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Version 1.0, November 1999
Originally assembled in October 1997
Introduction "As with all such codes, the idea is to produce a series of compact symbols that (a) communicates our essential characteristics to other members of our subculture, and (b) looks really cool." -- Ross Smith, creator of the Furry Code
Anyhoo, all you have to do is take the following "quiz," marking down the responses which best describe your tastes. Make sure to leave a space between categories to make your end result legible. Your finished code can be worn proudly as a sig file or on your homepage. Cool, eh? This idea is still in its infancy, and I'm not the biggest expert on comics out there, so contributions and expansions are welcomed. Complaints about the usage of the word "geek" will be ignored, because there's nothing wrong with being a geek. I'm proud to be a geek. Hold your heads high, oh ye geeks of the world!
History
Version 1.0 (November 1999): First release
GENERAL MODIFIERS These symbols can be attached to almost any of the standard subcodes keep them in mind as you go through, and use them where you see fit: ? : You haven't decided where you stand in a given category, or you could care less about it. This replaces the usual suggested suffix -- ie. m?, S?. Of course, if you know absolutely nothing about a category (ie. "Astro what...? Spider-who?") you can just eliminate it from your code completely. You are under NO obligation to list every single code below, though the more the merrier I always say... / : You fit into more than one type in a category and want to list them all. This means two or three specific types, not complete confusion. ! : A strong refusal to participate in this category -- you want nothing to do with this subject, either for or against it. Like ?, this replaces the suffix. > : You currently fit one subcode, but hope to change that in the future. For example, you like to read fanfic but plan to go whole-hog and read lots more when you have the time, so your code would be F+>+++
PART ONE: WHO ARE YOU? Begin your code with the following letters: CGv1.0 This indicates that the following code is this, the Comic Geek code, and that you used Version 1.0 to create it. This might make a difference in future versions. Now hit the space bar (do that between every subcode, mind you) and mark down your responses to the following questions. Remember, if a question does not apply to you, you can omit it from your code. But also remember, a short code is no fun. ;) Now, these following details may seem to have absolutely no relevance upon your life and interests as a Comic Geek, but let's face it: anyone who deciphers your code is going to want to know at least a little bit about you. So bear with it. If it helps, I'll be doing my own code as we go along -- not to stoke my own ego but because an example always helps, I say... MY CODE SO FAR: CGv1.0
S -- Sex
Sm = male
S# = none of your business If you want, you may add as many of the following modifiers as you want:
c = Been there, done that, have the kids to prove it. You may now finish this code off with one of the following modifiers about your, ahem, love life, if you so desire:
+++ : There's more to life than doin' the wild thing...? MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++
A = Age
A+++ : 50+ years
A# = none of your business If you like, you can indicate your exact age instead of using a code. Example: If you're 42, you could use a++ or a42. MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A27
E = Education
E++++ = Ph.D. or equivalent MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E
RL -- What You Do In Real Life So...how do you earn money to buy comics...? Type in the letters Rl and add up to three of the following which best apply -- list only actual occupations or jobs you are trained for, not what you do for a hobby:
Ar = Armed Forces/Military
At = Jack Of All Trades Add a $ after any code that you are currently being paid to perform. Example: If you were trained as a musician and a graphic design artist but are currently getting by in a data entry position, your code would look like this: RLDe$GdMu MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$
A note on the following appearance subcodes: Some codes ask you to specify your height and weight. I've decided not to, though if you think it's essential I'll put those options into a future version. For now, call it shallow if you like, but face it: people appreciate getting a rough mental image of what you look like.
Hair Color
Bk = Black
R = Bright Red Multiple separate colors can be separated by a slash, ie. P/Pi/Bl; an in-between shade can be listed by noting the approximate colors , ie. BrNr. If your hair color is different from your natural color and you don't mind letting people know, place the current color first and the real color in parenthesis, ie. R(Sb). If your hair is naturally changing from one color to another, indicate the shift with a > -- ie, B>Lb, Sp>W. If you have a prominent streak or streaks of another color (I know people who do), add the color on the end after a *, ie. Dbr*W. (For more than one streak, I suppose you could add an asterisk for every streak, ie. Nr**Pi or B*Bk*R. Streaks of more than two colors count as multiple separate colors or multicolored -- see codes above.) Now type a dash (-). Add a modifier which best describes what your hair is generally like -- you don't have to mark anything if you fit into category 1 on the length chart below:
s = straight And how long is it generally?
1 = nonexistent (bald) If your hair normally a different length and you plan to grow it out or lop it off to that length again as soon as possible, you can list the intended length in the parenthesis, ie. 4(8). (This is for all you people who complain that the stylist or your mom murdered your hair and "it isn't usually like this, honestly." ;) MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7
Eye Color
Bl = blue Different-colored eyes can be separated by a hyphen, ie. Bl-Gn. If your eyes change color with your moods or amount of sleep, indicate these colors separated by a slash with the most common color first, ie. Hz/Gr. If you wear colored contacts so much that you want to list their color as your own and you don't mind admitting it, add your real color in parenthesis, ie. Bl(Hz) Add an @ sign if you regularly wear glasses -- add a * if you often wear contacts. MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@
PART TWO: PUTTING THE "COMIC" IN "COMIC GEEK" a = Age Of Assimilation How old where you when you got into comic books? Just add the approximate number of that age to the suffix a, ie. a11, a21. Other variations:
a? = I don't remember MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16
M = Method Of Assimilation How did you get into the hobby? Type an "m" and follow it with one or more of the following codes:
c = The covers looked awesome MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft
L = Level Of Fandom
L+++ = I NEED ALL COMICS! NOW!!! If you're usually into comics but are currently boycotting the things for one reason or another, add an asterisk, ie. L+* If you're heavily nostalgic for the good old days ("Today's comics -- hah! Why, back in MY time...") add a tilde, ie. L-~, L+~ MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~
B = Purchasing Habits
B++ = I buy WAY too many comics (15 or more regular titles) If you also have a habit of randomly picking new stuff and one-shots on a whim, add a "w," ie. B+w If you're totally loyal to one comic company and ONLY buy their titles, add an "l" after the prefix, ie. Bl++ If you're usually into comics but are currently boycotting them, list your usual buying habits and add an asterisk, ie. B+* MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w
C = Collecting Habits
C++ = I probably have more comics than the local shop Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
c = Collecting (bags, boards, price guides) is a way of life MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos
O = You Vs. The Mundanes How "out" are you about your comic-book addiction?
O++ = I trumpet it to the world! Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
c = You've converted others ;) MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt
A = Artwork How do you regard the art of drawing, inking, or coloring comic-style art?
A++ = I'm passionate about it! Art is my life! (Note that the above codes do not rate how good you are -- it's a matter of how much you get out of it. : ) If you rated yourself at A++ or A+ but prefer to create non-comic artwork, add an asterisk after the prefix, ie. A*++ Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
$ = I make money at it, or could if I wanted to MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost
F = Fanfic, or "Heck, I Could Write That Stuff"
F++ = I LIVE for fanfic! If your attitudes about writing fanfic and reading fanfic are different, make two separate codes, mark the "writing" one "FW" and the reading one "FR," and separate them with a slash. Ie. someone who loves writing fics but doesn't really care to read a lot of it would be noted as FW++/FR-, while someone who didn't write fanfic but loved to read it would use the code FW/FR++. Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
A = I hang out on ACFF MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr
PART THREE: LOYALTIES Here it comes: the chance to proudly tell the world what you read! If you DO NOT read comics from a particular company listed below or are indifferent about them, DO NOT put the subcode into your code, as it'll just take up space. This is just to list the ones you love or at least follow. However, if you really hate a company, you could list them with an exclamation mark, ie. M!, Im! If I have missed a company, don't hesitate to send me e-mail containing a) the name of the company and b) the names of some of the better-known comics they put out. Or all of them, if it's a small-output company (ie. WaRP). Enclose this entire following section in parenthesis ( ) -- I'll demonstrate in my own code at the bottom. This is because with some many companies to name, some letters are going to get reused, and we want to avoid confusion with the rest of the code... Pick as many of the following prefixes as apply, typing spaces between them:
A = Antarctic Press Now add one of the following suffixes to each one you chose:
++++ = I'm a rabid fan who buys EVERYTHING they put out! If a comic company's sole appeal to you is a particular character or team, you can list this one favorite in as short a form as possible in square brackets after the suffix, ie. Im[WCATS], T[Raptors], M[Gamb]. Keep it short, and do this only if you feel you must -- otherwise this code is going to get out of hand! If you follow too many different comics and you think this list is going to get out of hand, just type an @ symbol instead of bothering with the above mess (to indicate "I like just about all of them, what more do you want from me?") and move on with the rest of the code... (I'm going to list myself as that for the moment until I can finish this section to my satisfaction.) MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@)
PART FOUR: WHAT ELSE IS THERE? Frankly, you can stop right there at the end of Part Three. You Comic Geek obligations have been fulfilled. But what if there's something more to your life, something else you want people to know about yourself? The following subcodes are therefore optional -- if they do not apply to you, do not add them to your code. It's as simple as that. Some of these are by reader request, so don't blame me! ;)
c -- Computers Unless you're reading this off of a print-out, you probably know something about computers. (If you don't...what are you going to do with this code? Tattoo it across your forehead?)
c++++ = I want a skulljack so I never have to be parted from my baby again! MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++
I -- The Internet Ahhhh, the Internet...a whole new realm where geekdom can finally flower and thrive and fulfill its secret goal of world domination...
I++++ = I AM the Internet! I know all! I see all! I am all powerful! I-- oh damn, I'm lagging again. Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
w = I have my own webpage(s) MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++ I+++wcf
E -- Expos/Conventions How often do you go to/get involved in/get thrown out of conventions? (Sorry, I just had to borrow that "thrown out of" bit from the Furry code -- TOO funny...) This only counts fandom conventions, ie. sci-fi/fantasy/horror/comics, not ones for work (yuck) or computers (different kind of geek).
E+++ = I've spent more time in cons than in school Add one or more of the following modifiers if they apply:
* = I've helped out at a convention MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++ I+++wcf E++*
P = Monty Python This one's a request, folks. But I can't say that I don't fully approve of it. ;)
P+++ = I can recite "The Holy Grail" backwards in Swedish and am currently stalking John Cleese. MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++ I+++wcf E++* P+
TV = Television
TV+++ = Springsteen was wrong -- 57 channels isn't enough! I need more! MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++ I+++wcf E++* P+ TV
R = Reading
R+++ = I devour books. I'll read anything within range, including cereal boxes. In parenthesis, add the prefixes of the types of writing style you like to read the best:
Bs = Best-Sellers Add an asterisk after the last set of parenthesis if more than 50 percent of your reading material now reaches you through your computer. MY CODE: CGv1.0 Sfm++ A25 E RLCmWt$On$ BrNrB-w7 Bl/Gy@ a16 Mft L++~ B+w C++gos O+ckmt A+ost F++AOo+pr (@) c+++ I+++wcf E++* P+ TV R+++(FaHuSf)*
Well, that's all for now -- sorry for such an abrupt end, but that's all there is for now. (What, it's not enough?!? ;) Go paste it into your .sig, place it on your homepage, whatever you like! PS: If you want to be alerted when this code updates so you can update your own version, drop me a note...
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