This is something we all need.
Most of us are geeks. We're nerds, losers, dorks and other assorted people with social anxiety disorders. Why else would you be here, pretending to be some fantastical creature with super-powers? There's nothing wrong with a little indulging of one's fantasies, as it is what keeps us sane. However, just like someone who does not indulge can become a bitter, cynical jerk, someone who indulges too much can easily become an indignant, emotionally unstable mess. We need to balance our realities and fantasies in order to keep a proper perspective on our world. This comic helps.
Geeks come in all sorts of flavors, but the unifying trait between them is the fact that they are socially awkward. The cause of such behavior is debatable, as it could be caused by any combination of parental upbringing, market-driven culture, escapist entertainment and various social conditions, as well as plain old genetics having their way. Whatever the cause, though, one thing is clear, and that is that geeks tend to stay geeks due to their own self-imposed social insulation. They feel that they have better things than other people to provide them happiness. They turn toward movies, games and television to provide them comfort and joy, and they only have friends that are also socially awkward, ensuring none are judgmental toward each other. They only become more geeky when they are not able to see themselves in the mirror that is society. They lack a crucial sense of perspective.
The Internet by-and-large does not help one see themselves in a new light. Most-often, a geek will simply find a niche where his flaws are tolerated, accepted or even appreciated. If he were to seek objectivity from an outside site, he'd most likely be screamed at and called names instead of being offered any useful advice for self-improvement. That's why this site is so special: It is a place made for everyone to enjoy and learn, whether they are geeks or not.
The premise of the site is quite simple: People send in stories exemplifying how much of a loser they were, and the funniest ones get illustrated in comic form. The stories that do get picked are a little more unusual than what you would normally hear around your high school, but they are still all ostensibly true. You will most probably laugh at a good number at them. Some people will laugh at the geeks portrayed here because geeks are funny that way, but I think you will laugh because you know deep down that there is a part of you in each of these stories.
This comic provides us a simple but very important service: perspective. It's seeing ourselves for who we really are, from the eyes of someone who is non-judgmental. All the stories here were sent in via the first-party's admission, and the strips themselves are presented without a trace of scorn or ridicule, rather letting the events (and the narrator's interpretations thereof) speak for themselves. One of the reasons why this comic is so funny is that it does not try to force us into one way of seeing things. The best comedy is the kind that can leave all opinions intact and still bring on the laughs.
Now, you may laugh, but you must also wonder: Could you be part of this? When you laugh at the strips, are you laughing at other people, or are you secretly laughing at yourself? There's no reason to be ashamed. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's someone getting huffy and indignant (and sometimes downright whiny) in defending their social flaws. There's nothing wrong with a little humility. Realize that you do look silly. Realize that it's okay to laugh at yourself. If you can do that, you can conquer the world. |
