Friday, July 25, 2008

Geek Dating

I couldn't resist the urge for another slightly off topic post. I'm getting ready to be a bridesmaid for a friend's wedding today (rehearsal tonight, big event tomorrow!). That made me reminisce on my own wedding, and I realized our one year anniversary is coming up at the end of August. Some people say you shouldn't partner with someone too much like you, but I have to say, marrying another geek was the best thing I could have done!

Let's have a dreamy flashback for a moment. In high school, I knew I wanted to do something with computers afterward, but wasn't sure exactly what. I had always had my own computer in my room (thanks to my dad and the government's surplus of machines). I toyed around with layout, graphics and design software, right back to the good old days of Print Shop. I wanted to know how these things worked "behind the screen". Computer science or software engineering were looking pretty good.

In Grade 11, I met Andrew. He was into computers, too. In fact, he seemed to already know about programming and networking. He was planning on going to Algonquin College for a computer science diploma program. Turns out he was able to inspire me and help me figure out which program I should take. As the time drew nearer for me to embark on that post secondary journey, he helped give me the confidence to dive into a subject (i.e. programming) I never had time for in high school.

And here we are, all those years later, happily married and both still geeks!

It may be true that doing the exact same thing might incite competition between two people, and could be bad for a relationship. Luckily for us, even though we are both computer science geeks, we are different enough in the field to avoid this problem. He works in industry and is more about learning about different technologies and understanding systems, while I'm still in school and enjoy working with algorithms and visual stuff.

But I have to say, there's nothing better than being able to come home from a long day, and be able to complain about with the other person understanding what the heck you are talking about!

And just for fun, I leave you with a classic Craig's List post: Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

For me, it really depends on the situation...At times I wish my gf knew more about computers so that I could explain to her what exactly I was doing at work, but on the other hand, I really enjoy bringing it down a few levels and explaining it in 'layman's' terms.

It helps me understand how the not-so-geeky person things, because I have to do the same at work, when I'm speaking to a non-technical colleague.

Anonymous said...

I love your Blog, Gail! I am a computer science PhD student here in the United States and its such a blessing to be able to date someone in the CS field. I cannot imagine dating anybody w/o a CS background! I really do not want to have to use non-CS jargon to get my point across!

Gail Carmichael said...

Thanks UnhandledException :) It's so true, I don't think I could handle it either!

Unknown said...

Get an attitude,dude.Too much politeness is not so good.Women like dominant men.Just get into a personality take makes you say “Yes I am the man.”Hold yourself too much excitation will spoil the fun.Be daring.Dont fear of asking any thing to her.Dare to look in her eyes and talk.Have your upper hand.Just shit it out.Ask her questions rather than answering all time.Being suspicous is bad.Make things clear while you talk so that there’s nothing to hide for which you will regret later.Stop try talking like you are impressing her and just be yourself.

Talk in Strong gestures rather than being a wuss.

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