Why Geek, why?

Like bowties, 

It’s cool to be a geek.

Some people view society as a place divided between geeks and non-geeks. I wish to challenge this assumption by proposing that everyone has the potential to be a geek. Those of us who know and accept that part of ourselves should suspect that non-geeks are merely suppressing their inner geek. After all, society tends to reward people for conformity, and geeks tend to be pretty brave. We aren’t afraid to be different.

There is a distinct geek community, which helps us to share our interests with others. Whether one is into gaming, music, science, comic books, fantasy or sci-fi (note: there is a significant chance of overlap between two or more areas) they will find camaraderie with other geeks.  One of the coolest things about being a geek is that finding friends is easy. Parties, cons, or even the grocery store are venues to connect over a shared interest.  A glimpse of a shawl pin engraved in Elvish is the perfect conversation starter, whether you’re in the produce aisle or at the symphony. When the hottie is wearing a Dr. Who t-shirt at a party, a fellow geek can begin a conversation instantly. The conversation among geeks will revolve around “What are you into?” more than “What do you do?” This is a refreshing way to connect with people in modern society, where an inordinate amount of time is focused on the tasks one must complete in order to make money.

(Swords are cool. And knights. Knights are cool.)

Within each geek subgroup, one can find staggering amounts of diversity. The fantasy crowd can be found pursuing distinct interests such as Asian ball-jointed dolls (BJD community), renaissance festivals or cosplay. Comic book geeks can tell you where the best local comic book shops are, and share their appreciation not only for the characters, but also for the authors and illustrators of their favorite story arcs. An interest in comic books often develops into other subgroups of geekery, such as cosplay or gaming (HeroClix).

It’s cool to be a sexy geek girl.

The moniker “geek” previously denoted male geeks. That wasn’t cool, because there have always been girls who wanted to express themselves by embracing the same interests. This changed because the geek community has a history of challenging stereotypical assumptions, and the term now denote a man or a woman. However, the unique combination of beauty, brains, and a penchant for light sabers can still be scary for some, including other geeks. There was a recent controversy over a Tumblr about “fake” geek girls. The critique described them as poseurs (i.e. they don’t actually like Dr. Who, but claim that they do while wearing large glasses with non-prescription lenses). In my opinion, those who consider themselves the arbiters of true geekness should reflect on what they are truly afraid of: poseurs, or beautiful, intelligent women who like swords and wands. The geek girl is subversive of traditional cultural designations of femininity, and breaches a boundary that was previously held by men. Claiming our place as geeks continues to require the courage (and weirdness) of Luna Lovegood.

So while it is fun to dress in character, and strangely satisfying to obsess over what to give to friends on Pi day, the best part about being a geek is participation in a community that challenges the false assumptions of conventional wisdom. Society should embrace geeks precisely for our boldness and our critique of culture, including self-critique.

Just a little word as to why everyone should embrace their inner geek. What's not to love about it? 

Cheers, 

~7