Daryl Goard
postmoderncriticWhat is a Geek?
February 3rd 2007 08:54
The term geek can be hard to define; it is used liberally, but most find it difficult to articulate what it truly means. This is mostly due to the fact that it has moved so far from its routes, and it continues to evolve even now.
A geek originally referred to a carnival
performer that swallowed live animals, most notably those that bit the heads off chickens. This is light years away from the geeks of today, although there is still an element of social pariah to both. However, the geek's position at the fringe of society is rapidly changing; the term is now being used as a badge of honour and of self-identification. As the saying goes, geek is chic, but the real question remains - what exactly is a geek?
Geek has long been associated with technology - sites such as ThinkGeek.com sell products with a computing, electronic or gadget focus. It is said to be the rise of the new technological age that has brought geeks and nerds to a new level of respect. Yet a reverence of technology is not the entirety of geekdom - many pursuits lie outside this realm, but still have a distinctly geeky flavour. What being a geek really comes down to is passion.
Most people have interests and things they enjoy pursuing. Geeks, on the other hand, have passions - a devotion and drive on particularly subjects. That's why no two geeks are the same - personal obsessions are paramount in defining an individual geek. Certain pursuits are inherently more geeky than others. Technology has already been mentioned; others might include comics, science fiction, fantasy, games, academia and a plethora of others. It is in these pursuits where the waters become murky - must the devotion be obscure, or can any passion suffice? Then there is the age old question - is an academic geek really just a nerd? The distinction between the two terms is something I'm going to leave alone - for the time being.
Of course, as with any increase in popularity of a term, disagreements arise. As more and more people identify with the label, questions of true geekiness are thrown into the ring. Late adopters or those whose pursuits lie more mainstream are often rejected by those who consider themselves hard-core geeks. They see the more widespread use of the term as being detrimental to the movement itself. Traditionally being a geek has been the antithesis of cool; therefore, does the acceptance of geeks destroy the whole concept? As geekdom becomes more diluted and more conventional, can it really still be considered a counter culture? Will another ideology rise to fill the obscure space? These questions have no answers - the evolution of a term cannot be controlled; it will find its natural meaning. Until then, we geeks should sit back, and enjoy the ride.
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for Identification and critical commentary
A geek originally referred to a carnival
Zero Wing Humour - Still geeky or now too mainstream?*
Geek has long been associated with technology - sites such as ThinkGeek.com sell products with a computing, electronic or gadget focus. It is said to be the rise of the new technological age that has brought geeks and nerds to a new level of respect. Yet a reverence of technology is not the entirety of geekdom - many pursuits lie outside this realm, but still have a distinctly geeky flavour. What being a geek really comes down to is passion.
Most people have interests and things they enjoy pursuing. Geeks, on the other hand, have passions - a devotion and drive on particularly subjects. That's why no two geeks are the same - personal obsessions are paramount in defining an individual geek. Certain pursuits are inherently more geeky than others. Technology has already been mentioned; others might include comics, science fiction, fantasy, games, academia and a plethora of others. It is in these pursuits where the waters become murky - must the devotion be obscure, or can any passion suffice? Then there is the age old question - is an academic geek really just a nerd? The distinction between the two terms is something I'm going to leave alone - for the time being.
Of course, as with any increase in popularity of a term, disagreements arise. As more and more people identify with the label, questions of true geekiness are thrown into the ring. Late adopters or those whose pursuits lie more mainstream are often rejected by those who consider themselves hard-core geeks. They see the more widespread use of the term as being detrimental to the movement itself. Traditionally being a geek has been the antithesis of cool; therefore, does the acceptance of geeks destroy the whole concept? As geekdom becomes more diluted and more conventional, can it really still be considered a counter culture? Will another ideology rise to fill the obscure space? These questions have no answers - the evolution of a term cannot be controlled; it will find its natural meaning. Until then, we geeks should sit back, and enjoy the ride.
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for Identification and critical commentary
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Comment by yoda76
I think when a geek-pop-culture benchmark like Futurama makes reference to something, you can be sure it is so Geek it has become mainstream:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kRCvkuFJE9A
This is full of geek - look out for Zero Wing as the space invaders disembark @ 5.16.
I watched this clip laughing my ass off, and then stopped and realised how much of a geek I was - not just to find it funny, but because I was actually able to pick just about every reference
I'm kinda proud of my geek-dom, 'cause I'm sure I derive amusement from many things that a lot of others miss out on, but I can assure you that I keep it in a jar by the door and only bring it out on special occasions!
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
May as well say it here, can't be bothered anymore: A nerd is a sub classification of a geek, he is someone who is particularly (unhealthily) obsessed with something specific, whatever it may be that specific thing has to be of the intellectual variety, mainly computers, mathematics, the sciences etc, a nerd must also (MUST) like 'The Matrix' movie.
I think geeks and nerds can be used interchangeably these days...
So yeah, as for geeks, well yeah, I'm a geek
Comment by Anonymous
It's always interesting to read what others think about each group. But should society really label people for what they do better than others? Should obsession with topics like technology be considered a bad thing? Without those obsessed with tech stuff society may still be in the dark ages...
Comment by reuben
Frank Thoughts
This is indeed a brave attempt! Yes I do agree that the term 'nerd' and 'geek' are interchangable.
In the contemporary IT dominated world, the IT techies relish the thought of being called a 'geek'. They feel that being classified as one, it gives them superhuman powers to solve any IT related problem, which almost always has a good end result.
I am definitely not a 'geek', and probably might never be one!
Reuben
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Yes, I think I'd like to be a geek, how and where do I apply?
Well done and interesting responses.
katyzzz
Comment by Francis
Passionate Apathy
I think a large part of it is passion for something considered outside the mainstream, irregardless of how widespread it actually is. At it's height Star Trek: Next Generation was easily in the Top Twenty in the TV ratings, but being a fan of it was considered geeky. Less so fans of The X-Files, which was considered more mainstream.
Comment by David
I can supply you with one link. ***
David ...
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
I think Futurama itself is something of a geek show - a lot of people fail to appreciate it's true brilliance.
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by yoda76
Very true. I played that clip for my wife (Mrs M) and she only got about half the gags, if that!
David - what's the link? Don't be so coy, young man...
Comment by tinkster
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
And here I thought I was just me.
Sheesh, it is just so last season to pigeonhole ourselves like this.
We are who we are.
....the Geek shall inherit the earth....
Or they'll find another one.
Hope you're well Ninabelle.
Excellent post.
Dusk
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Growing up on the other side of the planet, a geek was always applied to someone who was different to the mainstream, someone who kept to themselves... someone weird...
As I got older and technology mushroomed, I came to understand the term differently - meaning someone who had lost touch with reality, perhaps even with their own roots...
People who had obsessions and collections?
Hmm, seemed nothing changed, it still meant someonw who was different.
As a word, I don't think anyone knows what it means today, but I found it fascinating to discover that it used to be a label for people like Alice Cooper...*chuckle* No surprise there.
nice post,
Lilla
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by ChrisB
Formula 1
The Social Centre
They enjoy drinking ales and talking about computer games, whilst having an unfortunate dress sense, and usually a bad haircut.
As far as sub-cultures go, the world of geeks and nerds and whatever os vast and a little bit scary.
Comment by Nina
TV Babble