Microserfs: Response 3

Roza Abdulridha
Professor Yerks
Comp 106
14 December 2008

Microserfs: Geeks of The 90s and People Today

Why do you think Coupland's characters speak in computer jargon, and use technical expressions to describe their lives and environment? How does this compare to your experiences of the workplace and home? What effect does this way of speaking have on others?
The author of the novel, “Microserfs,” Douglas Coupland, presents his characters to speak in such computer jargon language to distinguish this societal group of geeks from the rest of society. Geeks have extremely high IQ’s and are different. In a way, they over think and analyze things. For example, Karla mentions how North America is running out of area codes. “ ‘There’s only two or three left, and they’ll be gone soon enough…we’ve exhausted our supply of numbers’” (Coupland 79). Dan asks her what her point is, and she mentions that soon there will be eight-digit numbers. However, she goes on to explain a theory, where “most humans can only remember five digits at most…So the chances are that phone numbers will be broken up into four and four, for easier memorization” (Coupland 79). In today’s lifestyle and environment, people discuss issues such as politics, goals in life, relationships, and more social topics. It seems to me that discussing area codes is extremely random, and only attentive, high IQ people, like Karla, would discuss such a topic.
Dan’s mother asks what the difference between a “nerd” and a “geek” is. He replies, “It’s tougher than it seems. It’s subtle. Instinctual. I think geek implies hireability, whereas nerd doesn’t necessarily mean your skills are 100 percent sellable. Geek implies wealth” (Coupland 173). I was amazed when I read this quote because to me, the difference between the two is that a nerd is a bookworm, and a geek is a techie. This group of geeks analyzes things on a deeper level, whereas in today’s society, people analyze issues on a surface level. It is interesting to understand how geeks think and speak because they put value and thought into what they say, whereas because today’s society speaks so generally, our conversations do not have mere importance and value.
Upon exchanging Christmas gifts, Susan gave everyone handmade gift baskets, “which made all of us feel cheep” (Coupland 208), as Dan noted. Michael then whispered to Dan, “handmade presents are scary because they reveal that you have too much free time” (Coupland 208). Geeks believe that spending time and thought into making a gift for someone is unusual, and time must be occupied efficiently. To them it is simply easier just to buy a gift. In today’s society, however, people are concerned with presenting a thoughtful gift; whether handmade or bought. If someone presented me with a handmade gift that I liked, then I would be thankful for it and not make a fuss that it is handmade.
The computer jargon language geeks speak in, and the random topics they discuss and do is a mere reflection on how that particular societal group behaved during the American lifestyle of the 90s. It is a way for the reader to compare his or her society to that of the 90s; regardless of the time period the novel is read.





Works Cited
Coupland, Douglas. Microserfs. New York: ReganBooks, 1996.