The time of the Geeks is here! At least I see it that way. Now, let me start off by telling you what I think a geek is/isn’t. A geek is someone who is a fan of: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics, Video Games, Technology, Gaming (miniatures, board, RPG, etc), Anime/Cartoons, or some combination. Geeks are not necessarily nerds or dorks (but often are). Nerds are those who find entertainment in academics (often math and/or science) to a high degree. Dorks are like socially or physically awkward folks. You know, that guy who has a stupid lagh and doesn’t know it. Or that lady that dances funny. Now, often these can overlap, and thus you get stereotypes that Geeks are also nerds or dorks. But I have known geeks that are highly lacking academic merit or are not in any way awkward. And I know quite a few non-geeks who are very academic or awkward (it actually surprises me how many dorks there are who aren’t geeks, yet geeks get labeled that way).
Now, why is it the time of the geeks? Look around you…all the biggest movies are typically geek movies. And there are tons of them! Comic book movies, Sci-Fi, Fantasy. The big TV shows are all geek fair. Heroes, Lost, Chuck…and things Like Dr. Who actually becoming popular!
Video games are out selling DVD’s! And things like the Wii and DS as well as Guitar Hero/Rockband are bringing gaming to the main stream. The stigma attached to RPG-ing is fading.
Anime is booming for kids, which often means parents who wouldn’t normally watch it, are. And those kids are getting into manga, which lives next door to comics.
Technology is hip. iPods, iPhones, Google, Wikipedia, blogs…all huge…and growing. And there are generations of kids that are growing up with these interests as normal, not some basement activity that you can’t talk about in school.
Geek Conventions are starting to get over crowded. And I see more and more “normal” people there, when it used to be dominated by overweight sweaty guys.
The downside is that some geeks won’t like it. With any minority, there are those that got into it because they either didn’t fit in or didn’t want to fit in with the main stream. They liked their interests being obscure. It set them apart. Made them special. This can be seen as rumors of Dragon-Con splitting and forming a more “hardcore” convention for the “real” fans. They don’t like sharing a Star Trek panel with some soccer mom who doesn’t see the point in debating who was a better captain (it was Picard BTW).
And to be honest, when it comes, I will miss getting weird looks at a luncheon when someone mentions that I play video games at 33, or trying to explain to someone what role-playing is. But I also know that I will be on top. I will be one of the cool kids. Because when the day comes that it is cool to talk about comics, that guy that has been reading them for years will have a bit of an edge on Johnny Come Lately Also, if there does come an age of Geek-Chic, I can only hope that it will bring down the empire of sports entertainment….especially Nascar. Turning left is NOT entertainment, people.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
You are already one of the cool kids. Thank you for sharing your geekiness with me. It has helped me keep up with the hipsters. :)
and shhhh... don't tell anyone. but i have actually watched some back episodes of anime. ;)
Good post! The cool thing about being an adult geek is being over the fear that people will label you or think you're weird. I enjoy talking to people about my longtime comics and Star Wars fandom because it chips away at the stereotype and, frankly, makes me feel like the coolest parent in the room. (A low bar, admittedly)
i have been assimilated.
"... and the geek shall inherit the Earth ..." At least that's what my version says.
Shag
Post a Comment