7 Tell-Tale Signs You’re a Geek七個跡象表明你是個極客

邁克爾·波赫　張靜/譯

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？

你有沒有想過什么樣的人才是極客呢？極客是否就是對計算機科技或者流行文化元素充滿熱情、生活以這種強烈愛好為中心的高智商人士？我們可否把所有熟知這些話題的人都定義為極客呢？還是有其他更重要的特征來做出這種區分？

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.

我猜測，極客使人惱火（或感覺受到威脅）的不是他們實際做了什么，而是他們做事的態度。盡管不善交際，他們超乎尋常的心態卻有些難能可貴。正是這樣的心態，促成了本世紀一些科技新聞重磅事件。

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，人們對極客的接納度和認可度有了提高［此處你可以感謝史蒂夫·喬布斯（已故）和馬克·扎克伯格］。說不定你也有和他們一樣的特征，一起來看看你像不像一名極客吧。

1. Are you incredibly loyal to what you love？

1. 你是否對所熱愛的事物極其忠誠？

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.

極客可能區別于其他人的一個特征就是他們會對自己熱愛的事物做出永恒的承諾，無論它是游戲、高科技產品還是連環漫畫。他們狂熱地關注自己所癡迷之事，總是樂意投入額外的精力（有時竭盡所能）來確保自己是第一個了解最新消息或進展的人。

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.

對于其他人來說，這可能僅僅是一項愛好或一種消遣，但對于極客來說，這就是他們活著的意義，定義了他們的身份。這就是他們對所熱愛事物如此熱誠的原因。

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.

有沒有某件事令你特別癡迷，足以成為每天清晨讓你興奮地從床上爬起來的理由？如果這樣一件事是你生活的中心，那你比自己想象中更像一名極客。

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

2. 你是否認為自己與眾不同？

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.

由于對所熱愛事物極度忠誠和堅守，極客只和那些與自己表現出同樣熱情的人為伴。他們傾向于抱團、組成小社群，更喜歡與自己的同類交往，避開那些不那么執著于同樣愛好的人。這就是極客不合群的原因。

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.

無論在什么情況下，他們對接納其他人為同類都有著嚴格的標準。這一特點從極客的言談中顯而易見。你會發現，他們說的都是自己的語言（現實存在的或者編造的），用他們自創的術語、首字母縮略詞和行話。他們所說的極大可能只有同為極客的人才能理解。

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.

即便是極客社區內部也存在著專屬于他們自己的獨特文化，不是隨便一個湯姆、迪克和薩莉就能輕易加入的。在某種程度上，這就像加入兄弟會前的入會儀式一樣。你必須展示出自己與他們的思維水平一樣（高）；極客假扮不了。

3. Do you lose yourself easily in your obsession？

3. 你是否容易在癡迷中忘乎所以？

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.

由于他們熱衷于所愛之事，不知不覺進入“心流”狀態不足為奇。那是一種全身心投入到所做之事當中、忘記了時間流逝的思維狀態。這就能夠解釋為什么癡迷游戲的極客可以花費一個又一個小時，為了完成游戲不停下來去吃飯。

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

最終，“心流”狀態帶來的亢奮會令他們上癮。

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

4. 你是否不知滿足地想了解一切？

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.

極客的生活圍繞著他們熱愛的事物，而對于擅長和愛做之事，他們會持續渴望擁有那種力量感和掌控感。

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.

他們從不停止探索，一直保持對所癡迷事物最新動態的了解：閱讀關于最新高科技產品的一切內容，參加城里所有角色扮演活動和大會，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.

他們只想第一個到場、第一個聽到未經證實的傳言，當然，還想第一個透露消息給大家。簡言之，這是極致同人文化的最理想狀態，有種宗教信仰般的狂熱。

5. Do you take pride in your expertise？

5. 你是否以自己的專長為榮？

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.

他們是各自領域的專家。在日常聊天當中，時不時旁人會問到他們癡迷的事物，極客可能會和“圈外人”談論起來。盡管當對方無法理解他們的觀點或行話時，極客可能公開表達不滿，但在心里因已成專家而感到愉快。

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.

考慮到極客樂于對所癡迷事物付出大量時間和精力，他們以自己為傲并不難理解。畢竟，這幾乎就是他們的人生目標。

6. Do you have a niche within your passion？

6. 你的愛好是否針對特定目標？

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極客，也很可能在自己的愛好中有所偏好。就拿類型化的計算機極客來說，他們的確可能為計算機技術和最新的科技趨勢癡狂，但往往專注于某個特定的品牌或系統。

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.

這就像入迷的第二個層級：通過更深入的鉆研，找到了一個小眾領域。這就是我們常常聽到不同操作系統（如安卓和iOS）支持者互相爭論的原因。

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

7. 你是否樂意堅持到底？

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”.

成為某一特定操作系統、連環漫畫超級英雄、角色扮演服裝、科幻影片、編程語言或其他事物的狂熱愛好者是一件事，而無論發生什么都堅持熱愛到底是另一件事。極客兩者都能做到。這就是他們如此另類和特別之處，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.

他們更愿意站出來支持自己的信念，即便是在形勢非常糟糕的時期。并不只是出于對所熱愛事物的客觀評價，還有別的因素。一談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.

如果一個人對某一學科在行卻缺乏熱愛，那他或她不是一名極客。真正的極客無論是智力上還是情感上都投入其中。這一觀點解釋了極客對于所推崇的操作系統或超級英雄始終如一、忠誠到底的原因。他們已對其產生情感（或精神）依戀。詆毀他們熱衷的愛好就是詆毀他們本人。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者）