Author: Carl Setzer

I’ve been a fan of Wil Wheaton’s Radio Free Burrito for years. It’s hard to conceive he’s been putting those things out for a decade. Anyway, today’s episode: Radio Free Burrito 43: my next mistake, hits on a few things that I’ve been thinking about lately.

He talks a bit about Taylor Swift and how crappily she’s been treated by the media, and by a certain cadre of the internet. I, too, have been discovering more in her music than I expected. And what made me take a deeper look was the grace and humor she’s shown while facing down the trollish brutes. Gotta love and admire anyone like that.

When talking about Pax and the hater-vibe he was feeling, he struck a nerve that’s been raw. In geek circles lately, there’s this whole “gatekeeper” thing going on. I hate this mentality. Perhaps it’s because I’m an old school geek from back when geekiness lined you up for bullying (at best). When you found ANYONE who shared those interests and passions, you felt delight, a thrill in someone else “getting it”. Those geeks I grew up with were a remarkably inclusive crew. Hearing people proclaiming “you’re not geeky enough” is both absurd and infuriating. You’re not outcast enough? Really? Of course, I’ve long felt frustration with those seeking to keep others out, to find some kind of purity. The purity of the experience comes from love, from passion. It’s the damn feeling, the joy in something, that makes it wonderful.

Of course, I’ve long been a proponent of diversity in all things. And I guess here is where I’ll stand. Wil is geeky enough, Taylor is too, and I’ll bet you are as well. Jeez, folks, lets all go watch Star Wars and get over ourselves.

I consider myself a global citizen. Born in Rhode Island, my life has taken me throughout the US and around the globe. I have a broad view of the world, though my core geographical identification is with Seattle.

My career brought me to several key Seattle area institutions, including Starbucks, Microsoft and a project or two at Amazon. I have a solid understanding of general business principles, technological solutions, writing, PR, internet and social media marketing. I have built websites (with a particular love for WordPress), myriad PowerPoints, intricate Excel spreadsheets, tracked million dollar + budgets, deployed Google Apps and Microsoft Office Online solutions (Office 365’s predecessor) , launched built networks, written press releases, edited and managed newsletters, and developed long-term strategies.

My focus has been on “getting things done”, while keeping an eye on the future. I seek solutions that make change, that grow and develop.