Msg: 1587 *Conference*

02-16-92 09:38:03

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : RICK LOPES

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #1580 (COLD START)

Congratulations, Rick.  You are fast becoming a "real" Model 102 user.  I do
believe that, with your self-inflicted cold start, have performed the right of
passage.  You are now, officially, a real live, computer nerd!
 
Computer Nerd is a good thing to be.  It means that you have lost your fear,
that you can get things done, and still have time and interest in seeing how
things work.  Yet, with all your computing abilities and interests, you
maintain your humanity, your non-computer interests, and relationships.
Indeed, you can exist without computing for extended periods of time, but
should you need to compute, your confidence and abilities rise to the occasion.
In short, you can DO IT! but can turn it off and on as needed.
 
Computer Geek is good also, in it's own way, but you're not there, yet, and may
want to avoid graduation to that arena.  Indeed, the "Geek!" is well beyond the
point of no return... socially.  Their abilities go far beyond those of mortal
men but they are trapped into living the life, the hell, the joy--whatever you
want to call it--of their existance.  They have no social existance.  They can
not turn it off.  Everywhere they go they bring their "thing" with them; much
to the chagrin of all around them.  Alas, they are lost to humanity, except for
their contributions to their field.  Geeks do like peperoni pizza, though.
That's, perhaps, a good sign.
 
Again, congratulations on your sefl-inflicted cold start.  Nice going, dude!
-Rick-