Month: July 2017

“Won’t somebody please think of the children?”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Helen Lovejoy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote was actually popularized by The Simpsons. However, it is important to note that this wasn’t the first time it was used. In fact, the quote was already a rather cliche argumentative point way before it was popularized by the popular cartoon.

In the episode entitled “Much Apu About Nothing,” a bear wanders into the town by accident. Although the animal is immediately taken care of by the town’s authorities, Homer Simpson gets the other townsfolk rally to get Mayor Quimby to create a “bear patrol.” This does cause taxes to increase, which, once again, Homer Simpson and some people to go to city hall to lower taxes. Mayor Quimby, in the hopes of shifting blame to something else, says that the problem of higher taxes is due to illegal immigrants.

Throughout all this, Helen Lovejoy yells out the quote, exclaiming that the children need protection from the bears… and illegal immigrants.

Geek wisdom: Parents love their children and only want the best for them and to protect them from any harm. However, sometimes, they can get a little too overprotective which can be just as harmful to their kids as they will not be able to grow up and experience the world as it is. Sometimes, you have to let go and let them commit their own mistakes so they can learn from them.

“Who you gonna call?”

From: Ghostbusters (1984)

Genre: Movies, Music

Who said it?: Ray Parker Jr.

The story behind the quote: This quote comes the extremely popular film from 1984, Ghostbusters… sort of. While it wasn’t said in the actual movie, it was sung in the theme song for the film. And it was also sung in another film bearing the same name.

Everyone knows the original iconic Ghostbusters theme song sung by Ray Parker Jr. I mean, the song was just so catchy and memorable at the time and perfectly encapsulated the rather whimsy tone of the movie. The song was actually nominated for an Oscar and reached the number one spot on Billboard for three consecutive weeks.

Of course, when the franchise was rebooted in 2016, they had to find a way to recreate the song to suit modern audiences, which is why they got Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott to remix the song. The iconic lyric (and this week’s quote) obviously had to be written in the song.

Geek wisdom: Use the right tool for the job. Substitutes may do in a pinch but nothing beats the most appropriate equipment for the problem at hand. If you need to hammer a nail, use a hammer if you have one handy. If you need to eliminate ghosts and the supernatural, call the Ghostbusters. It just makes sense.

“As you wish.”

From: The Princess Bride

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Carl Denham

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is, once again, from Vida! Two in a row! Many thanks, Vida! Keep them coming!

The quote comes from the incredibly popular film adaption of the book, The Princess Bride. While the film was a modest success when it came out in 1987, it only really gained success when it came out in home video. Even so, it’s not hard to see why the film was so popular as it was a children’s adventure film with enough wit and whimsy for an adult to enjoy.

The quote is actually kind of a catchphrase for Westley, played by Cary Elwes. In the film, Westley starts out as a simple farm boy in love with Buttercup, played by Robin Wright. Whatever Buttercup orders Westley to do, he does it and only says the quote. This does become important in the middle of the story after Westley’s ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts and is lost at sea, leaving Buttercup to think Westley has perished. However, she realizes her mistake when she herself comes face to face with the Dread Pirate Roberts.

Fun fact: In the book, Buttercut actually doesn’t figure out what Westley means by “as you wish” as she’s a little bit dim in the original work.

Geek wisdom: Now, let me quote Vida regarding the specific geek wisdom from this beautiful quote…

“Westley is expressing his unconditional love for Buttercup, showing that whatever hardships or obstacles, True Love always endures and triumphs. The geek wisdom here is having faith in the power of love, and that love is eternal whether the person is here or across the seas on a pirate ship or in the afterlife. “As you wish” is the absence of ego and the need to be first in a relationship, and says the other personʻs happiness is as important as your own. “

“What’s in the box?”

From: Seven (stylized “Se7en”)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Detective David Mills

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the climactic scene of the crime thriller, Seven, which revolves around a serial killer mimicking the seven deadly sins of the Bible. Oddly enough, the line itself, already mundane by itself, is only said verbatim once or twice in the scene. However, thanks to brilliant directing and storytelling, this rather ordinary quote has become incredibly memorable.

In the final moments of the movie, the serial killer John Doe (played by Kevin Spacey) leads Detectives David Mills (played by Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman) to the middle of the desert where they receive a package. Mills guards Doe while Somerset checks out the package. When the grizzled detective opens it, he is shocked and disturbed. While this is happening, Doe tells Mills that he envies his life and implies that he beheaded the detective’s wife, implying that is what’s in the box. Somerset tries to placate Mills but the young detective asks his partner what was in the package they received…

Geek wisdom: We like to think we’re ready for everything and anything. However, this is just not true. There are even some questions we don’t want to hear the answers to because we know how devastating they can be.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

From: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: Dumbledore… sort of.

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote was submitted by Vida. We over here are MyGeekWisdom highly appreciate helping out! I’ll actually be quoting Vida for the most part…

 

“Harry went into the forest to meet death at the hands of Voldemort and has awakened to find himself at “Kingʻs Cross” station with Dumbledore instead. This quote occurs after their discussion about recent events and the Elder Wand, with Harry deciding to return to the forest to help his friends defeat the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Harry asks if their conversation is real or only happening in his head…and this is Dumbledoreʻs reply.”

The quote is also given in the film adaption of the book. However, the line is a little bit different…

 

Geek wisdom: “What I find comical and appealing about this quote is how often Dumbledoreʻs views about life can seem quirky and eccentric to most of the other characters. Ron calls him “mad” (in a good way of course). But when one unpacks Dumbledoreʻs statements, there is usually some deeper logic or no logic at all, only Dumbledore highlighting the many paradoxes of life.”

Another way to think of the quote is that, just because something is imaginary or you just conjured it up in your noggin, that doesn’t mean that it can’t have meaning.