Yesterday, May 25th, was Geek Pride Day. I did not find out until this morning and missed out on the festivities. I started thinking about it, is a day dedicated to geekdom really needed?
I posted this on facebook awhile back, tagging many people including some of you. So, I realize the hypercritical nature of what I am about to say.
A few bosses ago, I had a General Manager constantly assuring myself and my co-workers, “I’m the fun boss! I’m a hard worker and will buss tables and do whatever is needed! I have a great attitude! I’m this and that and wonderful and I am going to define myself to you over and over because the reality is I am a drunk who will be passed out on my desk every morning and I want you to see me as I want to be seen and not how I actually behave.” OK, I made the last one up, but that was the only true part of the quotation.
While I do believe it is important for individuals to assert themselves, one trait I find highly annoying is over-defining oneself in order to have everyone know what they are. If my old boss was what he said, he wouldn’t have to tell me, I would see it.
My reaction is similar when I hear people tell me “I’m a jock/rebel/etc.” One would think it’s a trait that ends with high school, or even in college. I once dated someone who always told me they were a socially awkward nerd…over and over and over. After getting to know this person I realized they engaged in activities one might consider nerdy, but they also were a social butterfly and had far more close friends than most people I know.
So, this whole Geek Pride Day thing…I don’t buy it. Do you really need to tell people you are? It’s not like Gay Pride Day. If you are gay, you’re gay. I believe geek is a matter of opinion and in recent years grasping onto that title has become the savior of those who once maybe felt as an outcast and now have the hipster geeky trend on which to fall back.
Let’s see what the dictionary says about the word, “geek.”
- A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
- A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
My guess is the single minded definition is the one people are after when they call you or I or whoever a geek. There’s also a manifesto posted for Geek Pride Day:
Rights:
- The right to be even geekier.
- The right to not leave your house.
- The right to not like football or any other sport.
- The right to associate with other nerds.
- The right to have few friends (or none at all).
- The right to have as many geeky friends as you want.
- The right to be out of style.
- The right to be overweight and near-sighted.
- The right to show off your geekiness.
- The right to take over the world.
Responsibilities:
- Be a geek, no matter what.
- Try to be nerdier than anyone else.
- If there is a discussion about something geeky, you must give your opinion.
- To save and protect all geeky material.
- Do everything you can to show off geeky stuff as a “museum of geekiness.”
- Don’t be a generalized geek. You must specialize in something.
- Attend every nerdy movie on opening night and buy every geeky book before anyone else.
- Wait in line on every opening night. If you can go in costume or at least with a related T-shirt, all the better.
- Don’t waste your time on anything not related to geekdom.
- Try to take over the world!
Necessary?
Is it me, or are they trying too hard? I don’t know. I guess if you’re geeky, it’s going to show. If you need to tell me you’re geeky in an in-yo-face sort of way, no matter how close you fit the definition, you are just going to annoy people who would rather hear about your life than how you perceive yourself.
The Pilver 
i am a stay at home mom. although, i could expand on this much much more, i’d rather people use their imagination. i’m probably far more interesting in their minds than in real life.
It’s because you are a great story teller, and hilarious.
My husband is a “geek” by trade, yep, he wears the short pants, short sleeved shirt with a tie and drives a bug that proclaims for him that he indeed is a geek. If he were to refer to himself as a geek, it would be done with an eye roll or only to make it sound “cool” to be a geek. It is a way to raise their self esteem. Problem here is that there is now this thing we refer to as “geek chic” which is nothing more than a bunch of “trendy” types trying to brand themselves as something memorable when the whole presence of an actual geek is not so memorable at all. It just doesn’t work!
haha, yes. Your hubby is a true geek. Well, except he doesn’t live in his mom’s basement 🙂
Ha, this reminds me of my other sister. Pretty hair, boobs hanging out, Tina Fey glasses, preening and insisting “I’m a neeeeerd” to guys at bars.
I think I know the self-proclaimed “socially awkward nerd” of whom you speak. I would agree with you that his self-perception was off in that regard. I didn’t even know him very long and I could see through that guise. I think some times we, or I proclaim myself as a nerd, geek or otherwise to protect myself from someone else saying it first. For me it’s a defense mechanism. It’s almost a way of setting low expectations so I won’t be a disappointment. I was just getting to know the socially awkward nerd, and it seemed like he was trying very hard to convince me he was not really worthy of other people’s interest and attention. And yet people were drawn to him like a magnet. The next minute he’d proclaim himself a self-absorbed narcissist, which again did not appear to be true. To me he was a paradox of sorts – one I did not get a chance to solve in the brief time I knew him.
I think you’re right – it’s annoying when someone tries to tell you who they are rather than just being who they are so you can see it yourself. And quite often, how we perceive ourselves is not at all accurate to how others – the people who matter – know us to be.
Ahh…I think I know who you are. I mean, from tg’s conversations. I do get what you are saying about labeling yourself before another can.
damn it… i’ve said too much – quite literally by the looks of my ridiculously long rambling comment.
I’m a movie geek and I just like wearing obscure movie related T shirts.
Yea, I realize I just labeled myself. I’m other things too, but I think I sometimes I like to tell others via Tshirt is because you instantly know who your fellow geeks are. Anyone who understands the shirt gives a nod or comment/ compliment. Kinda like how bikers always nod to each other when they are on the road.
Plus, I like compliments. 🙂
I celebrated geek day by watching movies and wearing this shirt, http://www.zazzle.com/wyld_stallyns_tour_t_shirt_light_tshirts-235808761598700199.
The back has the list of tour dates. heh.
Sorry about the long link!
Great shirt, no apologies necessary!
I definitely engage in some geeky things, but I’d like to think I’m much more than that. I can talk about comic books and horror movies till I’m blue in the face, but just as easily talk about my thoughts on this year’s Atlanta Braves season. But I know what you’re saying. People could easily call me a goth with good reason (I mean, if the shoe fits), and it would be kind of silly for me to deny it, but I don’t go round introducing myself that way, and I’d like to think I’ve got a lot more going on. I think anyone who only has a singular interest and won’t talk about anything else becomes boring after a while.
In my opinion, there is a definite difference between Geeks and Nerds.
A Nerd will be volun-told to do your homework by a jock, go to a StarTrek convention dressed up as their favorite character, then get beat up for not doing the homework.
A Geek will just break in to the school computer and change your grades.
I think of myself as a Geek for what I like to do (computer programming, scripting and the like), but I look much more like a football player (muscular, not body fat).
It’s like the show Undergrads, Gimpy – the Star Wars fanatic and computer hacker Geek – versus his arch rival (who’s name I can’t recall) – the Star Trek fanatic and Nerd.
I also know of Geek Groupies. Females that think geeks are sexy. I have had a few of those.
Oi, look at my mini rant…I’ll stop now.
how do i join here?