A number of you from the facebook know that I've got a number of complaints logged against one of my roommates, Neil. I really don't know what's up with this guy, all I do know is that he manages to push all of the right buttons for me to dislike him. The other roommate is pretty cool, I think he's there to balance things out.
I should have known right off the bat I wouldn't like him when I checked out my room assignment this summer. All I saw was that he was a theater production major, and a phone number. I thought at first he'd be someone I could talk shop with (I'm a Media Production Major) but after googling around I saw my first red flag. He's the secretary of the Missouri State Anime Club.
For those who aren't "in the know" anime is cartoons from Japan and it's the hot nerd fad right now. Anime nerds (Animu Weaboo) tend to be a different breed of nerd than the typical North American Nerd (Americanus Dorkus). Where regular nerds will try to seek out other members of it's species, anme nerds secluded themselves in the darkness of their mother's basement. In the social hierarchy of the nerd kingdom, anime nerds rank fairly low.
The second came when I moved in and mentioned to him that I liked to play online games. He then worried how my game playing would affect his ping. (In laymen terms: how slow his connect would be) That question struck me as odd, but I didn't pay much mind to it. When I was unpacking my stuff he was screaming at his teammates in Team Fortress 2 about something, I thought it was kinda funny so I didn't mind it. He also plays Magic: The Gathering on conference call and those turn into a fantastic display of nerd rage. Justin and I told him that it's just a card game, but we're too uncultured enough to appreciate the subtleties of cardboard cards with naked faeries on them.
The third piece of the nerd trifecta came when he admitted to Justin (The other roommate) and I that he had an anxiety disorder. He was spazzing out over some assignment he had and I told him to chill the fuck out. I heard from Justin that Neil has failed most of his classes and that if he doesn't shape up he'll be kicked out of his major. (I've got twenty riding that blows it) I don't feel bad for him because he put himself in that spot and college is supposed to be a time where kids pretend to act like adults. One of the common nerd traits is to mach personality flaws with disorders so that they have something to hide behind.
I think the reason why I can't stand him is that he's the physical embodiment of my deepest fears. He's smelly, fat, whiny, and probably doesn't have many friends. I'm fucking terrified of becoming like him. He's made it clear that he thinks I'm far to cynical and negative, but I think those are the things keeping me from turning into him. We both have a deep sense of self loathing, but at least I'm productive with it. (Justin commented that I absolute hate myself but the jokes I make are hilarious. He also sees me as the most emotionally sound roommate for some odd reason)
I started working out in the dorm's fitness room and dropped like twenty pounds since the start of the semester and I'm close to bench pressing my own body weight. Working out apparently makes me feel fucking fantastic. I'm also working this semester and volunteering with this weekly news broadcast. I forgot who said that people feel purpose though meaningful work, but he's right.
Anyhow, I graduate in December so I don't have much longer with Neil (Thank God and/or current ruling cosmic deity) I honestly feel like a normal person compared to him. Fuck, maybe I am.
Nah.
