We've had enough of the punk bang crash

[sovay]

Me to spatch: (some hours ago) I have no idea how to answer this friend's meme, "What's the dorkiest thing about you?" I never know if something I do is weird unless someone tells me. Does naming the Kuiper belt object count? Building the radio telescope? I don't have any hobbies. Is it dorky or just geeky to program a sci-fi marathon?

Me to spatch: (just now) You know what really pisses me off about the data scraping of commercial genetic testing? I really want to know if I have Phoenician DNA. I read the paper about it years ago. They have a very distinct haplotype. I got ancestry in the Levant. And I'm never going to find out, because I don't want to hand my nucleobases over to big business.

Me to spatch: (my brain having caught up with that last sentence my mouth was saying) That counts, doesn't it?

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

lol!

[sovay]

lol!

I think of these things!

[cmcmck]

I get it!

I'm well aware that I have complex, interesting ancestry, but I think the same way!

[sovay]

I'm well aware that I have complex, interesting ancestry, but I think the same way!

I'm glad it's relatable!

[vass]

That counts, and I agree with you on Big Data.

[sovay]

That counts, and I agree with you on Big Data.

As I desperately hold onto my dumb phone with no GPS in it, thank you!

[ashlyme]

You're a joy to know.

Over here we had the word "spod" or "spoddy", which is a lot less flattering than dork; "a dull or socially inept person, especially someone who is excessively studious". I'd like to reclaim this one!!!

PS: have you seen the video for "Disco Pope"? The dancing is hilarious. If only that had been 1990s pop...

[cmcmck]

I think I might be excessively studious! :op

[ashlyme]

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE SPODS.

[sovay]

You're a joy to know.

Thank you.

Over here we had the word "spod" or "spoddy", which is a lot less flattering than dork; "a dull or socially inept person, especially someone who is excessively studious". I'd like to reclaim this one!!!

Congratulations, I knew "swot," but I've never heard "spod." What's the etymology?

PS: have you seen the video for "Disco Pope"? The dancing is hilarious. If only that had been 1990s pop...

No! I'll have to check it out. I've got the song on a fantastic compilation called [Cease & Desist] DIY! Cult Classics from the Post-Punk Era (1978–82) (2015), which is a mouthful but well worth the listen. It was my introduction to just about everyone on the album.

[ashlyme]

Frustratingly, there doesn't seem to be an etymology for spod. I wonder if they mashed up some claggy, stolid-sounding words like "spud" and "clod" and went from there.

Thanks for the heads-up on the compilation!

[isis]

We are all a bunch of dorks who revel in our dorkiness! <3

[minoanmiss]

1) I totally agree with you about commercial genetic testing. As a descendant of slaves I really really want to know the history in my genes. But I do not want to hand over that intimate information as the price of knowing.

2) I LOVE the observation aobout the Phoenicians. love love love.

[sovay]

As a descendant of slaves I really really want to know the history in my genes. But I do not want to hand over that intimate information as the price of knowing.

It really shouldn't be such a difficult thing to ask.

I LOVE the observation aobout the Phoenicians. love love love.

Here's the paper I read in 2008. I bet there's been further study since.

[ethelmay]

Could you put it in under someone else's name?

[davidgillon]

That counts, doesn't it?

Absolutely!

[sovay]

Absolutely!

Thank you!

[newredshoes]

I feel same!! My dad really wants me to do the testing, and offers to pay for it like twice a year, but I just!!! Don't trust the companies!!! But I really want to know!

[sovay]

I feel same!! My dad really wants me to do the testing, and offers to pay for it like twice a year, but I just!!! Don't trust the companies!!! But I really want to know!

What I'm getting out of this conversation is that an ethical genetic testing service would make out like bandits. With a moral code.

[rosefox]

I was just saying the same thing about cruise ships. So many people would use ethical versions of things where the only current option is unethical. Bring on the B corps!

[selkie]

This is Shady BiL's actual professed line of work (DNA bioinformatics) so I will ask him if there is any way to do the thing off record.

[sovay]

This is Shady BiL's actual professed line of work (DNA bioinformatics) so I will ask him if there is any way to do the thing off record.

Just so long as I don't have to go to Russia for it. Leaving aside questions of plague and passports, I'm not sure, physiologically, I'm allowed on a plane.

[moon_custafer]

I’d consider all those things to be geeky rather than dorky.

[handful_ofdust]

Agreed! "Dorky" usually has more to do with lack of social skills, airs and/or graces. My dorkiest quality is probably telling Mom jokes, these days, or sharing stuff about Cal when I know nobody's interested.

[sovay]

My dorkiest quality is probably telling Mom jokes, these days, or sharing stuff about Cal when I know nobody's interested.

Okay, so what do I do that's dorky? Everyone keeps telling me I have social skills!

[selkie]

See, it's just that it's not your fault, it was downloaded in your Queer Subscription Bundle; it's really dorky that you can't sit in the sit part of a chair.

(Next time I think Gentlethem, you nerd, you want I should pull over and tell you? With the caveat nerd, dork, geek, weirdo, &c are all distinct.)

[sovay]

I’d consider all those things to be geeky rather than dorky.

Dammit!

[gwynnega]

Hee!

[sovay]

Hee!

I am remain unconvinced other people don't think like this, but that is probably a limitation on my part.