I was a total dork in the 80s

Bavarian Illuminati pin.

Humpback Whale (ref: Star Trek IV)

Watchmen Smiley pin (rubberized blood had peeled off.)

Batman painter's cap!

Batman button!

Batman pin!

Romulan Warbird Insignia pin.

Klingon Empire Insignia pin.

Sad eyes. I really didn't like having my picture taken.

Afraid to smile, because it would show off my fucked up teeth.

Because the Swatches on both my wrists and one ankle weren't enough, here's one attached to my fucking jacket.

If you don't remember Zinka, you're lucky. If you do, you may recall these handy little things that ensured your Zinka was never farther away than the band of your watch.

Boingo concert T-shirt. At least *one* thing here isn't completely humiliating.

The Hard Rock Cafe! It's were all the cool people go . . . right? I mean, I'm cool because I have this on my denim jacket, right?

One of these things is not like the other: Felix the Cat.

I was a total dork in the 80s by WilWheaton.

Just in case there was any doubt lingering about what a fucking geektard I was when I was a teenager, I present this photo, recovered from the garage this weekend.

I have not scanned the back side of this, which declares, "Hey Mon! Be excellent to each other!" and features a badly-drawn attempt to recreate the Batman insignia.

I'm not sure what's worse: that I thought this was cool, or that someone who should have known better let me print this on a postcard to be sent out to just about anyone who sent a letter asking for an autographed picture.

Goddamn was I awkward.

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Comments

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(193 comments)

Miss Matilda says:

at least you were a cute dork!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

icedsoul photography .:teymur madjderey says:

hahaha. awesome picture!
I should have a pic somewhat very close to that of myself... hope I'll find it!
good ol' times :-)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Adventurer Josh says:

Wow. So you also did the "jean jacket with pins" bit too? Trust me you were not half as dorky as I was. Mine was covered with Marvel Comic buttons and some Batman. You could barely make out that I was wearing a jean jacket.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

TedsBlog says:

So, uh, how did you feel about Batman during the 80's Wil? ;)

I was going through some old boxes from High School and ran across a few of my Swatches. Neon green and pink on a black background? Really, Ted?
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Jamie McKelvie says:

I'd mock, but I am pretty certain at the same time I was wearing mismatched neon socks.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

davidgano says:

Are you SURE you wanna post this picture?

Well, at least you aren't wearing parachute pants, as I was at that time.

--
Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

davidgano says:

...or are you?
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

superpixel says:

We were all part of the same nightmare, it's OK.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

nwc_orca says:

That's beyond awesome. Got enough to send out extras? LOL
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

nwc_orca says:

Haha! My 3 year old just saw this pic and said "Hey! He has a Batman hat! I guess he likes Batman..." :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Cat Juggling says:

Denim Jacket covered w/ buttons = Pure 80's cool! No really!

I remember mine had a big Levi's 501graphic on the back.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

jallen "To Be" dragonhide says:

Love the nice touch of hanging your swatch off your jacket :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

erikleung says:

NICE!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

kroo2u says:

I think most of us hang our heads in shame when we see photos from the 80's of ourselves. I think that must have been the ubergeek decade. :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

WomanNchns says:

yes, BUT! you were in a KICK-ASS movie called "Stand By Me"... that overtakes any type "dork-tum". :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

crystal_secretin says:

Aw....widdle wil!

That's adorable.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Jen_NBP says:

I thought you were pretty cute as a teenager! :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

noromdiam says:

Thanks for sharing. Knowing that you were a total nerd in the 80's only makes you cooler in the 00's.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Christine & Eric says:

Wow! lookin' good kid!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Brad Lucid says:

No, you were 80's-cool. So, same thing.

At the time though, this is really quite the shot. Better than most of mine. The fact that you put it on a postcard disturbs me, but hey, I was never an actor. (thankfully?) :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

EOS Boy says:

Why do you think I don't post pictures of myself from the 70s? I was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy more dorky than you.

Thanks for sharing, though.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Cjb Photography says:

Nice photo. Yes you did look a real nerd then! LOL
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Andy Caster says:

Wil...we were all dorks in the '80's...that time in history seemed to make it easier.

Thanks for sharing!

You rule!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

bpende says:

Yeah, we were all dorks in the 80s. As proof, I post this photo I took with my now wife. I used so much hair gel that I had my coiffe up in wings on the side...

Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

The Spinosaurus says:

Had you been wearing a Hypercolor t-shirt, everything would've been fine.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

kreg.steppe says:

Yea, I agree...you were a dork, unlike me in the 80's.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

zeema999 says:

Dorky deliciousness! Yes, I had the denim jacket with buttons too...but my flare consisted of heavy metal band buttons, primarily Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Stryper and Twisted Sister...woot!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

PortugePunk says:

whatevs, man. i still wanted to be as cool as you, so you weren't THAT bad!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

JasonLiebig says:

Had that same Klingon insignia pin, on the same place on my denim jacket back then... though I lacked the Swatches. ;-)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

CodyR says:

the 80's was a particularly bad decade. few survived.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

mrdjjames says:

Wil, I saw some dorks the other day at the mall. I was so glad to see there are still dorks. From the impression you get on TV all kids look like Abercrombie models. Thank God for Dorks like us!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

mimi~ says:

No need to be bitter. You were just like everybody else... making your way through the most awkward years - on TV no less. Only you're brave enough to prove it by showing a photo to the world. Most of us try to just block that stuff out.

Good jorb!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

A2 Lebowsky says:

It was a hard time for must of us teens. I wish I could get a hold on a picture of my husbands denim jacket, he covered the back with safety pins. What I find more scary is that some of the younger generation is starting to reproduce the looks.... what are they thinking!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Kimblah says:

I think I had a picture like this on my bedroom wall.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

ahanson1983 says:

Awe! I want to hug this Wil and tell him it's okay!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

eyduck says:

As I look at all the teenies trying to recreate the 80's look, I kind of fell in love with this t-shirt...

Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

mebrett says:

"Party on, Dudes."

I don't think there are many people who don't look back at pictures of themselves in the 1980s and say "What was I thinking?!" They were ... interesting times for fashion.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

B_A_Dxxx88 says:

I have more recent photos which would put this one to shame.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

MookieLuv says:

"Be excellent"....what a snapshot of an era! Totally Swatch-tastic. Thanks for sharing.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

jwill9311 says:

can i still get one of those autographed?

--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

amusings says:

Wil, honey...
we all did something this specacularly geeky.
and i love you for it, in all your uber geekiness.

Okay, mon?
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

bonniegrrl says:

You were no dork! You were a pre-Hipster! Dang a Swatch!? That's beyond rad!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

lemonkey says:

Nice pieces of flair :D
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

xtinaknox [deleted] says:

best celebrity ever!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

timo_144 says:

Damn, you had a Bavarian Illuminati pin ... there's a 80s-dork in everyone of us.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Pattywack77 says:

Aw, I thought it was/is cute.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

The Elder Dan says:

I, too, had a Bavarian Illuminati pin in the 80s. Also, Watchmen smiley and Boingo shirt. All the other stuff... you're on your own, man.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Cherie Priest says:

As my husband put it, "Batman hat, Batman button, Batman pin....not seeing the problem here ...."
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Caillean says:

For what it's worth, we were all tremendous dorks in the 80s. Also, I had the exact same swatch, and I'm not at all ashamed to admit it.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

kc_bkwrm says:

OMG! Teen Beat flashbacks from the 80s!!! There were plenty of pics of you in our lockers back then. ::blushes::
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Just Say K.B. says:

Who said he wasn't wearing parachute pants? Just because you don't see the zebra stripes don't mean they weren't there!

Fun shot dude.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

GarthO says:

I'll bet you're not only wearing the zebra print parachute pants (to add to KB), but also unlaced high tops!!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

dragfyre says:

hehehe. BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

cultureshoqusa says:

That hat is kick ass but man, Zinka... I remember that stuff. The horrible colors. Wow, what were we thinking?
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

laurasmoncur says:

That Swatch your jacket was wearing was Big Eclipse from the 1987 Spring/Summer collection. Excellent classic! Worth about 82 bucks today.

You should add this photo to the Swatch Flickr Group!

www.flickr.com/groups/43077032@N00/

I think this photo is AWESOME, except the sad eyes, of course...
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

000j says:

ZINKA! too great!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

angie k says:

Like, totally rad Batman cap and jacket. My 80s jean jacket had pins, too, but also sported awesome embroidered roses and a New Kids on the Block patch carefully ironed on the back. I was high stylin' in those days. Sadly, I rocked the look way too long into the 90s.

Your "sad eyes" comment made a girly, slightly maternal part of me go, "Aw! Poor kid! A teen idol who doesn't like having his picture taken? That's okay, there's lots of us dorks in the world. You'll be fine. You'll grow into it."

I may or may not admit to maybe possibly owning a pinup of that or remarkably like that. *shifty eyes*
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

EllyMae58 says:

Wil, I hate to break it to ya, but we ALL have the dork picture!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Timmer82 says:

What's your favorite movie Wil? Awesome!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

flans444 says:

Dude, you are way too hard on yourself, and frankly the fans were too. It isn't your fault that Rick etc. don't know how to write a teenage boy. If they did, there would have been more episodes of you suggesting to Deanna Troi that she looked a lot hotter in the miniskirt uniform from the first episode. A lot of guys would our age would love to have been you on that show! Especially on the first episode! =)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Wannabe Hippie says:

Be kind to yourself. We all looked stupid in the 80's. Seriously, it was a dark, dark time.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

David Markland says:

Egads... you, sir, have courage. I have worse photos that I won't even post, and I don't have the celeb following to mock me. Just family.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

NailaJ says:

LOL! At least you chose Batman!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

sjp says:

Oh, this is excellent. :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Emikokolala says:

I think you were the cutest geek boy EVER! Totally awesome!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

darsys says:

This is actually an awesome picture. I'm not sure why you hate it so much. If you want horribly geeky, look at my photos in my Flickr account.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

blizatrex says:

the very height of total awesomeness is achieved in this photo;)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

foobella says:

That is so sad you felt (or still do feel that way) about your smile. That was why I dug you! I loved your teeth and your smile. You should smile more often.

Another case in point. When Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) got his teeth fixed, I was done with him. Oh, and Nicholas Cage?! Forget it. I loved his tiny little teeth.

Am I starting to scare anyone yet? lol.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

ThisIsNotApril says:

HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY there buddy! As someone who had a (well-documented) major girlhood crush on you , I resent the implication that there was something wrong with you back then, for it would then also imply that there was something wrong with me. And well, we know *that's* not true.

Also, I would like to point out that I was the 720th viewer of this photo. I will collect my prize now please. I'll wait here.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Nonsequiturlass says:

That... is a picture made entirely of awesome. Seriously. All of us geeks have that pinnacle...
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Not Emily says:

When I was in the third grade, I somehow wrote and mailed a letter to Michael J. Fox. My parents had to have helped in some form. Why couldn't they have directed me towards you? This photo has so much more personality than Fox's.

And Fox spelled my name wrong in mailing it to me.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Christina's Play Place says:

I would have never noticed that Klingon pin. Soo cool. and just remove the fact you were on the show. I would have worn those too. :D
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Celladoor says:

I am not ashamed of the 80s. There's just so much more to worry about these days. Being a teen in the 90s was blah! And Wil if you thought you were a dork in that picture, I am definitely not exposing any photos of my horrific middle school life. lol!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Drhaggis says:

I still wear a watchmen button, along with others on my convention jacket. I guess I'm still a geektard.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

allisonelaine84 says:

THAT is precious. :D
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Exena says:

Cool beans!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

walelia says:

Cuteness! I look forward to more pictures of you in the 80s. Rockin'. ;)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Monkton says:

Star Trek IV was awesome.

I don't care what anyone says.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

onesharp says:

Meh. If one didn't know what all the stuff was, they wouldn't know any better. Besides, geek is the new cool.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

ocean.movie says:

oh wow...complete dorkness !!! LoL thank god I was not Alone!! ;)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Maman de trois says:

Hey now, I totally had the hotts for that Dork (years ago!) Give yourself some credit. Teenage girls at the time like me were head over heals in love with you!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

taopauly says:

You don't have enough pieces of flair...
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

lamont_cranston says:

Well, my 12yo self thought it would super cool to fill my jacket pockets with random crap ... well, it worked for The Doctor right?!

Tom Baker FTW!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

weirdo513 says:

<Obligatory "Pieces of flair" joke>
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

M.Barkley says:

Don't be so hard on yourself. You did a FINE job on the StarTrek show, and all of your other adventures. I'd still like to see you appear in future movies, shows, etc.

Look at the actors in this TV Series, even though I liked this series, it was pretty cheesy, now that I rewatch the DVD remake:

www.flickr.com/photos/mbarkley/2923589336/

I do however think they should bring this series back, with a more modern outtake of how things are going currently with the environment. Maybe you could write up a series...... lol
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

psistriker says:

Ahh, I remembered this picture well. It used to hold a place of honor in a frame on my bedside table so it was the last thing I saw before I went to bed at night and one of the first things I saw when I woke up.

You shouldn't be so hard on your teenage self, Wil. After all, the massive crush my teenage self had on him is directly responisble for my ascent into geekdom. So at least you know some good came out of it. :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

hawaiikaos says:

Apparently Zinka is still around, with an 80s-tastic website:

www.zinka.com/
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Sadax Golum says:

Hehe, oh yeah that's pretty sad. :D I think it's the swatches that do it for me. ;)

ah, yeah, what you going to do? I thank god i can't find any shots of me in my old knocked off Michael Jackson style zipper festooned bomber and the big hair i sported in the mid-late 80's

it was all about the over doing it.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

aluvendale says:

Now I know who I'm dressing up as for Halloween!!! Just kidding. . .that's is AWESOMELY 80s-riffic!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

joshsisk says:

amazing
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

duckorange says:

*snort*

At least you weren't a New Romantic back then. Oh, the shame of it.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

operationgoddess says:

Ah yes. Be excellent to each other.

The war cry of our generation.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

jessiebarber says:

So I looked at this and thought... "Wow he looks like that gordie from Stand By Me" ....

....

Thanks IMDB, I officially feel like a weirdo.

And your notes made me laugh. :)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Jedinate says:

I will see your denim jacket and raise you one mullet. AND, if I must, I will put my Quiet Riot painter's cap in the ante.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

CarrieLu says:

Dorks grow up to be the best people.

And they're always still dorks.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Shrewder says:

I see a Boi-Ngo t-shirt.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Oingo Boingo, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

NeuroMan42 says:

Sooooo... you blame the 80's. ;)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

mimimark says:

Have you seen my prom picture??
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

chicka.nuts says:

Um, Wil? We were ALL geektards in the '80s!
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

ceremony says:

This is wicked ! You look so 80's - really cool one ;) You have changed to the better - that's sure :D
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

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I was a total dork in the 80s

Comments

Miss Matilda says:

icedsoul photography .:teymur madjderey says:

Adventurer Josh says:

TedsBlog says:

Jamie McKelvie says:

davidgano says:

davidgano says:

superpixel says:

nwc_orca says:

nwc_orca says:

Cat Juggling says:

jallen "To Be" dragonhide says:

erikleung says:

kroo2u says:

WomanNchns says:

crystal_secretin says:

Jen_NBP says:

noromdiam says:

Christine & Eric says:

Brad Lucid says:

EOS Boy says:

Cjb Photography says:

Andy Caster says:

bpende says:

The Spinosaurus says:

kreg.steppe says:

zeema999 says:

PortugePunk says:

JasonLiebig says:

CodyR says:

mrdjjames says:

mimi~ says:

A2 Lebowsky says:

Kimblah says:

ahanson1983 says:

eyduck says:

mebrett says:

B_A_Dxxx88 says:

MookieLuv says:

jwill9311 says:

amusings says:

bonniegrrl says:

lemonkey says:

xtinaknox [deleted] says:

timo_144 says:

Pattywack77 says:

The Elder Dan says:

Cherie Priest says:

Caillean says:

kc_bkwrm says:

Just Say K.B. says:

*GarthO* says:

dragfyre says:

cultureshoqusa says:

laurasmoncur says:

000j says:

angie k says:

EllyMae58 says:

Timmer82 says:

flans444 says:

Wannabe Hippie says:

David Markland says:

NailaJ says:

sjp says:

Emikokolala says:

darsys says:

blizatrex says:

foobella says:

ThisIsNotApril says:

Nonsequiturlass says:

Not Emily says:

Christina's Play Place says:

Celladoor says:

Drhaggis says:

allisonelaine84 says:

Exena says:

walelia says:

Monkton says:

GarthO says: