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Geek Culture / what did you want to be?

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Phaelax
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 07:31
So what did everyone want to be when they grew up? And if you haven't become that, why do you think you didn't you didn't chase after it?

Dazzag
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 09:49
Either a programmer or an author. When I was in school we did this survey that said my no.1 job would be a journalist (then programming). I guess I wouldn't have minded that. As it turns out I became a programmer (not exactly hard to chase) with plans of becoming an author at some point (heh, like everyone else obviously...).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Jess T
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 10:24
When I was REALLY little, I wanted to be a Body Builder... Arnie was my idol

Then, later on, an Architecht cos that's what my Mum said I should do.

Then, I got into computers, and when I started programming, BAM! Programmer all the way... Now I'm heading into my 3 year at Uni for a Games Making course

Nintendo DS & Dominos :: DS Dominos
http://jt0.org
Dazzag
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 10:52
Hmmm. I suppose when I was really little I wanted to be a pilot as my dad was in the RAF (had a red arrows signed picture (all the pilots at the time) on my wall for years). As I grew up I realised I am not very good with fast moving things in the air. That and the whole dying thing didn't wash with me basically. Plus I don't have an ego that big (have you met RAF pilots?) and find it really hard to grow those type of taches Now I'm older I realise pilots are the way to go. Just in the commercial sense. As a kid then no chance matey (yawn), but as an adult, have you seen the money they earn???? Friend of mine jacked in a well paid computer job to become a commercial pilot (had enough money to go for it for four or five years). Not just the money, but checkout the women (normally crew) that hang on their arms. I worked at Emirates Airlines in Dubai for a few months a while back (the building that looks like a really big airplane) so I got to meet some of them. Gits.

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 11:12
Initially a Lion (Lions have always been my favourite animal, hence my favourite Disney movie was The Lion King ), then a Vet, because I love animals.

Then I picked up an interest for writing and wanted to be a writer ever since, hence I am doing Creative Writing at uni in September. So I'm on my way to becoming what I wanted to be when I grew up

Quote: "When I was REALLY little, I wanted to be a Body Builder..."


Lol, I was always wanting to go to the gym to do body building as a kid, but apparently I was far too young to do it...And here I am, yet to start it

Did The Buddha have a Zen micro?
Dazzag
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 12:02 Edited at: 4th Feb 2007 12:03
Quote: "hence I am doing Creative Writing at uni"
I went to a creative writing club in Uni (they get you to sign up to all sorts of stuff in the beginning). Was dead good as it was about 20 students in the old college which was like a castle. Harry Pottertastic. Me and a friend had some poems and short stories but we only went the once. This was because of several things. One was the people running it were the most goddamn boring bunch of w**kers ever and were totally up each others a**eholes ("Oh, Anthony (prounced massively with the "th"), that was just superb!", "But Tobais, it surely pales compared to your award winning poem of 1989!" etc etc spit etc). Plus they only seemed to be interested in writing poems that went on for ages about the smallest things, then totally exploded in a massive list of swearing and racism (think there was one with a clown that called everyone "M*********ing N****s" for about 3 lines before going back to normallity for 5 pages) for a small time. God.... Oh, and all the birds looked like rejects from the Muppets. And it was always held on a friday night. One of them suggested we go for a shandy afterwards (10 bloody pm). I mean c'mon..... Instead I decided to try out the RPG club (and real RPG with the plastic swords) which I signed up for while under the influence. But thats another story...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Drew Cameron
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 13:18
I wanted to make Playstation games.

Antidote
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 13:51 Edited at: 4th Feb 2007 13:52
When I was very young I wanted to be a paleontologist. Then in middle school I wanted to be a biotechnician (I was good at genetics). Then I went to high school and took a PASCAL programming course. That same year I found dark basic and started programming in that. My second year in high school I took a C++ class. With all the programming that I was doing both as a hobby and for school, I wanted to be a games programmer. Now I'm in my third year of high school taking a Java course (bleh stupid language), and am looking for potential universities to go to (If anybody can lead me in the right direction that would be appreciated ). I also interned at a camp that taught kids how to make games using game maker. From that day on I knew I never wanted to teach young children (12-)


Cash Curtis II
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 14:13
Video game designer. However, I hit a rough spot in my teen life and joined the Army. Then I started making babies. BE WARNED!!! THIS IS WHY TALENTED PEOPLE STAY POOR!!!!

Anyway, better late than never. I'm going to school now, and things seem to be working out nicely for my desired career path.


Come see the WIP!
Zotoaster
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 15:06
Quote: "When I was very young I wanted to be a paleontologist"

You knew what a paleontologist was when you were very little?

Well... I used to really want to own a boat when I was small, and just fish all day.. then I too wanted to become a body builder Then I wanted to become a professional skateboarder, then an astronaught, then a games designer, and now, a guitarist

Ron Erickson
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 15:46
I wanted to be an artist all the way through high school. My best friend and I were the best in our school. We both started looking at schools to go for art. On a whim, I decided to go to school for CAD instead. I loved computers (although I didn't know much about them) and I figured I would still get to draw. Plus, there was always the perk of being able to actually find a job. My friend and I did go to the same school, just for different majors. He got a job in the game industry right when we graduated and I struggled to find employment for a while
Things have worked out for me though, and I am happy with my decision. I do wonder what I could have done if I had stayed with "art", but oh well. If I did stay with art, I probably would have never got into programming which I love to do MUCH more than art now anyway. It's funny how things work out!

EZrotate! TextureMax! Enhanced Animations! (coming soon....) 3D Character Maker! (coming soon....)
Miguel Melo
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 15:47
Up until the age of, what, 8 I went through spells of wanting to be a lot of things, but the one I remember best was Film Director (which, come to think of it, is extremely odd as there's no real film industry in Portugal and I never knew anyone even remotely involved in filmmaking).

For 9 to 10 I wanted to be an electronics engineer.

When I was 10 the Spectrum was released and from then on I always wanted to be a games programmer.

I have vague plans for World Domination
Chris Franklin_
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 15:57
I want to be an engineer for themepark rides might seem a bit strange to some of you but I've alwayed been a themepark addict

Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 16:16
Quote: ""When I was very young I wanted to be a paleontologist"
You knew what a paleontologist was when you were very little?"


Sounds to me like a certain loan advert where the kid spells palaeontology with Letter blocks.

@Dazzag, cool, sounds good, as I'll be doing the degree, I will cover more than just Poetry and short stories of course, although both are what I am most interested in, as for signing up for other things, that sounds good, more reason for my to be impatient about starting uni in September. That reminds me, I need to phone Norwich School of Art and Design about me interview by tomorrow...

Did The Buddha have a Zen micro?
Agent Dink
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 18:07
Interestingly enough, the first thing I can remember I wanted to be was an artist. Then there were a few changes of mind, astronaut (every little boy's dream), actor, the usual. Now, I'm nearly terrified with the idea of actually visiting space, and I don't want the publicity of an actor... Plus I don't think I can act. So, well, that leaves an artist. And I would really like to be a 3d artist! So as weird as it is, the first thing I chose I wanted to be when I was like 4, is the thing I very well may end up being.

At one point in life I wanted to be a lego designer too! I'd still enjoy doing that, but Lego has taken a turn for the worse, and is too much like Mega Blocks and all the lame ripoff companies nowadays. Too many of their sets seem very generic and alot less intuitive and fun than they used to be. Too many smooth and shiny pieces for me. Gimme the classic little squares and rectangles and let me figure out how to make it smooth.

Sometimes the only way over a wall is to pile up enough bodies to climb over - Dave W.
Antidote
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 18:35
Quote: "You knew what a paleontologist was when you were very little?
"


Yes. Jurassic park had come out a little before this (1992?) and there was sort of a dinosaur craze. A museum of natural history opened up near my house and my mom and I went a few times and visited the paleontology exhibit.


Tinkergirl
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 18:56
When I was very little, I wanted to be a clown. Then, when I hit 6, I wanted to be a mad scientist. When I eventually had to choose a degree for uni, I decided on Artificial Intelligence and Psychology (mostly because of Susan Calvin the robopsychologist in "I, Robot").

I still think I managed to keep the mad scientist thing going though And if anyone finds a depressed robot - just let me know.

Robin
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 18:59
I wanted to be a graphic designer, then an architect, then a civil engineer. Now I'm on a civil engineering degree but looking to go into investment banking.

[center]
Dell XPS M1210 12.1" | 2Ghz Duo Core | 2GB DDR2 Ram | 100GB HD | 256MB Geforce Go 7400
Matt Rock
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 20:02
An astronaut... definitely an astronaut. I still want to be an astronaut, I want to be privy to the luxury of looking down on Earth from the surface of the moon. I don't care to be some world-famous intergalactic explorer, but I'd love to be able to go on a journey into space, and it's something I've wanted to do for as long as my neck's been able to turn my face upwards


"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe"
alex 1337
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 20:02
Well I am in my third year of high school, and I still want to get my MD and become a cardiologist.
LD52
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 20:09 Edited at: 4th Feb 2007 20:11
Football Player !

Phaelax
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 22:23
Quote: "Now I'm in my third year of high school taking a Java course (bleh stupid language"

blasphemy!

I've always wanted to be an astronaut. I said my whole life growing up that I'd be the first man on mars. I discovered qbasic in 8th grade then took a pascal class in highschool. Thats when I decided to be a programmer. Took C++ like 3 different times and Java in college where my degree was in computer information.(now digital forensics)

I guess I sort of changed my mind from astronaut because I chickened out. With my luck, I'd be the guy on the shuttle that blows up. Something about sitting on 50k gallons of rocket fuel in a ship built by the lowest bidder didn't give me peace at mind.

jrowe
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 22:45
When I was young (6-9 ish) I wanted to be a crazed inventor, just like Doc Brown from "Back to the Future." When I got a bit older I wanted to be an Actor, and did many years of drama for fun. Then in my early teens I discovered a love for music and have since then wanted to be a professional musician. But since I'm not a good enough song writer/instrumentalist, I start a degree in Biology in September. I still have no idea what I'd realistically want to be.

Tinnedhead Productions

For Fathers and Sons who enjoy wholy spirits.
Kieran
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Posted: 4th Feb 2007 23:25
when i was little, about 5 strangely i wanted to be a programmer, turns out i still do yay me! my dream is coming true

~Kieran
Jeff Miller
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 00:08 Edited at: 5th Feb 2007 00:09
I wanted to be a computer scientist/programmer, and I was good at it when I started college in the late 60's. But a bunch of middle-aged electrical engineers that had been brow-beaten by industry, who I encountered while working my way through engineering school, convinced me to becomea lawyer instead. So I became a lawyer. I have NEVER enjoyed it, and now I'm too old to pick up where I left off. I should have stuck with my instincts instead of allowing other people to direct my life. My 3 children are grown and gone away, and my marraige of 28 years ended. So now I dabble with DBPro as my only hobby, my only escape, my only link to a career I dreamt of but never pursued. My advice: same as the late Joseph Campbell's - follow your bliss. Don't let anyone talk you out of it. Most of you are young enough to avoid making the costly mistake that I made.
indi
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 00:26
Im doing what i wanted to do.

Phaelax
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 00:29
moderate a web forum?

Xenocythe
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 00:49
I'm still very little, so I wanna be the owner of a multi-billion dollar buisness

-Mansoor S.

(Formerly Xenocythe)
LD52
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 00:52
Quote: "I'm still very little, so I wanna be the owner of a multi-billion dollar buisness "


I stopped that dream when i found out they dont give loans that big =(
Lucifer
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 01:35
when i was 5 years old i wanted to be the president.. i am 6 now..


i like pancakes..
Matt Rock
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 03:35
Quote: "moderate a web forum?"

LOL you beat me to it


"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe"
Antidote
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 03:46
Quote: "blasphemy!
"


Not quite. There is a long list of things I hate about Java compared to C++. For one, Java is "multi platform" meaning it runs through a virtual machine. So you have the CPU and program saying "I WANNA GO FAST" and the virtual machine saying "I'm getting to it!". Basically you have slow programs. The other thing I hate is how there are so many built it data types and objects. I know this may sound like a good thing at first. "Oh look I don't have to write my own linked list class! YAY!", but the downside is that Java just becomes so bloated. You find yourself looking at an API more than actually programming because there's not point to making your own hash table or heap class. They're already there! It's just a boring language to work in. I understand that it's really designed for businesses to make cross platform applications quickly, but compared to the speed and flexibility of c++ (that's the other thing, java protects you too much) it just feels like you're pulling a fat kid in a red wagon uphill... in the snow... barefoot... with no pants.


BiggAdd
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 03:57
I wanted to be a baker when i was little (a bit random i know)
Now im aspiring to do a degree in Aerospace Engineering...... O how the times change.
Being a baker would involve a lot less maths for one thing though.

code spinneker
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 06:11
I've seen this a lot but I really did want to be an astronaut. I always loved the stars and space in general and Space channel is my favourite channel. I worked out and tried to keep in shape for being an astronaut but guess what, apparently I'm too tall by about an inch. Go figure. So now I'm a game designer and an author and the Owner of a Game Company that makes no money and is in the negatives...HURRAY! Being an author is my favourite of all the things I do though. Did I mention I do about a million things on the side for money? Yeah that sounds like me. Hell I would still go in to be a pilot too but It costs a lot of money to get that damnable license and I just can't afford that right now, maybe in the future.

Dracsid
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 07:21
Professional Pole in a strip Club
J/K
I wonted to ba a gold miner coz that what my Grandparents did when i was younge. gramps would drop buy on his way to sell some gold and it was so cool i wonted lot of gold to.
Kevin Picone
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 07:30
Drumming / Programming. I took up both around the same time (1983/84). Planned to program for a living and play the band in the as hobby. However, by the time school ended the roles has reversed. Today.. I still do both.

Phaelax
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 08:23
Quote: " wonted to ba a gold miner coz that what my Grandparents"


Mine was a coal miner, but my grandpa owned the mine. Unfortunately, when new emmision regulations were established, the coal was too high in sulfur to burn anymore and so they couldn't sell it anymore. Anyone wanna buy 500 tons of coal?

Jeku
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 09:09
Since I was 7 I wanted to program games for a living. Now that I do, I'm not so sure anymore

Other than that, Jack Bauer's job looks pretty fun Not sure they have a CTU in Canada, but if they do, where do I sign up?

x1b
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 16:32 Edited at: 5th Feb 2007 16:33
Criminal Lawyer or Game Developer. Neither of wich I am now, but do study Law at Concordia University(and study game dev on the semesters that my required courses arent available in Law) and Game Dev is a consistant hobby,for me.

DrewG
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 17:04
From when I had full conscienceness of knowing about future career goals, I had always wanted to be in the NBA (since I was like 4 or 5 as well as being a college professor. Soon after, when I was in my late preteens (7th-8th grade) I then wanted to be a Navy SEAL. I still would like to be a game programmer though for some other company, but wanting to be in Navy is more of a priority..

please forgive me about my forum name.
Code Dragon
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Posted: 5th Feb 2007 17:55
I wanted to be an engineer or the president. When I was 10 my grandpop showed my DB and I've wanted to be an indie game developer since.

Lost in Thought
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Posted: 6th Feb 2007 09:35 Edited at: 7th Feb 2007 10:57
I wanted to be a teacher, repair man, and a policeman ... yes at the same time. However I found out that this wasn't really possible. So I ditched policeman and teacher because of the low pay. I became an Industrial Maintenence Technician and help others every chance I get to level it out as close as possible.

code spinneker
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Posted: 7th Feb 2007 06:14
And we applaud Lost for his decision for without it I would still be so lost (No pun intended) in the Dark Basic Engine and I wouldn't have a good source to steal all my source code from By the way everyone whos programming with me and working with me says Thank you a million times and wishes they could give you a big hug, well O.K. maybe thats a lie but its close enough.

Agent Dink
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Posted: 7th Feb 2007 06:49
Actually, deep down, I'd love to be a super hero. Seriously if I had the resources, I might try it

Gotta make a few million first though

Sometimes the only way over a wall is to pile up enough bodies to climb over - Dave W.
bitJericho
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Posted: 7th Feb 2007 06:51
It's much easier to be a super-villain. You don't need magical powers.

I just got to be a producer, drink champaign until I puke! DRINK CHAM-PAIGN TILL HE PUUUKES..
El Goorf
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Posted: 7th Feb 2007 10:27
i wanted to be a paeleontologist and earn lots of money from finding dinosaur remains, but then i realised that dinosaur remains arent worth millions like they used to be, and quickly lost interest.
Torsten Sorensen
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Posted: 8th Feb 2007 19:48
When I was in 3rd grade, I wanted to be a scientist...of what? Who knows...

Uncle Sam
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Posted: 8th Feb 2007 23:41 Edited at: 8th Feb 2007 23:43
I had always wanted to be a sports car driver as a kid and win instant cash, but all of a sudden I met a little program called Game Maker. That started it! Visual Basic, Java Script, C++, HTML, Flash, and most important of all.....Dark Basic, then Dark Basic Professional! Dreamweaver is probably next. Now I'm loading up on as many programming classes as I can find at my college, as well as a couple helpings of certain high levels of math.

Uncle Sam
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