The basic idea of a "Geek Code" is to tell a bit about your interests in a very small space. There are a number of codes in use now, from the classic, very exhaustive "Geek Code" to the short-and-sweet "Disney Afternoon Code". Each code covers a certain specific area of interest, packs a lot of information into a tiny space, and is generally meant to be understood by those with the same interests who also know the code. These codes are appended onto a user's .sig file.
A user is not required to put each and every possible code into their sig. If you really have no opinion on something, you can leave it out. If you want to stick with telling others what you think about the shows, and omit the more personal parts of the code, that's perfectly all right. An alternative is the "#" mark, which means "None of your business!", and is a bit more forceful.
The history of the Space Geek Code
INTERRUPT TRANSMISSION
GHOST PLANET CODE V1.2:
and end with RESUME TRANSMISSION
There are lots of modifiers available for use with the main categories in this code. Just because they are not all displayed with every category does not mean that they are not perfectly kosher. Besides the pluses and minuses, here are some other modifiers that can be added to any code (within the bounds of logic, whatever that is. :)
| ? | Puzzlement ("What's this?") |
| * | Not applicable, for various reasons (See the code itself for examples) |
| # | No answer. (Mind your own dang business.) |
| > | ", but I want to be" (W—>++++ = "I don't have a web page, but I want to have the ultimate Space Ghost page.") |
| / | ", but sometimes", the slash going between ratings. The first rating is dominant. Br++/--- = "Most of the time I like Brak, but sometimes I want to duct tape his mouth shut." |
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Ratings example:
Br+++++ (or more) What restraining order?. Br++++ I want Brak to bear my children. Br+++ I answer the phone "All hail Brak!" Br++ He's my favorite character! Br+ I like him. Br Eh, he doesn't make much of an impression on me. Br- He's kinda annoying. Br-- I cringe when I see him. Br--- Someone ought to put Brak in a barrel and nail the lid shut! Br---- ... And plug up the bunghole! Br----- (or more) What restraining order?
| C2C++++ | This is the best talk show ever produced in the history of television! |
| C2C+++ | I never miss an episode! Who needs to go out on Saturday night? |
| C2C++ | This is one cool show! |
| C2C+ | I like the show. |
| C2C | Eh, it's okay. |
| C2C- | Er... it's okay, I suppose. |
| C2C-- | I don't get it. |
| C2C--- | This is one dumb show. |
| C2C---- | Who came up with this idiotic show?! |
| C2C* | I don't get Cartoon Network! ARRRGH! |
Last name.
Example: Slash
Title in full, in quote marks.
Example: "Switcheroo"
If you need to look up a show or guest, check out Ghost Planet Transcript Central.
| CP++++ | This is the best cartoon comedy show ever produced in the history of television! |
| CP+++ | I never miss an episode! I can recite skits word for word, and often do. |
| CP++ | This is one nifty show! I sing the songs in the shower and while cooking chili. |
| CP+ | I like the show. |
| CP | Eh, it's okay. |
| CP- | Er... it's okay, I suppose. |
| CP-- | I don't GIT it. |
| CP--- | This is one dumb show. |
| CP---- | What's so funny about three barely animated toons blabbering about nothing?! |
| CP* | I don't get Cartoon Network! ARRRGH! |
Title in quotes.
Example: "Crazy Lovesick Fool"
Title in full, in quotes.
Examples: "Babies" "Zorak's Nuggets of Joy" "Brak's School Daze: Milk"
If you need to look up a Cartoon Planet skit title or song, visit Brak's Scriptbook or Brak's Songbook.
| U++++ | I am the group's top poster! |
| U+++ | I read/post frequently. |
| U++ | I read/post occasionally. |
| U+ | I am a dedicated lurker. |
| U | I read it occasionally. |
| U- | I read it only when I have nothing better to do. |
| U-- | I forget to read it. |
| U--- | That newsgroup? Why bother? |
| U---- | I hate the usenet!!! |
| U? | What's alt.fan.space-ghost? |
| U* | I don't have access to alt.fan.space-ghost. |
| L++++ | I am the list's top poster! |
| L+++ | I read/post frequently. |
| L++ | I read/post occasionally. |
| L+ | I am a dedicated lurker. |
| L | I read some of it. |
| L- | I read it only when I have nothing better to do. |
| L-- | I delete most of the mail. |
| L--- | That list? Why bother? |
| L---- | I hate mailing lists!!! |
| L? | What mailing list? |
| L* | I can't subscribe to the mailing list. |
| W++++ | Oh, man, do I! Mine has Space Ghost stuff you'll find NOWHERE else! |
| W+++ | You bet! It's a great SG site. You'll want to bookmark this one! |
| W++ | My page has some Space Ghost stuff on it. |
| W+ | I have a page, but it's not very SG intensive. |
| W | My web page doesn't have any SG stuff on it. |
| W- | My page is too serious to put Space Ghost stuff up on. |
| W-- | Are you kidding?! Why would I want to put THAT on my web page? |
| W--- | I don't have a web page. |
| W---- | I hate the world wide web!!! |
| W? | What's a web page? |
| W* | I don't have a Space Ghost related page, but I want to. |
| Sm | Male |
| Sf | Female |
| S? | Er... I'm not sure... |
| S- | I don't have a gender. |
| S* | None of the above. |
| S# | None of your beeswax! |
Age follows gender in numeric form. So, Sf29 would be "29-year-old female". Sf# would be "I'm female, and it's none of your business what age I am!". S#29 would be "I'm 29 years old, and my gender is none of your business."
| Fs | Single |
| Fm | Married |
| Fi | Involved |
| Fd | Divorced |
| F? | Uh, I dunno... |
| F# | My family is none of yer beeswax! |
Modifier: k(#): number of children. Fdk2
would be "Divorced, with two kids".
State/province/etc abbreviation (in lowercase), a period (no spaces) and internet country abbreviation if other than the US. This For example, mine would be Gga.us.
Someone living in British Columbia, Canada might put Gbc.ca.
Modifier: pluses and minuses can express how you feel about where you live. you can add slashes and other locaions to show where you formerly lived, or were born. For example: Gga.us+/bc.ca++
would mean "I now live in Georgia, and that's okay, but I like British Columbia, where I used to live, better."
| C++++ | I get withdrawal pangs when I reboot it. |
| C+++ | I wish it could be surgically attached to me. |
| C++ | What a great tool/toy! |
| C+ | It's very useful to me. |
| C | It's a tool, like any other. |
| C- | Frankly, I'm not used to computers yet. |
| C-- | Computers are a necessary evil. |
| C--- | I hate computers! |
| C---- | What the heck am I doing, working on a geek code? |
| C? | What'z a computer? |
Modifier: pc for PC-compatible, m for Macintosh, a for Amiga, at for Atari, u for Unix thingie, ? For "What's the difference?" and * for "Whatever's available at the moment is fine with me".
INTERRUPT TRANSMISSION
GHOST PLANET CODE V1.2: CHSg+Zo+++Mo++Br++++Lo+++Tz+Bw-/+Ch---Ra++Dn++ C2C+++ Yankovic "Pilot" CP+++ "Crazy Lovesick Fool" "Babies" U++ L+++ W++++ Sf30 Fs Gga.us C+++pc
RESUME TRANSMISSION
Translation: I'm using version 1.2 of the Space Geek Code. I like Space Ghost a bit, Zorak a lot, Moltar a good bit, I'm in love with Brak, I like Lokar a lot, I like Tanzit a bit, Black Widow kinda annoys me, although sometimes she's amusing. Chad REALLY annoys me, and I like Raymond and Dr. Nightmare, Attorney At Law.. I really get a kick out of "Space Ghost Coast to Coast". Weird Al Yankovic is my favorite guest, and my favorite episode of "Coast to Coast" is "Pilot". I like "Cartoon Planet" a whole bunch. My favorite song is "Crazy Lovesick Fool", and my favorite skit is "Babies". I read and post to alt.fan.space-ghost when the mood strikes me, I read and post to the ghost-planet mailing list with no mean amount of dedication, and I have a web page I'm damn proud of! I'm a single, 30-year-old woman who lives in Georgia. And I loves me PC.
Jessica Bilhartz (cbilhart@flash.net)
Mike Shawaluk (mikes@pkware.com)
Tanya Stay (Tanichka@worldnet.att.net)
Spottiswoode Thjss (spottisw@world.std.com)
Harvey Best (hbest@cstone.net)
Joseph Vilas (jhv@oit.duke.edu)