h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Geek Code - A839478
Author: Lucinda (et al) - U129960

Small is Beautiful

Every Researcher should have that written in indelible ink on their computer screen so that they can't forget it...

Could you please either put more line breaks in the code section, or remove the tags, to obviate the need for horizontal scrolling? Thanks!

I remember that when this was originally in the WW there was some discussion as to whether Robert Hayden should be contacted for permission to write about the Geek Code. The thread is here F93588?thread=193967, along with my comment that I would like to see an entry about it in The Guide if it's possible.

::AHEM::

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 1.1
GMU$ 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+++ y+++(*)
-----END GEEK CODE BLOCK-----

And the entire thing on my PS is a link to the de-geeker

e*

I think this entry might benefit from a translation of at least part of the Geek code quoted. (I know you've quoted a bit, but I think that it could do with more.) It would be too hard work to go to the Geek Code and then to the other bit about the Geek code.

I find this pretty interesting and I really don't want to object to the entry with this question, I just want to know: How can it be that after eight years in WWW and Usenet I've never come across this geek code? Is it limited to news:alt.*?

I've never been on a newsgroup, so that can't be the place where I first saw it. I believe my first sighting of a geek code was right here, on a researcher's PS

Bels - fixed scrolling issue.

permissions: there's no patent on the geek code, and this entry only uses a couple of lines from his writing: well within fair use, and the source for those quotes is given (twice). The previous author attempted to contact Robert Hayden, but sadly his given email is out of date.

providing a translation of the example geek code: that would double the length of the entry for no real benefit that I can see. What does everyone else think?

-Martin
MuC N--[m] S.H+/Hf A(b-r-)O"dice"W#Cc++OF(r-o++)P#T--Jc!DoRC+++So--

The decoder Gosho uses is in my opinion slightly better than the one mentioned in the article. Maybe you could add Gosho's to the references list on the right?

You say 'The format is a parody of the output produced by the encryption program "PGP."' -- Well, the Geek code itself certainly is not, is it? And the surrounding block information is not mandatory.

As for the code itself, I think this geek code is too old. Both letters and modifiers seem to refer to the time of the mid-90's. Well, they do.

I can't say much about completeness, but I think this entry is ready for the Guide.

Great entry!
However I have to agree with Cefpret on the PGP thing. (While asking, wherever have you been to miss the geek code?)
Something like "The 'Geek Code Block' formatting, which is optional, is a parody of the ..."
The outdatedness is worth a mention too, even though proper geeks love ancient SF, and hardcore computer geeks use 'ancient' technologies, any code trying to include contemporary phenomena needs constant refreshing, which the geek code hasn't had...

updated appropriately - take a look...

-myre

Looks good

I think it could be (and should be) fleshed out a bit. I know that there's not really too much else that you could add, but how about the fact that the code is divided into sections - appearance, computers (what would a geek be without their pc), entertainment (likewise sci-fi), politics, and lifestyle, and *then* categories.

I thought I disagreed completely with Gosho, but careful reading has proven me wrong. (I disagree, but not completely.) I don't think you should mention the division into sections, that's more a convension on describing the code than a rule for the code itself. But I think you should add a little more about the purpose of the code in the opening.
Replace or augment "define their personality, appearance and opinions" with something about "informing their peers about personality, appearance, opinions and fields of interest or disinterest, both in profession and private life, in a concise, cryptic and truly geeky manner."
Has anyone created a h2g2-code?

Ooh, what a idea . Where would one begin?

You may write e.g. e+++(*). Otherwise:

HH++++ I am Douglas Adams. (Every use is a fraud.)

HH+++ THHGTTG has taught me everything about life. I write fan fiction. Every other year I visit Innsbruck and plant a new tree on The Field. I love the TV series.

HH++ The h2g2 books are the best books I know. Normally I just chuckle when reading something funny, but here I died a thousand deaths laughing.

HH+ My password is 'marvin'.

HH I've read the books, they are nice.

HH- Terry Pratchett is better.

HH-- The books are silly through and through. Some nice jokes, but absolutely no story.

I think we've got the beginnings of an entry here

Oh, and I'm sure it's worth mentioning in this entry that there's a reference to HHGTTG

More small changes. Example code changed - now uses Gosho's to avoid copyright issues and add free name-check.
-myre

Too small, you forgot that "Geek of Education and a Geek of Jurispudence (Law)" no longer applies.

Looking better Luce

I think you're right not to go into what each symbol represents- if you do, you run the danger of simply re-producing the the Geek Code homepage. Incorporate the comments above, and I reckon you're there.

A line or two noting that it was once common practice in the geekier areas of the internet to add one's geek code to a .sig wouldn't go amiss either.

You used *my* geek code?

If you're going to include some examples, can I remind you again of:

"e*: I learned everything there is to know about life from the "Hitchhiker's Trilogy"."