>>Conservatives are not typically welcomed in high tech geek circles.
Must be the location. My co-workers are conservative to a-political/moderate. No flaming libs I know of. And I work for a software/ASP firm.
Must be location indeed. In the Silicon Valley, it is this way. In Southern California, it is this way. In Denver, it is this way. On all major security mailing lists across the world, it is this way.
Hell, take a look at MoveOn.org. Launched by Silicon Valley's nouveau rich (and turbo-Red) millionaires. Show me any Conservative activist who's done as much in the high tech field who wasn't previously established in another non-tech field first. 'Cause I've been looking around for the powerhouse equivalent of MoveOn in the Republican/Conservative side and I ain't seein' it.
As it stands, I'm one of only two conservatives I know in computer and network security circles. The other one lives in Pennsylvania.
Hmm, I can't say I agree with that statement. I recieved my BS in Computer and System Engineering and I'm current pursing a PhD in EE. My friends and I are about as nerdy / high tech as you can get. Not only at work but at home (watercooled machines, random robotics projects, modifed tivo's, directional 802.11b antennas, etc). You are as likely to find us working on some new electronic or software project on a given weekend as any other activity.
We are almost entirely conservative. I have found the same to be true of tech people I know at work. Not so for the managment at high tech companies though...
There are liberals in the high tech geek circles, but they are typically not the ones that create the technology. For example people that hang out on slashdot but simply enjoy watchings shows from their tivo, computer, or playing the newest video game. All of which my (conservative) friends were probably involved in designing. (I have friends currently working at Intel, Electronic Arts, etc - and have heard few complains about liberals from any of them - but believe me I would if they had them).
-paridel