REGINAROADIE'S BLOG

reginaroadie

The nature of geek-dom
Friday, September 8, 2006

Hey all

I was thinking about geek culture and all that, and I hit on something that I think could open up to some interesting discussions.

To me, a geek is someone who has a larger than normal fascination or obsession with a specific thing. By that definition, I think the majority of people are geeks. Even non-geeky types could be described as geeks. But there seems to be sort of a caste system with geeks.

For example, if someone were to dress up as a character from a sci-fi movie or tv show, they're derided and made fun of and laughed at. But if someone wears a melon on their head or paint either their face or body of a specific color of a sports team, that somehow makes them ok or cool. It's even better if you re-enact some centuries old battle in authentic clothing and realistic wounds. Ands to know the inner workings of a warp drive gets jeers, but to know the inner workings of a motor of some classic car makes you the coolest guy in the room.

To me, this just seems a bit dumb that in a world of geeks, that motorheads or sports fanatics or civil war buffs or gun nuts or other people that have passionate obsessions with specific human endeavours do not get the same derision as, well...us.

Is what I'm saying making any sense to you guys?

COMMENTS

Monday, September 18, 2006 7:01 AM

EMBERS


it is interesting, and I agree...
but I find myself wondering:
were (back in the middle-ages) nuns & priests the geeks of religion?
wearing costumes and only discussing their God-fandom?

And are sports fans, with the banners, hats, face-painting et al, also geeks? Albeit more socially acceptable geeks.

Monday, September 11, 2006 4:39 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


Ah...who is the one doing the deriding, reginaroadie? Fellow "geeks" or those who don't classify themsevles as geeks but can be considered that by others via your definition;)

Last time I checked, "geek" is literally someone in a carnival sideshow who swallows all manner of nutty stuff (broken glass, bugs, chicken heads, etc.) but the term's been adapted to cover anyone with a really wacky or non-normal hobby or skill (like obsessing over a soon-to-be 4 years dead TV program about cowboys in space, perhaps ;D)

Still...I agree. The derision from those who have really odd hobbies or interests for those with really odd hobbies or interests (with the difference being the nature of the hobby itself) is just pure stupidity.

BEB


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