Sometimes there's a great piece of geekery out there that prompts all of your friends to achieve simultaneous nerdvana. You rush out to consume said piece of geeky entertainment, only to be left in that most dreaded state -- you just. don't. get it.
To be a geek is to "get" things that ordinary people don't, to be "in" on something that your average human simply can't grok. To find yourself not getting it, therefore, is one of the most distressing states to find yourself in. And yet, I'm sure we've all been there.
You know what that means -- time to share!
What bit of geeky goodness do you just not "get", that most other people in the nerd swirl love but you have never particularly enjoyed?
Maybe you are a Trek hater, or the Indiana Jones films seemed like wretched excess, or you always secretly thought Deadpool was a loser. Maybe you haven't ever been able to express your disdain for the popular bit of geekery in question for fear your friends would ostracize you. But now's your chance! Speak up in the comments and let it all hang out, I know I for one would love to hear about your secret loathing.
As for me, I'd have to answer with Stephen King. I remember liking "The Stand" as a kid, but when I went back to re-read it a few years ago I literally couldn't get past the first fifty pages. I thought the writing wasn't just bad, it was unreadable, from the characters to the actual sentence construction and word choice. I know King's a geek icon, a towering figure in both fantasy and horror genres with millions of rabid fans. But I just don't get it.
Yep, "Misery" sums up my feelings perfectly.
Thinking maybe I hadn't read the "right" stuff that so inspired my fellow geeks, on the recommendation of some online friends I gave the "Dark Tower" series a try a couple of years ago. I managed to force myself to finish the first one, but had to give up after that. Turgid, dull, uninspired, and hackish were the words that came most readily to mind.
I know, I'm very much in the minority on this, but there you have it. Stephen King is my Secret Nerd Shame, a very (very!) popular bit of geekery that I just don't "get".
So now, what's yours?
Anyone who answers in the comments below can ask me any question they like (well, almost any question!) and I'll answer honestly.
I look forward to hearing from you!
