Debunking Popular Myths About Techies 

Techies Techies Techies! They’re all the buzz and why not?  Technology is constantly evolving and the advent of AI has made the tech field more attractive, open and accessible to people and one would expect this exposure to create a more realistic opinion about the average techie but just like everything else that’s popular, some myths have been believed about techies, making them look like small gods🙄 and I’m here to debunk a few of them.…….

All Techies Can Code

I know you really believe that coding is the very epicenter of all techies’ existence, I mean that’s all they do, they even code in their dreams, lol. I hate to be the one to tell you but not all techies can code.  Let’s just say that not all tech roles require coding; there are other things you can do in the tech space other than coding. For example, Product managers (they’re also called techies) do not need to code. However, they need to understand tech jargon so as to communicate easily with the coding techies.

All Techies Like All Tech

Another myth is that all techies are knowledgeable about every aspect of technology. In movies and TV shows, techies often appear as masters of all things automated. However, in reality, they have their niche interests just like anyone else. Just as movie enthusiasts might enjoy romantic comedies but dislike horror films, techies might be passionate about virtual reality but indifferent to blockchain. So contrary to popular opinion, techies have specific areas of interest or expertise that may not span across the entire technology spectrum.

All Techies Dress The Same (hoodies, sneakers and school bags)

I remember seeing kids all dressed up representing different professions on their school’s career day and there was this little boy wearing a hoodie, jeans, sneakers and carrying a backpack. I couldn’t help my curiosity, I had to ask what profession he was representing with his outfit, and he said: “I’m a Tech Bro!” I had a good laugh. 

While techies have been tagged as the “hoodie and sneaker wearing/school bag carrying people who like to dress down at all times, this isn’t always true for all of them. Maybe I’ve been rolling with an odd set of techies but you need to meet my techie friends. The drip they bring every time we hang out is timeless! From classic native attires to jaw dropping color combinations, their fashion sense is totally impeccable. You’d probably mistake me for the techie when we’re together. 

All Techies Are Rich

I know tech sounds like the new oil and gas but allow me inform you without a trace of doubt that you’ve been hailing and billing the wrong set of people. This is probably a hard pill for most people to swallow but it is the truth. Not all techies are rich, the fact that a few tech roles attract a decent remuneration is not a basis for generalization. Some non-tech people earn way more than these techies but they’re not very obvious so you can easily miss them.  You can check here for some of them. So, when next you see a marketing (virality) manager, *clears throat in USD* you know what to do.😉

All Techies Are Bookworms

While it takes a level of studiousness to acquire a tech skill, saying, all techies are bookworms is like saying all birds can fly. Just because someone can write code and come up with a fantastic app doesn’t mean they’re constantly studying stuff and buried nose-deep in books. At least, not all of them. Just like other regular humans have various interests, some of them enjoy other things that aren’t even cerebral or intellectually stimulating. 

All Techies Are Socially Awkward

Say this with me: “Not all techies are introverts.” I don’t blame people for believing all techies are introverted or socially awkward, it’s the way most movies have portrayed them; either as loners or part of a clique of fellow techies. This depiction may have held sway in the ’90s but not today’s techies. They engage in interesting hobbies beyond coding and can be just as cool and sociable as anyone else.

Techies Turn to Technology for All Their Problems

Contrary to popular belief, techies understand that not all problems require a technological solution. They don’t automatically resort to technology to solve every issue. They’re pragmatic problem-solvers who weigh the pros and cons of different solutions. Sometimes, the best approach doesn’t involve technology at all.

All Techies have Ivy League Degrees 

While Ivy League degrees are nice-to-haves and can open certain doors, they are not the sole path to becoming a successful tech professional. Many tech professionals have forged their own paths through self-study, online courses, and practical experience. As a tech enthusiast, your curiosity, willingness to learn, passion and commitment would do more for you than a big name on your degree certificate because it’s really about what you can do, not what school name you have on your degree certificate at the end of the day. 

All Techies Have Poor Sight

Almost every techie wears glasses but not every techie has eye problems. The nature of their job poses a risk to their sight and while some of them have issues with their eyes, others just wear it to protect their eyes from the bright light of the screens while they go about their business. So when next you see a techie wearing glasses, just give them a thumbs up. 

Someone even said, all techies have terrible hygiene

This one ehn, it’s hard to defend because those guys are proud and they definitely give off that vibe. So because of the nature of their job; working remotely (sometimes) and having to sit in one spot for long, staring at screens, people believe that it’s convenient for them to just sleep and wake up in the same spot while abandoning the rituals of personal hygiene such as brushing or bathing since they’re indoors and order a nice breakfast and move on with their lives. Still, not all techies don’t bathe or brush; a few of them, maybe but techies are neat people.

Techies go through a lot; from having to keep up with the rest of the corporate world (and unreasonable deadlines) to their sedentary lifestyle and its impact on their health and relationships, and now the misconception about their personalities and preferences…..

When you see a techie, hug them. People seem to forget that they’re humans too.

What other techie myths do you know about? Join me in the “Tech Connect” community on Fusion and let’s debunk them.