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Geeks and ping pong
Posted by David Greiner on April 26, 2007 5:26 PM
What is it with geeks and ping pong? Google does it, Skinnycorp do it too. If the geeks run the show, good chance you'll find a ping pong table out back somewhere.
When we moved into our bigger office space 6 months ago, our first purchase was a trusty new ping pong table. Every Friday afternoon the Freshview office seems to transform from a software company to a high tension ping pong arena. I mean it, we go crazy for it. The strategic plan and interface sketches on the office whiteboard are quickly replaced with the afternoon's draw. Favourite bats are selected. Trash is (badly) talked. We take this stuff seriously.
But what is it that lures our profession to the ping pong table? Out of all the at-work recreational activities you read about at technology companies, the trusty old ping pong is always near the top of the list. I've got plenty of friends working in other industries, but it seems this trend doesn't really continue outside the tech world.
So why is it that us geeks enjoy the game so much? And although it's tempting, no jokes about geeks and indoor sports ;)
If you're one of those lucky enough to get into a bit of at-work ping pong action, check out the video below for some pre-game inspiration. Something tells me that cartwheel shot took some time to master.
Ray Stone
wrote on April 26, 2007 11:17 PM
Can't say I'm lucky enough to have one at work, but I just bought myself a deluxe new table for the garage. Bring it on!
sean
wrote on April 27, 2007 2:28 AM
One word: Foosball!
Mathew Patterson
wrote on April 27, 2007 12:27 PM
Trash is (badly) talked
You only say that because my grandmother really does have a better backhand than you Dave :)
Derek Organ
wrote on April 30, 2007 8:46 PM
fussball might work better in our office. Although i love a game of table tenis. hmm what to get what to get.
good to have something that doens't require a computer in the evening.
Dave Greiner
wrote on May 1, 2007 10:29 AM
Nice Ray, you'll have to swing by the office when you've had enough garage practice ;) Mat... given the fact that you took out the office comp on Friday, I'll keep it shut this time.
Charlie
wrote on May 2, 2007 5:07 PM
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8079411349144989883
Mark Wyner
wrote on May 18, 2007 6:45 AM
Yeah! That video is absolutely insane. Have you seen olympic badminton? Just as crazy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaEL2uN6T0k
Dave Greiner
wrote on May 18, 2007 2:15 PM
Nice Mark, that's insane! Here's another ping pong one you've got to see. Wonder how many takes it took to get all these done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFZevw1AHZs
kahfei
wrote on May 23, 2007 3:49 PM
Hey...we have got two tables, but they are always full. Almost everyday after working hour.
I understand the feeling, people here really taking their ping pong seriously also. And they gonna have a company-wide competition soon as well.
Gosh, while I am typing this, I am thinking of the ping pong session already...:-)
Mike
wrote on July 31, 2007 10:30 AM
It's not just geeks who enjoy ping-pong at work. It's also common when working in the sewer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SF2uA9ttDo
Got anything to add?