What did nerds do before the internet?

El Guapo!

So we all know that "tough guy" you have an argument on an internet forum is most likely a skinny, spotty, 14yr old nerd sitting in his Pokemon underpants while mammy brings him milk and cookies. But what did his nerdlinger ancestors do pre-internet??
Was it all live action Dungeons and Dragons? Swapping theories on the creation of the pocket protector? Or did they just hide away and bide their time till they could unleash their inner awseomeness while safely tucked away behind a computer screen?

The_Kew_Tour

pressed F5

Cashel Mc

Wanked?

bonerm

Probably read books. Remember books?

g'em

atari jaguar.

no, really.

mconigol

They were busy inventing it.

El Guapo!

bonerm wrote: »

Probably read books. Remember books?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

old hippy

Used to hang around record stores, comic shops, read and talk about girls

Then I jettisoned my inner nerd and actually started to hang out with the girls. Re-discovered my inherent nerdiness and got my geek on again when settled down. It's all good.

AnonoBoy

Gave up their lunch money freely.

Frank Black

Comics.

That is to say Graphic Novels

El Weirdo

Dean09 wrote: »

I have no idea what your talking about.

Obviously.:p

jme2010

It was called the Altair 8800. And if it wasn't for it, we prob wouldn't have Apple nor Microsoft.

Guill

Dungeons and Dragons.
Conventions.

mconigol

jme2010 wrote: »

It was called the Altair 8800. And if it wasn't for it, we prob wouldn't have Apple nor Microsoft.

So your saying it's this Altair 8800 persons fault that we have to listen to apple fanboys eh?

El Guapo!

El Weirdo wrote: »

Obviously.:p

Touché.

Well played Sir.






*hangs head in shame

Dean09

Dean09 wrote: »

So we all know that "tough guy" you have an argument on an internet forum is most likely a skinny, spotty, 14yr old nerd sitting in his Pokemon underpants while mammy brings him milk and cookies. But what did his nerdlinger ancestors do pre-internet??
Was it all live action Dungeons and Dragons? Swapping theories on the creation of the pocket protector? Or did they just hide away and bide their time till they could unleash their inner awseomeness while safely tucked away behind a computer screen?

^^^^^^^

Anyone else hear Alanis Morrisette ?

Duggy747

Playing those old Turn to page 32 to do this or Turn to page 18 to do that books.

BBDBB

they laughed at all the stupid people from behind closed doors

Air_Bass

Star Trek
Tolkien
Top Trumps
Chemistry Sets

petes

Used a calculator like a tricorder.

OutlawPete

Bullied

The Internet has made 'nerds' cool.

Blazer

fappin to page 3 in the Sun or tattered hand me down playboy mags..

onlyrocknroll

They read books, became knowledgeable and were able to actually contribute to discussions.

Now they just get confused, send facepalms and feel superior.

bonerm

RoverJames wrote: »

^^^^^^^

Anyone else hear Alanis Morrisette ?

Yep. It reminds me of her 1996 hit single Unfortunate.

Owen

Before the Internet, we had the Fidonet, and BBS'. And before that, we used to post 5 1/4 discs to each other across Europe.

Canis Lupus

This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ04mfAY2BU

mikemac

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along

1. If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64
2. If you want to stop in the village go to page 100

And so on.

Anyone remember these?

Best one I had was playing golf at the masters and I had to select all the rights shots to win
Yes, I read a book imagining playing golf instead of going outside and doing it!

Archeron

feelingstressed wrote: »

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along

1. If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64
2. If you want to stop in the village go to page 100

And so on.

Anyone remember these?

I used to cheat like a mofo at these. Would always keep one finger on the page I chose from, and if choosing the village path led to being bonked on the head by a troll and then dragged to a cave and molested, I'd flick back to where I was on the assumption that it was okay, because I hadnt FULLY let go of the page

Thomas828

Nerds had computers long before the internet got so popular. They had their own language too. It was called BASIC.

Before that it was Dungeons and Dragons. What they did before that, well, as others say, they occupied themselves with obscure and esoteric literature, such as "Playboy"...

And those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books were the peak of teenage literature in the 80's!

Promac

feelingstressed wrote: »

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along

1. If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64
2. If you want to stop in the village go to page 100

And so on.

Anyone remember these?

Best one I had was playing golf at the masters and I had to select all the rights shots to win
Yes, I read a book imagining playing golf instead of going outside and doing it!

They're called Choose Your Own Adventure.

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/39/2010/08/340x_cave_of_time_cover817.jpg

(No images on AH?)

Duggy747

These were the books I was on about.

Grab yourself some dice, piece of cardboard and a pen and off ya go. Brother used to get them from the library all the time.

bonerm

bonerm wrote: »

Yep. It reminds me of her 1996 hit single Unfortunate.

I was thinking isn't it ironic :pac:

ejmaztec

In their spare time (18 hours a day), nerds used to stand in front of the bathroom mirror, squeezing spots and splattering the mirror with pus, occasionally getting the ricochet on their thick black-framed bi-focals.

jimthemental

ejmaztec wrote: »

In their spare time (18 hours a day), nerds used to stand in front of the bathroom mirror, squeezing spots and splattering the mirror with pus, occasionally getting the ricochet on their thick black-framed bi-focals.

Ah for fúck sake, right before lunchtime too. You're a sick man. :eek:

Duggy747

The classic pimple remains left behind by a nerd.

Gummy Panda

Playing D&D?

marzic

jme2010 wrote: »

It was called the Altair 8800. And if it wasn't for it, we prob wouldn't have Apple nor Microsoft.

if it wasn't for apple we wouldnt have gravity:D

ejmaztec

Duggy747 wrote: »

The classic pimple remains left behind by a nerd.

It's hard to believe there's a mirror under that lot.

Couldn't one of the nerds have invented a mirror with wiper-blades and a screenwash jet?

Mint Sauce

g'em wrote: »

atari jaguar.

no, really.

I see what you did there.

Although the 2600 was way better.

Dravokivich

Porn was distributed via carrier pidgeon.

Mint Sauce

Dravokivich wrote: »

Porn was distributed via carrier pidgeon.

Or simply discarded under a hedge for someone else to enjoy.

bamboozle

attended Viking Quest conventions

orourkeda

collected stamps and trainspotted

Quality

Did rubix cubes and played with their yo-yo's

Raze_them_all

Employed your father op?

onlyrocknroll

Dravokivich wrote: »

Porn was distributed via carrier pidgeon.

I hope the pigeon knew to get the f*ck out of there after delivery, for it's own sake.