Geek Reference Pool: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''
|Screenwriter '''[http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2007/07/sdcc-07-wonderland-monkey-and-boing.html John Rogers]'''}}
'''[[Revenge of the Nerds|NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS!]]'''
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Now that we have your attention, let's talk about nerds.
And by nerds, we mean
Unless, of course, that thing is ''not'' ''[[
There is a very specific set of interests that Hollywood ascribes to anybody who self-identifies as (or is identified by others as) a nerd, dork, geek, dweeb, [[Totally Radical|spazzoid]], what have you. Not only is that the Holy Canon of Geek Interests, but for some reason, ''every geek'' is obsessed with not one, or some, but ''all of them''. The only time ([[One of Us|mostly]]) any shows [[Subverted Trope|subvert]] that last part, it's to make a joke where [[Hypocritical Humor|one stereotype calls another stereotype a dork]] for liking one geeky thing instead of another geeky thing ([[Truth in Television|* cough*
As noted, "exception to this trope" is nearly synonymous with "show [[One of Us|written by geeks]]". If you notice a work where you think one applies but not the other, either check the credits again or ask your nerd friends if they really do speak Klingon ([[The Masquerade|they do, seriously]]), because you're missing something. And there's actually a reason for that; if we weren't into things nobody else had ever heard of, we wouldn't be very good geeks, now would we? It's basic math: the more devoted fans of X are, the less of them there will be, and more importantly, the less normal people will even ''know what X is''. It's like [[The Law of Conservation of Detail]], but applied to popularity. And an actual ''law of nature'', apparently, because it is ''very rarely broken''. The only exception is, again, mockery; some things are the sole domain of such Eldritch cabals that they become famous solely because people like making jokes about them so much. ''Somebody'' has to be buying all those [[Dude, Not Funny|-trails off-...]]
Examples are probably too numerous to list. It's tempting to list just the most [[Egregious]] examples, but [[Subjective Trope|yeah, no]]. Let's keep this to archiving the '''One True Canon of the Geek Reference Pool''' and any [[Averted Trope|aversions]] worth mentioning. '''Please keep these specific''' and try to mention specific references to things outside the mainstream canon. This section is also not a list of shows you think are written by geeks unless ''they actually avert the trope''.
This is a [[Sub
=== The Canon: ===▼
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] & [[Manga]] ==▼
* If non-[[Hentai]] anime [[All Anime Is Naughty Tentacles|exists at all]], it consists solely of ''[[Pokémon (Anime)|Pokémon]]'', ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', and ''[[Speed Racer (Anime)|Speed Racer]]'', in order from most likely to least likely to exist. Something like ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' might exist if writers [[Did Not Do the Research]].▼
== Collections ==▼
▲* If non-[[Hentai]] anime [[All Anime Is Naughty Tentacles|exists at all]], it consists solely of ''[[Pokémon (
▲=== Collections ===
* Geekdom on Television and in movies also often has a high correlation with the collecting of large numbers of either comic books or action figures (both likely in mylar or in their original packaging) because apparently mainstream interest in either kind of collectible is non-existent and the successful movies based on comic books have made is just an illusion. Meanwhile, the exact same hording and protection provided to sports memorabilia is perfectly acceptable.
=== [[
* There are no [[X-Men]] other than Cyclops, [[Wolverine]], Professor X, Nightcrawler, Storm, Jean Grey (A.K.A Ms. Marvel), and, if we're lucky, Gambit and Rogue. Because everyone remembers [[X
* There are no [[DC Comics]] heroes that were not created in the Golden Age. Etrigan? [[Hellblazer|John Constantine]]? A [[Green Lantern]] who is not a WASP? What vivid imagination you have, you NERD!
=== [[Film]] ===
* ''[[Star Wars]]'', which is ''[[Critical Research Failure|not the same thing]]'' as ''[[
** A ''[[May the Farce Be
** Speaking of Original Trilogy, any work made since the release of ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'' will be lousy with geeks bitching about the prequels. Okay, that part is true.
** Common before 1999 but after 1997 (and common since then, but overshadowed by the above) is bitching about the Special Editions of the Original Trilogy, well-known mostly because they were actually released theatrically. Nobody knows who Greedo is, but he apparently shot somebody before they shot him, and it's "[[Hilarity Ensues|hilarious]]" to hear geeks complain about it.
=== [[Literature]] ===
* Thanks to the movies, ''[[The Lord of the Rings]],'' ''[[Harry Potter]],'' and ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' exist. Fanboys can be heard occasionally complaining about someone named Tom Bombadil who was apparently cut from the movie. More often, they can be seen clutching some prized collectible and calling it their "precious", but that's [[Rule of Funny]]. The main thing known about ''Harry Potter'' is that dressing up as the title character consists of drawing a scar on your forehead, putting on round glasses, and constantly raving about being a wizard.
=== [[Live-Action TV]] ===
* ''[[
** Fights about whether Kirk or Picard is the one true captain. Nobody will ever argue for Sisko or Janeway. Nobody will argue for Archer either, but that's [[Hatedom|accidental accuracy]].
** References to notable moments from [[Star Trek:
** Costumes. ''Also'' dating back to the Sixties series. If a scene takes place at a sci-fi convention, there will be a Klingon. I ''dare you'' to name an aversion. A Vulcan is also likely. The Klingon is a ''metaphysical certitude''. Although, ironically, it will ''not'' be an original series Klingon.
** ...and when ''Wars'' and ''Trek'' geeks collide, expect battles on whether the Death Star/Imperial Cruiser or the ''Enterprise'' (or a Borg cube) is superior.
* In more recent shows, ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'' may replace ''[[
* If you are a [[Furry Fandom|furry]], or know one, you may be aware of the infamous ''[[CSI]]'' episode "Fur and Loathing" (not to be confused with the [[Fur and Loathing|trope of that name]]), which went nuts with the fetishy aspects of fandom.
* For a period somewhere roughly between 1980-2005, giving a character an interest in ''[[
** A prediliction towards [[Tom Baker|wearing a six-foot-long multicoloured scarf]] or [[Peter Davison|a piece of celery on one's lapel]] are excellent indicators of classic ''Who'' fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
=== Mathematics and Science ===
* All geeks can do calculus in their heads, have the periodic table memorized, have ''pi'' [[Mouthful of Pi|memorized to four hundred places]], and know what [[E
=== [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPG]] ===
* The only MMO Geeks ever play is ''[[World of Warcraft]]''. Older shows will occasionally do something loosely parodying ''[[
=== [[Music]] ===
* The song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw "White and Nerdy"] by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] shows a fairly comprehensive list of the Geek Reference Pool. It's sufficiently over-the-top,
=== [[Tabletop Games]] ===
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' has become ''the'' shorthand for social failings and maladjusted virginity. Sure, it's one step better than [[You Can Panic Now|the Satanic Panic days]], but really. And apparently the hobby consists ''only'' of ''Dungeons and Dragons'', and games like ''Warhammer'' and ''Vampire: the Masquerade'' do not exist (unless [[The New Rock and Roll|you're doing a true crime show on a "vampire killer"]]).
** Since the writers will have [[Did Not Do the Research|no idea]] how the game is actually played, depictions will vary wildly if characters actually play on screen instead of just refering to the game, but there are a few constants: expect players to wear costumes and use elaborate props (at the very least the Dungeon Master, if there is one, will wear [[Robe and Wizard Hat|a cape or pointy "wizard" hat]]), speak in [[Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe]], and engage in ritualistic behavior like chanting "all hail the Dungeon Master!" at the start of each session (if a non-geek regular character has been dragged to the
**
** What the hell is ''[[GURPS]]''?
=== [[Video Games]] ===
* When it comes to [[Video Games]], all geeks will play [[Ultra Super Death Gore Fest Chainsawer 3000]]. Unless they've caught [[Pac
=== [[Film]] ===
* In ''[[Spider-Man (
** ''Magic'' is getting slightly more play in film nowadays (read, Hasbro is willing to shell out for more [[Product Placement]]). Drake Stone, [[The Rival]] in ''[[The Sorcerers Apprentice]]'', is famous enough in the Magic fandon to ''have his own Planeswalker card''.
* [[Kevin Smith]] is a geek, and his movies show it.
* What's the one major difference between those girls in ''[[Death Proof]]'' who get killed and those who get the killer? While the former seem not to be interested in anything apart from sex and gossips, the later are movie geeks (knowledge of the semi-obscure pictures that are mentioned in each part of the movie, seems to be some kind of ''kudos''). Otherwise they make quite similar impression, so that the difference doesn't surface until [[Zoe Bell]] shows up. By the [[Quentin Tarantino|Geek God]].
* In ''[[
=== [[Live-Action TV]] ===
* ''[[Chuck]]'' is in the "by geeks" category. An odd example, though, in that the writers are older than the characters and it shows. At least half the geeky references are from the 80s, but considering that the title character was born in 1981, it strains credibility that he's personally a fan of all of it. Given that Chuck's dad was also geeky, and they were raised by him, it makes sense that Chuck would have access to, and an appreciation for, the older stuff.
* ''[[Spaced]]'' is likewise "by geeks". The "Homage-o-meter" on the DVDs will point out references you missed the first time around. Yes, you. [[Paranoia Fuel|Adrian]].
* ''[[House
* ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' has many easy jokes from within the reference pool, some of which are a little outdated, however the references are usually ''exactly correct''. It also includes a lot of science jokes and more obscure references. There have been moments in episodes referencing the then-ongoing ''[[Batman|Batman: Battle for the Cowl]]'' and ''[[The Flash|Flash: Rebirth]]'' storylines. Definitely in the "made by geeks" category.
* ''[[CSI]]'' had an episode about a murder at a Brand X ''[[
* On ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'', resident geek Hiro Nakamura usually stays within the
** Hiro's actor translates the lines the writers give him into Japanese himself, sometimes [[Bilingual Bonus|inserting references which don't show up in the subtitles]].
** Hiro's [[Character Blog]] makes his geekery over ''[[
{{quote|
** Hiro makes another reference outside of the 'pool' when describing his love interest to his past self:
{{quote|
* ''[[
{{quote|
'''Hardeson''': Please, please stop. }}
* ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'': Written by, well, freaks and geeks. Including, among other things, period-accurate ''Dungeons and Dragons'' played accurately. Interestingly enough it doesn't really stereotype any particular group with everyone from jocks to hippies to somewhat naively well-meaning guidance counselors all getting enough depth and understanding to explain them as more than just a poorly understood
=== [[Western Animation]] ===
* ''[[Futurama]]'': In the "by geeks with doctorates" category.
* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', written by two tried-and-true geeks, to the point where almost everyone in the cast makes references far geekier than anything that would be considered geeky in another show. This is even mentioned in the commentaries during the episode O.R.B. From [[Aleister Crowley]], to [[Fantomas]], to [[Oscar Wilde]]. It's a love-letter to late-19th
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Indexed and Nerdy]]
[[Category:Geek Reference Pool]]
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