What did nerds do before the internet?

El Guapo! · 13-05-2011 10:36AM #1

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 · 13-05-2011 10:41AM

pressed F5

Cashel Mc · 13-05-2011 10:41AM

Wanked?

bonerm · 13-05-2011 10:42AM

Probably read books. Remember books?

g'em · 13-05-2011 10:42AM

atari jaguar.

no, really.

mconigol · 13-05-2011 10:44AM

They were busy inventing it.

El Guapo! · 13-05-2011 10:44AM

bonerm wrote: »

Probably read books. Remember books?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

old hippy · 13-05-2011 10:46AM

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 · 13-05-2011 10:46AM

Gave up their lunch money freely.

Frank Black · 13-05-2011 10:48AM

Comics.

That is to say Graphic Novels

El Weirdo · 13-05-2011 10:48AM

Dean09 wrote: »

I have no idea what your talking about.

Obviously.:p

jme2010 · 13-05-2011 10:51AM

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

Guill · 13-05-2011 10:51AM

Dungeons and Dragons.
Conventions.

mconigol · 13-05-2011 10:52AM

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! · 13-05-2011 10:54AM

El Weirdo wrote: »

Obviously.:p

Touché.

Well played Sir.

*hangs head in shame

13-05-2011 10:56AM

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 · 13-05-2011 10:57AM

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

BBDBB · 13-05-2011 11:00AM

they laughed at all the stupid people from behind closed doors

Air_Bass · 13-05-2011 11:01AM

Star Trek
Tolkien
Top Trumps
Chemistry Sets

petes · 13-05-2011 11:03AM

Used a calculator like a tricorder.

OutlawPete · 13-05-2011 11:04AM

Bullied

The Internet has made 'nerds' cool.

Blazer · 13-05-2011 11:06AM

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

onlyrocknroll · 13-05-2011 11:10AM

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

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

bonerm · 13-05-2011 11:14AM

RoverJames wrote: »

^^^^^^^

Anyone else hear Alanis Morrisette ?

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

Owen · 13-05-2011 11:16AM

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 · 13-05-2011 11:21AM

This

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

mikemac · 13-05-2011 11:30AM

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along

If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64
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 · 13-05-2011 11:47AM

feelingstressed wrote: »

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along
If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64

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 · 13-05-2011 11:52AM

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 · 13-05-2011 11:53AM

feelingstressed wrote: »

There used to be these books with different paths

So you'd read along
If you want to take the mountain pass go to page 64

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 · 13-05-2011 11:56AM

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.

What did nerds do before the internet?

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