Geekdom, Forbes and 4Chan

Because, really, this post concerns all three things.

First, if you haven’t read Felicia Day’s Google+/Facebook/whatever, here’s an article you should take a look at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarabrown/2012/03/26/dear-fake-geek-girls-please-go-away/

First, what makes this funny is that this is the wife of Sean Bonner, a Safecast slash coffee geek, wrote this article. She’s trying to be funny, I can tell. Others cannot tell so much, so it’s kind of painful to read the responses to her article on Google+ and 4Chan. Anonymous does not like to be associated with Forbes, apparently. LOL

Second, I wanted to address this from my education side – my psychology/sociology degree. I wrote this in response to Felicia Day’s post:

“I’m a psychology/sociology major. In reality, while it would be nice that people accept newcomers whole-heartedly into their culture, it’s the exact opposite 90% of the time. There are fears of dilluting the core premise of the culture with people who only want to identify with the popularity of that culture. It’s a defensive mechanism, to protect that which makes you unique.

“While I’d love to see geeks embrace non-geeks, I’m afraid it won’t really go the other way. What will most likely happen is that the posers will infiltrate the geek culture and then turn it into their own. And then exclude the real geeks. As they’ve always done in the past. Since being “geek” means an increase in earning and power in the digital age, there are going to be non-geeky people infiltrating the culture in the hopes of getting in on the upward mobility. Fortunately, it’s very hard to “pose” as a geek or nerd, since you have to prove it. Eventually, the poser will out him or herself, and move on. But there will be no end to the amount of people who will attempt to get into the geek to ride on the coat tails. To unfairly reap the benefits others have sown. Or to dillute the power of the geek, and bring it down out of jealousy.

“But that’s life, people. It’s happened to every group. As long as there’s something to be gained, you’re going to get moochers and con-artists hoping to abuse/play the system. Girls and guys pretending to be “geeks” that are not even close are an example of this. Look at how non-sports people are always infiltrating the sports fan culture – you see it happening all the time.”

I’d also like to add that there’s a billion different types of geeks, and to geek out about something really isn’t exclusive to what we normally think of as “geek.” The reality is that what was identified as “geek” in the past was normally considered a fringe group, or outsiders, to normal society. Geeks have been outsiders for so long that people who are merely trying to pose as geeks are going to get spotted and hated fast – how can you be in the popular cliques and then try to identify as an outsider?

That’s a valid point and concern. Geeks have been ostracized and hurt for so long, we don’t want our oppressors and critics joining our ranks for the popularity/power we just obtained. I say “we” because I am part of society’s regular outcasts. REPRESENT! LOL

The girls that the author is talking about? Most of them appear to be young girls who are still concerned about popularity. Some people – especially young people – need to be wanted. There’s a ton of popularity and attention on the Internet. Who hangs out on the Internet a lot? Geeks. How do you get their attention and fit in? Act like a geeky girl who likes geeky things.

Anyway you look at it, trying to be something you’re NOT is a problem for everyone. It makes you look like a fool and insults the core group. It’s the same for nerds and geeks – try to infiltrate the group for whatever ulterior reasons and you’re going to be caught and rejected. People react badly to those who act disingenuous. So just don’t do it. For your sanity and reputation.

EDIT: I really wish every geeky girl was as good-looking as Felicia Day. I don’t have a problem with some girls acting like geeks, even if they aren’t geeky at all away from the Internet. But I know a lot of geeks who will cut the girl’s throat if they ever found out and met her in real life. Which is sad, but unfortunately the way people act about their cultures.

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