Two comments: DBAD: Don't Be A Dick OTOH, many "geeky" types have faced a lot of rejection -- at least, in my generation. It is perhaps not entirely unexpec

Two comments: DBAD: Don't Be A Dick OTOH, many "geeky" types have faced a lot of rejection -- at least, in my generation. It is perhaps not entirely unexpected to encounter negative reaction when presenting oneself in a fashion that they have been conditioned to read as communicating/implying, or just being -- whether or not the message is intended, "You can't have this." You may think it's unfair. But step away from yourself, for a second, and look at the reality. (And, if it makes you feel any better, "pretty boys" can and do encounter similar animosity from male geeks.) Female or male, I think many end up resenting those who are fawned over for their appearance and the resulting advantages they accumulate. (If you're still unclear on the male side of this, consider perceptions of tall, type A "football" types.) The negative reaction is sometimes a well-conditioned defense mechanism. And those don't tend to exist in a vacuum, i.e. like them or not, they have some validity -- some real reason for their existence. That said, we can all learn to act and react better. But denying the underlying basis is not a good point from which to start. P.S. Physical attraction is also just -- fundamentally, biologically -- distracting. And many people at... "geeky" conferences are not their to be distracted by or communicate with others distracted by a lot of what they consider to be off-topic activity and, erm, "presentation".