Gail Carriger’s 7 Geeky Confessions (Occasional FAQ)

The Nerdy Girlie posted some Geeky Confessions to her blog a while ago. I love the idea, Gentle Reader.

Girls in fandom can get a lot of flack for not being true fans of all things geeky, whatever that means. As a result of having to defend myself when I was a young cosplaying teen, I’m always a little scared to admit that I don’t participate in certain areas of fandom. But, it’s time I owned the gaps in my geeky knowledge, because I’m still a proud geek, just not about all the things.

1959 Blouses via vintage-vs-retro tumblr

 

Confession #1: I Don’t Play Video Games

I had a brief affair with Super Mario way back in the day. I played Pong when it was on those cassettes and I’ve been known to Bejewel a bit of an evening, but that’s it. I loathe FPS, am totally uninterested in games with story arcs or quests (I’d sooner write my own, thank you very much), and don’t give two figs for any sort of alternative life world building scenario (I like the one I’m currently living in well enough).

Confession #2: Nor Do I Play Table Top, RPG, Magic the Gathering, or LARP

I understand it and I have hung out with gamers since I was a wee little baby-Gail. But I have never liked or been interested in this side of gaming either. I perfer to be goddess of my universe and I don’t like playing by anyone else’s rules, not even those governing DM. I’d rather be writing.

backstoryradio~ tumblr, Lantern slides showing movie theater etiquette and announcements, circa 1912. via Library of Congress.

 

Confession #3: I Don’t Enjoy Animated Movies

OK so there are a few exceptions, but most of the time I’m just not a big fan of the voice acting. I find it too extreme. Particularly if the movie is intended for children, I find the vocal cadences grating. Yes that includes Toy Story, and the Lego Movie, and Frozen, and… I know, the lips out in fandom are wobbling, “But but but Gail,” you say, “Have you tried …” It’s not that I won’t watch them, it’s just that they never really make it into the favorites column. However, adult cartoon series (like Invader Zim or Bob’s Burgers) are a different thing entirely.

Confession #4: I Don’t Like Horror

I don’t like the boo horror, or the gruesome horror, or the thriller horror, or the Jack Nicholson smiles-a-lot horror, or the shaky cam heavy breathing horror. I don’t like being scared. I’ll take a dark comedy with horrific leanings on occasion (like Black Sheep or Fido) but not the real thing.

Confession #5: I Was A Dancer Not A Theater Geek

I know. But I get horrible stage fright if I have to act. I’ve done it, and I’ve done it OK, but in the end I always freeze on stage and forget my lines. I never forget steps, dancing is a whole different thing for me. Give me music and I’m a happy girl, give me silence and I’m terrified. Unless, of course I’m lecturing about something upon which I am an expert. Then I’m fine. This is one of the reasons I prefer not to read from my books, I’m just not good at it. I’d rather just chatter about them.

backstoryradio ~ tumblr Lantern slides showing movie theater etiquette and announcements, circa 1912. via Library of Congress.

 

Confession #6: I Don’t Drink Soda

Not really a strictly geek thing, but it is pretty geeky. My gamer friends were always debating the relative merits of Pepsi versus Mountain Dew versus Popsididdly (or whatever). I don’t like any of it. No, really. None of it. Particularly not cola flavoring, yech. I never have. I wasn’t raised with pop and I don’t really like how sweet it is. If I want something fizzy I’m pretty happy with plain old sparkling water and a bit of lemon.

Confession #7: I Don’t Read Heinlein

I have tried a few times, but I simply dislike like his style of writing. I find his plots boring, I’m never even slightly interested in his characters, and I think his treatment of women is puerile at best. No I’m not going to try anymore of his stuff. I have neither the time nor inclination.

So have you lost all respect for me?

{Gail’s Book Group reading for January 2015 was Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis}

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GAIL’S DAILY DOSE

Your Moment of Parasol . . .

1915 Mourning Parasol c.1915 _ British Paintings tumblr

Your Infusion of Cute . . .

Pacific Scarf

Your Tisane of Smart . . .
Victorian Medicine

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .  
Finding Tips on Self-Editing at The Blood-Red Pencil

Quote of the Day:
“Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward.”
~ Jasmine Heiler

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