But things like that happen in any social circle, nerds or otherwise. Playing the victim is a very negative aspect, and often times people who do this will make excuses for problems in their life when confronted with it instead of solving it.B. Tribe wrote:WARNING: The following 3 paragraphs are depressing. Skip to the 4th paragraph for how I talk to a kitty.
I tried to find information on something called "victim face" or "victim aspect" that I read about a while back but no luck. It's something common amongst 'geeks' and I have to wonder if it crosses over with improv or performance in general. The basic idea is that people who have been victims of beratement due to their unique behavior psychologically find that response normal and therefore create situations where that abuse can take place again. Not every 'victim aspect' opportunity results in the subconciously desired abuse, but it does open up the possibility for it to take place.
The first I heard about this psychological behavior was in relation to a psychiatrist observing Comic-Con convention goers, especially those who dress in costume but also including those who wear t-shirts that often result in marginalzation by normal society. While a comic convention is a relativly 'safe' place to fly geek flags, it still presents opportunites for negative judgement.
Do improvisers exibit similar behaviors? We certainly put ourselves out there in a dramatic fashion, attempting to please judgemental faces waiting for us to fly or fail. We create the opportunity for abuse. If geeks and improvisors do cross over, or why geeks become improvisors, this may be the psychological reasoning.
Who's a little wuzzywoo? Who's a little wuzzywoo? You are! Yes, you are! Boo boo boo. Boo boo BOOOO! Look at you blink. Blinky. Happy cat. Happy cat. You have a tiny brain. Yes you do. Yes you doooo! Purrrr. Purrrr. Happy cat. Happy kitty!
"Someone keeps calling me, ugh this sucks."
"Well block their number or call them back."
"But I don't know them, they might be a scammer, I don't like talking on the phone."
"Well fine fuck then kill yourself, Captain Indecision."
Repeat for every minor occurrence in their lives in a very #firstworldproblems way until all of their friends give up and start ignoring you. Welcoem to 75% of Livejournal's content (they don't call it Whinejournal for nothin).
I would say this behavior is only good for improvisers only in that it teaches them to stop denying/blocking everything. The improv scene isn't exactly violent or mean, or even secular (mostly, I understand drama happens but for the most part most of us wouldn't have a problem getting on stage next to anyone else here). And like I said earlier, it makes a safe environment.
I almost wish someone would be a dick to me, cause after a lifetime of being an asshole and my friend circles wallowing in the culture/camaraderie of assholes, it's really weird/creepy to me that I haven't met anyone I didn't like here. And as a result I've been extremely less negative about everything since much like improv, denying everything gets you nowhere. A nerd's major problem, besides obesity, diabetes, and carpal tunnel, is insecurity and avoiding conflict. Being around positive people that encourage you to jump in head first to things affects that over time.
Not to mention it's a group of people being funny and silly and when you see people having fun, the most common reaction is "I want to do that too" whether it's "Fuck those guys having fun >(" or "man that looks awesome." Having been to enough anime conventions, nerds like to have fun and be stupid, and they can have their cake and eat it too with improv.