The Joys of being “1337″
�1337�-ness. It’s gone around the internet like the Yatta movie or Homestar Runner. The only problem is, unlike the previous examples which can be easily avoided, �1337�ness seems to have a nasty way of sticking around. Mainly because it is continually being used people new to it who want to seem cool.
For those not down with the �net culture, �1337� (pronounced leet) is both a language and a pseudo-culture group. The language simply requires using things like numbers for letters (i.e. 4 == A, 3 == E, etc), at first it was cool, but at this point, it’s considered lame in most places. It comes from the online gaming culture where some �super cool� person decided to start talking like that. And since he was �cool� everyone copied him.
Now, the language, I don’t mind quite so much. Hell, I use it sometimes. It’s the pseudo-culture that gets on my nerves sometimes. The thing about the culture is that �1337� is supposed to be elite; which poses a problem because not everyone can be it. Yet, everyone tries to be �1337� and out-�1337� all of the people around them. It’s actually quite silly. It usually ends up being a bunch of people screaming, �my __________ is better than your _____________.�
The real problem with the whole culture is not really the �1337�ness problem, it’s what supposedly makes you �1337.� I mean, some people seem to think that owning a computer that is �1337� will automatically make you �1337.� This is just dumb. I know people with super sweet computers and decked out stereos and great cars, and they aren’t �1337.� Not even close to it. It’s like the pimple faced uber-dork who has the Porsche 911. Sure he has a great car, but he’s still an uber-dork.
The other one, which is very similar, is the, �I know 8,000,000,000,000 things about computers and therefore I am 1337� mentality. I think this one burns me up the most. This is merely someone saying, I spent all my time doing something and I know all about it. So you’re a know-it-all, big friggen� deal. The problem with this is, sure you know a lot, but there is going to be some guy who knows 8,000,000,000,001 things, and you won’t be all that special anymore. Now, you’ll just be the number 1 loser when it comes to �1337�-ness.
But Stan, what do I do if I want to be 1337?
Well, simply put, be yourself. The first thing to realize about being �1337� is more of just a state of being. All of the truly �1337� people I have ever met possessed one thing that separated them from everyone else: confidence in themselves. This does not mean that you go around shouting �I am the 1337 master� everywhere. In fact, that’s one of the major things about being �1337.� It’s like what they say about being cool, if you have to proclaim to others that you are, you aren’t.� The instance you say, �I am 1337� you no longer are, and it is very hard to reclaim any �1337�-ness you once had. It’s alright for others to say you are �1337,� that’s totally fine, just reply with a thanks and move on. If it gets to your head, you lose it. �1337,� like fame, is a tricky thing.
So am I �1337?� Nah. I’m just another guy who writes a web log for fun. I’m a dork, really. I hang out with the �1337.� Unfortunatly, unlike coolness, which supposedly can be accumulated by hanging out with other cool people, �1337� does not get passed by osmosis. *shrugs* Oh well, maybe one day I’ll get there.
