Dorkeriffic

Coke...First recipient of the AdverDORK award

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 19:15:21 -0500

Advertising. Can there be a more glorious profession? Simply put, they get to spend their working hours learning what people like, and using that knowledge to figure out how to present "stuff" to people so they'll buy it. It's kind of like a high school popularity contest on steroids. I have nothing against marketers or advertisers. I spent one whole year in an MBA program with an emphasis on marketing. The trouble is that some agencies, and the marketers who hire them, are a little off. Or maybe way off. Additionally they may suffer from the "Emperor has no clothes" syndrome to such a degree that nobody calls stupid stupid. I would be completely remiss if I didn't award some kind of AdverDORK status to such folks.

I'm proud to announce that the first corporation to receive the Dorkeriffic AdverDORK award is Coca-Cola.

Ohana means no Dork left behind

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 10:44:20 -0500

I'm just back from Oahu. Hawaii is a great place. You can be a Dork and dress like a tourist and everyone is happy to see you.

So how do you spot a Dork (like ME) in Hawaii? Here are your 5 clues.

Dork in the City...

Tue, 24 May 2005 23:03:03 -0500

It's only fair that since I plan to discuss my favorite Dorks, and what qualifies them for inclusion on that list, that I tell a story on myself first. After all, I believe that it takes one to appreciate one.

So here we go. Picture Los Angeles circa 1998. I was in LA pretty frequently attending a trade shows. At the Western Cable show there were ample opportunities to make a Dork of myself. Let's see, I got my picture taken with a Robin Williams look alike, got autographs from several celebrities, including Matt Frewer ("Max Headroom", Sherlock Holmes,) Jules Asner from Entertainment Tonight, and a photo with Randolph Mantooth ("Emergency!") what a nice guy! I collected bags full of info to take home, and of course, a few logo trinkets for family and friends. On a scale of 1 to 10, that probably put me at about a 3 or 4 (low to mid grade Dork.)

But that wasn't what clinched my Dork title.

What is a Dork?

Mon, 23 May 2005 22:49:33 -0500

So what exactly is a Dork? The meaning appears to have changed over the years. Where's a good etymologist when you need one? When I was a kid, "Dork" was used primarily in a derogatory tone and typically meant something akin to "silly, idiotic, irritating goofball" and usually inferred that the owner of the title had no clue regarding what was hip or cool or otherwise socially acceptable. After endless discussions with my daughter, however, I've discovered that in today's culture, "Dork" has a different, possibly even a positive connotation. Thus, this study in the social ecology of Dork was born.

The wikipedia definition of Dork "describes someone who is typically socially inept, but in such a way that people enjoy the dork's company in spite, or even because of it." Hmmm. I'll buy about 75% of that definintion. How about this for a definition?

Dorkeriffic - My mission

Tue, 17 May 2005 13:46:17 -0500

Maybe it was the giggles and dumbfounded looks I got from my classmates, or the sigh of impatience from my 2nd grade teacher that clued me in. We had learned in class that day about a new phoenetically based spelling system. So naturally, when it came time to do spelling exercises in class and the teacher asked us to spell "squirrel" I blurted out with enthusiasm, "S-K-W-I-R-E-L." No one voiced the moniker, but I knew even at that young age I was different. I was a DORK.

Sheryl Paige
www.sherylpaige.com