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I Do Not Think That Word Means What You Think It Means
Huh, my culture has been violated in an unexpected way.
I have begun to notice a small but prolific segment of the online population who are self-identifying as geeks, and frequently describing things as "a cool geek thing", with no connotation related to what I think of as geekery. Having seen a few different examples, the only unifying thread I can find is that the thing in question is always considered cool by the author. Now, I understand that, as with other terms of derision applied to other subcultures in the past, the term 'geek' has been absconded with and made a badge of pride. However, even in its most positive sense I have always thought of geekdom as representing a very specific (if not easily quantified) culture - something roughly like "quasi-obsessive intellectual counter-culturalism", and when unmodified (as in "theatre geek") a specific connotation of technological obsession. It is not always a good thing, in my mind.
These persons I speak of don't seem to mean that at all. As far as I can tell, to them geek == cool, and there is no further specificity to it. That disconcerts me, like they're sneaking off with a little bit of my identity. It seems like an odd occurrence; it may be cool to be a geek, but it's also cool to be a queer, and I don't know anyone who identifies themselves that way without at least claiming some kind of non-standard orientation.
Am I misconstruing this, or is the term 'geek' becoming to dilute to be meaningful?
(Note: this is kind of a fiddly little thing to be spending time thinking about, but, in fact, that's one of the ungood things about geekery - a tendency to focus on minutiae.)
I want my elitism back!
I have begun to notice a small but prolific segment of the online population who are self-identifying as geeks, and frequently describing things as "a cool geek thing", with no connotation related to what I think of as geekery. Having seen a few different examples, the only unifying thread I can find is that the thing in question is always considered cool by the author. Now, I understand that, as with other terms of derision applied to other subcultures in the past, the term 'geek' has been absconded with and made a badge of pride. However, even in its most positive sense I have always thought of geekdom as representing a very specific (if not easily quantified) culture - something roughly like "quasi-obsessive intellectual counter-culturalism", and when unmodified (as in "theatre geek") a specific connotation of technological obsession. It is not always a good thing, in my mind.
These persons I speak of don't seem to mean that at all. As far as I can tell, to them geek == cool, and there is no further specificity to it. That disconcerts me, like they're sneaking off with a little bit of my identity. It seems like an odd occurrence; it may be cool to be a geek, but it's also cool to be a queer, and I don't know anyone who identifies themselves that way without at least claiming some kind of non-standard orientation.
Am I misconstruing this, or is the term 'geek' becoming to dilute to be meaningful?
(Note: this is kind of a fiddly little thing to be spending time thinking about, but, in fact, that's one of the ungood things about geekery - a tendency to focus on minutiae.)
I want my elitism back!
What do you expect
While I was in Europe it became trendy to look like a computer nerd from Seattle - black rimmed Buddy Holly glasses, a uncombed (though short) haircut, a courier bag and gadgets. It was weird because it was a look, not the accidental result of poor vision and the ethic of utility over aesthetics.
Re: What do you expect