The Geeks

My group of friends from college days to more or less the present. If you want to come to an understanding of who the "Geeks" were, read our mailing list FAQ below. It still does get the occasional e-mail to time of this writing.

Fourth of July Party 2003 at Joby & Alyssa's House


Geeks List FAQ

Q1: What is the Origin of the Geeks List?
Paul
The Geeks list is a e-mail list provided by Joby "Zorloc" Walker to solve the problem of several friends being unable to figure out which of the ever change e-mail addresses were currently in use by each other.

The group of friends took basic form at the University of Washington Housing and Food Services North Campus Residence Hall Kitchens during a key period in the early to mid 1990s. This group has changed and grown slightly in the intervening years.

Jon
Once upon a time....the X-Files was cool and on Friday nights. Joby & Mark & Paul would go over to Adam & Michelle's to watch the X-Files. Sometimes I, Sarah, Erik would join. Sometimes Jeannie would join. Sometimes Aly would join. We all knew each other from working in the kitchen at McMahon food service...and that is how it all began. about 10 years ago.

Michelle
Really? It began with the X-files parties? I'd have put it at summer conferences, summer of '89. I'm old. I miss the X-files. You know, when it was good."

Sarah
I don't remember watching X-files with anyone. Perhaps Jon and Michelle. If I hung out with people outside of work, from this group, it was mostly Jon and Michelle, then Paul. (Hey, first us, then Paul!)
Then Erik and I were roommates and I hardly ever saw him. Every once in awhile he'd have a bunch of people over, some of whom I even knew!, and they'd watch movies and eat pizza. I was either at work or talking to Arlet on the computer. Other than that, I mostly just "worked" with people on the list. I thought it all started that first summer conference season when Haggett people came over to McMahon.

So, I apparently don't qualify for "geekdom" based on the X-files thing. Is there a minimum IQ or some trivia or something that gets you in any other way? How about surviving Goodwill Games, the Gay and Lesbian conference and 6 years of Bankers???? How about a bribe? :-)

Heather
I thought it began earlier than that too. Of course, I didn't start hanging out with the "geeks" until I started dating Jon in 1996. I think I came to one "X-Files" night at Adam and Michelle's. And I kinda knew some of the people before that. Joby and Alyssa worked at McMahon the one summer I worked there. Michelle did for a little bit, I believe, until she went to group health. Erik was one of the student coordinators at Haggett when I started there (as was Jon) in 1993.

Kelly
Well, X-Files viewing attendance better not be a prerequisite for geekdom. I think it's a decent basis for
solidifying group activity most likely.

I was kind of double brought into the group. First peripherally by Heather who was a clustermate then
roommate. Then I moved in with Michelle (we only barely knew eachother at the time) in '98 since we both needed a place to live, and couldn't really afford much by ourselves. Our most recent roommates marrying eachother and all. Eventually I squirmed my way into attending most things and onto the list. For awhile I considered myself the token non-food service worker. Then Brad joined us.

Adam
The 1989 date leaves off more than half of the geeks list, so I have to call that information into question. People I KNOW didn't work summer conferences at McMahon (Okay, I'm kind of guessing that people didn't work there during High School) are Me, Heather, Joby, Alyssa, Mark, Brad, Kelly, Jennifer...I can't remember if Erik or Wyatt are younger or older or the same age as me.

I didn't work at McMahon Food Service (I may have been a guest star during conferences for a couple of hours, but I was not a McMahonite). I worked in the building, but at the Back Door. I know Sarah from her stint there. I know Paul from my freshman dorm floor. I know Michelle and Jon through Paul. I know almost everyone else through X-Files parties or through people who came to X-Files parties.

More from Michelle
Does life begin at conception? Quickening? When fetus is viable? When it is born? When it comes home with body peircings and steals the the keys and crash the car?

I know a few people (Jon, Sarah; I think Paul goes back nearly that far, too) in the geeks squad that I
did meet that early, so I count the beginnings way back to early formation - agree that the current group
was more or less solidified by X-files party time, and has been a much slower evolution since.

Also, didn't I mention? It's all about me. :-P

Actually, in the world according to Michelle, [Sarah Is] one of the progenitors of the geek squad. That makes you an uber-geek worthy of ultra-geekdom, I think. :-D

Q2: Who are the members of the Geeks List?

* Adam aka Alecks
* Alyssa aka Aly aka Taryn
* Brad aka BJ
* Erik aka Grug
* Heather aka Jon's Woman aka Holly aka Dr Heather JD2K
* Jeannie aka Jeje aka Jaz
* Jennifer aka SanDeE*
* Joby aka Joseph B aka Zorloc aka Caranthir
* Jon aka Opie aka The DM
* Kelly aka Kelita aka kelita13 aka Siradia
* Mark aka Marcus
* Michelle aka Moonbeam aka Belladonna aka rainwytch
* Paul aka Pablo aka Shaft aka Authoritai
* Sarah aka Prinses Sarah

Q3: Who is it all about?
Michelle
Also, didn't I mention? It's all about me. :-P

Paul
It's all about me. Honestly, if you all weren't figments of my imagination, you wouldn't even exist.

Heather
It's a visual response.

Q4: Can I be part of the Geeks List?
Only by leave of Joby, but it is an enlightened dictatorship.

Q5: What is the social protocol for geek birthdays or other social events?
Jon
Host a geek event only if you want...kick people out if you need to.
Attend a geek event only if you want...leave when you need to.

Adam
If you feel like [attending a birthday party], go. If you feel like going to part of it, go. If you don't want to go, don't. If you don't want to go to part of it, don't. Some will tell you that you have to go to everything, even if you don't like it, just to be polite, and you should suck it up and do it and have a good time, but to those people, I say "We're running a marathon and quitting smoking for my birthday."

You should be [at a party]...if you're hosting. It's not a requirement, but it's easier to get into the house. The only one with the athletic ability and size capable of getting into a house via a broken bathroom window is Jon and he often doesn't go to events...and has this strange compunction about 'breaking and entering.' WhatEVER!

[Attending a geek event is] Similar to 'attending geek birthdays' with less hostility about not showing up in fact some people frequently don't.

Heather
As far as what Jon and Adam wrote regarding attending geeks birthdays, etc., I'll agree with what was said.

Q6: How can I avoid starting a flame war?
Jon
Ask yourself "what would Brad do?" And then do the opposite.

Adam
Type your password into the [geeks list website] and click "unsubscribe." Jon's response about imagining what Brad would do and doing the opposite will likely work in most cases.

Q7: What is the social protocol for birthday gifts?
Jon
Give a gift only if you want to.
If you want a birthday present there had better be a list, with plenty of options
gift receiving

Paul
Asking for no gift is not often well received, so if you don't want a gift, keep your mouth shut.

Adam
I like gifts. An e-mail to the geeks list thanking us for the Gift Certificate sometime during the following week is customary.

Q8: What is considered too stupid or inappropriate to post?
Adam
Anything that is likely to elicit a creepy response from Brad. Anything that points to something that you have to navigate around for an hour to find the "funny" thing, or if you're supposed to read pages of computer code or wiring diagrams to get it. Anything related to Kangaroo Jack, except a news article that the director, producers, actors, crew, etc. were all killed in a freak garbage grinder accident.

Q9: What grammar and other language rules should be followed
Jon
Only Jeannie cares what grammar/English rules should be followed.

Adam
Alot of them are arbitrary, and english, is a evolving language. If you like to get snotty responses from someone with no college degree, you should try using words wrong or mislaying commas so Jeannie can't read it. For example since the following sentence does not have appropriate punctuation or capitalization Jeannie can't read it, because she is, I think the term is 'semi-retarded' (source: Paul):

jeannie is annoying

This can be a useful code language.

Q10: Why do some geeks spell things funny?
Jon
I use "our" rather than "or" as in colour, because I can't spel -or- I wanna be a Brit snob like Adam.

Adam
[I] use "our" rather than "or" as in colour for several Reasons:
1) Childhood reading choices: Influence of British writers.
2) Other stylistic and or genealogical reasons.
3) It's a preposterous affectation similar to the ostentatious use of a middle initial when signing ones name, or the use of words like 'preposterous,' 'ostentatious' and the reference to 'one' in place of a noun or pronoun.

Q11: What foods do geeks love or hate, and which ones make them hurl?
Jon
Curry & Chocolate....both proof of God's benevolance.
I don't eat liver or beets. Tried chicken feet, not that great, looked like
baby alien hands.

Adam
Love: Pizza, Many forms of pasta, BBQ, many forms of Mexican food, many other things...I really want some chicken teriyaki right now. Mushrooms, olives, feta, brie, potatoes, many other things [make me hurl].

Jenifer
Love: I'll try just about anything. Meat and all kinds of cheese are good. So is salt. I especially like spicy asian food. I, too, love curry. I love fish sauce, steak, chinese sausages, sushi and squid. Potatoes. Sour
cream. Tortellini. Mayonnaise. Gravy. Stuffing. IPAs. Martinis. Bloody Marys. Oh, and I enjoy bbq'd baby alien fingers, too. The coolest thing I've ever eaten was in Hong Kong--coagulated duck blood--not bad.

Dislike: Sometimes sweets and sugary stuff but not always-prefer chocolate. fruit. Things floating in oil. Sweet pickles. Relish. Cole Slaw. Miracle Whip.

Sweet potatoes and cranberries. Poorly cooked tofu [make me hurl].

Heather
Love Chicken Parmigiana (especially from Stella's). Love most Italian food. Thai food is good - curry (which Jon introduced me to), phad thai, etc. Pizza is good.

I hate liver too and meatloaf.

Q12: What board games are enjoyed by geeks?
Jon
Chess-king of games=good. Axis & Allies, Risk can be fun.

Adam
I like my friends and in an effort to continue liking my friends I've decided not to play board games with them. "Games" tend to devolve into a tedious argument over rules, why it's not fun, or how the fun could be eliminated in order to speed gameplay, why it's important to 'win' as opposed to have fun, etc. It rarely ends with anyone happy and frequently in tears or increased blood pressure. However, if you actually enjoy playing board games, I am a big fan of Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Clue, Cribbage, Balderdash to name a few. (The exception to the above rant is Catchphrase-there have been tears, but they're from laughing too hard.)

Paul
I like to play uno as it is mindless. Catch phrase is good, it involves a lot of yelling. I enjoy playing trivia games only if I stand a good chance of winning. I really hate Monopoly or any other game where paying attention when it's not your turn is critical. I also hate Cranium, a lot. It involves acting. As you might guess I also do not play charades, but that's not a board game so not exactly relevant here.

Jenifer
Haven't really played many since I was a kid. Was Pit.

Heather
I like playing board games. I like my Friends Trivia game better with the new "rules" that Paul and I made up. Trivial Pursuit and all of the other games Adam mentioned.

Q13: What are each geeks area of expertise?
Adam
I don't know if you'd call it 'expertise' but I can make things up...not necessarily well, mind you.
Wrapping presents often falls to me.
I am the de facto music director for the Ballard Pool. I don't know why.
I used to be the Mac Expert, but that was kind of like being the chartered accountant on a desert island.

Paul
I'm the resident expert Geographic Information Systems Analyst which doesn't come up much, but I do have a fairly detailed knowledge of Property related web site resources for King County Washington. I'm also have minor specializations in theorhetical auto mechanics, sewing and assorted handi-crafts, anglo-american folk music, and world accordion music.

Jenifer
I can translate Chinese characters (mostly using a dictionary based on stroke count) and decipher romanization pronunciations. I studied piano for 9 years and clarinet 6...can read music and recite the circle of fifths but am a crappy player. (Usually) friendly PC and Mac help (OS, software, hardware). Forceps deliveries.....

Heather
Not sure what you want from this question - I'm not an expert in anything, though I'm supposed to be practicing law for a living. Maybe someday. : )

Q14: Which geeks drive a pickup and are willing to help haul stuff?
Jon
Brad. It is a very redeeming quality of his to help people move stuff with
his truck.

Adam
Brad has a truck that is actually licensed now. Paul has a big, old van thing called the Do-Mor Dodge. I can't speak for whether or not they'd help haul stuff.

Paul
I'm generally available for helping haul stuff with adequate notice. Photos of the DoMor Dodge .

Jenifer
Our sidekick's seats fold down and we can move somewhat big stuff (loveseats, bicycles, rat cages).

Q15: Why did you write this FAQ?
Jenifer, one of the latests Geeks List members sent an e-mail containing the following questions. The idea of a Geeks List so amused Paul, that he just had to make this FAQ.
btw....how about some documented "geek protocol" for newbies with subjects like:
attending geek birthdays
hosting a geek birthday
hosting a geek event
attending a geek event
how to avoid flaming (friendly fire?)
gift giving
gift receiving
what is considered inappropriate to post
what is considered too stupid to post
what grammar/English rules should be followed

and answers to puzzling questions like:
why do several geeks use "our" rather than "or" as in colour
what foods do each of the geeks love/hate
what foods make each of the geeks hurl
what board games do the geeks generally like/dislike
what is each geek's area of "expertise"
which of the geeks drives a pickup and is willing to help haul stuff

....you get the picture... ;-)

Q16: How can I find out more about members of the Geeks List?
By using this handy list and visiting the on-line manifestations of geeks list members.

* Joby's Empire of Knowledge: Imperium Zorlocci
* Adam's After Cix Labs
* Wyatt's Holloweye 2001
* Sarah Saint's Cyber Home
Lazy M 8 Ranch <-- Tiki Lounge <--
v2.0.1 Updated: 2023/1/28