Social Geek
As a self described geek, and mac fanboy for that matter, I can’t stand the Geek stereotype. I get excited over new cool gadgets, sure, but it’s just an interest of mine. I know Saverio feels the same way.
Saverio saw pictures of an episode of Diggnation at MacWorld where they showed the crowd, and was embarrassed, as was I. Never in my life would I sport a digg shirt (no offense digg, I love you) or anything else in that regard (such as a phpMyAdmin t-shirt). A few days later, Saverio linked me to a picture of a group of geeks, nerds, whatever visiting the phpMyAdmin offices. The picture, showed exactly what non-geeks think of geeks, it really just depicted the geek stereotype perfectly.
Here’s the picture for those wondering:
Both Saverio and I both have active social lives. We go out on the weekends, and have conversations with people that have nothing to do with computers. We both have girlfriends, we’ve both had several of them for that matter. None of our friends know a thing about computers, sure we’re the “tech guys” in our respective groups of friends, but no one expects us to talk about the latest and great gadgets all the time.
I don’t get giddy over the mere mention of star trek, hell, I hate the show. When I leave my office, thats it for me. I go hang out with my friends, and my girlfriend and I’m no longer a “geek”. I’ll talk sports with my friends, help my friends with problems outside of computers, etc.
This isn’t to say I’m the only person thats like this either. I know of a few other people who are the same way, when we’re together and we talk, sure the “geek” stuff comes up, but if we all went out together in a group, no one would consider us even being “geeks”. We’re all arrogant assholes if anything, the group of people you and your friends probably hate.
I’d like to propose a new term, the “Social Geek”. I know their are a lot of people out there just like me. I personally talk about about 15 different people who would fall under the “social geek” term. We all consider our selves “geeks” when it comes to technology and computers, but when we go out.. we leave that “geek” stereotype at home, or at work. We become ordinary people just hanging out with our friends.
So I ask, are you a Geek or a Social Geek? Does the “Geek” stereotype aggravate you as much as it does me?
I personally am proud to be a geek. If you aren’t then you aren’t a geek, and don’t deserve the designation. Most geeks are like you, a stereotype doesn’t change that. Why not start a blond and a smart blond category? Get over your ego, and be a geek or not as you like.