While i may not be the biggest technophile or web geek out there, i have been known to show some nerdy tendancies every now and then. One thing that intrigues me about geek culture (besides the massive caffeine intake) is the ability for some geeks to "synch up" with those in close proximity to them, similar to the medical phenomenon of women who are close together for a long while having their menstral cycles synch up. This was brought to my attention by Pete when he said something to the effect of he and Tyler being able to communicate on some sort of subconscious level, to the point where they could coordinate eachother's movements in Counterstrike.

I began to notice my geek synch abilities when i went to apply for a job at Game Exchange. Game Exchange is a video game store near my house where the consumer can sell old and used games and systems and browse through cluttered shelves and purchase games that have been well loved but were then rejected by their owners. It's sort of the Island of Misfit Toys for our generation. I applied for work there because the kids there actually know what they're talking about (believe it if you like) and seemed to be pretty friendly.

Anyway, i didn't get the job. When i went in to the store again, the kids there all recognized me and pointed to the skinny kid ringing my order up, "Hey man, this is the guy who took your job."

I didn't think much of it but when i went back into the store a couple of weeks later to sell a couple of games and get some fresh ones when the clerk looked up at me. "You're they guy who i interviewed." he said. I said yeah, that i was and began looking around the shelves while he looked at my games to asses the value (if any). As i began searching through the final fantasy games on the other side of the store, the clerk says, totally casually, "We don't have Tactics Ogre, we haven't had it for months."

I shot out of the section and stared at him. "do i ask for that a lot?"

he looked up, "Huh?"

"Tactics Ogre. Do i ask for it all the time?"

"uh...no, come to think of it i don't think you ever did ask for it, at least you didn't ask me."

i stared at him for a second, still amazed that he seemed to know the exact game i was looking for by some sort of fucked up ESP. I decided to test the theory again. "Do you have..."

he cut me off "not for playstation, but we have it for super nintendo. It's real expensive though."

i grabbed a game and left quickly.

I left the idea alone for a day or so, but then i went over to my friend Apryl's house to drop off a wedding present for her. I hadn't seen much of Apryl for almost a month since she was trying to get her wedding in order so all we had been able to do was play the new Zelda game. but we had won that almost four weeks ago and hadn't seen eachother except for a few random trivia nights in between.

Anyway, as i approached the door she came outside and said "I know what game we have to try next." and i said "Oh yeah, Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicals. Definately!"

there was a long pause as we both mulled over how quick that had come back.

Perhapse i am becomming more attuned to the vibes of geekthink...maybe i should cut down on the caffeine...whatever




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