so I took that nerd test

[jlh]

And before you say it, I KNOW it was a stupid thing to do because I'm so conflicted about my lack of "classic" geekery. But I didn't realize it would be THIS stupid. Hopefully this experience will remind me not to take these quizzes in the future.

There are 42 questions, and each of them has a joke answer at the end.

• I chose the joke answer 36 times.
  
• I answered two incorrectly.
  • I couldn't remember what Neo said.
    
  • I got the wording of the Question wrong.
• I had four correct answers
  • One was because I know enough math to figure out 42 in binary. This is half math and half knowing "42", which I knew from the TV show and not the book, although maybe because someone in college told me once and I remembered it. Half credit.
    
  • One was because I knew the number value of the Question if not the wording and could figure out in what base it was 42. Half credit, because I'm not sure if remembering how bases work from seventh grade math counts as actually being geeky rather than just being good at math and remembering how bases work, and because I know the Question for the same reason as the Answer.
    
  • I knew Klaatu Verata Nicto but I consider that a cheat, as I knew it because it's a classic film, not because it's a science fiction film. No credit.
    
  • I knew that Sherlock Holmes isn't in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a cheat, as calloocallay leant it to me because she thought I would like it and part of why I liked it was all the Victorian references, which isn't really geeky, and it stands as the only comic book I've ever read. No credit.
• My initial score was 9.5%, but with adjustments it is properly 2.4%, though they have the same text answer anyway: "You're clean. Although, the fact that you made it through the entire test without leaving in disgust probably does count for something..."

My first reaction was the same vague depression that I greet any reminder that I spent my youth watching movies and reading golden age British mystery novels and my twenties inhaling modern mystery romance novels. This does not depress me in and of itself; what depresses me is that this isn't true of anyone I know or have ever known, except maybe tromboneborges's mother. My second reaction was to think, "I am going to make my own quiz and put my own things on it, so there!" except that none of you would even take it, because you wouldn't think you would do well, see first reaction, see deepening of depression.

This reminds me that my latest realization is that I'm not sure they will give me the PhD even if I get all the work done and do well because I can drive. calloocallay can't drive. The prof I worked for this term can't drive. A prof I had last term can't drive. And that's just the people that I know about. I wonder if there is a secret test and if you can get from Pasadena to LAX on the freeways they blackball you from academia.

I'm off to DC this weekend to see piles of people who will no doubt make me feel better about all of this. In the meantime, Olbermann did another special comment last night which no doubt has hit youtube by now, so he gets the iconage. At least I get all of his references.

Comments

[evil-erato.livejournal.com]

Just remember, there is a chocolate fountain in your future, and tons of squishes when you get here! :D *waits impatiently for the day to be over with*

[mahoni.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there is a secret test and if you can get from Pasadena to LAX on the freeways they blackball you from academia.

:))

According to the test, I am 21.428571428571427% nerd. However, this is mainly because there were a lot of Star Trek questions, and I watched a ton of Star Trek when I was a kid. Most of the test made me go O_o. And here I had always thought I was a big geek. Apparently not as big as I could be...

[calloocallay.livejournal.com]

Well, I scored in the 40s, which makes me, according to this test, a well-balanced nerd. I am tempted to just accept that, since it seems to be a compliment, but frankly, this test is secretly skewed in at least one of the same ways the song white&nerdy is. I say we do our own, Clio. And let's have females, fictional or non, appear somewhere on our version, shall we?

[tropes.livejournal.com]

Dude I am a massive nerd and I only got 36%. That test is totally skewed towards computers and gaming stuff.

[smilie117.livejournal.com]

I am just that I'll miss seeing you this weekend - it's been too long - of course it would be that the weekend you come down to DC, I'm heading back up to NYC for a friend's bridal shower - go figure. Have a blast!

*notes to self to try test later*