- by Fish

Open-minded (O-p&n-'mIn-d&d) adj. receptive to arguments or ideas Geeks are used to being looked down upon. The road to computer science is not paved with happy childhoods or being picked first for gym. Geeks aren't the type you expect to see on fashion-magazine covers or watching the game on weekends. They're dork accustomed to being looked at funny for their interests, considered losers for their social skills, deemed undesirable for their hobbies. This party is a breath of fresh air for those choked by such ostracism. Dozens of geeks, here on a sunny day, away from the city, camped out on the grass. We're an open-minded crowd who are happy to accept those who fall outside the mainstream. Come one, come all, regardless of your interests. And indeed, those interests manifest in the clothing. It's not just the inevitable geek-humor t-shirts, the science fiction references or the physics jokes. It's the shirt advertising a gay nightclub. It's the "leather pride" emblem on another, or the polyamory slogan on a third. It's the man in the ankle-length skirt -- not in drag, just a skirt -- at whom none of us bat an eye. nerd And sometimes, it's the lack of clothing. As the sun rises and the thermometer follows suit, some folks head down to dip in the stream, and not everyone's in a bathing suit. This, too, we accept as matter-of-fact; there's no taboo-breaking titillation. Let the clothes say what they may; we are a crowd who'll accept your quirks.

prejudge (prE-'j&j) v. to judge before hearing or before full and sufficient examination As the sun sets and the cool country air rolls in, Ed and I decide to go put on another layer. I drag my henley over my head and see that Ed's wearing his old fraternity sweatshirt inside out, the stitching of the Greek capitals still visible from the other side. "You've got that on inside out, you know." frat boy "I know," he says somewhat sheepishly. "I didn't realize which sweatshirt I'd grabbed when we left the house." "So?" "I think some folks might not take too well to the letters. You know. This crowd."   Back at the party's nexus, I notice that Bill is wearing a shirt emblazoned with this: Christianity is stupid. Get over it. This is a fine joke for this party. Those whose religious beliefs I know are usually atheist, agnostic, or Jewish (despite geekish skepticism and Jesus freak disdain for organized anything, Jewish geeks still tend to faithfully observe the high holidays). So Bill's shirt gets many a grin. Hmm. I wonder to myself what would happen if my shirt read Judaism is stupid. Get over it. ...or even Atheism is stupid. Find God and be saved. But my henley is plain and hunter green. I get home from the party and there, atop my dresser, is my black t-shirt emblazoned with the large slogan "Mean People Suck." And I realize the problem with the shirt: if I'm wearing it, the only time I can read it is looking in the mirror.