Elitist geek crap from disrespectful, whiny, annoying and arrogant “coders” and tech “professionals”
My extreme disdain for elitism in any form can be traced back to my roots in a country that was enslaved by the British for over 200 years. The British considered themselves to be so much better than the natives that they posted “Dogs and Indian not allowed” signs all over the public places within India during their rule. We still have those signs around to remind us of the pitfalls of elitism and respect our painful past.
I have recently come across quite a few articles and forum discussions that are just supremely elitist. “Because we can ….(insert technical/code/engineering jargon here) we are better than the next person just does not know about our crap.” Let me clear the air here. You are full of horse sh*t. If you think you are so much better than the person you are looking down upon, you my friend, are really mistaken. Just because you know a little more about something, does not make you the best there ever was. In addition, there are LOTS of people that know more than you do and do not rub your nose into the ground for being a dumbass. You were as clever as the next baby when you were born and probably still are very childish. You have never learnt to get along with people and this sudden shriking stream of knowledge that has managed to squeeze in between the beer and the pictures of women/men has grabbed your wild and perverted imagination. If you think your little square inch of knowledge makes you an “elite”, you are nothing but a fool.
This quote embodies the quest for knowledge and the humility that should surround the process.
I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.—Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
We are all human beings, some a little better off than others. Communities, friendship and brotherhood are the only anecdotes to our daily drudgery and fight for survival. There are only a few qualities in another human that I consider commendable and laudable. Humility, attempt at service unto others and respect for others, are on the top of that list. If respect for others is beneath your radar, your pomposity should only be rewarded with the same medicine that you dish out to others. People, get over it, you are not that much better than anyone else!
If you STILL consider yourself to be an elite AND a big bag of chips (which you probably still do, arrogant people are like that) please DO NOT put down others that are trying to be helpful to others. Your opines are not solicited and your animosity towards us “normal, lowly people” is unwelcome and unappreciated. So go be an elitist geek somewhere else, please.
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itna gussa? :O
Comment by achhoo 2/5/2004 @ 1:04 pmGreat post. I totally agree and feel the same way about people who think they are better for whatever reasons. Nobody’s better and those who think they are are driven by ignorance and arrogance. With the passage of time those who think they are better will be forgotten as a testimony to their unimportance. This “I’m/We’re better” thing aside from being ridiculous, is the bane of this world and has caused no end of misery and suffering across the planet. Sorry to hear some British people behaved so badly in a India. I’m part Irish and I have read about how in America at one time signs on bar/restaurant windows said ‘No dogs. No Irish.” Again a case of ignorance and arrogance. Ignorance because they judged all Irish as being lowlifes and arrogance because they felt superior to people new to America.
Comment by Bob Boyd 2/5/2004 @ 8:15 pmWelcome to the black plight. Aside from that, it’s always baffled me how we, the most intelligent creatures on earth, who can communicate and do things no other animal, can do, who can build space ships and make love, art, blogs (lol) still must bicker over our differences. I’m not a hardcore trekky, but one thing I did get from Gene’s vision is that in the future man will be judged by his character. People who must feel that they are better than someone else have a part of them that they are ashamed of, no one is perfect and to pretend to be shows your imperfection.
Comment by Maurice 2/5/2004 @ 10:37 pmVery well said. I totally agree, and I apologise for British behaviour as I am British. Have a good weekend Mark.
Comment by Annie 2/6/2004 @ 6:09 amThe other day, my “low coolant” light went off, so I went to the gas station to get some and put it in. I didn’t know if radiator coolant was the same as radiator fluid (I mean, baking soda is a powder, so you would think that baking powder and baking soda would be the same thing, right? ok, well, maybe it’s just me then…).
Anyway, I screamed “HEY
Does anyone know anything about cars?” Someone responded, and I said “is radiator coolant the same thing as radiator fluid?” and they looked at me like I was a complete idiot.
As I drove away, I realized that people who are mechanically inclined, people who work at autoshops and tire stores think we educated people are “stupid” for not knowing how to fix our own cars. And we educated people think mechanics are stupid because they cannot recite the nuances of string theory (ok, I have very little idea what string theory is, but I know more about religion, education and sport than anyone should know…).
The bottom line is that, for the most part, computer engineers would be screwed if their cars broke down if it weren’t for mechanics. And mechanics would not be able to do their jobs without computers or some sort of computerized service (every auto parts distributor is computerized…not to mention phones and cash registers).
Thus, there is no room for elitism. Sure, I cannot code worth a damn. But do those techies know how to efficiently manage and motivate a team of workers? Or explain the QB rating? Or tell me what the difference is between Sunnis and Shi’ites?
Comment by Thomas 2/10/2004 @ 10:45 pmDude, you hit the nail right on the head! I’m off, now, to have a glass of oj. Have a great day, my friend!
Comment by Craig 2/19/2004 @ 8:19 pmI grew up in India as well. There is a time and place for elitism. It promotes subgroups of people to pursue certain areas (mathematics, science) with the sort of tunnel vision for decades that leads to breakthroughs. Irritating at times, but that’s the reality of things.
Comment by Indian Person 7/28/2009 @ 6:22 am