bethanie's Journal: Geek: Defined

A reply to one of my posts today provoked some thoughtful consideration on what exactly a geek is.

I have long believed that geeks exist in all walks of life, and that many geeks even pass as "normal people" for most of their lives. Many people think of geeks as purely "computer" geeks, that is, guys who know a lot about computers ("a lot" being defined as more than they know, themselves). While I agree that most geekiness as it is recognized today does require a competent level of computer savvy, a lack of in-depth knowledge of arcane technological functions does not necessarily exclude someone (like me) from geekdom.

Perhaps the best means of clarifying my point is to list some high-level categories of geeks.

1) First, you have the Classic TechnoGeek(TM). This is the guy most people think of when you use the term "geek." And I do mean "guy" as in "male," because the vast majority of TechnoGeeks are male. If they are not male, i.e, they are female, then the type of female who would be considered a TechnoGeek has dwelt in a nearly exclusively all-male environment for so long that she has become desensitized to being lumped in with the rest as "one of the guys." Furthermore, as a TechnoGeek, she is not politically inclined when it comes to feminist issues.

Disclaimer: Not all geeks are bereft of political opinions. If they do, in fact, possess (and express) deeply held political beliefs, then they would fall into the subcategory of TechnoGeek With Deeply Held Political Beliefs. (So there! I've run rings around you logically!)

2) The next category would be the Liberal Arts Geek. These are people with fairly developed computer skills -- say a moderate-to-high level of competency on the user end (but short of delving into the inner workings of the machines themselves -- that's what our boyfriends and husbands are for! Not saying that being a Lib Arts Geek makes you gay...). This, of course, is the category that I fall into. I have noticed several other /.ers around who would fall into this category, as well. These are the lawyers and academicians who develop their papers and publications and lead seminars based on topics like Virtual Laws in On-Line Gaming and Analagous Models of Societal Structure in Everquest, which reflect their own personal preferences and geeky tendencies beyond their own Real Life functions.

There are probably infinite subcategorizations that one could list under this heading, but suffice to say that under the main category of Liberal Arts Geek are two main features:

1. end-user technological competence (without the deeper-level TechnoGeek skills), thus enabling them to congregate in the Virtual Community with others of their ilk, and
2. an avid (thus "geeky") interest in any of a very wide variety of subjects and hobbies.

3) The third (and final, at this stage of my argument, because it's 2:30 am and I need to put my 2-year-old to bed!!) is the common, run-of-the-mill, everyday House Geek (like a House Fly or a House Mouse -- it's the best I could think of for now, but I'm open to suggestions!). They may also be known as "Eccentric" or "Weird." These are folks who possess geeky interests but not enough technological know-how to understand how to pursue them on-line.

A good example of this is my father. He can e-mail and surf the Net OK, but when it really comes to computer "stuff" he is clueless. But he's really really into UFOs and extraterrestrial life and the whole governmental conspiracy to cover up the visitations and communication that have been going on for decades (that's how he puts it, anyway). He can easily pass through real life without revealing his geek status, but when you get him on the topic, his geekiness is all too apparent.

Some of your Society for Creative Anachronism folks fit into this category, as well, though lord knows there are plenty of these that fit into the other two main categories, as well. The main characteristic of the House Geek category is that these folks DO NOT congregate in the Virtual Community.

And that about does it for my analysis this evening (morning). I eagerly invite further commentary and discussion!!

....Bethanie....

P.S. A big hi there, hello, howdy, & thanks to all my new fans out there! Don't know where y'all came from, but I sure am happy you're here!

That's actually pretty good

[intermodal]

it's not perfect, but none are. Definite points for going to the effort.

Re:That's actually pretty good

[bethanie]

Muchas gracias. I have to say, it came out a lot longer and unwieldy than I had intended it to.

I have long wondered about my status in Geekdom -- for most of my life I have been surrounded by TechnoGeeks: my favorite kind of people, I think -- my most favorite kind is the Renaissance Geek, who is a TechnoGeek but also is well-spoken and has interests that range far beyond those items with chips & circuits in them. These guys, for instance, will have scored nearly 800 on the math portion of the SAT, bu

Re:That's actually pretty good

[intermodal]

yeah...i find that most geeks are so by nature rather than simple desire. I grew up a techno geek (second generation). My dad fixed computers from the time when nobody owned one, much less knew what a modem was. So my surrounding with computers was definitely part of how I ended up on this path. However, one thing I have noticed is a lot of pseudo-geeks sprouted up during the dotcom era in hopes of gathering money, only to be shocked and dismayed when the bottom dropped out and their only work experienc

Re:That's actually pretty good

[bethanie]

a lot of pseudo-geeks sprouted up during the dotcom era in hopes of gathering money

Ah, yes, the Poser Geek. Also known as Contemptible Yuppy Scum for the New Millenium. :-)

....Bethanie....

Re:That's actually pretty good

[intermodal]

yep...one of these days I may wrest vindication (and employment) from one of these souls...but my luck isn't that good.