Geeks and nerds have never been an organized people. This is not to say that they do not have common interests, or even that there is no place where they can come together ( slashdot being a perfect example). What this means is that they have never been able to form a real world group to protect their own interests ( the theoretical goal of any union). There is a reason for this. Geeks are a divided group, with no *attainable* interests that can be agreed upon. The very backbone of geekhood demands this. The Geek is defined by a technical mind and/or profession, an interest in technical things, and an extremely strong apptitude towards their technical interest of choice. How many times have each of us heard someone describe themselves not just as a geek but as a "UNIX geek" or a "computer and movie geek" or whatever. The cult of geekhood, which most of us at slashdot belong to, and if not certainly know of, is bound together by a non-materialist bond. It's much more a mentality, a state of being, even a personality type. One geek interests may be in the distribution of free software, while another geek may abhor the idea, prefering instead a system in which they get the direct reward for their code. Both can be equally geeks, and yet both have opposite agendas. That case is over-simplistic, but I think I got my point across. Trade unions ( which is what the geek union seems to be modeled after) can exist because within a profession there are things that are universally wanted, such as better working conditions; higher wages etc. etc. Everyone here knows what a union does. Perhaps what Mr. Katz would be wiser to suggest is that many localised unions be formed, each open to geeks within a community, focusing on not large scale problems, such as free software and other such issues, but rather local problems pertaining to the small group of geeks within the community.
This is last ambitious, but more realistic. We are not in a revolution. We cannot stop working simply to teach the world a lesson. We are not a persecuted group. As Mr. Katz said, we are no longer on the outside of society, but in its very core. Unless the goal is to overthrow the government and set up a geek utopia ( which I think it would be agreed is ludicrous) then we should stick to what we can do. We are not an organized enough group to be powerful, and probably never will be. For now, if we want to effect the fate of geeks, instead of getting grandiose ideas about a large scale geek union that would finally get us the large scale recognition we deserve, we should take things case by case, form local groups, fight in small groups with very specific purposes. Again, not as romantic or grandiose, but much more realistic.
