, "A sophisticated, data-driven individual." I laughed and then said, "Seriously, is there something better." He responded, "Computer Science enthusiast." Yep, that was better.
22-year old J called last night to tell us about the silver, 1999 Honda Civic he just purchased. He named his last car, a black, 1992 Ford Mustang, "Monster." I asked if his new car had a name.
He responded: "It has an after market muffler."
Me: "What?"
J: "You know, those kits you can buy."
Me: "I'm not following."
J: "They make the car really noisy."
Me: "What question do you think I asked you?"
J: "If my car had a name."
Me: "I'm still not following."
J: "Well the car is little but it makes a big noise, like a lion, so I have to think of a name that matches."
Today I told my husband that I asked J if his car had a name and that J said that it had an after market muffler. My husband did not seem surprised so I asked if he didn't think it odd that J would respond to that way. My husband said, "Well, the muffler would change the personality of the car which would affect the name."
Silly me.