Friday, December 26, 2008

Obama the Geek?

Serious stuff, folks.

The Obama transition team would not comment on the president-elect’s geek qualities, even when it was suggested those could be positive. And his old college friends give the geek idea a split vote. While Margot Mifflin, now a journalism professor in New York, said she saw no geeky signs in Obama as a freshman at Occidental College in California, Amiekoleh Kimbrew Usafi recalled it differently, despite the lack of technology back in 1979.

“He’s a geek because he was smart,” Usafi said, noting that Occidental was a geeky school to start with, billing itself as the Yale of the West. “I remember he would be hitting his books. I would see him in the library. ... There were a lot of girls that liked him because he was cute, but he kept his head in the direction he was going in. I would see him studying all the time.”

Wired magazine first crowed about Obama the geek, complete with five reasons in its GeekDad blog. A lot depends on definition of geek, which to Wired is more a compliment than insult.

As a certifiable geek, I am undecided on this paramount issue.  On the one hand, Obama embraces technology, but does he do so any more than any mainstream American?  He has a Blackberry.  So what?  Has he ever built a walkie-talkie out of legos?  Has he ever attended Space Camp (4 times)?  Computer camp?  Band?  Latin club?  Has he ever had a mullet?  Did he have a wide collection of cords?  Has he ever built his own computer? 

I dunno… seems like a reach to me. 

(For the record… I can answer “yes” to all of the “geek check” questions above.)

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1334 hrs
Culture + Politics + Politics - General + Technology

  1. I think I am a geek too…

    I built a wireless radio when I was about 40…...i think that qualifies me.

    In grade school I went to the high school history teacher for a European history textbook to take home and read over the Christmas break.

    Need I go on….....?

    But you know the QB for my school (my class) is paunchy and bald today.  And I suspect has no interest in books.

    I think the ‘geeks’ are the winners.

    Posted by Gregory on December 26, 2008 at 1516 hrs


  2. Oh, we must see the mullet.  Picture sharing time!

    Posted by Bitter on December 26, 2008 at 2128 hrs


  3. I don’t see the connection between mullets and geeks.  Mullets are connected to Camaros, mustaches, gold chains,, and mirrored sunglasses.

    And geeks are the winners.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 27, 2008 at 0006 hrs


  4. And speaking of mullets, I think you have to let Obama slide on that requirement, don’t you? Just sayin.’

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 27, 2008 at 2314 hrs


  5. As probably the longest tenured geek on B&S;, I think it’s pretty clear that Obama has some serious geek tendencies. But a mullet? Owen, get a grip.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 29, 2008 at 1254 hrs


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