# Single Doper and Nerd Hookup Thread and Cotillion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741 "2004-05-12T05:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Sisyphus\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sisyphus\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sisyphus_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/141 "2004-05-13T10:50:59Z")
Must be springtime in the northern hemisphere. šŸ˜ƒ Palindromes? Love 'em! Pullup. Pullup, pullup. Otto. Red rum is murder. Are all you geeks and nerds going to keep the rest of us nerd/geek-challenged neotypicals abreast of developments within all these new ā€˜contactsā€™? I want to hear about win-ons and crack-ons and who does what to whom and the rest. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/142 "2004-05-13T11:14:26Z")
Sorry Iā€™m late to the party. When I checked in yesterday, it hadnā€™t started. So, let me list my credentials by organization: Active member of Mensa Lapsed member of the SCA, but active fencer Lapsed member of PARSEC, the Pittsburgh area science fiction club. I do have websites for the local branches of these organizations. I met two of my closest friends at a science fiction and, to add to my geek credentials, one of them is a writer with 70-odd books to his name, including a couple of RPGs. Iā€™m his friend because heā€™s one of the kindest, coolest, most fun people Iā€™ve known (this is a guy Iā€™ve referred to several times around here), but the bragging rights donā€™t hurt! šŸ˜ƒ I speak 3 human languages, have studied 6 or 7, and, while my computer-geek credentials arenā€™t that strong, Iā€™ve been working with databases for 15 years now and was writing Y2K compliant code in 19 **8** 9. I was also the officeā€™s translator and receptionist at the time. I hang out at Mensa Games Nights and RGs, including [the Pittsburgh RG](http://region3.us.mensa.org/Gatherings/wpam/wpam.htm) which I heartily recommend to all geeks within a few hours drive of Pittsburgh. How good is this group for single geeks? Well, at the last RG, in Detroit, a friend of mine from around here in her late 40ā€™s got engaged to a guy from Indianapolis. I know both of them, and theyā€™ll make a great couple. The last Mensan cute couple to get were a dentist from Pittsburgh and a widow from Cincinnati, both in their 60s or 70s whose first anniversary will come up next month. Yes, they are terminally cute. Just be careful when you play Hearts with her ā€“ her Hearts nickname is ā€œHazmatā€ because of the quality of the cards she passes! :eek: Iā€™ve met **Scuba Ben** and **Av8trMike** , and theyā€™re both very handsome, as well as good company. Gentlemen, it was a pleasure meeting you. Iā€™m late 30ā€™s, single, and donā€™t photograph well, but I do enjoy good company and bad jokes. When I say ā€œLooks donā€™t matterā€, itā€™s not something Iā€™m saying to make you feel better; itā€™s because I found out first hand that how attractive a person is has everything to do with his personality when a fellow who was a good friend told me he loved me. Suddenly he became hotter than Tom Cruise, Pierce Brosnan, and David Copperfield rolled into one! (He was already hairier!) Iā€™ve a free weekend and, unlike most Pittsburgherā€™s, a slight authentic English accent. I speak Japanese, but donā€™t do anime. I also spend my Sunday afternoons at CMU playing with swords. Despite that, I am, I assure you, female and straight, thus itā€™s nice to have an excuse to play with gentlemanā€™s swords!šŸ˜ƒ CJ ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/143 "2004-05-13T13:01:43Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > 37 year old SWF in NYC. Iā€™m more of a nerd than a geek, really - I like gadgets but am not too heavy into the making and programming thereof. Iā€™m a consulting geologist who works mostly with archaeology folks these days, but I still hang on to an office at a NASA facility. > > Iā€™ve loved sci-fi since I was little, and Iā€™m a long-time Trek (TOS) and B5 fan. How _you_ doinā€™, **sunfish**? šŸ˜‰ Iā€™ve got all of B5 and B5:Rangers on tape, and I once worked at NASA HQ. (Iā€™ve still got my _Space Station Freedom_ mug.) I like most of the James Bond series, though I may have missed one of the latest films. Want to get together and watch the cool super-agent? ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/144 "2004-05-13T13:07:06Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Well, I was going to say no, but I googled it, and discovered that I do! Well, enough so that I immediately recognized the picture I came up with as part of the Burgess Shale. I love you. Will you marry me? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/145 "2004-05-13T13:09:38Z")
Hmmā€¦ must join Mensa. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/146 "2004-05-13T13:11:59Z")
Been there, done that. The DC area Mensa GTGs were kinda boring, IMHO. Dopefests are WAY much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/147 "2004-05-13T13:15:12Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > Been there, done that. The DC area Mensa GTGs were kinda boring, IMHO. Dopefests are WAY much more fun. One can do both, though. Twice the potential for socialization. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/148 "2004-05-13T13:29:03Z")
Oh, itā€™s spring up here alright! šŸ™‚ Hi, everyone! \ > [@salem](#): > > Iā€™m older than 40, am relatively short, could stand to lose about 15-20 pounds (but have great cleavage and a small waist), and have lots and lots of long red curly hair. And yes, itā€™s naturalā€¦ Adventurous is good, too. Adventurous moaning is even betterā€¦ _blink_ whah. hah. \ Erā€¦ **salem** ā€¦ how _you_ doinā€™? šŸ™‚ I think peopleā€™re going to end up _competing_ for the favours of the DoperBabes in this threadā€¦ šŸ˜ƒ While Iā€™m at it, I should throw in a [picture](http://www.sunspace.org/miksu2002.jpg) of myself. Itā€™s about a year and a half old. I should warn viewers that, while I _am_ 40, this frequently comes as a surprise to people. Mebbe I should try Mensa as well. Iā€™ve never taken an IQ test or anything, so Iā€™d have to take their test, but thatā€™s no problem; thereā€™s a group in Toronto. I remember when I was a kid, and some family friends were into it. I was a little bit interested, but Mom discouraged me on the grounds that it was ā€˜elitistā€™. Hmm. Given my later research, Iā€™m not sure what to make of that. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/149 "2004-05-13T13:43:11Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I think peopleā€™re going to end up _competing_ for the favours of the DoperBabes in this threadā€¦ šŸ˜ƒ Trivial Pursuit, then, to the death! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/150 "2004-05-13T13:44:20Z")
Iā€™ve never been to the Mensa meetings (tested but didnā€™t join), but I like other geeky get togethers. I have been itching for a good LAN party. Those are always a lot of fun, and people get really silly just before the sun comes up. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/151 "2004-05-13T13:59:02Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Heard of CUP? Iā€™ll do you one better, dude. I have eaten (and survived) their cafeteria food, and I have studied in the Manderino Library. > > I once got into a car accident (about 10 years ago) on their campus, and I took an English seminar there a year or so after that. Well, youā€™ll be pleased to know that the lovely Manderino library is still standing (for those whoā€™ve never been there, picture the tackiest shade of tan sandstone possible, and then build a 4-story building out of it), but that they no longer use the dining hall for everyday dining, and moved food service into the student union. If there was anything Iā€™d get misty-eyed nostalgic over, it certainly would not be the library ;). > [@](#): > > Damn, dude, I think youā€™re the closest Doper (geographically) to where I am. Iā€™m honored by the proximity, then šŸ™‚ Well, a little bit more about me as a geeky-type person (since I wrote last night on the way out and didnā€™t get to elaborate fully). Iā€™ve also written in several computer languages: C/C++, Java, VB, JavaScript, JSP, bit of Fortran and COBOL, and probably the geekiest language of all, LISP. Iā€™ve also done some Flash/Actionscript work in the past, though I really donā€™t keep up with it as much as I should I play a bit of guitarā€¦mostly acoustic, since Iā€™m not Yngwie blazing fast by any means! Iā€™m definitely up to try just about anything once, and most things twice! ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/152 "2004-05-13T14:08:05Z")
Ooooohā€¦ Youā€™re actually Lost In Sensless Parentheses! The Fridayā€™s in town has meat and beer. Maybe we should get together and have some meat and beer sometime and discuss the virtues (and headaches) of OOD. Either that or have a rousing debate over which is better, stout or ale. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/153 "2004-05-13T14:15:33Z")
Whee, computer languages. C/C++, Ada95, Java (Some), HTML, Javascript, JSP(some), ASP(some), XML, SQL, PL-SQL, tiny bit with Fortran and LISPā€¦hmmmā€¦ Basicā€¦ TI-8x calculatorsā€¦ a couple of proprietary and annoying languagesā€¦ These days Iā€™m mostly a database guy, so the SQL skills stay sharpest. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/154 "2004-05-13T14:17:34Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Trivial Pursuit, then, to the death! Youā€™re on! Canadian edition. (Must claim home-ice advantage šŸ˜ƒ ) I warn you, I came _this_ close to winning the company ā€œWho wants to be a millionaireā€ competition! And I came third in my high-school school math competition! \< **Sunspace** prepares to knock antlers with other males. Metaphorically, that is.\> ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/155 "2004-05-13T14:21:08Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Youā€™re on! Canadian edition. (Must claim home-ice advantage šŸ˜ƒ ) I warn you, I came _this_ close to winning the company ā€œWho wants to be a millionaireā€ competition! And I came third in my high-school school math competition! > \< **Sunspace** prepares to knock antlers with other males. Metaphorically, that is.\> They have math in the Canadian edition? Weeeeird. But I have no fear! As former captain of my high schoolā€™s quiz bowl team, I shall stand tall in the face of this challenge! ---
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/156 "2004-05-13T14:28:57Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Noā€¦ but it would help if you said more about yourself than this: > > I mean, surely in this, of all threads, you can admit some wacky and geeky details about yourselfā€¦ > > Cā€™monā€¦ fess up! > (And a palindrome wouldnā€™t hurt) Okay, then. Letā€™s see. I am from the bookwormy order of geeks. Will devour anything to do with history. Ahhh, and I collecet Goofy things. Thatā€™s surely nerdy if not geeky. Iā€™ve got a couple good size tatoos though, so maybe Iā€™m a rebel rousing geekette. That obviously canā€™t spell ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/157 "2004-05-13T14:30:17Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > They have math in the Canadian edition? Weeeeird. > > But I have no fear! As former captain of my high schoolā€™s quiz bowl team, I shall stand tall in the face of this challenge! Of _course_ the Canadian edition has math! If you donā€™t understand negative numbers, you die in winter here! We have to prepare somehow! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![simply\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@simply\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simply_cats)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/158 "2004-05-13T14:33:57Z")
Geek-girl of the fairly mild variety. 5ā€™9", auburn hair (changes color/cut frequently), blue eyes. Lover of all things country, animals, board games, card games, pointless internet surfing, and fiction. A few too many pounds, but compensate by riding my bike all summer šŸ™‚ Easy-going, good natured, passionate and friendly! Oh, and really fond of guys over 6ā€™ tall šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/159 "2004-05-13T14:41:07Z")
No problem, **scout1222**. Glad to know I made someoneā€™s day! And thanks for the kind words, **Siege**! In case anyone doesnā€™t believe her, [here](http://fff.fathom.org/photorama/index.cgi?mode=image&album=/Parties%20and%20Gatherings/2003%2d1025%20%2d%20Dope%2dA%2dWeen%20%28MADs%29/Scuba%20Ben%27s%20Pictures&image=DSCN0375.JPG)ā€™s what **Scuba\_Ben** and I look like (hope he doesnā€™t mind me showing him off šŸ™‚ ) [One more of me](http://fff.fathom.org/photorama/index.cgi?mode=image&album=/Parties%20and%20Gatherings/2003%2d1025%20%2d%20Dope%2dA%2dWeen%20%28MADs%29/Scuba%20Ben%27s%20Pictures&image=DSCN0376.JPG), for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741/160 "2004-05-13T14:42:04Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Whee, computer languages. > > ā€¦ a couple of proprietary and annoying languagesā€¦ Hmmā€¦you mean like the ones that every last temp/contract job listing seems to have? > [@](#): > > These days Iā€™m mostly a database guy, so the SQL skills stay sharpest. Do you use Oracle or MySQL? I only learned PL/SQL this semester (and donā€™t know when Iā€™ll use it again, but would love to do some low-level database work this summer) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-doper-and-nerd-hookup-thread-and-cotillion/244741.md?page=9)