So as my first ever blog, did I deliberate long and hard over what subject matter I should have, to represent my blogging debut? Short answer, no. Instead I chose a subject that has instead made up a large part of my conversation today. Geeks.
For a large number of years, geeks and nerds were considered the epitome of uncool, with their obsession for scientific facts or fiction, for fantasy, for gaming, for study, for the way they dress, talk, act etc. You could spot a nerd a mile off and in many respects you still can. But as the culture has made a prolific rise to stardom the ‘secret’ geeks have risen with it, those too ashamed to reveal their natural state now have no reason to hide it, in fact they celebrate it. Geeks have always had their sub culture and those who belonged to it, relish the celebration of it. There are conventions to satisfy every kind of nerd; comic, gaming, sci-fi, anime, horror, multi-genre (for those who can’t make up their mind).
But geek has become chic, and nerds can pull birds, this sub culture no longer lies in the shadows, devious hidden away from the masses, but now it steps blinking into the sunlight. Joe 90 spectacles are in demand, cryptic reference fantasy t-shirts are on an endless cycle of reproduction and Marvel has dominated the superhero film industry. Even Star Trek, one of the ultimate geekfest obsessions has amassed a whole new fan base, and you don’t have to be an original fan to enjoy it either. Which is always a good sign of a reboot, to be able to please both past and present fans of a cult phenomenon that has spanned decades. I recently had a conversation with a work colleague, it was about the usual, films, tv series, and it cropped up that I am a bit of a Trekkie. “I knew you were geeky,” he exclaimed “but not that geeky!”.
So it seems in certain circles even the orignal Star Trek series and subsequent series can’t shake that uncool aspect, possibly having its own constructed language, Klingon, is one step too far for the uninitiated. But by and large be you geek or be you nerd (although there are distinct differences between the two) you are welcomed with open arms into the world around you. Well open arms that possibly have a can of pepper spray to hand if it finds you a little too unnerving. Because let’s face it not everyone is going to except the fact that you can watch the an entire series of Supernatural in the space of a week or that you’ve completed all the way up to Final Fantasy XIV, or that in your spare time you dress as Lt Uhura and recreate the legendary kiss between your namesake and Captain Kirk.
But hey, that’s the point, diversity rocks.
The content of this blog is already outdated by a couple of years, as this shift in what people deemed socially acceptable is ‘old news’, but it’s always fascinated me and as I’m new to this how blogging malarkey this felt like a good place to start.
So I leave you with the words of Simon Pegg…
“Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.”
Senseless Sense Blog 