Jocks vs Geeks: Is this paradoxical?

[ShadowBoxing]

Harping on an old cliche here.

Okay, in the modern world the typical idea is "Jocks are the natural predator to geeks and nerds".

You walk around a local comic store and the regular customers and (usually) shop owners don't scream "Jocks". Very seldom (not to say it never happens) do fans of comics/fantasy/sci-fi ever become jock or jockish type people. While the stereotype may be unfair, it is certainly not without it's hint of truth.

Most geeks forcus more or being creative and smart than they do on athletics.

However while most characters in comics/fantasy/sci-fi are definitely sometimes creative and smart they have one underlying thing that is almost always the case. They are jocks.

Being a Jedi requires great balance and coordination. Being a resident of Sin City or a star of a QT film requires you to be one bada$$ muddaf***er who can beat the ever living sh** out of people. Being Batman requires not only intellectual pursuits, but also a body honed to physical perfection. Being a superhero immediately means you look like you live your days and nights for your gym. Being from LOTR means you know at least some traditional middle aged fighting techniques.

Furthermore all heroes in western culture are usually based on the traditional Roman/Greek heroes such as Achilles and Odyssius (Harry Potter being a counter example).

So immediately we know most geeks at least look up to the characters they watch/read about. So why are they usually so much the opposite of the characters they love. Why are there not more geeks who are suave with women? Why are more geeks not star athletes. Would it not make more sense if geeks emulated the things they love. Furthermore why are jocks considered enemies, would a geek not want to surround himself with people like those in his stories.

I realize, knowing people from my gym, that superheroes and fantasy characters often are a source and drive for bodybuilders and athletes. But usually it is not the norm. My main question though is: Why isn't this the case most of the time? Why don't most geeks become like those they are fans of? Shouldn't jocks and geeks not be seen as counter to eachother?

 

[Darren Daring]

What are you doing man? Save your fancy talk for college, cause noone is gonna care here.

 

[terry78]

Geeks secretly want to be the jock in life, even if they claim to piss on the whole lifestyle. Comic book fanboys rarely want the characters they love to be like themselves. Spider-Man is an example of a geek, but he became pretty toned and muscular after his accident. I was a geek in high school(shocker, I know), but I ran track and cross country as well and did have some jock friends, so it depends.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

What are you doing man? Save your fancy talk for college, cause noone is gonna care here.

Actually we were discussing this in the gym with the desk clerk. The notion of how fanatics or even fans in general never tend to embody the traits of those they are fans of in the west. I was going to start a thread about how western Christianity seems nothing like Christ, but I did not want to start another "bash religion" thread.

That Christianity thing is how the discussion started

 

[Immortalfire]

I was a geek in high school.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, none of us would be on here if we weren't I know.

 

[kainedamo]

I used to know a guy, I worked with him. He was called Chris. He was a rugby player and had a good build, and a big fan of Superman. Despite the connection of superheroes between us, we found it hard to communicate. Probably mostly down to me being an awkward socialiser.

Jocks and geeks are different. My example demonstrates this. Geeks just don't have the social drive to make themselves look good and to work out and stuff. Jocks are much better socially. It's one of the things that seperates us.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Geeks secretly want to be the jock in life, even if they claim to piss on the whole lifestyle. Comic book fanboys rarely want the characters they love to be like themselves. Spider-Man is an example of a geek, but he became pretty toned and muscular after his accident. I was a geek in high school(shocker, I know), but I ran track and cross country as well and did have some jock friends, so it depends.

I made the transition in High School as well . So we're in the same boat on that one (I even ran cross country - now I run track on my own). But I often wonder if I am a geek or a jock.

Maybe there should be a new word for us like "Gecks".

 

[kainedamo]

There isn't really anything stopping most geeks from working out, toning up, getting fit, ect. I work out occasionally. The only reason I'm not a hot tonned up stud is 'cause I'm lazy and only work out occasionally.

 

[Darren Daring]

I made the transition in High School as well . So we're in the same boat on that one (I even ran cross country - now I run track on my own). But I often wonder if I am a geek or a jock.

Maybe there should be a new word for us like "Gecks".

?

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I used to know a guy, I worked with him. He was called Chris. He was a rugby player and had a good build, and a big fan of Superman. Despite the connection of superheroes between us, we found it hard to communicate. Probably mostly down to me being an awkward socialiser.

Jocks and geeks are different. My example demonstrates this. Geeks just don't have the social drive to make themselves look good and to work out and stuff. Jocks are much better socially. It's one of the things that seperates us.

I don't know. I know some Jocks who lack social skills just due to the fact that they only can function in an athletic arena. However their friends usually can pull them into situations where they have social interaction. I think it comes down more to who you associate with maybe.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

?

...............................................................................................................................................okay...I like it.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

I see myself as a revolutionary jock/geek. I play alot of sports, I kick ass at soccer, I am smart and I am againts the government and politics in so many ways. Who do I look upto? Huey Freeman. Smart, revolutionary, and physically active. (Only his activities are usually like martial arts, I can do them but I also play alot of soccer!)

 

[terry78]

Now when I hit college, the dudes that were in the frats and basically were the football players and got ****ed up on weed and liquor every other day, I knew them casually, but we weren't tight because I wasn't really all about that ****. I was more into underground hip-hop, jazz, chilling at cafes, and what not. I became more of a black pseudo hippie in college.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

actually a say a good 98%(myself included) of the people who use my local comic shop, are extremley far from the sterotypical idea of the comic book geek

 

[terry78]

actually a say a good 98%(myself included) of the people who use my local comic shop, are extremley far from the sterotypical idea of the comic book geek

I have never seen any guys outside of the ones with the black horn rimmed glasses or the t-shirts baring 1980's nostalgia or comic book characters in these stores. And don't get me started on the girls, they all look like some variation on Lisa Loeb or Amy Lee.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

I have never seen any guys outside of the ones with the black horn rimmed glasses or the t-shirts baring 1980's nostalgia or comic book characters in these stores. And don't get me started on the girls, they all look like some variation on Lisa Loeb or Amy Lee.

we get people like that, but quite a few just dress normal. i mean i usually wear jeans, cat boots and a polo shirt.

the worst one i ever seen at the shop was two middle age men agrueing over is sailor moon could beat wonder woman, i walk past them to the counter and the worker said " you always get the ones that make the rest fo us look bad"

 

[Corinthian™]

Now when I hit college, the dudes that were in the frats and basically were the football players and got ****ed up on weed and liquor every other day, I knew them casually, but we weren't tight because I wasn't really all about that ****. I was more into underground hip-hop, jazz, chilling at cafes, and what not. I became more of a black pseudo hippie in college.

you evolved... you see, high school geeks evolve at some point or another... they either turn into an ubber geek or into a "hippie" or "indie" which hangs around on coffee houses and talks about music, books, movies or some other wierd **** like that... we are the future's beatniks

 

[kainedamo]

No!! Enough of the labels

Who the hell hangs out in coffee shops paying for overpriced... coffee?? We're not in an episode of Friends. I like to think we're better than that. We're men! We go to pubs!

 

[terry78]

No!! Enough of the labels

Who the hell hangs out in coffee shops paying for overpriced... coffee?? We're not in an episode of Friends. I like to think we're better than that. We're men! We go to pubs!

I don't drink, so if do go to any pubs, it's basically an attempt to meet females and buy them drinks. And even then, the bar scene don't really do it for me.

 

[Darthphere]

Im a geek, but im into sports, and I play sports. Does that make me a jock. Im confused.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Im a geek, but im into sports, and I play sports. Does that make me a jock. Im confused.

You're a geck then.

 

[Darthphere]

You're a geck then.

That sounds like a weird disease.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

Because Geek Chic is in, you could argue that you can have a lot of hipsters with shytty attitudes following the nerd trend but having an anal percieved to be jock attitude.

 

[Corinthian™]

No!! Enough of the labels

Who the hell hangs out in coffee shops paying for overpriced... coffee?? We're not in an episode of Friends. I like to think we're better than that. We're men! We go to pubs!

if you are paying more than two dollars for a cup of coffee you are doing something wrong