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Are IT Specialists Geeks? How can you tell?

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by lumberjack

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At a dinner party last night, I described a few of my current and past work colleagues.
The reply I got - "They all sound like Geeks!"
I thought it was a most unfair generalisation (as you will no doubt agree) However it was the main topic of conversation for quite a while.
What it boiled down to was awarding points for certain attributes and how 'strong' they were, which i must admit were common to us!
Here was some our categories - interests in
"trekkie"; "Military history"; "Sci-Fi"; "Home networks"; "latest gadgets"; "classic or sports cars". Upto 10 points awarded to each categories - doubles in that last one if personalised number plate!

Now for some examples

Me - 9 + 8 + 10 + 8 + 6 + 6 = 47 IT Specialist
"j1" 4 + 7 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 6 = 36 IT Prof
"j2" 8 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 3 = 21 Uses IT in Job
"m" 3 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 8 + 5 = 21 No IT interest
"l" 1 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 7 + 5 = 21 No IT Interest
"a" 2 + 8 + 7 + 5 + 7 + 6 = 35 IT Power user

Obviously just a bit of fun - and only 6 people but there does seem to be a trend!

Try it yourself - what do you think?

32 replies

by mrbill-

My scores 8 + 10 + 8 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 40. Does that make me an IT Prof? I'd score myself higher in home networking and gadgets if I had the money for them.

by hal 9000

But is that such a bad thing? Every profession has it's specalists and in the computer Industry it's the IT guys & girls that fall into this catagory. Just try to explain how "The Blaster Worm" actually worked to a non computer person, you'll see their eyes glase over and then they start making excuses like I'm busy or things to that effect, the more honest ones will just tell you that they don't understand you but these are few and far between as very few people don't want to lok as if they don't know it all!

But what's so bad about being a "Geek"? After all that doesn't mean that we all have pocket protecters and bad hair cuts with out of fashion clothes it just means that we work in an area that most others just don't understand.

The IT specalist is as much a Geek as the Surgen who cuts you up when your are sick with some form of injury or failing organ but to date I've never heard these people being refered to as Geeks or the Barraster who know all about his/her profession but little to nothing else.

Lets face it any professional person who specalises in an area is a Geek but this isn't necessarly a bad thing and I for one would be willing to be called anything no matter what if I had made as much money as the "Supper Geek God Gates."

A "geek" is normally thought of as some form of degeratory term by the cool ones but it is the "Geeks" who make things work so that the "Cool Ones" will have the things that they want every day, withoput us Geeks the world just couldn't continue in its present form.

CL

by mrbill-

But what are your numbers? Hey us "Geeks" gotta have some fun. Yes I accept that title, for the reasons you said in your post. Though I could not have said it so well.

by hal 9000

Out my numbers because they aren't in Hex.

So I guess that qualifies me as something like a "Super Geek," don't you think so?

by hal 9000

But in all honesty I rate badly in the 0-10 scale because I've spent a lot of time in pain clinicks where they ask the same question and I just can't answer then, I know it sounds stupid but how can you relate to pain when you've had it for soo long that you've forgotten what it's like not to have any. I always try to rate things acording to what I know so I constantly refer to pain like what a broken arm is like and weather what I'm suffereing is better or worse.

But here goes.

Trekkie that has to rate as a 10 because I have all the videos from the first series to the lattest with the exception of Enterprise which I don't like as I think that it is to far removed from the original concept.

Military history I would rate that somewhere around 4 as I'm not all that knollegable on this subject unless it involves computers and then I know a little.

Sci-Fi that would have to rate as a 10 because I just can't get enough of it no matter where it comes from so either TV or books get read and with books I just keep the things so they are constantly available when required.

Home Networks that would have to rate as an 8 because I don't have a connection in the bathroom but I have tried to get rid of the bed so I can fit more computers in the place but currently I'm limited to 8 Windows bassed computers and 5 Linux based computers with various forms of Linux installed. Is it worth extra points if you prefer Debian as an OS?

Lattest Gagets I would rate that as 2 because while I'm interested I just can't be bothered learning to use any unless absoultly necessary for the business, I can't even use my current mobile phone as I'm just too lazy to read the instruction book but as I keep breaking them I no longer bother trying to learn how they work.

Classic or Sports Cars I would have to rate thsi as a 10 because I used to have a 1976 280 SE Mercedes Benz in mint condition until a truck rear ended it and wrote the thing off, But I do have a 1982 Ducati 900SS which allows me to contribute a lot to consolited revenue from speeding tickets. And do I get double points here for a personalised number plate on the Mercedes being HAL 6000?

One more question do I get extra points for not being understood by any of the surgical staff after an operation and my only inteligable coment when they where trying to bring me around was something about having a pain in my D drive, or so I'm told by my wife?

Well by my count without extra points that gives me 44 points but I think I deserve extra points for the D drive coment while under a general. But I'll leave that one you to you guys to judge.

Col

by djent

The one they call when presented with a BSOD, and happy to see me at that.

by lumberjack

the descriptions on the RHS was how my friends classed themselves! and it did tally with the scores.

Love your reply Col re the cool ones actually rely on us.

Perhaps we can set a new industry standard
Apprentice geek or trainee geek
junior Geek
Geek
Senior Geek
Specialist Geek
Consultant Geek

by hal 9000

As in theory I own the business {although you would never know this if you where to run into my office manager} at the moment I constantly refer to myself as the "Alledged Boss" as it seems that I'm only necessary when something goes wrong and I have to straighten it out.

But I honestly get the feeling that I'm killing myself just to keep all my staff in a job so maybe I could call myself "the Alledged Boss Geek."

Any suggestions?

by oz_media

Well I scored a 29. 0-2-0-7-10-10.
I originally had 0 for military history but seeing as I come from a military family and was in ATC in England, I'll give myself a 2.

I think geeks these days are a little different than the geeks we beat up in school though.
I think they are better defined as nerds or dweebs, the dork with the glasses taped up, the argyle sweaters, pocket protectors etc.

I get called a geek when I show up at a club or rehearsal with my now collar length "short hair" and a laptop. Around a bunch of leather wearing, guitar toting biker types, I just don't stand out as NON-GEEK unless people knew me from when I was younger, but I pay thier checks so they can deal with it.

If I go to the office, they see me as biker bob the male slut. I have longer hair than most IT staff, oooooh....collar length with bangs in my eyes, what a rebel. Always wear jeans now, I used to play corporate puppet but cut my strings a while back and the last time I went to Vancouver, I wore an old Judas Priest T-Shirt (not thinking) with a big fist on the front making the middle finger jesture. I'm well known as a former bar slut, if she was still breathing and sitting on a bar stool at 2AM, she would be making breakfast, but since have tamed a bit.

So I guess it depends where you are and who you're with. In most office environments, I'm the tough-guy rebel with the attitude. In other places, I'm the geek.

People are so quicjk to judge these days that they will quickly jump to a conclusion and feel they can analyse a person based on visual impressions. Don't judge a book by it's cover, it's surprisingly easy to mislead those narrow minded individuals who feel they can sum up a person these days. As for the psychoanalysts, they just crack me up, how can you determine a personality based on thoughts and beliefs. They could be different tomorrow.

by lordinfidel

Long time trekkie fan.... Mostly Next Generation.
Not the recent stuff though.

8 for trekkie (lose a 2 points for the last 2 evolutions)

Military History-- depends on if this meant history buff or just enamored with miltiary stuff.
Since I was in the army for 6 years and love war films.

10- just for the service and love of war films

Sci-Fi: Cheesy or Not cheesy, if it's on I will watch it. (WitchBlade, Miracles, Highlander, etc)

10- for sci-fi

Home Networks- Not sure what you mean by this; but do I have a home network; let's see, In my office 2 servers, 1 linux firewall, network drops in every room including the bathrooms and kitchen (2 in bedroom- they all run thru conduit into my office which then goes into a patch panel in the wall) a gaming machine, plus 2 4port kvms so I can work on other machines.

I guess a 10 for the home network.

Latest Gadgets- while they are cool to look at, I prefer the tried and trued. Not big on having to have the latest and greatest. Not even a big follower of the trends.

a 5 for the latest gadgets.

Sports car- drive a Black 02 Mustang Rouch Stage3
No personalized, but I have it picked out: g33k or n3tg0d (but I do have a ./ and geek sticker on my car)

10 for the car.

So that is what, 43.

You should have another category that is worth bonus points. Like spends more then 1K per yr on technical books.

by mrbill-

"Home Networks- Not sure what you mean by this; but do I have a home network; let's see, In my office 2 servers, 1 linux firewall, network drops in every room including the bathrooms and kitchen (2 in bedroom- they all run thru conduit into my office which then goes into a patch panel in the wall) a gaming machine, plus 2 4port kvms so I can work on other machines.

I guess a 10 for the home network"

You should get 3 extra points for your home system. In the bathroom, how cool is that. The with the conduit, nice touch.

by generalist

Do you get extra points if you are a trekker as opposed to a trekkie? Or if you've read SF and F instead of Sci Fi and Fantasy.

I'm afraid that I hit forty points with trekkie, military history, sci fi and home networks even without extra points.

I fall behind in the latest gadget category mainly because the family spends more money on SF&F books and has little interest in keeping up with the gadgeteers. But I suspect that subscribing to things like Popular Science and Popular Mechanics and assorted computer magazines would give me about three points.

When it comes to classic or sports cars, I would at best score a one because of budget and desire restraints. I like to look but I stay clear of owning them because I consider cars and such to be more tool than toy. Still, I try to keep a long held collection of Matchbox and HotWheel cars up to date and in display condition. They may not be useful for driving but they make great eye candy.

by maecuff

I don't care much about cars, gadgets, star trek, etc. However, I do know that answer is 42. I'll go to vendor demos for the free food and I get pissed if a vendor comes to visit and doesn't leave a toy for me.

by jardinier

If by "trekkie" you mean globe-trotter, then I score a zero. If I qualify for exploring my own country (it is rather large) then a 3.
"Military History" 3.
"Sci-Fi" 7 for interest, and top it up to 10 because I have written a Sci-Fi novel.
"Home Network" 0.
"Latest gadgets" 4 for interest, but 0 because I can't afford to buy them.
"Classic Car" well that depends on how you rate a 1982 Volvo. I would give it 5, but I'll leave that to you.
"Personalised Number Plate" Well, with the plate "JULIAN" I guess I earn the bonus 10.

So averaging out the doubtfuls, I come up with a score of 30.

I am not an IT Pro, but to the average home computer user or novice, I am considered extremely knowledgeable.

I am definitely a Geek because, although I started in this area only a few years ago, computers have taken over my life. My astute girlfriend once suggested I take my my computer to bed with me (realising it was my true love). However I pointed out it would probably get pregnant and I would have even more computers. While not networked I have 6 in my apartment (including 2 Macs) and 5 in my workshop.

by oz_media

Well, by Trekkie I think they mean Star Trek (if it was sarcasm I missed, slap me silly and call me bitch), which I've NEVER liked or found the least bit amusing. I think it all started with Kirk's ridiculously built plywood chair, sorry, but Star Trek lost ALL credibility when I realized I'd make a more realistic chair at age 12.

An '82 Volvo with a PERSONALIZED PLATE?? Isn't the plate worth more than the car? Not to knock one of the most cleverly engineered cars man has ever made.

by jardinier

Actually, OZ, I'm hoping that Julian Lennon will someday decide to settle in New South Wales and offer me $100,000 (or $1 million) for the plate.
I daresay the trading of number plates is commonplace in Canada and the USA as it is in Australia.
With our 6 letter/digit plates, JAGUAR would definitely be worth more than the car, and VOLVO would be worth probably more than the price of a brand new car of that make. And so on ...
Highly specialized number plates are listed in the used cars section of the newspaper classified ads.
But I LOVE my number plate, which everyone commends highly.
I intend to have it riveted to my chest when I am buried.
And if trekkie does refer to Star Trek, then we differ in taste. In my case it would increase my score in the game.

by jardinier

While reading through the other posts, I realise that I interpreted some of the questions incorrectly. So just to set the record straight, I'll start again.

Now if "trekkie" had been spelled (or spelt -- both correct) with a capital letter, then I would not have interpreted it as the, mostly European, backpackers who trek around the globe. As other members have also put different interpretations on some of the other criteria, here I go with a fresh start.

"trekkie" 10 points (I especially like the Next Generation series, and the various spin-off movies).
"Military History" 5 points as I love watching War movies. Another 0.5 points for being in the Army and subsequently Air Force cadets during High School.
"Sci-Fi" 7, and top it up to 10 because I have written a Sci-Fi novel.
"Home Network" 0.
"Latest Gadgets" I will give myself 5 points for strong interest, but inability to purchase.
"Classic Car" Well I'll accept 3 for the Volvo, and another 2 points retrospectively for the 1935 Studebaker which I used to own, and painted it black and tangerine.
And of course 10 points for the personalised number plate.

New total score, 45.5

by thechas

I for one am proud to be a geek.

Generally, anyone who is technically literate, and lacking knowledge of current cultural trivia is a geek.

A full fledged computer geek spends more time with their PC than they do with other humans. However, there is a fine line between this class of geek and being a nerd.

A nerd has the additional handicap of not being able to socialize with anyone who is not also a nerd.

My favorite web based retailer is Computer Geeks
www.compgeeks.com

Geeks RULE!!!

Chas

by thechas

Forgot to include my scores:

Trekkie 9
military history 8
sci-fi 10
home network 7
latest gadgets 5
car 2

41

However, I think your car scale is wrong. A true computer geek has no money for a fancy new car.
A car is simply a tool to haul all those lost computers home.

Vehicles similar to a 5 year old (or older) Ford Taurus station wagon, or Aerostar mini-van should rate a 10.
Extra points for computerized features installed by you.

Chas

by jkaras

Ok it's my turn I guess to fess up here. Trek I'm about an 8. I love the idea and most of the shows but hate the new one except for the gratuitus shots of Jolene Blalock getting wiped down, ohh mama what a guilty pleasure for such a train wreck of a show. How bout that ship being so advanced than the original show? Ok I'm off the soap box now achem... Military history is becoming quite an interest due to history channel great programs, conquest (great show you gotta watch, great war films (I'm happy to watch, never want to experience,btw any who served thank you)I'll score with 6 to be fair since I dont know all the politics that started ect.. As for sci-fi I will just about watch anything involved with it do to its importance to stimulate imagination that makes mankind great to accomplish anything and its so dam cool. I grew up watching Godzilla movies and nothing puts a smile on my face like tuning in to those cheesy movies, talk about classic, if you can enjoy them you got problems. I will admit that I am a bit of a sci-fi snob on certain movies and shows but I will still watch the train wreck even if it is horrible so I'll give a modest 8 since I dont read sci-fi rather and prefer fantasy. Home networks since I dont have one yet in the process making one I'll score a disapointing 3 for effort. As for latest gagets I dont get off on the frills of the new stuff. I hate and dont own a cell phone, no need for a pda, but my puter is cutting edge. Now if your talking home stereo than I'm off the charts baby I foam at the mouth in electronic stores like they were boobie bars so I will give myself a modest 5. As for cars that's easy it's a nine 9. My first car was a 68 Camero with deluxe interior all stock 2nd owner that got stolen. The second was another 68 but reg interior that was my hotrod that boasted 350 h.p 550 torque. I raced everything with wheels and only recently parted with it after 15 years. I grew up around hot rods and papered my walls with magazine pictures of peoples pride and joy. I dont get off however on the new suped rice burners, but now own one left stock. New cars will never in my opinion touch on the grace and class that the older cars possess even when they are considered classic.
So lets see.... 8+6+8+3+5+9=39
not bad actually
what is your dream car?
favorite sci-fi movie? Will take book also
favorite military weapon or war that interests you?
coolest gadget?
favorite episode of any trek and off shoot shows? and the worst?

by hal 9000

A slightly modified VW Beetle with a 2.5 Lt motor, 5 speed gearbox, 4 wheel disk brakes, 3.5" of ground clearance, Recaro Racing seat and various other mods. Maybe I'll put some engine oil in it one day soon but first I need to fit an oil cooler somewhere that it will be usefull.

I'll leave the Sci-Fi one alone as there are so many I can't decide which I like the best.

My favorite military weapon is an old WW11 Spitfire I just love those things and I don't think ahat any modern aircraft have the same grace and nice looks that those things had.

As I'm not into gagets I'll have to leave that one alone as well but if pressed I would have to say a Snap On magnet that I carry around in my shirt pocket as it is usefull but I don't suspose it's really a gadget in this sence or forum.

Favourite eisode of any treck and of shoot show again there are just too many to make up my mind about as each series had numerious excelent episodes, but I did notice that if you viewed about 20 at a time you got a better understanding of the entire show as there where plots within plots and quite often answers where given to questions asked up to 5 episodes previously.

The Worst episode of any trek has to be the final episode of Vogyer as it never actually ended anything I keep expecting a followup episode that will wind things up long before the telli movies appear.

Anyone else have any ideas?

by jkaras

First a correction " I grew up watching Godzilla movies and nothing puts a smile on my face like tuning in to those cheesy movies, talk about classic, if you can (should be cant)enjoy them you got problems.
Dream car is without a doubt a 69 AC Cobra. That was the coolest fastest convertible ever made nothing compares.
Sci-Fi I have many for many different reasons it's a toss up between the following: The Terminator, The Cube (not the sci-fi channel abortion hypercube), Empire Strikes Back, and Aliens. These movies had great writting and production values that can scare, entertain, and ponder if you were in their positions. This was the hardest question cause their are so many gems.
As for gadgets besides the refrigerator I would either pick the remote control or bose 901 speakers. (I have never heard a better sounding speaker for music, pure ear candy)
As for military weapon used was the mustang fighter plans used to escort the bombers in WWII, and the coolest most scary gun that is in production right now was seen on tv and I'm not sure what it is called but it fires smart exploding buletts that explode according to the invisible laser that sets its distance. They demoed it and it shot the projectile inside a window of a hut where it exploded in every direction that would kill everyone inside, that's just plain spooky.
As for Trek in the original: the two people left from a race of opposite faces black on left white on right where the other had exact opposite was a great story of blind hatred where they killed eachother because they couldnt get past that mind set. as for TNG: the episode were the federation leaders were being taken over by little claymation insects inbedding in the necks was classic due to the multi phaser shot to the hive master's face that exploded his head everywhere, if you cant appreciate that then tune in to PBS. DS9:, anything with the dominion or obsidian order was the coolest villans. Voyager or enterprise: any scene with Jolene or 7of9 barely clothed was the only reason for watching. The worst episode was the one based of a classic novel of a gambling hotel where they could only escape if they acted out the scene of the book, what a train wreck.
P.S. sorry for cheating but I couldnt resist multiple answers.

by mrbill-

8 + 10 + 8 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 40 (repeated info, sorry)

Dream car: Not really a car, 1969 Land Rover series 2. Drove my brother?s in HS in the mid 70s, that was sweet.
Fav SciFi: How about Fantasy, LOTR
Fav weapon of war: The P-47 Thunderbolt from WWII. Fav period of history WWII.
Fav Gadget: TIVO (PVR), lets me get all those great history shows (and Junkyard Wars) that come on in the middle of the night.
Trek was ok, B5 was better, fav episode: the interrogation of Sheridan, or the ones where Marcus and the Doc go to Mars. Actually any episode with Marcus. Least Fav were the ones where the media comes to B5. P.S. Ivoniva is a Goddess!

by jkaras

B5 was a great show! I watched them religiously and loved the shadow war. What made that show great was the amazing acting of Peter Jurassik and Andres Catarslas (wrong spelling of course) They stole the show everytime and was obsessed with their characters. Straz was a genious and writes great comics too. I actually like Excaliber and hoped it would have taken off but it didnt. That box enigma was a great idea and the technomage and the genious were the best characters, I love the porn episode, that was so funny.
If you love fantasy novels my reccomendations are The wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. It is a great story with the best explinations of magic. The societies are well described, and a great concept. The first book isnt that good but the rest kick butt. To be honest the last two were more political vs. action but still worth reading. The next is George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones a tale of fire and ice. If you ever wanted to read how kingdoms rise and fall in a fully adult theme I reccomend it. In here not all knights and lords are pious and good when they are the exact opposite.
I loved that episode of B5 having marcus annoy the doc opening and closing the staff. I alltime fav guest was Bestor what a great character, I never got tired of seing those episodes. To bad Ivoniva was gay she was hot especially in the original episode.
Great answers bill

by hal 9000

That is great MrBill I'll have to remember that one.

Maybe I should change my TR alias to Uber-Geek at least that way most of the regulars would know who I am.

Col

by hal 9000

I love it this is great now all that I have to do is work out my geek code and display it after my name at least it will look better and have more relevance than those bloody silly letters that I'm susposed to place after my name and it will confuse the hell out of my peers.

{Read that as all those stuffed shirts who take themselves seriously just because they think that because they have a PhD they are important.}

by mrbill-

How many went to the site and figured out their Geek Code?

Besides me, lets be honest. If you already knew your Geek Code before this confess!

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version 3.1
GIT d? s:+ a+ C++ !U !P L-- !E W-- N-- o-- !K w !O M-- !V PS+ PE Y+ !PGP t* 5+++ X+ R tv+ b++ DI+++ D++ G e+ h-@ r+++ z+++
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

by mrbill-

Londo and G'Kar, the best love/hate story EVER!!! Excalibur had good potential, had trouble finding it. Bester was the greatest antagonist ever penned. If I remember he was only supposed to be a one show guest, but the chemistry between Koenig and the cast was too good to let go. I think he was going to play the Centari Emperor originally but had health problems. Too bad Joe wrote himself into a corner with Marcus and Ivoniva, Marcus would have been great in a spin-off.

I AM reading the Wheel of Time, just started the second book, my son read them years back and recently got the whole series. Me and the misses are reading them, she reads faster so I am the last to get them.

by hal 9000

Books you'll have to read the Cronicials of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson two series of three books these are absoultly brilliant and thought provoking. They are about 15 years old now so you may still be able to find them they have a copyright date of 1977 and are published by Fontana {at least in Australia anywy} but those books rival and I think are better than the Lord of the Rings Series but of a similar vein as those books.

by hal 9000

I think the term "Geek" very much depends on your age group and the region in which you live as these things very between different age groups as well as different locations.

I just don't give a damm any more as I no longer need to impress anyone with my knolledge or lack of it and I just turn up where required as I am and that could be in a Classic Mercedes or on a very nice and loud Ducati {now how did that peom go "Avoid loud and aggressive people as they are a vexation to the spirit, But play with loud and aggressive motorcycles because there fun"} and I might be wearing the same clothes that I was in a week previously as if I don't get any sleep I don't bother changing and since I'm always in airconditioning there isn't much of a problem with smell.

But I do find it interesting when I turn up to a rush job on the Ducati as always the person in charge comes out to get rid of me until I get off the full face crash helmet and then everyone in the business comes and drools over the bike {makes it hard to keep clean} but worse that want to have a play with it and as it still has less than 12K on the clock noone gets to ride it ever.

But what throws most people is that I only register it every 5-6 years and after I've donated about $600.00 to Consolated Revenue I stop riding it just to protect my licence as speeding fines soon mount up. So they don't see it all that often. Or there was the last time that ACDC was over here and I meet Angus after a long spell apart we went to school together and where both expelled on the same day although I'm sure that they only threw me out because of my family history and the fact that I hung out with Angus other just blowing up a Chem Lab wouldn't really have ratted as it wasn't my fault I was only doing as instructed it was some other fool that left the gas taps turned on and when I lit that bunsen burner it was an interesting experience to say the least.

But I still remember good old Dr Roberts telling Angus "Son you are a failure now you will always be a failure and will never amount to anything" Boy I could do with being that kind of failure and his only crime was that he wore the school blaser and tie on stage Seems that for some reason the school thought that it brought them into disrespect" but 20 years latter he was welcomed back as one of the "Old Boys who had Made Good" We both got a good laugh from that one.

Anyway I firmly believe in growing old discrasfully and I do everything possible to keep to this so maybe one day I'll actually oil up the VW and drive it but you can't rush these things and it all depends on how my licence is holding out as to when this happens as the Ducati is far more fun.

It probably isn't any wonder that my office manager doesn't want me involved in the business unless something has gone drasticly wrong and then I have to clean up the mess she seems to think that I don't project the right type {whatever that may be} but hey man that's just me and I can't even be bothered to run these things through a spell checker I think that says it all don't you?

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