What's a Geek?

Yup, I'm still alive. I know, I became pretty lazy when it comes to writing, but in my defense: I had to fight off an evil writer's blockade. Now it's gone , but I stumbled upon a new problem: I don't like my writing style anymore.

And that was when I decided to revive the blog. After all, if I keep working, I should be able to regain my drive, right?

 

Anyway, I'll try to get on a regular schedule (bwahahaha),at least until I'm ready to get back some other projects which might steal some more time so that I'll have change my schedule here again and... well, at least I'll make sue not to make one-year-break or some crap like that again.

 

Anyway, today's topic are some thoughts on geekery.

See, there was this little discussion in a facebook-group if geek-culture should stay exclusive or if it should be more included in the mainstream-community.

Even though generally think classification to be stupid, I actually got curious: what exactly defines a geek?

If somebody would ask me if I'm a geek, I'd probably say yes, but if I”m completely honest, I never though about what actually makes me a geek. My love for comics or games? Some would say that makes me a nerd. Hell, I'm sure there are people who thinks, geeks and nerds are the same.

Let's face it, terms like 'Geek', 'Nerd' or 'Dork' got pretty mixed up during the last years. That means research-time (and maybe two future topics). 

'Dear Internet, would you please tell me what exactly defines a geek?'

Ok,opening Google, insert 'geek', hit search aaand... well, fuck me sideways, that's a lot of hits.

New search, this time adding 'definition' to the search-parameter. 

Ah, that's better. A definition right on the head of the page, then some dictionaries. So let's check out the first five hits: The Google-definition, Wikipedia,Urban Dictionary, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the Thesaurus.

 

Since I love my definitions plain and simple, let's start with Google's page-header. By the look of it, I'd say it's also taken from a dictionary, but I don't know which one.

 

 

 

Huh. I have to say, I'm not happy about this.

 

“unfaishonable or socially inept”. Does that mean, if you feel confident around other people, you'e not a geek? That sounds stupid. And don't make me even start about 'unfashionable'. What does even make someone fashionable (And here's another possible future topic)?

 

“eccentric devotion to a particular interest” seems like something I can accept, but the example computer-geek seems to narrowing it down to a fringe group, which make it dissatisfying. But then again, a proper research never contains only one source, so let's check out what Wikipedia has to say about it.

 

Of course I'm aware that Wikipedia isn't the most credible source since basically everyone can fool around with it. But let's give it a chance.

Oh that's nice, the page informs me,that the entry has some issues.

Anyway, according to Wikipedia, geek is “a slang term originally used to describe odd or non-mainstream-people”, ranging from “expert or enthusiast” to someone “heavily interested in a hobby” but is mostly used pejorative for a “peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intelectual.”

So.. it's basically description for someone with special interests and a great knowledge about it, but it gets also disgraced as an insult for people who are jealous about others being more

being more intelligent?

Wait,the article goes on. Let's see.

The Term is also used in a proud way as a self-reference, so it gained the additional meaning of “someone who is interested in a subject for its own sake.”

What else do we have?

The definition-section basically tells us that there is no clear defintion and that there are many categories of geeks, poviding us with the most commonly know categories: science, math, history, computer, gaming.

The Impact of geeks on society isn't exactly what I'm looking for, and I'm not interested in fashion,so the “geek-chic'-section isn't that helpful either (except if you want to know more about geek-glasses and hipster-glasses and that proud self-proclaimed geeks dislike geek-chic fashion.) NEXT.

 

The Urban Dictionary says ...A LOT. Like always, there are a lot of definitions, so I just take a look at the first page and sum it up.

 

 

 

This one made me smile.

 

 

One of the entries notes that Geek should not be confused with Nerd. And points out that only a geek would waste on the internet, defining geek on urbandictionary.com.

Another one goes back to the historical meaning of circus freaks and states that it know describes someone getting paid to do work that's 'consodered odd or bizarre by mainstream society'.

There's also a note that -unlike 'nerd' which is always used devaluating – it often carries a positive connotation when it's used by someone who's part of the group and is only used in an insulting manner by outsiders (uhm... isn't that almost everytime how it works?)

Another Entry tries to compare normies,geeks,nerds and dorks. Interestingly, this is the first time that it's actually stated that geeks are what's considered 'socially normal' and just are experts on certain topics.

 

I really like the next entry: It clearifies, that geeks aren't computer people, but simply posses a very dep understanding about of certain topics, because they are basically obsessed with it. It also points out, that beeing a geek isn't restricted to certain topics, but open for everything (and lists music and cars to make this point). I like that.

Then we go back to the usual judgemental crap like lack of participation in sports, interest in computers, crude sense of humor and negative attitude toward common society. BLAH.

 

Time for a cross-reference with some more serious dicitionaries.

 

Merriam-Webster gives us the usual historical definition with the carnival performers, follows up with 'a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked and finishes with an enthusiast or expert, but takes again the the clichee-route, using computers as example.

 

Thesaurus actually dissappoints me by simply saying 'odd person' and 'computer expert' and adding some judging synonyms.

 

Since the definitions are not really clear, I decided to ask someone for help, who gets often connected with the term geek and actually owns his fame to that connection. So I wrote an email to the Internet-celibrity Brentalfloss to ask him for his definition of a geek.

 

A few hours later, I got an email with the following definition:

“Geek= someone who's enthusiastic and analytical about a certain topic. You can be a sci-fi geek or a flamingo geek or a muscle car geek (as opposed to a nerd, who is called a nerd because he or she is into something nerdy).”

 

 

There are a two things I really like about this definition:

 

1. it's plain and simple.
2. It offers examples, that prove the general clichees to be narrow-minded.

Of course, If we think of the apparently brain-damaged sportsfanatics who kept picking on us -well, on some of us- back in school, calling us geeks in the process, I doubt they would have been happy, if we'd told them, that they are too geeks in their own way.

So maybe not everyone who qualifies for being a geek wants to bee a geek.

But I suppose that's the same for every subculture: In order to be part of it, you have to match certain criteria and one of them is feeling like you're part of it.

In Order to be a geek, you need to be passionate about whatever you like, but also need to admit, that you're a geek.

And why not? Being a geek is a fantastical thing: It's your permission to be utterly obssessed with something, know everything regarding it, freak out at the most trivial news about it -and enjoy all this. And do you know, what's even better? You don't even need the permission – you're a geek,that's what you do.

 

So, back to the original question: Should geekdom be included in mainstream-society or should it be an exclusive thing: I don't really think that we can influence that directly. As long, as society keeps it judgemental ways, we'll always be exclusive. As long as an adult getting excited about a kids-show gets looked down on, we're something special. As long as people even care about a difference between a comic-book and a graphic novel, as long as people think, there is something wrong about obsessing about a topic, 'outing' yourself as a geek will make you different.

And You know what? That's perfectly fine. I don't care what others think about it, I love being a geek.

Sure, I'm not that good at science and anything technically more advanced then a string telephone might confuse me just by doing what it does, but there are topics I know a lot about, actually enough to annoy everyone around me without repeating myself. And I'm proud of it. I like it. And I love meeting people who are as obsessed about it as I am.

What some people consider geekdom getting assimilated by mainstream-culture is the so called 'geek-chic' I tried ignoring earlier. People try to pose as geeks by wearing certain clothes or accesoires. Does wearing a Metal Gear-Shirt or using a TARDIS-bag to carry my things make me a geek? Does Having A Sonic-Screwdriver, A Pipboy-Bobblehead or an Assassins Creed-Statue make me a geek? No, it just shows that I'm a fan.

 

 

Bottom-line: Geekdom should stay exclusive, because that's not actually a proof of torlerance within society. But geek-purists can relax, because it's all about the attitude.

 

 

RestlessEntity out.

 

 

Thanks to BrentalFloss for providing me with a proper, acceptable definition.

Follow him on Youtube ( www.youtube.com/user/brentalfloss ) and on Twitter ( @brentalfloss ).