The New "Geek" : Archetype or Stereotype
The New "Geek"
Abstract: I like technology, I like video games, and my idea of a fun friday night involves upgrading my computer. Am I a dork? Probably, right? But....... perhaps not.
Video games, Computers, and Animations are a few of the growing number of activities that people are becoming more involved in, shaping a part of who they are, the subculture they are a part of, and the mainstream culture in which they are forming. The problem is, however, that these among other such activities have a history of being branded as "geeky".
@#$@#$@#%@#^@^#$@#$@
Sure, I play alot of video games, have spend countless hours watching anime, and follow technology like a groupie follows their favorite band. I would go so far to admit that I would often rather spend a Friday night upgrading my computer than going out and blowing 60 dollars on liquor at a night club. So does that make me a geek?
Geeks have been synonymous with these activities for a long time, and I will admit, there are a significant number of people out there that fit this stereotype. Recently I went to Best Buy (yes, it was to buy a video game, so eat me), and was looking at some of their laptops because my Dad asked me to pick one out for him. While browsing I saw several signs which decorated the area, all with the tag "Geek Squad" with a picture of a stereotypical geek persona. What the fuck.
Surely, Games and Computers have, in the past, only been accessible by those well versed with technology. Times have changed. Everyone uses a computer, and video games have become mainstream. Video games are the first of such activities to be more or less accepted by mainstream culture, but what about the others? Computer culture? Anime? Seems like these have a long way to go. The computer enthusiast and the die-hard anime fan are pretty can get so out of the ordinary in the ways that they express their interest that it can shock or digust some "normal" people. What I'm getting to in this blog, however, is the simple fact: Just because someone is into these kinds of activities does NOT make them a "geek".
If you ever thought someone you know is a "geek" with the above reasons, here's some insight into what they might think about you :)
You think I'm a geek because I play games? Well I think you're boring and unimaginative.
You think I'm a geek because I'm into computers? I think you're an idiot for not knowing anything about it.
You think I'm a geek because I watch anime? Who are you to judge something from a different culture which you know nothing about.
I enjoy doing the same things as "cool" people do, and I know there are several people out there just like me that are sick of being labelled a geek just because we are into some things that isn't mainstream (Well honestly, I don't care THAT much, since those that know me know I'm not really a geek but just like to call me that to bug me :P ). In any case, these subcultures are here to stay and I dare say they are moving their way into mainstream culture, just like video games.
People like myself are becoming a normal thing, and we grow in number everyday, so get used to it and be careful who you label as a geek!
Are you like me? Do you agree with me? Think im a dork that needs to shutup?
Post something... PLOX
Abstract: I like technology, I like video games, and my idea of a fun friday night involves upgrading my computer. Am I a dork? Probably, right? But....... perhaps not.
Video games, Computers, and Animations are a few of the growing number of activities that people are becoming more involved in, shaping a part of who they are, the subculture they are a part of, and the mainstream culture in which they are forming. The problem is, however, that these among other such activities have a history of being branded as "geeky".
@#$@#$@#%@#^@^#$@#$@
Sure, I play alot of video games, have spend countless hours watching anime, and follow technology like a groupie follows their favorite band. I would go so far to admit that I would often rather spend a Friday night upgrading my computer than going out and blowing 60 dollars on liquor at a night club. So does that make me a geek?
Geeks have been synonymous with these activities for a long time, and I will admit, there are a significant number of people out there that fit this stereotype. Recently I went to Best Buy (yes, it was to buy a video game, so eat me), and was looking at some of their laptops because my Dad asked me to pick one out for him. While browsing I saw several signs which decorated the area, all with the tag "Geek Squad" with a picture of a stereotypical geek persona. What the fuck.
Surely, Games and Computers have, in the past, only been accessible by those well versed with technology. Times have changed. Everyone uses a computer, and video games have become mainstream. Video games are the first of such activities to be more or less accepted by mainstream culture, but what about the others? Computer culture? Anime? Seems like these have a long way to go. The computer enthusiast and the die-hard anime fan are pretty can get so out of the ordinary in the ways that they express their interest that it can shock or digust some "normal" people. What I'm getting to in this blog, however, is the simple fact: Just because someone is into these kinds of activities does NOT make them a "geek".
If you ever thought someone you know is a "geek" with the above reasons, here's some insight into what they might think about you :)
You think I'm a geek because I play games? Well I think you're boring and unimaginative.
You think I'm a geek because I'm into computers? I think you're an idiot for not knowing anything about it.
You think I'm a geek because I watch anime? Who are you to judge something from a different culture which you know nothing about.
I enjoy doing the same things as "cool" people do, and I know there are several people out there just like me that are sick of being labelled a geek just because we are into some things that isn't mainstream (Well honestly, I don't care THAT much, since those that know me know I'm not really a geek but just like to call me that to bug me :P ). In any case, these subcultures are here to stay and I dare say they are moving their way into mainstream culture, just like video games.
People like myself are becoming a normal thing, and we grow in number everyday, so get used to it and be careful who you label as a geek!
Are you like me? Do you agree with me? Think im a dork that needs to shutup?
Post something... PLOX
posted by Reg at
3:16 PM
6 Comments:
Ok, it seems like you have a problem with being labelled a geek. Why is that? What is a geek exactly? You haven’t mentioned that. Ok, you’re gonna be pissed at me after this, but you kind of sound like a cry baby, I mean, it’s not like someone’s calling you a whore. In any case, what’s wrong with being a geek?
By
Gabrielle, at 6:00 PM
What's wrong with being a geek, exactly? Elementary school I was a band geek (which you completely ignored here, by the way, despite our large base), I was a book worm is high school (subclassification of geek) and now I'm a coding geek with a sprinkling of otaku (anime geek). And as a Nano geek, I know that it's also just a word, and not a bad one. At least explain how it's negative before bitching about it.
By
Shea, at 11:05 PM
I recently found out that there's a difference between Nerd, Geek, and Dork. I thought these words were interchangeable but they actually have different definitions:
Nerd: passionate about learning/being smart/academia
Geek: passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
Dork: difficulty with common social expectations.
Which are you?
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=9935030990046738815
By
lmcintosh, at 1:32 PM
I think the main issue here is not you're a geek for enjoying and doing these type of things but in someways how often you do them. All the things you mentioned, I do most of them, I was probably one of the most hardcore gamer I knew around, I used to spend countless hours watching anime, readin manga etc... And upgrading computers those sort, I'vee been doin when computer wasnt even that popular yet, I still remember, saving up months to get a 800mb HD to upgrade (with the same money I can probably get close to 1000GB nowadays), I just recently spend a good chunk of savings rebuildin my whole computer and there was days of playin BBS games with my friends and becoming the top in the game.
I still do all those activities but not excessively. I think the problem becomes if you do these things too much that it effects you. Like one of the close friend I have, no matter what I would consider him a geek of some sort. Doesnt mean I dont like him and wont hang out with him, I just consider him that because with the amount of times he spends on those things, he is pretty much anti-social. And it becomes a problem when you dont care about real life problems but what happens in the anime or who you need to get back at for this game. At one point he was so much like that I had to give him a talk, to get some sense into him. I'm sorry but when you're 21-22, not in school and not working, and all you do is those type of things, then you are a geek, dork or whatever you would like to call them.
By
PTB, at 9:06 PM
anime or computer game おたく (=geek) can be used in a negative way. but it is not a bad thing at all. knowledge about things can be ur advantage. (well, i agree with ptb about being anti-social and unhealthy is not a good thing.)
have u seen a japanese movie called 電車男 (=train man)? it was shown in vancouver asian film festival. it's a heart-worming love commedy about one otaku. im sure so many otaku in japan r encouraged by this movie. it has a big impact on japanese society when it's shown few years ago.
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/denshaotoko/special/index.html
http://www.nifty.com/denshaotoko/html/main.htm
By
may, at 9:16 PM
Although it may seem like it, after re reading my original post, I actually do not personally have a problem being called a "geek".
The problem therein lies in the stereotype around so called "geek", the type that is synonymous with being called a "loser"
You might ask, "if he has no problem being labelled it personally, why does he seems so mad about it?"
The answer to that is, is that I'm displeased with the way that a large number of people treat people that are interested in a somewhat unconventional subculture. These people, that may not being things like nightclubs, drinking, or other activities that "are cool".
To put this into context, let me give my definition of a geek:
Geek: A person that shows enthusiastic interest into unconventional new subcultures, that often center around technologies and new forms of multimedia.
By
Reg, at 4:57 PM
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