I don’t know if I would choose “geek” as a good identifier of who I am. Nonetheless, I find myself deeply entrenched within that particular group’s characteristics.
Stuff like videogames, bad sci-fi, superhero flicks and even that most base and cliched of nerd activities, anime, are all in my wheelhouse.
It goes without saying that when you surround yourself in the culture of a specific demographic, you will be exposed to the opinions of your fellow consumers.
I agree with most of them.
For example, I and the rest of my people are of one mind that Hawkeye is the worst avenger, and we, if given a time machine, would defy the established rule that you have to use it to kill Hitler and would instead stop the Prequel Trilogy from ever being made.
However, the Great Collective Intelligence and I differ in our views on academia. When it comes to what majors are and are not complete wastes of money, the popular wisdom is that all those who pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions are bound for success, while those who do not are bound to serve the former coffee.
This is, I assume, a result of people who major in hard sciences and people who major in more “fluffy” subjects getting along like Hatfields and McCoys.
That is, if their animosity came from one family’s sexual frustration and an inability to be fun at parties.
I kid, of course. After all, if you allowed yourself to be angered by the comments of a few asocial narcissists on Reddit, you would rarely find yourself not in a fit of rage.
However, like many stupid beliefs, there is a kernel of truth wrapped in the over-buttered, unfulfilling popcorn bag of elitist rhetoric.
The fact of the matter is that companies that would traditionally employ all those humanities majors are disappearing rapidly. Not just the specific positions, but the professions as a whole.
Editors are becoming an endangered species as publishing companies are giving their books a quick once-over because, let’s face it, if you have a book that’s not good enough to publish with little to no work, there are so many writers that another one will come along before too long.
Reporters, too, are speedily devolving into automatic writers that trawl social media for story info and publish endlessly recycled news on pop-culture events.
I have made my peace with the fact that I am not good at math and, while I may love bio and science in general, they certainly don’t love me back.
So what’s a boy with a math disability (or am I differently abled at math now? I can’t remember) to do?
Well, I don’t know. It’s not as if I have a target profession to fear for, but I am very aware that the jobs I might be good at are rapidly disappearing.
Oh, well. Even if Reddit is right, I can always find a job.
So, do you need room for cream?
Previously published in the print edition on April 28, 2015.
