Question of the Week: Why the Basement?

Nerds have a lot of reputations, most of them unsavory. Between the hygiene issues, social awkwardness, dietary tendencies and porn addictions, some are pretty gross individuals. But today isn’t about judging.

Today I want to know why nerds will retreat to their basement to create their nest. There are other rooms in the house. Is it because their mom won’t let them have a computer or a TV in their room? Is it the ease with which a couple of small drapes can create a world of darkness to enhance their manic gameplay? Is it the slightly cooler temperature to keep nerd sweat under control? Is it the illusion of solitude, broken only when their mom comes down to do the laundry? Or is it all of these things, combining to creating a dungeon atmosphere, living in dark solitude getting further and further disconnected from reality, living only through WoW and surviving on Cool Ranch Doritos and Jolt?

We at Shufflingdead want to know. Why the Basement?

The line must be drawn here: gamers stand up to would-be robbers

Devin Wolery was watching over the nine customers of his internet gaming cafe one night, when two random encounters wearing masks came in and began harassing him. He went for the panic button, but police would be minutes away. The two then attacked Wolery, punching him twice in the face before his party members noticed anything. The intruders demanded money from the approaching nerds, who complied. One robber tried to take a man’s DS.

That’s when it was on like Donkey Kong.

In the words of Wolery: “They tried to take his DS, his Nintendo DS and he wasn’t having that — so he came back swinging.” The other gamers became inspired by this heroic act.

The swarm of nerds reached deep within themselves to find the fury instilled by years of bullying. As it is said, “injustice boils in men’s hearts as does steel in its cauldron.” The attackers were overwhelmed by nerd fury. Beaten down, they escaped the store humiliated.

[source]

Question of the Week: What Is Your Favorite Nerd Snack?

Nerds have a stigma attached to them that suggests that they are basement-dwelling Cheeto-scarfers. But I know this is not true for all of us. In the course of a serious Nerd Marathon of accomplishment, you might find yourself gripped by Hunger’s merciless fist. I find nerds to be fairly adaptable, since sometimes your mom just forgets to buy the Cheetos.

So I want to know: What Is Your Go-To Nerd Snack?

Man marries dakimakura, a damn pillow

28-year old Lee Jin-gyu has wed a giant, huggable, rapeable, body pillow, technically called a “dakimakura,” with a picture of anime character Fate Testarossa printed on it.

The Korean man dressed up his make-believe friend in a wedding dress and had a special ceremony held in front of a priest. One man, a supposed friend of Jin-gyu’s, noted that “he is completely obsessed with this pillow and takes it everywhere,” this includes taking the stuffed woman on carnival rides and out to restaurants. The pillow reportedly gets its own meals, but the vital details of how that might work are unavailable.

No word on whether or not the couple was living in sin, or if Lee will be tearing open a new hole on his stuffed friend.

I have to give props to Mr. Jin-gyu, at least this thing is soft and roughly the size and shape of a human, Sal9000 has a lot more hard edges to deal with on his fake wife.

[source]

The Nerd Olympics 2010

Hello and welcome to Shufflingdead’s annual look back at the world’s most grueling and infamous two-day, liquor soaked, Pizza-Pop-encrusted sweat fest, the Nerd Olympics.

A special message from Newbs: We posted an opt-out sheet at Nerd Olympics for those who didn’t want to appear in the videos, but no such sheet was available for photos. We’ve never had a problem posting pictures from previous Nerd Olympics, but if you don’t want your picture to appear in this article, or on Shufflingdead more broadly, please let me know. For the Shufflingdead readership sick of hearing about Nerd Olympics, don’t worry, this article will be it until next year.

This year’s official slogan came from the classic film and Nerd Olympics favourite, Starship Troopers:

… Continue Reading