7 Tell-Tale Signs You’re a Geek七个迹象表明你是个极客

迈克尔·波赫　张静/译

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a geek？ Are geeks highly intellectual individuals who are obsessively passionate over computer technology， or elements of pop culture so much that their lifestyle revolves around this passion？ Can we label anyone who is well-versed1 with these topics as a geek？ Or is there something else more fundamental that helps make this distinction？

你有没有想过什么样的人才是极客呢？极客是否就是对计算机科技或者流行文化元素充满热情、生活以这种强烈爱好为中心的高智商人士？我们可否把所有熟知这些话题的人都定义为极客呢？还是有其他更重要的特征来做出这种区分？

My guess is that it has more to do with their attitudes than what they actually do that irritate （or perhaps， intimidate） others. Despite being socially awkward， their extraordinary attitudes are somewhat of a rare find， which is a good thing as these attitudes have led to some of the biggest technews-making events of this century.

我猜测，极客使人恼火（或感觉受到威胁）的不是他们实际做了什么，而是他们做事的态度。尽管不善交际，他们超乎寻常的心态却有些难能可贵。正是这样的心态，促成了本世纪一些科技新闻重磅事件。

Today， we see a greater acceptance and recognition for geeks （you can thank the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg for that）. Who knows， you might even possess the very traits that they have. Check to see where you stand on the geek-o-meter.

如今，人们对极客的接纳度和认可度有了提高［此处你可以感谢史蒂夫·乔布斯（已故）和马克·扎克伯格］。说不定你也有和他们一样的特征，一起来看看你像不像一名极客吧。

1. Are you incredibly loyal to what you love？

1. 你是否对所热爱的事物极其忠诚？

One thing that could potentially distinguish geeks from the rest of the people is their undying commitment to the things they love， be it gaming， high-tech gadgets， or comics. Theyre fanatical about the object of their obsession， always willing to put in that extra effort （sometimes to extreme lengths） to make sure theyre the first to know about the latest news or updates.

極客可能区别于其他人的一个特征就是他们会对自己热爱的事物做出永恒的承诺，无论它是游戏、高科技产品还是连环漫画。他们狂热地关注自己所痴迷之事，总是乐意投入额外的精力（有时竭尽所能）来确保自己是第一个了解最新消息或进展的人。

To others， it may just be a hobby or a pastime. To them though， its the reason they exist. It defines who they are. This is why theyre so passionate about it.

对于其他人来说，这可能仅仅是一项爱好或一种消遣，但对于极客来说，这就是他们活着的意义，定义了他们的身份。这就是他们对所热爱事物如此热诚的原因。

Do you have a particular obsession， the reason why youre excited to get out of bed every morning？ If you have that something that your life revolves around， youre closer to being a geek than you think.

有没有某件事令你特别痴迷，足以成为每天清晨让你兴奋地从床上爬起来的理由？如果这样一件事是你生活的中心，那你比自己想象中更像一名极客。

2. Do you see yourself as distinct from the rest？

2. 你是否认为自己与众不同？

Due to their extreme loyalty and commitment to what they love， geeks only seek the company of those who exhibit the same enthusiasm as they do. They tend to group together， in a small community， preferring to mingle2 with their peers and shunning those who are not as committed to the same passion—which would explain the social misfit-ness of geeks.

由于对所热爱事物极度忠诚和坚守，极客只和那些与自己表现出同样热情的人为伴。他们倾向于抱团、组成小社群，更喜欢与自己的同类交往，避开那些不那么执着于同样爱好的人。这就是极客不合群的原因。

In any case， they are stringent when it comes to accepting people as their kind. Its evident from the way geeks talk; you see that they speak in their own language （real or made-up）， using their own terms， acronyms， and lingo. Its highly probable that only a fellow geek would understand what they are talking about.

无论在什么情况下，他们对接纳其他人为同类都有着严格的标准。这一特点从极客的言谈中显而易见。你会发现，他们说的都是自己的语言（现实存在的或者编造的），用他们自創的术语、首字母缩略词和行话。他们所说的极大可能只有同为极客的人才能理解。

Its not likely that any Tom， Dick， and Sally can just join the club by waltzing in， as even within the community itself exists a unique culture of their own. In a way， its like the fraternities where they have their own initiation before new members can be welcomed into the group. You need to show them that you think at the same （high） level as them; you cant feign being a geek.

即便是极客社区内部也存在着专属于他们自己的独特文化，不是随便一个汤姆、迪克和萨莉就能轻易加入的。在某种程度上，这就像加入兄弟会前的入会仪式一样。你必须展示出自己与他们的思维水平一样（高）；极客假扮不了。

3. Do you lose yourself easily in your obsession？

3. 你是否容易在痴迷中忘乎所以？

With them passionate over what they love to do， its not surprising to find themselves achieving ‘flow， the state of mind when they feel fully engaged in what they do and consequently lose track of time. This would explain why geeks who are into gaming could spend hours and hours without stopping for food while trying to complete their games.

由于他们热衷于所爱之事，不知不觉进入“心流”状态不足为奇。那是一种全身心投入到所做之事当中、忘记了时间流逝的思维状态。这就能够解释为什么痴迷游戏的极客可以花费一个又一个小时，为了完成游戏不停下来去吃饭。

Eventually， that feeling of euphoria3 from the flow becomes an addiction to them.

最终，“心流”状态带来的亢奋会令他们上瘾。

4. Do you have an insatiable4 need to know everything？

4. 你是否不知满足地想了解一切？

The life of a geek revolves around what they love. With that5， they have the constant desire to have that sense of power and control over what theyre good at and love doing.

极客的生活围绕着他们热爱的事物，而对于擅长和爱做之事，他们会持续渴望拥有那种力量感和掌控感。

They never stop exploring and always keep themselves updated about the things they are obsessed with： reading everything about the latest high-tech gadgets， attending every cosplay event and conference in town， etc.

他们从不停止探索，一直保持对所痴迷事物最新动态的了解：阅读关于最新高科技产品的一切内容，参加城里所有角色扮演活动和大会，如此等等。

They just want to be the first to be there， the first to hear about unconfirmed rumors， and of course， the first to break the news to everyone. Put simply， its extreme fandom at its best， almost a cult-like zeal.

他们只想第一个到场、第一个听到未经证实的传言，当然，还想第一个透露消息给大家。简言之，这是极致同人文化的最理想状态，有种宗教信仰般的狂热。

5. Do you take pride in your expertise？

5. 你是否以自己的专长为荣？

Theyre the experts on the field. From time to time， they might talk to ‘outsiders about their obsession when others asked about it during the course of everyday conversations. Although they might openly resent it when others dont get their ideas or jargon， deep inside， the geeks take delight in the fact that theyve established themselves to be an expert.

他们是各自领域的专家。在日常聊天当中，时不时旁人会问到他们痴迷的事物，极客可能会和“圈外人”谈论起来。尽管当对方无法理解他们的观点或行话时，极客可能公开表达不满，但在心里因已成专家而感到愉快。

Given the amount of time and effort that geeks are willing to devote themselves to the object of obsession， its quite understandable to be proud of themselves. After all， it is very much their life goal.

考虑到极客乐于对所痴迷事物付出大量时间和精力，他们以自己为傲并不难理解。毕竟，这几乎就是他们的人生目标。

6. Do you have a niche within your passion？

6. 你的爱好是否针对特定目标？

Even when theyre geeks for a particular field， chances are that they have developed a preference within their passion. Take for instance the case of the stereotypical computer geeks. Sure， they may be crazy over computer technology and the latest technology trends in computing， but they often focus on a particular brand or system.

即便是某一特定領域的极客，也很可能在自己的爱好中有所偏好。就拿类型化的计算机极客来说，他们的确可能为计算机技术和最新的科技趋势痴狂，但往往专注于某个特定的品牌或系统。

Its like going to the second layer of fanaticism， where you delve deeper to find one niche. Its why we always hear of the battle between supporters of different operating systems like Android vs iOS.

这就像入迷的第二个层级：通过更深入的钻研，找到了一个小众领域。这就是我们常常听到不同操作系统（如安卓和iOS）支持者互相争论的原因。

7. Are you willing to stick to it til the end？

7. 你是否乐意坚持到底？

Being a fan of a specific OS， comic superhero， cosplay costume， sci-fi movie， programming language， and others is one thing， while sticking to it no matter what happens is another. Geeks do both. This is what makes them so different， so special， and perhaps so intimidating to “outsiders”.

成为某一特定操作系统、连环漫画超级英雄、角色扮演服装、科幻影片、编程语言或其他事物的狂热爱好者是一件事，而无论发生什么都坚持热爱到底是另一件事。极客两者都能做到。这就是他们如此另类和特别之处，可能也是令“圈外人”望而生畏的原因。

They are willing to stand up for what they believe in， even when times are really bad. Its not really about the objective assessment of the object they love; it is more than that. It involves emotions when it comes to their fandom.

他们更愿意站出来支持自己的信念，即便是在形势非常糟糕的时期。并不只是出于对所热爱事物的客观评价，还有别的因素。一谈到同人圈就融入了感情。

One is not a geek if he or she is knowledgeable about the subject but lacks the passion for it. A real geek is totally into it， intellectually and emotionally. This idea explains why geeks will stay true and loyal to their idolized OS or superhero till the end; they have grown emotionally （or even spiritually） attached to them. To speak ill of their passion is to speak ill of them.

如果一个人对某一学科在行却缺乏热爱，那他或她不是一名极客。真正的极客无论是智力上还是情感上都投入其中。这一观点解释了极客对于所推崇的操作系统或超级英雄始终如一、忠诚到底的原因。他们已对其产生情感（或精神）依恋。诋毁他们热衷的爱好就是诋毁他们本人。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）