Why The Geeky Lingo?

January 9, 2005

like "muggles"????

Why don't internet forum people use everyday terms like "onlookers", as they would if they were talking in real life with real life everyday people?

Or do Geocachers talk that way when they meet in real life too? :huh:

3.9k · January 9, 2005

Or do Geocachers talk that way when they meet in real life too?

Bingo

January 9, 2005

why the geeky screen name?

January 9, 2005

We use geeky lingo? Why do you call an ultracool bike like a GSX-R a "Jixxer"??? :huh:

January 9, 2005

I have to say that the term "muggles" has been in use as every day cacher vocab in my area pretty much since I started. Which was over a year ago.

I'm not sure why that has to be refered to as "geeky". True it was pretty much ripped off from Harry Potter, but calling Harry Potter geeky is very much going against the mainstream view at the moment.

You can use other terms if you want, though. No one is forcing you to use it.

So what other terms are you having a problem with?

January 9, 2005

I would call Harry Potter a nerd.

1.3k · January 9, 2005

why the geeky screen name?

Pot, meet kettle.

sd

January 10, 2005

I use it when running into strangers, while looking for a cache, I ask,

Are you the Muggle's?

Only a fellow Geocacher would then introduce themselves.

It's a code word now!

Like my geeky signature

4.1k · January 10, 2005

:huh: I thought we were ALL rather a geeky bunch, Cachers that is. Running around with a GPSr looking for something that someone left for us to find - McToys in Tupperware?? That is NOT GEEKY??? :lol:

Shirley~

January 10, 2005

Consider any other "sport", hobby, or lifestyle. You can probably come up with examples of unique terminology that is understood by those who enjoy that specific pastime.

Full court press, hail mary, ringers, 18 wheeler, crotch rocket, Hog, rice burner... need I go on ?

Why would Geocachers use a simplistic/childish term such as "Muggle" ? I think when you consider all the more advanced terminology that comes with it - Latitude, Longitude, confluence, signal dispersion, etc. - it kind of was natural to interject and adopt some less harsh jingo.

After all, this is for fun isn't it ?

I believe another thread on the subject of the use of the word "Muggle" stated that in the Potter books, a Muggle was someone unaware of the secret world hidden all around, the magic out of sight to their daily world. Kind of describes ( in a poetic way ) the relationship Geocaching holds. So, adopting the term Muggle makes sense, even if in a "geeky" way.

After all, how many people, even if they DO find out Geocaching, think its geeky anyway to spend hundreds of dollars to run around finding Tupperware instead of sitting in front of the TV, watching others earn several million for playing a game ?

I'll take the geeky terms, thanks.

2.6k · January 10, 2005

Why don't internet forum people use everyday terms like "onlookers", as they would if they were talking in real life with real life everyday people?

Every human endeavor has its own jargon. But, honestly, how handy do you find the word "onlooker" talking in real life with real life everyday people? It seems a bit...stiff to me.

"Ho, Mabel! Let us cease our petting in this orange grove, for yonder is an onlooker!"

....ehhhhh, I dunno.

24.7k · January 10, 2005

Like Floppy Disk, Block, Monkey Wrench, and a bunch of other lingo is a step up?

January 10, 2005

why the geeky screen name?

touche'

lol

I guess it's where people are willing to draw the line; as others have eluded, geocaching itself is pretty geeky.

And us talking about it on the internet is another facet of geekiness.

January 10, 2005

I, personally, am also against the use of the term "muggle." I guess I am not ready to admit the extent of my geekiness! :huh:

2.4k · January 10, 2005

So, how much does the ho, Mabel, charge for petting? Is there an extra charge for onlookers, or for permitting them? :huh:

7.3k · January 10, 2005

Mabel is a NUMBERS Ho, and she enjoys a cache rich environment - with or without onlookers

2.2k · January 10, 2005

My 9 year old has a way of "un-geeking" the lingo. She tells her friends she's going "Geocrashing." Today, as a couple of middle-aged women approaced us on the trail while we were looking for a cache, she whispered (loudly) "Look out, Muggers!" They looked startled, to say the least! :huh:

2.5k · January 10, 2005

"Ho, Mabel! Let us cease our petting in this orange grove, for yonder is an onlooker!"

Nothing needs to follow that.

:huh:

9.5k · January 10, 2005

Didja notice it's usually the newbies that bring up this question and the seasoned folks only chime in on it? :huh:

4.7k · January 10, 2005

daa- da. daaaa-da. daa-da, daa-da, dadadadadada....

January 10, 2005

I would call Harry Potter a nerd.

Actually, Hermione's the nerd(ette). Harry's the rebellious type. :huh:

6.5k · January 10, 2005

like "muggles"????

Why don't internet forum people use everyday terms like "onlookers", as they would if they were talking in real life with real life everyday people?

Or do Geocachers talk that way when they meet in real life too?

C'mon who are you really, flask's sock puppet? :lol: :huh:

We also say 'angst' in here a lot; well at least carleenp does. :huh:

How often do you say that in everyday conversation?

4.7k · January 10, 2005

my sockpuppets almost NEVER post in the forums.

one of mine posted just to make a post (it's not really a secret who it is...)

one of mine posted in order to ask a question anonymously. if I'D asked, it would have raised eyebrows, but under the sockpuppet it got answered and disappeared into oblivion.

if i wanted to comment on the stupiditiy of the term "muggle" i could have derailed any other thread, thankyouverymuch.

WHY the geeky lingo? WHY, you ask? helloooooo, have you looked in a mirror lately? have you ever been to a geocaching event?

thar's geeks in them thar hills, and they're all walking around with GPSrs on their little belt clips.

that explains the geekiness. now, if you'd like to discuss the other abonination and the addlepated sheeplings that use it, i'll give everyone else a moment to clear the room. i was just thinking this morning that i hadn't had a good "muggle" rant in a few days.

if you'll excuse me, it's almost monday and as a special birthday gift i have to go kick some puppies.

2.5k · January 10, 2005

I would call Harry Potter a nerd.

geek ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gk)

n. Slang

A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.

A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

nerd also nurd ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nûrd)

n. Slang

A foolish, inept, or unattractive person.

A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

dork ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dôrk)

n. Slang.

A stupid, inept, or foolish person

It would seem that the difference between geek and nerd is appearance and clumsiness, and Harry Potter isn't really unattractive. I'm not sure about his clumsiness. He's probably more of a dork then a geek or nerd, although that description probably doesn't fit well either.

However, I always associated geekiness with computer knowledge, love of gadgets, and use of scientific terminology. Using the term muggle changes geocaching from being geeky to being dorky.

January 10, 2005

And some of us are pretty danged cute *and* smart, therefore quite comfortable with "geeky language". :huh: It's a gift.

Edited January 10, 2005 by Spamiam

January 10, 2005

I believe that I am muggling this Marwelled topic right now....

9.5k · January 10, 2005

if you'll excuse me, it's almost monday and as a special birthday gift i have to go kick some puppies.

Geeezus! ROFL! :huh: :huh: :lol: :lol:

January 10, 2005

geocaching is for geeks, nerds and dorks! we stand united and proud! with our pocket calculators and thick-rimmed glasses, we will someday conquer the world!

January 10, 2005

All groups of people have their own terms. It ties group members together, creating a common bond between them.

January 10, 2005

All groups of people have their own terms. It ties group members together, creating a common bond between them.

you mean like Trekkies and Lan Partygoers?

yup, there's definitely some psychology to belongingness and having identity within a defined group, and the lingo/jargon adds to the differentiation

btw; DORK also has another whale of a meaning :rolleyes:

1.1k · January 10, 2005

I for one have NEVER bitten the head off of a chicken, a boomerrang yes but bitten no. So I am not a GEEK, though I playone in real life. No I am a nerd/hacker etc..... GEEK NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers

January 10, 2005

I guess this activity can become geeky, But...

If you go on a 6 hour adventurous hike to get one smilie face rather than spend the same amount of time getting 10 lamp post smilie faces, then you are definitely a "geomoron".

Apply Within

Salvelinus

2.1k · January 10, 2005

I find the ripped off Harry Potter terminology strangely appropriate. Onlooker to me just doesn't convey the same significance. Muggle makes refference specifically to those who aren't part of the group participating in the activity. Can you think of a non-geeky synonym that will be as widely understood that conveys the same message in as compressed a format? I can't.

January 10, 2005

Actually, Hermione's the nerd(ette).

Hermione will be a real heartbreaker in a couple of years. Nerdette or not!!! :rolleyes:

January 10, 2005

I'm not sure why that has to be refered to as "geeky". True it was pretty much ripped off from Harry Potter, but calling Harry Potter geeky is very much going against the mainstream view at the moment.

Just a note about the term "muggle", although people may have adopted term from the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowlings didn't create term. She had adopted it (like most of the other items her books) from other sources.

January 10, 2005

What about gumf?

January 10, 2005

Synonym- bystander, viewer, member of the audience, observer, witness, watcher

In my line of work we have rubber-neckers, the uh-oh squad, the oh-no squad,scanner land

I'm no fan of Potter, but I do find if funny in regards to the unknowing

C'mon, like others said, it's fun. What's the big deal

:rolleyes:

January 10, 2005

As to Adopted Terminolgy, I'll draw the line at using any lingo

from either the Teletubies or the Wiggles...

2.1k · January 10, 2005

Just a note about the term "muggle", although people may have adopted term from the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowlings didn't create term. She had adopted it (like most of the other items her books) from other sources.

You sure about that?

I remember reading somewhere that someone was sueing her for stealing the term from their book, but I don't think she conceeded that she had.

It always seemed like very natural terminology for me, an extention of being muddled up or something like that, hence it wouldn't surprise me if it was 'invented' multiple times.

2.1k · January 10, 2005

Synonym- bystander, viewer, member of the audience, observer, witness, watcher

Like I said, I don't think those are synonyms. Muggle adds something to the idea of someone watching. They have to also be non-caching folks.

January 10, 2005

My wife thinks I'm a geek when "cashing".

3k · January 10, 2005

My wife thinks I'm a geek when "cashing".

MY wife thinks I'm a geek whether I'm caching or not.

But I'm not, am I? :rolleyes:

January 10, 2005

My wife thinks I'm a geek when "cashing".

MY wife thinks I'm a geek whether I'm caching or not.

But I'm not, am I?

if you also listen to the Crash Test Dummies, it's certain

mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm

"once, there was a muggle........"

:huh:

January 10, 2005

I think that the whole muggle thing is a little weirdish too. like he said, i would say onlookers, or walkers, hunters, whatever they are. Geocaching can be more fun than just a hike. My group of cachers, Team BSWS (Break Stuff With Sticks) for example, is a bunch of teens and we like to make the hike more "fun" than a straight walk. Next time, try hitting people, trees, or ice with sticks. it adds at least a tiny bit of fun hearing your friends yell and run after you.

January 11, 2005

Next time, try hitting people, trees, or ice with sticks. it adds at least a tiny bit of fun hearing your friends yell and run after you.

I want to party with you!

January 11, 2005

My daughter calls non-cachers Nuggles (the N for Non). She said it sound more caching than Muggles. If that makes sense. But hey she is 13, stuck between being a kid and an adult. Such an akward age!

January 11, 2005

Next time, try hitting people, trees, or ice with sticks. it adds at least a tiny bit of fun hearing your friends yell and run after you

how about mountain bikers?

I would pay you.

My partners are too slim now, and I can't keep up with them, so I need some "help".

January 11, 2005

I believe another thread on the subject of the use of the word "Muggle" stated that in the Potter books, a Muggle was someone unaware of the secret world hidden all around, the magic out of sight to their daily world. Kind of describes ( in a poetic way ) the relationship Geocaching holds. So, adopting the term Muggle makes sense, even if in a "geeky" way.

You brought a tear to my eye! That's just beautiful!

I like the term muggle, I like Harry Potter, I am definitely a geek, and I don't care.

Didn't these guys see Revenge of the Nerds? The Nerds won! :laughing:

Edited January 11, 2005 by bradandangela.com

1.6k · January 11, 2005

like "muggles"????

Why don't internet forum people use everyday terms like "onlookers", as they would if they were talking in real life with real life everyday people?

Or do Geocachers talk that way when they meet in real life too?

I work for a medical school. When my wife and I are out and meet up with someone from the medical school, she refers to them as "Borg".

I think the "muggle" term is silly and juvenile and therefore don't use it. But its the same as calling other UNMC employees Borg. A way of communicating your thoughts in a narrowcasting mode while in a public place.

I refer to geocachers as cachers and non-geocachers as "other people" or "non-cachers".

1.2k · January 11, 2005

First of all, I am not a geek, and anyone who replies to this forum is a geek. Hey, wait a minute.... :laughing:

Why The Geeky Lingo?

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