What did computer people do before computers?

[plarq]

I'll find some history book, and nit-picking every trivial date, event and description.

 

[Murky]

We all know the personality type of the computer guy or the computer nerd. Many people here count themselves among this group: they enjoy working with computers, and probably have a career with computers in addition to spending most of their free time working with computers. Their personality type just seems to naturally lend itself to computer stuff.

It stands to reason, though, that the computer people's personality type existed before computers. So what did the "computer dork" personality type do for fun/career before computers were invented?

Before computers, nerds liked to tinker with other mechanical things like cars, planes and electric motors. There was also more interest in things like astronomy, chemistry & biology. Many of the enthusiast owned things like telescopes, microscopes and chemistry sets.

 

[thetrooper]

Many of the enthusiast owned things like telescopes, microscopes and chemistry sets.

Some of the guys with chemistry sets even discovered cold fusion!

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

They tampered with the phone system.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

They invented stuff that lead up to the invention of computers (and then they invented that too).

 

[Paradigne]

I read a lot, played D&D, and got into trouble whenever possible

 

[Murky]

Before I owned a computer I did a lot of hiking. I also studied aerodynamics and built model airplanes from scratch.

 

[Xanikk999]

They probably read books all day i suppose. Being a nerd back then probably was 10 times worse then not being a nerd!

 

[innonimatu]

Lots of people played with electronics. To recall that once it was possible to find even whole books about transistors directed at the general pubic...

Progress and specialization have their downsides.

 

[scipian]

Scholars, priests, professors, doctors, engineers, mathematicians, etc.

 

[angeleyes]

Play chess and board games.

 

[sabo]

They became CPA's and Scientists

 

[mdwh]

Probably took up an interest in mathematics or engineering.

"Nerds" on the other hand exist in all academic fields.

 

[Xanikk999]

Probably took up an interest in mathematics or engineering.

"Nerds" on the other hand exist in all academic fields.

Most people dont consider mechanics or auto-mechanics nerdy. And thats an academic field.

 

[Bill3000]

Most people dont consider mechanics or auto-mechanics nerdy. And thats an academic field.

Mechanics is absolutely considered "nerdy", (It's called civil engineering) and the reason why people don't consider auto-mechanics nerdy is because they think of the low-paying jobs which only require you to know how a car functions, instead of how a car is fundamentally designed.

 

[mdwh]

Most people dont consider mechanics or auto-mechanics nerdy. And thats an academic field.

"Nerd" is a type of person, not a subject area.

True, some people use "nerdy" to describe certain subjects, but that's all down to one's point of view now.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Mechanics is absolutely considered "nerdy", (It's called civil engineering) and the reason why people don't consider auto-mechanics nerdy is because they think of the low-paying jobs which only require you to know how a car functions, instead of how a car is fundamentally designed.

I really don't think those jobs are even that low-paying.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

What did computer people do before computers?

They became priest.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Read books! I still read books. The informational expediency and compactness are still wonderful.

 

[Sidhe]

Read books! I still read books. The informational expediency and compactness are still wonderful.

Books were supposed to become a thing of the past by the end of the last century, with computers destroying the paper age, twaddle, more paper than ever, and books are as popular if not more popular than ever? Can't beat a good novel, or a really interesting text book.