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Dealing with that fact you study CS?

Picture this scenario:

You are successfully socialising! Something most geeks only but dream of, and you're holding an, almost, interesting conversation with someone!

Then comes the dreaded question..

'So, what are you studying at uni?'

This question is always followed by a brief pause, where you consider your options...

a) Lie! They don't need to know about your intimacy with computers! Tell them you're doing a degree in Marine Biology or training to become a lion tamer!

b) Tell the truth, but before they even have a chance to change that smile into a frown you insist that you know how boring it is and that you're only doing it because it pays well.... honest!

c) Tell the whole truth, that you study CS and actually enjoy it. You can live with that fact that 9/10 people will suddently remember that.. thing they left... somewhere and have to go get.

d) Take a deep sigh, tell them it was nice to meet them and go find a nice comfy seat in the corner.

Ok, so perhaps I've exaggerated a bit... well, a lot.. but still, is it just me or is computer science the biggest conversation killer known to man? How do you deal with it? 95% of people blatently won't be interested in CS, so how do you make it appeal? Do you try and change their minds and convince them that a night in programming can be fun?

I've gone all extremist again, but hopefully someone can relate to the point I'm trying to make!

Incidently I am off to Bristol to study CS in October, so I'm not just here to start a fight! :P

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Reply 1

Glory

you date a computer chick :tongue:

Reply 2

therandom

Glory

you date a computer chick :tongue:

lol my gf is already understanding of my geeky side :wink:

(Being a bit of a geek herself! (/me narrowly avoids a slap :tongue:

)

I was refering more to all the people you're bound to meet during Fresher's week etc!

Reply 3

greenmuzz

typical conversation:

- "so, what do you do?"

-"I'm a geek!'

Works every time.

Reply 4

~Egg~

As a female just about to start out in this kind of career, do you have any idea how appealing the 'geek' is to the kind of woman you would normally meet?
It's your biggest chat up line! Don't hide it ... women go for it big time.

Reply 5

therandom

lol I fear I should have mentioned I was refering to making friends rather than anything else :wink:

But I'm sure someone who isn't currently incredibly happy with their gf will find such advice useful :tongue:

Reply 6

taran

i dont see whats geeky about computer science.

whoever ive told about my course, theyve been like wow das wikid. but then again ive only tried it out on people who i already know.

to make friends with it.hmmmm. i dunno. i guess if you dont look like a geek then its arite. then they would think wow, cleaver. if the you present yourself well and communicate well would they really bother thinking "oh what a geek". i personally dont think so. well that best not be how it is otherwise i aint going to be making any friends if computer science is a killer in a convo.

Reply 7

Glory

i made friends from my classes, if we had alot of classes together, id get chatting with them.

Reply 8

Né Stig

Glory

you date a computer chick :tongue:

LOL

or the one 2 posts up - you just point black state your a geek. They can't say much after that!

I love the way people presume that people involved in Computers is a geek. I personally find Physics a hell of a lot more geeky! And computers is inspiring to bring out the kid in you :smile:

Reply 9

Cirsium

Hehe it could be worse... you could work for the inland revenue!

Reply 10

JennLlama

Just try this: I'm a girl studying Computer Systems Engineering! The response I get to that is one of two things:
1. Oh. *quick change of subject*
2. Oh really? Well my word processor isn't working properly just now... (the fact that my course has nothing to do with word processors being totally irrelevant obviously!).
Most people only ask out of politeness to make small talk anyway cos it's a really obvious question! Lets face it - unless you happen to study the same subject as them or something, that part of the conversation is unlikely to go anywhere anyway. Just answer and quickly move on is my advice!
Jenn xx

Reply 11

hallucination

Just tell people you do artificial intelligence....they look at you for about 2 minutes in silence before mustering up the courage to ask what it actually is... :rolleyes:

Reply 12

raspberryswirl

hallucination

Just tell people you do artificial intelligence....they look at you for about 2 minutes in silence before mustering up the courage to ask what it actually is... :rolleyes:

Hahaha, people *always* act like that when I tell them i'm going to be studying AI in September :rolleyes:

Reply 13

MartinP

hallucination

Just tell people you do artificial intelligence....they look at you for about 2 minutes in silence before mustering up the courage to ask what it actually is... :rolleyes:

When they do ask you what it actually is, what do you say? I've just graduated in CS & AI and I really struggle to answer that question, plus I'm not sure I really know the answer. I usually just gabble something about making computers intelligent and something about neural networks and evolutionary algorithms.

Reply 14

philrange

I have the same problem. I do maths. But last year I did modules in geophysics, economics and CS (including some AI), plus I changed to maths from my original course of architecture (dont ask why) so I sometimes tell a little white lie and say I do that on occasion. I can't really describe what I do for any of them though. Everyone thinks I do a lot of big sums and long division.

Mostly though, I just say, "I do maths *pause* yeah, it's as exciting as it sounds."

Reply 15

Ynox

hmm. I tend to go for the 'unfortunately I do CS'. I say unfortunately as its really not the most interesting subject in the world and maybe I should have done law instead :smile:

Still, one more year to go and it'll be over :smile:

Reply 16

userunknown

I just say CS and the geeks don't accept me as one of them :smile:

Reply 17

greenmuzz

The reason I like to say "I'm a geek" is because a) I'm not ashamed of what I do, and b) I am enthusiastic about what I do. I got fed up of coming across as if "I hate my life and am embarassed that I lapsed into being a computer scientist, when, with my intelect, I could have been so much greater"

People need to stop being so down in the dumps about doing it. Yes it's geeky. Yes it means I sit at a computer all day. No, it doesn't mean there isn't a heck of a lot more to me than that. You're an interesting person, you know it, so why come across as an unenthusiastic introverted soul that the world is so against you can't admit to what you do!?