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I Was Geeky When Geeky Wasn't Cool
Being geeky isn’t really geeky these days. But back in the 80s, being a geek was a death sentence for a kid’s social life. Nobody knew that better than me.
I was the stereotypical nerd: I was smart, wore glasses, was terrible at sports, and had my nose stuck in a book most of the time. I was different, and that meant I was made fun of. To cope with all the teasing, I would lose myself in other worlds, those with spaceships and lasers, or longswords and dragons. I devoured TV, movies, and comic books with a fervent passion. None of these obsessions made me any more popular.
Inside this book are my most vivid memories of being a weird, nerdy kid. Some of these stories detail the different crazes I threw myself into, ranging from comic book heroes and form-shifting robots to Dungeons & Dragons and pop music. Some of these tales are about trying hard to fit in and be "normal". A healthy dollop of nostalgia flavors all these anecdotes of what it was like growing up geeky in the 80s.
I was the stereotypical nerd: I was smart, wore glasses, was terrible at sports, and had my nose stuck in a book most of the time. I was different, and that meant I was made fun of. To cope with all the teasing, I would lose myself in other worlds, those with spaceships and lasers, or longswords and dragons. I devoured TV, movies, and comic books with a fervent passion. None of these obsessions made me any more popular.
Inside this book are my most vivid memories of being a weird, nerdy kid. Some of these stories detail the different crazes I threw myself into, ranging from comic book heroes and form-shifting robots to Dungeons & Dragons and pop music. Some of these tales are about trying hard to fit in and be "normal". A healthy dollop of nostalgia flavors all these anecdotes of what it was like growing up geeky in the 80s.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
37 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 5, 2019
Letting your Freak Flag fly.
I was never a geek, but I found this book both entertaining and touching. If Marc had been born in the 21st century, he would have been "tested" and probably diagnosed as "on the autism spectrum." Possibly the term "Aspergers" would have been used.
It's fallen out of favor with the medical profession now, but most of us recognize an Aspie when we see one. The bright, awkward folks who seemed to have dropped in from another planet. They love math and science, tend to be obsessive about their interests, and they must learn the norms of human interaction as they would a foreign language. If you're related to an Aspie or married to one or work with one, you've heard stories of struggles and defeats and triumphs. Of bullying and unexpected kindness and (for the lucky ones) of finally meeting peers and coming to realize their strengths.
Today the Aspies seem to rule our technologically-immersed world, but that wasn't always the case. I think Marc's story of growing up in the 1980's is a typical one. He was lucky. He had loving parents who made an effort to understand him and to help him fit in. They must have been puzzled about their off-beat son, but their kindness and understanding shines through. The worse thing he says about them is that his mother disapproved of MTV and his father refused to play anything but country music. These were problems for a kid who was using music to fit in with his peers, but he managed.
To some extent, these are the memories of any boy growing up in the 1980's. Transformers and boom boxes. Comic books and baseball cards. Dungeons & Dragons and Legos. But through the story runs the theme of a stranger in a strange land. A kid who was despised, bullied, and (frequently) friendless. There were glimmers of light as the education system began to grope toward meeting the needs of "gifted" students. One day a week, he attended a special program, where he met kids who shared his interests. It was a lifeline.
It's fascinating to read how he consciously used baseball (as a spectator sport, NOT playing it!) and rock music to forge connections with other kids. Did the backing of loving parents give him the confidence to do this or was he simply close enough to "normal" to be able to decode human social norms and put them to work for him? This is a mystery that parents and teachers still struggle with.
One thing surprised me. Elementary school was a bad time for him (with the exception of the gifted program) and I was ready for tales of horror when he moved to Middle School (which he calls "Junior High.") Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth grade students (generally 11 to 14) are notoriously savage toward those who don't fit in. It's a time with the "mean" kids zero in on those perceived as easy targets and make their lives hell. But to Marc, moving to Junior High marked a big improvement in his social life. More kids, changing classes, band, and a growing appreciation of academic talent. Was it a difference in faculty attitudes? Or had Marc come far enough toward "fitting in" that he was able to do so once he moved from a school where he was stamped as "weird" in indelible ink?
Today, "Sheldon" is an iconic character and Comicon conventions generate millions of dollars in revenue for the host cities. "Geeks" in Klingon costumes are universally admired. In schools, gifted programs are the norm and the trophies won by the Robotics Club are displayed along with those of the sports teams. There are still cliques and bullying, but there's more understanding than before that we aren't all meant to be the same.
Congratulations, Marc, for achieving a happy life while still being yourself. And thank you for writing a book that will encourage young people struggling with "geekiness." I loved this book.
Note: If you're interested in this subject, John Elder Robison's books ("Look Me in the Eye" and "Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian") are some of the best I've read. Both are available in Kindle editions.
I was never a geek, but I found this book both entertaining and touching. If Marc had been born in the 21st century, he would have been "tested" and probably diagnosed as "on the autism spectrum." Possibly the term "Aspergers" would have been used.
It's fallen out of favor with the medical profession now, but most of us recognize an Aspie when we see one. The bright, awkward folks who seemed to have dropped in from another planet. They love math and science, tend to be obsessive about their interests, and they must learn the norms of human interaction as they would a foreign language. If you're related to an Aspie or married to one or work with one, you've heard stories of struggles and defeats and triumphs. Of bullying and unexpected kindness and (for the lucky ones) of finally meeting peers and coming to realize their strengths.
Today the Aspies seem to rule our technologically-immersed world, but that wasn't always the case. I think Marc's story of growing up in the 1980's is a typical one. He was lucky. He had loving parents who made an effort to understand him and to help him fit in. They must have been puzzled about their off-beat son, but their kindness and understanding shines through. The worse thing he says about them is that his mother disapproved of MTV and his father refused to play anything but country music. These were problems for a kid who was using music to fit in with his peers, but he managed.
To some extent, these are the memories of any boy growing up in the 1980's. Transformers and boom boxes. Comic books and baseball cards. Dungeons & Dragons and Legos. But through the story runs the theme of a stranger in a strange land. A kid who was despised, bullied, and (frequently) friendless. There were glimmers of light as the education system began to grope toward meeting the needs of "gifted" students. One day a week, he attended a special program, where he met kids who shared his interests. It was a lifeline.
It's fascinating to read how he consciously used baseball (as a spectator sport, NOT playing it!) and rock music to forge connections with other kids. Did the backing of loving parents give him the confidence to do this or was he simply close enough to "normal" to be able to decode human social norms and put them to work for him? This is a mystery that parents and teachers still struggle with.
One thing surprised me. Elementary school was a bad time for him (with the exception of the gifted program) and I was ready for tales of horror when he moved to Middle School (which he calls "Junior High.") Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth grade students (generally 11 to 14) are notoriously savage toward those who don't fit in. It's a time with the "mean" kids zero in on those perceived as easy targets and make their lives hell. But to Marc, moving to Junior High marked a big improvement in his social life. More kids, changing classes, band, and a growing appreciation of academic talent. Was it a difference in faculty attitudes? Or had Marc come far enough toward "fitting in" that he was able to do so once he moved from a school where he was stamped as "weird" in indelible ink?
Today, "Sheldon" is an iconic character and Comicon conventions generate millions of dollars in revenue for the host cities. "Geeks" in Klingon costumes are universally admired. In schools, gifted programs are the norm and the trophies won by the Robotics Club are displayed along with those of the sports teams. There are still cliques and bullying, but there's more understanding than before that we aren't all meant to be the same.
Congratulations, Marc, for achieving a happy life while still being yourself. And thank you for writing a book that will encourage young people struggling with "geekiness." I loved this book.
Note: If you're interested in this subject, John Elder Robison's books ("Look Me in the Eye" and "Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian") are some of the best I've read. Both are available in Kindle editions.
April 19, 2019
Memory Lane
Marc Allie is the same age as my son. So reading this was a real treat, as it brought back memories of my son at the same age, during the same era. Having been a geek myself, before the term was ever used, I watched my son go through the same stages that the author did. I laughed, I chuckled though the entire book. It was interesting and fun and totally captivated me. If you ever thought you were different and just wanted to be normal, this is one book you don't want to miss.
Marc Allie is the same age as my son. So reading this was a real treat, as it brought back memories of my son at the same age, during the same era. Having been a geek myself, before the term was ever used, I watched my son go through the same stages that the author did. I laughed, I chuckled though the entire book. It was interesting and fun and totally captivated me. If you ever thought you were different and just wanted to be normal, this is one book you don't want to miss.
June 27, 2017
A wonderful slice of geeky nostalgia that reminded me of my own childhood interests and shenanigans - and my geeky tendencies that became less a liability and more an advantage as an adult. :-)
August 1, 2021
It’s kind of like the book A Christmas Story was based on but for the 1980s.
January 8, 2015
Like taking a ride in a time machine!
So many references to the same things I enjoyed in the 80's. Some I had completely forgotten about. Great nostalgic read. Highly recommend.
So many references to the same things I enjoyed in the 80's. Some I had completely forgotten about. Great nostalgic read. Highly recommend.
May 31, 2016
Reminds us all of those great childhood memories
A sweet book that takes one back to the joys and terrors of childhood. Best of all a happy ending because the geeks win in the end.
A sweet book that takes one back to the joys and terrors of childhood. Best of all a happy ending because the geeks win in the end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews