brilliantbrown

originally published September 18, 2006 @ antgoo.com

So I took this computer geek test. According to the test, I’m actually a pretty low level geek. My geek score of 68 means that I’m actually pretty middle of the road when in comes to my geek level knowledge.

The funny thing is that I really don’t consider myself a geek anymore. Everyone I know thinks that I am, but I think its purely based on the comparative fact that most people I know have next to zero knowledge about personal computer hardware and software. People think I’m a genius because I know more than they do. But when I get around real geeks, I’m just an average guy.

Thinking about this, I’m reminded of a similar phenomenon that I see almost every day in public places. I’m talking about what I call the Buffer Factor. This is when an average looking (6) to moderately attractive chick (7) hangs out with a bunch of decidedly unattractive chicks to make herself look better by comparison. I think this is dishonest and hurtful. Not to me, cause I can see through the façade, but to yourselves ladies.

what’s wrong with that?

See this wouldn’t be such a bad practice if the chick of average aesthetic would actually step her game up and seek to improve herself. You’d be amazed how actually caring about your appearance or working on your attitude can raise a class 7 chick to a class 8. But what often happens is these chicks find themselves resting on their laurels content to be the least mediocre of those with whom they choose to surround themselves. They don’t go to the gym or watch their eating, they just get fatter friends. They don’t get their hair done or take care of their skin, they just get uglier friends. They don’t try to be great, the just surround themselves with lesser beings. But there’s an old saying that says that if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

What often happens is these chicks who start out with potential end up getting comfortable in their mediocrity. They get fatter, less attractive and less appealing to a man of means who is seeking female companionship. These girls find themselves settling for mediocre dudes, cause they’re cool with just getting by. They stay comfortable enough that they don’t notice how bad they’ve got it, but not uncomfortable enough to be motivated to improve their situation. The best they can hope for is stay stuck in this limbo, this quagmire of “good enough”, while they wait for some Captain Save-A-Ho™ to come along and swoop them off to greatness.

What they don’t realize is that quality men look for quality women, not second-rate lazy chicks. These women wake up one day and they ARE the fat, unattractive friend that some other moderately attractive girl is hanging around to make herself feel better. Repeat.

who’s affected?

Now this is by no means a universal practice among females, indeed some women are confident enough to stand on their own and genuinely better themselves (instead of fooling themselves and appealing to their own childish egos and lazy ways.) What a lot of people don’t realize is that attitude plays a huge role in how desirable one is. A confident woman who stands on her own is a powerful creature. These women don’t need to trick themselves into feeling good, they just do. I commend these women and ask them to send me their phone numbers.

Also this is not a practice limited only to females. In fact, it’s just as rampant among guys as it is with the ladies. There are a ton of guys who are comfortable with making next to no money, they just get friends who are more impoverished. They’re cool with a late 80s Buick Regal, as long as their rims are an inch or two bigger than yours. These are the guys who are happy to be dating the mediocre chick mentioned above instead of seeking a dime-piece of a woman. These mediocre dudes get mediocre chicks and have mediocre kids with low expectations for themselves and the cycle continues.

what can i do?

Cut that bullshit out ladies and gentlemen. Never settle or base your self-confidence on external factors (like fat friends who make you feel skinny by comparison.) Because when those factors change, you’ll have nothing. That’s a lazy and dangerous way to live your life.

True confidence comes from within, through self-improvement and honest self-evaluation. Step your game up and demand greatness. Demand it from yourself firstly, and of those you place around you and you’ll open up a new level of excellence in your life.