I mentioned once before that I got a new headset for my home office setup, but now this tale has a second part. In case you didn't bother to click on the previous link, I basically decided to get a budget headset, since I didn't really think that I needed the absolute top quality. As it turned out, that meant that I chose an inexpensive gaming headset that very obviously looked like a gaming headset.
Since it is obviously a gaming headset, I have had a few people comment on it on occasion. Usually the person who says something is a bit younger, since they will recognize its intended purpose. I end up telling them the same story that I wrote about the first time, and everyone has a good laugh about it. I mean, they recognize the desire to keep costs down, and I recognize why they might raise an eyebrow for my hardware choices.
Recently, I was asked the question one more time, and I responded with my usual comment about cost and functionality. However, this time, the reply included something that I wasn't expecting: a further explanation about why the question as asked. Specifically, this person said it almost gave me more "street cred" at work, because I was basically living up to the gamer/programmer stereotype. Oh man, you don't know how much I laughed at that notion. I don't deny that I'm basically a techy nerd, but there's no way that I'm enough of a gamer or a hardcore enough programmer to consider myself that much of a stereotype.
The best part, though, came when I ended up telling the Mild Wife about the exchange. I was laughing about it all, so I mentioned it to her after the fact. It should be noted that she is not in the software industry, so occasionally I have to explain a concept or notion. So, as I was talking about the gamer/programmer comparison, I used the same phrase I used above, "street cred," to describe the situation. Without missing a beat, she threw out this retort:
Mild Wife: "Street cred? You mean nerdiness?"
If I had any illusions of letting that comment get to my head, the Mild Wife put an end to that real quick. I think I must've laughed doubly hard at the retort than the original comment.
This headset sure has provided all types of value.
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