 |
| Rembrandt - Return of the Prodigal Son - 1669 |
Well today is going to be a particularly brief sermon, mainly because I've been very busy of late, but also because I've spent the weekend in Shropshire at a wedding. Ahhh, young love. Any way I've been thinking a bit recently about the fact that as sad as it seems, my Blog has rapidly become a relatively big part of my life. Good grief that makes me sound incredibly sad! I think though I'm mainly indifferent to that fact if I'm honest. But it did lead me to think a lot more clearly about my 'life'. Or perhaps more precisely whether I have a lack of one. I freely admit I'm far too much of a nerd / geek for my own good. In fact if you stand too close to me for any protracted period of time you're more than likely to contract some form of geekitis off of me. Yeah so I used to think I was a pretty normal guy, with a few geeky hobbies and tendencies, you know just an average Joe who still had a life.
However, I have be honest and say that my life probably didn't and still doesn't have that much variety in it in terms of things that entertain me. I used to say 'yeah but I read loads of different types of comic books' or my favourite 'I don't just play Games Workshop games I play other stuff too, I even play board games!' Oh yeah, I'm definitely not a geek me. I'm sure I used to counter further by explaining that I played computer games, and they're mainstream now right? Except I'm not too sure there were ever that many copies of Grandia or Panzer Dragoon Saga ever purchased. What about TV, I like TV too... yeah OK so my top ten favourite TV programs are The X-files (excluding seasons 8 and 9), Babylon 5, Prisoner, Battlestar Galactica (both), Firefly, Futurama, Flight of the Chochords, Spaced and Twin Peaks... good lord this isn't helping me any. Over the years various helpful friends and relatives have told me I need to get a life or get out more, but...Two things have happened recently that have actually made me think about my geeky ways slightly differently. Honestly, I used to pay no attention to the naysayers who told me Space Above and Beyond sucked, and that little toy soldiers were for nerds. It appears though that many of these naysayers are now watching the same geeky programs I always did, some are also taking up other geeky things. All of a sudden geek chic is cool. Yep most of the things I've always got up to are considered cool, or at the very least OK. I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with my previously non-geeky family members and friends telling me about 'my' geeky hobbies... hang on who is the nerd here? But hey I'm happy they've all finally seen the light! Genuinely I'm not one of these people who looks on at 'trendy hipster geeks' and thinks, how dare they read Deadpool, or they're not supposed to like Firefly! It's ace that more people are enjoying these things because it means I have more people to talk to about them. So when a totally non-geeky friend started talking to me about Battlestar Galactica recently I was pleasantly surprised.
 |
| For some reason Tricia Helfer made it OK to be a geek! |
Then there is the second thing though, I was once again called a loser and told to get a life by some randomer because I was playing with toy soldiers, well actually I wasn't. It seems that despite all of this out pouring of mass geekery I still get funny looks about the fact that I play wargames. Yep it seems there's at least still one bastion geekery that stubbornly refuses to be cool... yep... little toy soldiers are not fashionable. This is despite BBC articles, I also doubt we'll see an article in Vogue about how the wargames design ethic has influenced some tortured Brazilian couture designer! No matter what way you slice it painting little toy soldiers and then playing games with them will NEVER be cool, or acceptable to those who don't get it... and that actually is a bit of a shame. Because our hobby truly is utterly awesome, and many people miss out on it simply because it does carry a bit of a stigma. So at least I'll be able to wear that geek badge proudly of a mark of true geekery, because I'm quite happy with mt geeky life. One last thing, I wish the newlywed Mr and Mrs Kemp all the happiness in the world. Peace out!
Spaced and Flight of the Conchords are mainstream, right? I remember when Hollyoaks used to ape Spaced all the time (sans genius, of course)
ReplyDeleteI have never actually been a viewer of Hollyoaks. That particular program never appealed to me. Probably because there weren't any spaceships or robots in it.
DeleteAs for Spaced being mainstream... I doubt it. It was canned due to lack of viewing figures I believe after only two seasons. FotC could be seen as more popular, but I certainly wouldn't call it mainstream. I think that's part of the point, geeky things are popular now, but does it make it mainstream? I honesty don't know.
I love Spaced , like Green Wing under rated and I often parody them only to realise no one else gets the reference.
DeleteYes Green Wing was utterly genius as well. Mark Heap as Dr Statham was utter genius, the episode where he was trying to get his overcoat to swish with a 'stylish elan' still has me in fits of laughter when I see it now. I also loved the HR person Sue, bloody brilliant.
DeleteI always thought telling some one to get a life over war games was stupid because it's a social hobby and thus to play forces sum what of a social life onto you so what more do I need to do to have a "life" get drunk and act like a dick to people who are enjoying them selves to get a "life" you see as worthy. Sorry venting abit there but the point stands wargamming as a hobby I thick is really good for providing a social life and so what if someone don't understand it why dose that mean they can judge us.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I try to get this point across with out sounding whinny but I cant so sorry.
To be brutally honest it has never really gotten to me. Perhaps because I grew up with what many deem a girls name (Jody) I developed thicker skin than most. So to me it's always made me chuckle. I do know though that it gets to some. I guess I just found it interesting that the person telling me to get a life was wearing a Halo 3 T-Shirt. lol. Wargaming is never going to be cool and I really don't care. I'm more than happy to tell anyone I'm a wargamer and a nerd. It's who I am, simple as that!
Deletei aktualy endet my career as a online gamer becous of power gamers. i dont know since games are cool people started to get angry when they lose or say mean stuff. im not a sissy and i will stand for my point, but when it comes to games i want to have fun and not start every time i die an arguement over ¨me playing bad¨ i just dont want to have that asshole from the neighberhod now telling me that i have no clou about somthing which i like. ps. if you can die you are alive.
ReplyDeleteschnelln
Online computer games are a whole other side to humanity best left unexplored!!! I'm not bad at online games and the torrent of abuse you get off of some people who are convinced you're cheating just doesn't make it worthwhile for me anymore.
DeleteSurely Futurama at least is pretty mainstream. Though I quite enjoy The Big Bang Theory, and the amount of people who you wouldn't have thought would that I've found watch is rather high. As you say it seems that to be a geek is the new black.
ReplyDeleteI think I've finally gotten over the whole "get a life thing". I've now gotten to that stage in life were I can say to people "this is me, if you don't like it well tough". Do what makes you happy I say. If that is in fact nerdery, and at least it's social nerdery unlike some of the online games player etc then such is life.
Maybe Futurama is pretty mainstream, but many of the things it references certainly aren't. The point I was making is that many of these tings that in the 90's would have brought you ridicule are now seen as the norm... but wargaming remains stubbornly nerdy and is stigmatised as such. I really couldn't give two hoots what people think of me as I have fun collecting, painting and gaming with miniatures.
DeleteYeah, that is true that war gaming and the whole building, painting and what not are seen as very nerdy. I think it's not helped that the stereotype of gamer in that nerd who is 30 something, lives in his mums basement and is very awkward is still maintained. Maybe we should start saying we're being discriminated against.
DeleteI am very awkward, well in a bearded mountain man kind of way. We did move into my parents to save for our first house does that count?
DeleteThe game side had always drawn raised eyebrows but what I find is most people are fascinated by the hobby side, "did you really paint those eyes?" "how do you not go over the lines?". I think we can get a little blase and outsider perspective is a wonderful thing.
absolutely, if you play up the hobby aspect and play down the gaming side, most people barely blink an eye and many are genuinely intrigued by it. It also helps if you call them board games instead of miniature gaming or wargaming, since most people already have this notion of board games being played by a whole family or group of friends.
DeleteNo people are interested in the painting side of the hobby for sure, but as a whole we're still geeks and nerds and I don't try to pretend otherwise. lol.
DeleteI learned long ago to just accept the fact that I'm a nerd and stop caring what people think about it, and I'm a lot happier about myself now. I spend my days playing MMOs and painting models and playing board games and watching those same Sci-fi shows. I make just enough painting for people to scrape by, I haven't had a girlfriend in quite a long while, and I enjoy my life more than most people I know. It's only when a friend or family member asks me what I've been up to that I realize it sounds rather pathetic, simply because there's no way to convey how much I enjoy it. If I told them I spent all day painting a unit of Space Marines while watching Burn Notice they'd look at me like I was a loon, they aren't into it so they can't know how satisfying it was. We may be "losers" to them, but for myself I love it and wouldn't trade places with any of them.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I tend to downplay what I do and how much of it I do when I meet new people or extended family. To them, I don't spend 6 hours multiple days a week raiding in warcraft but rather I play video games online and use the voice chat to keep up with friends. I don't play with toy soldiers, I build and paint figurines or I play board games. I don't watch every season of star trek or B5 or BSG over and over again, I simply enjoy Science Fiction TV shows. It isn't that I'm about lying about what I do, just simply downplaying it because I know most people aren't into it. Occasionally I'll get pressed for more details and I'll get to nerd out a bit with them, but I've found it's far more acceptable to be boring than it is to be a nerd.
But as long as you're happy, it doesn't matter. As long as you're making ends meet and not 30+, unemployed & still living with your parents then who cares what you do with your life? It's YOUR life!
Well I'm 30+ and unemployed!!! But I am scraping by with my partner, and I've been able to pay my own way since I was 18. I don't think I've ever felt like a loser and I've never even played down how big a nerd I am. I just don't see the point, I'm a nice bloke, who is genuinely funny and entertaining who just happens to be able to quote far too many sci-fi programs and tell you all about Wade Wilson. I own my nerdy behaviour it doesn't own me. Embrace the inner geek and be happy I say!!! :P
DeleteI don't think it's as much what you do, it's how you go about it.
ReplyDeleteSome of us absolutely love war games, can talk about them with like minded gamers for hours, and are generally entrenched in the hobby. Then there are those crazy gamers that do all of those things, but with ANYONE who will listen.
You know the guy. You've met him at your FLGS. He talks in the character of his army. He tells you for 40 mins about his last game, including the dice rolls. He talks to people who are completely disinterested until they are begging for a sweet release from this world.
In short, he thrusts his passion upon those that are not interested. I think that is a marked difference. I keep my passion for those that are also invested in the hobby, or for those that show a genuine interest.
I've never really gotten any grief over playing war games, but that's because I've never acted like it was a big deal, or something to be ashamed of. Also, if you're considered "cool" otherwise, then it just adds to your "nerd charm".
In my younger days, I DJ'd and played a lot of gigs (playing breakcore and drum and bass, in Australia no less; now that is nerdy!) and I played war games. This probably balanced it out in most people's eyes, as completely lame and superficial as that sounds.
All the ladies I've been with knew about my gaming, but found out after the fact, and then most thought it was "cute". Granted that I tended towards arty, nerdy girls anyway, so I'm sure this helped. In fact, my lady now, and soon to be mother of my first child, actually hated my "DJ persona" and loved that I played and painted miniatures. She then got into it herself, and we have been together ever since.
I am still way more into it than her, but at least we can play together and share a common interest that is also interactive (watching TV together is not social). She also kicks my ass at all games on a very regular basis.
I think the main thing that makes war gaming inaccessible is the time and dedication needed to get an army made, painted, etc. This, coupled with the time investment for learning the rules, just seems like too much work for most people. I have friends that will play 40K, but they can't be bothered even assembling models, let alone painting them. Skirmish games are starting to help this, as they have such a low model count, by comparison, and also a smaller monetary outlay to play.
Wow, I've started rambling on now, so I will cease and desist.
In short, it's not nerdy as long as you are a well rounded, well adjusted person (and being a little on the attractive side never hurt either).
Yeah funny, I've been in industrial bands throughout my teen years, played guitar and keys and also did samples. Yeah OK so I even found a way of making being in a band nerdy... BUT it was just part of who I am. I've been called all sorts for the various 'hobbies' I have and it doesn't faze me one bit. I just find it fascinating that people who once mocked some of my geeky things are now asking advice on what things they should watch / read next. Yet none of them have come up to me and said Infinity or Malifaux? Space Wolves or Grey Knights? lol. I think you're right, it's a time thing for most people. It's cool to do anything as long as it's not hard work. The moment it looks like work it's uncool and nerdy.
DeleteMusic is nerdy, because in the end, it's all maths!
DeleteThese things do tend to come around full circle though. People will mock your tastes, then find that they were only doing it because they didn't understand them, or were dismissing them out of hand based on some preconceived notion. Then, they want your advice on books, shows, games, etc...
You are right about the work = uncool thing. "I want to relax, not do more work!". Sigh... Personally, I like to see something at the end of my time spent, be it painted minis or better pixels (e.g. MMOs). If I'm going to watch or read something, I want to feel like I've come away with a better understanding of a subject, or gained some new information, knowledge or insight; a new perspective.
Back to tabletop games... I've tried to explain it to friends as, "a video game, except you are in control". You can change the rules. You can interact with the maths / stats. You can "touch it". Ever played a game that frustrated the shit out of you because it was programmed badly or was glitchy as hell? Doesn't happen with "analogue games".
I swear if I could just hand someone a painted army and teach then the rules in a fun way, most people I know would be down. I guess that's why I'm playing more board games these days; they are far more accessible.
In the end, this is a very social hobby, and the player interaction is what counts (for me at least).
Anyway, keep keeping it real :P
I seem to have missed this comment first time round Bishop. My apologies. You are of course right, right about music having a certain mathematical quality to it. It certainly true that their are patterns and loops that can be measured by equations. So it's not a surprise that I also happen to have a thing for maths too. As for explaining gaming to none gamers... there's only one way to do it. Show them! It's a tactile hobby and I've actually had a fair degree of success just showing people exactly what it's all about. Still getting some to the table has been a bit of a struggle in the past. But once they're there I can be a very persuasive swine at times!!!
DeleteDon't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise, Space Above and Beyond was brilliant! If they persist I'll set Chiggy Von Richthofen on them for ya! ;-)
ReplyDeleteNo way send Colonel McQueen!!!
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M07ltuAYqzc
This.
DeleteS:AAB is still amazing. Plus, Doug Hutchison and James Morrison.
Totally would, though Doug's weird enough already on that front.
McQueen? He's just another nippleneck, soldier! ;-)
DeleteI loved that series, when it first arrived I had to watch it on a 3" Casio handheld tv with the signal crackling in and out depending on how I held it :-D
@Ant Doug is a bit weird, he was in inspired form in a horror western flick called Burrowers if you've seen it.
Delete@Rich_B, I think he preferred the term "tank". lol. Such a shame it never got more shows. Was kinda ahead of the curve in many ways. I think it'd find far more sympathetic audiences nowadays.
Am I a mug? Do I have a handle and live on a small wooden tree?
ReplyDeleteWould you like to put your lips on my rim? You may answer that question the others were rhetorical.
DeleteJust in case you all think we've gone utterly mad we're quoting Sue from the Green Wing!!!
I absolutely love how totally unhinged and insane her character was. Watching her sometimes bordered on the uncomfortable but I think that was the genius of it, it never quite strayed there for some reason. Perfectly written, perfectly acted and very, very funny.
Firstly, yeah, I've never ever been one of the "cool kids", always done my own thing, whether that's heavy metal when the alt. kids are listening to grunge, messing around with computers, or doing wargaming stuff, or whatever. It does mean that every so often someone will say "have you heard about this band? they're awesome!", and I get to go, "yep, saw em do it live ten years ago". Which is always a bit satisfying.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, I'm happily married and work as a programmer. She's not a gamer herself, but has dated folk from GW HQ in the past, so is used to how gamers function, and I did get to propose at a Ministry gig...
Secondly, Babylon 5's a big pile of shit!
Firstly... Ministry... HELL YEAH!!!
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCh9OhDiCI
I've met Al twice and both times he was cooler than a penguin on an iceberg sitting in a freezer!!! Awesome person, even if the second time he was higher than a hippie in a helicopter.
As for doing my own thing, yep that's sorta been my approach to life in general. I like to go my own way, if think I can do things better another way I'm always willing to give it a go.
As for your comments re-Babylon 5... I kinda agree but I have a fondness for it that I can't quite explain. In the same way I really like Duran Duran... yeah I said it!!! I just like a bit of trash every now and then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmvVo3OXOzk
And yeah one of my bands used to do a version of that song, and it's very easy to mess around with and make quite dark and twisted. No one ever knew where it came from though, even 80's hairspray children. Here's another Ministry link to make up for the last one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxaPj19VnRA&feature=relmfu
Oooo... You've been outgeeked...
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpb1OXvNNMc
I do actually like B5, even if the effects are really showing their age now. Their willingness to apply necessary force, and the story threads and politics was a revelation after being stuck with the dullness of Star Trek:TNG's Social Workers In Space.
Saw Ministry do it live just twice. Immense band. From start ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUcQnl6zdkE ) to finish ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF2VMlTDX-A ). My first ever dose of whiplash was from headbanging to NWO...
(That's a great line there in the Stigmata video comments: "I am a 40 yr old mom & let me tell you I still LOVE Ministry. My kids are like what is this?? I say, it's what your bands wish they were!!")
To be honest with you I think Ministry sort of went into a bit of a rut after this stuff:
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acJABWTm7ig
They stopped doing things that made my inner guitarist want strum along to it. There have been brief moments in that time notably off of their latest album Relapse, I disliked G.W. Bush as much as the next guy, but 3 albums worth of anti-Bush rhetoric? It's a bit much guys!!!
As for the Spaced reference... D'oh!!! That'll learn men.
PS that was supposed to read *That'll learn meh*
DeleteLatter albums of Ministry, I found they hit the mark on a couple of tracks per album, generally the fast and punishing moments like Let's Go, No W, Warp City and Supermanic Soul. Cut it down to one album of anti-Bush, and we'd have a classic...
Delete(Oh, and I'm not just about the speed and power, I'm a total magpie when it comes to music. My latest discovery, for instance, is Frank Turner and his folk stylings.)
Yep I'll drink to that. I listen to so many artists and musicians and take something different from them all. I can't be doing with listening to one type of sound over and over again. There's so much amazing music out there, my only regret is that I only have the one life to listen to it all and it's just not possible to do. But I'm more than willing to give it a bloody good go!!!
DeleteMore of a Grace Park kinda guy, myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd, dude...Duran Duran?
-_-
You should have your Ministry albums taken away...Professor Elemental himself should give you a good rogering.
Now...if only I was sure what a 'rogering' was.
Whatevs...you deserve it.
:P
Perhaps this will make up for it...
Deletehttp://vimeo.com/9976137
Or maybe not. I don't mind admitting I listen to anything and everything. And although they're a bunch of preening pansies and LeBons voice can grate at times, they actually have produced some damn fine pop over the years. It also lends itself to being covered in totally different way give how 'basic' many of the layers of their songs are. Come Undone is another of their songs that begs to be messed around with.
As for rogering, I say old bean steady on! I might deserve a damn good thrashing... but... never a rogering. Any port in a storm and all that as long as it's not my port!!!
Also SinSynn, I had to check out it was true before I made a plank of myself But John Taylor was one of us!!!
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Taylor_%28bass_guitarist%29
He was a wargamer!!!
Curse you...no one can resist topless lingerie dancers...
DeleteI suppose John Taylor can be forgiven for his part in all of this, being a wargamer an' all....
The rest of Duran Duran should be beaten to the sound of Pig Destroyer.
Early Pig Destroyer, from like...Prowler in the Yard. When they were good.
I won't inflict links on you...that's just cruel.
Oh, heck...you do it to me....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ukYkC7Ek-0
Nyah.
:P
Inflict away, I like a good bit of metal every now and then. Although I'd normally veer towards the Machine Head side of things
DeleteAnd I'll just leave this here...
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjlSZwCoXDU
(There is music (well, grindcore) in there. It starts at 1:23 in.)
I never actually brought any Pig Destroyer. I have listened to it in the past and I can appreciate what they were doing, but honestly I prefer to hear shapes and melody in my music. They communicate rage and anger very well, but others do that as well. I've found Pig Destroyer to rely too heavily on the wall of sound they can create, listen deeper and there's clearly some skill their, but their comfort blanket muffles it for me. I haven't listened to them for a while but Will Haven I always thought did the whole rage and anger thing quite well. True it was all detuned guitars as it was Nu Metal era but they did at least produce melodies:
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iqrmLpRDG0
Not a bad debut album. But from that Sacromento region how about one of my favourite songs of all time, yep I mean that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLa0-sQg1YM&ob=av2e
Majestic, beautiful, melodic and powerful. Awesome track!
Heh. I've Seen My Fate is a superb bit of bludgeon, regardless of your stance on downtuned guitars, but I've never clicked with Minerva. I've a lot of time for Around the Fur and White Pony, but haven't heard anything since from Deftones that's grabbed me the same way.
Delete"Majestic, beautiful, melodic and powerful", eh?
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaxNnoKrK9o
I really have to be in the mood for NeuRoSiS. I think some are their stuff is pretty good. But sometimes I find them awkward and a bit laborious. For instance the start to Stones in the Sky is too long and the 'bells' aping the guitar chords is a bit clunky and unnecessary. Once it gets going its OK but again they drag out a very simple middle section that has little to no progression. Sometimes they could just get on with it!!! lol. I think they need to work with a producer who won't indulge them. Tool are the same at points too.
DeleteLife throws too many curves at you to give a toss what everyone else thinks is cool or not. You have to do what makes you happy, and not make others unhappy at the same time. I just finished reading your whole damn blog. That's two weeks I'll never get back, but time well spent. Your style has improved markedly over the last year. So... keep blogging and keep loving what makes you happy and the haters can go stick it.
ReplyDeleteYou worry (apparently) about variety. Hobbies are nice in that when you have too much of one thing you lose interest and move on. When you come back to it, it's time, because you are interested enough to come back to it. When you have lost the joy of our hobby there is always something else to do. It can be a different game, a different aspect of the hobby or it can be shooting big guns at little targets. You know, over here in the U.S. where we all own armories of Space Marine proportions.
Life has a lot of variety and not all of it can be found in gaming, but a whole lot of it can be and that makes me, at least, very happy.
Thanks for taking your time on this blog. I enjoy it immensely and you are just getting better the more you do it.
I know it might seem big headed of me to say it, but I agree with you. I too think I've got significantly better in the 10 months or so I've been Blogging. When I finally hit the 1 year Birthday and look back at my pathetic original Blog I'll no doubt cringe at how utter dire I was at the beginning. But hey I've stuck at it and taken hints and tips off of people and gotten much better at it. It has taken a lot of work and effort at times as well, so it's really gratifying when somebody notices and appreciate what I've written. Honestly you've read my entire Blog?!?! WOW!!! You're either awesome or totally insane, I'm not too sure which. Thank you for taking the time and thank you for complimenting me... and I'm sorry I can't give you two weeks of your life back. Hopefully I'll continue to improve and get better. :)
DeleteIf a life is the death of that which I love to do, then I don't want anything to do with it. lol
ReplyDeleteI've seen worse things that you could spend your time on, and if there are any better, well, I'd say that's all about your perspective on the matter really. If theres a template for what a life is, I'd love to see it and maybe get a few good laughs from it.
Mate as far as I'm concerned people should grab their moments of happiness where they can in these exceedingly grim times. I'm not going to judge anyone for doing what makes them happy, as long as it doesn't make others miserable in the process. As for what a life should look like, I doubt there's a blueprint, it's supposed to be what you make of it... so on that score right now I'm making a right pigs ear of it!!! :P
DeleteI'm proud to be a geek & play with little men! sure people will try and take the piss but then I'll compare something mainstream like football and they soon start to understand!
ReplyDeleteWe all have our passions, and some are stranger than others. Some like to go and watch 22 men run around a field for 90 minutes wearing tight fitting shorts. As they sweat and get all dirty trying to kick a spherical air filled faux leather ball between some sticks. Now that's bloody odd!!
Delete