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The Nerd Handbook

From Rands in Repose’s Nerd Handbook, probably a good guide for Bailey (though I don’t quite fit the target completely):

But in nerds’ bit-based work, progress is measured mentally and invisibly in code, algorithms, efficiency, and small mental victories that don’t exist in a world of atoms.

I feel this phenomenon exists in formal linguistics as well, where the elegance of an analysis may be measured in theory-internal terms. It’s hard to get other people excited when they don’t share that same background, precisely as there is no physical manifestation of an analysis. At least Bailey’s good about listening, trying to understand, and being happy for me. ^^

(via Daring Fireball)

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2 Responses to “The Nerd Handbook”

  1. Akane Says:

    It’s hard to get other people duly excited that you’ve won at something when they don’t know the rules of the game that you’ve won at. :’C

  2. Bailey Says:

    While I do do my best to understand & be happy before you despite not being exceptionally diverted by syntax, the things I do get most excited about are also not physically manifested. Please give me proper respect. Respec’, as it were. As in, you bes’ reconize.

    Also, I have now read the article. Check.


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