What do you think about the rise of Geek Culture?

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It's probably a self publication profile where people consume on a diferent culture for profit. Same things happened with Japan, UK and even Canada for some times.

It's just a way to break people down to make money, buy there supplies and promote higher self buisness.

Generally I am about 3/4 meddeteranian so I already have the culture slantics a part of me, nothing reall new on my part.

Well there is quite a difference between saying 'I am a bit of a nerd' and actually pretending to be one I'd imagine. I mean if someone who wasn't a metalhead told me they liked a metal band because they are 'a bit of a metalhead' I would not really see them as trying to fake anything(the 'a bit of' implies they don't identify as that but share some common intrests/traits. Though not sure I'd see it necessary for them to say that as one does not need a justification/explanation for their interests in my opinion. But yeah what I mean when I say someone posing as something they are not it would be like....if someone walks around dressed like a skateboarder and carrying around a skateboard but doesn't actually skateboard, or like people wearing shirts of bands they have never heard.

It's a cyclical, culturally motivated trend. Ancient Greece saw the same phenomenon in Miletus and Athens. Every so often we become valuable again and our pursuits are front and center, from Aristotle pioneering biology to Steve Jobs pioneering the "great discipline" of staring at your phone all day.

i keep reading this title as 'Greek Culture'

Me too.

Its about 3000 years too late be worrying about "the rise of" that!

Last edited by naturalplastic on 04 Nov 2014, 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

Thanks everyone for replying. It seems like no-one else shares my enthusiasm. Oh well...

I'll try to address a couple of the points raised.

They're not real Geeks: No, probably not but that doesn't matter to me. What is a real Geek anyway - is it like a True Scotsman? They may only have bought that "Geek" T-shirt with the big glasses on it because it's fashionable and next summer they'll be wearing whatever is considered cool then but they're not taking anything away from me. Undoubtedly there are lots of people coming to Cons who are just poking their head 'round the door to see what's happening and most will drift away bored. That's fine - I've tried out hobbies in the past and decided they're not for me. As long as they aren't hating and spoiling other people's fun the day trippers are welcome IMHO.

It's just a fad: It probably won't retain this level of popularity for long but there have been Science Fiction conventions for decades and fandom ever since the pulp magazines of the 1930s. It won't completely go away. In particular the Internet will keep communities alive

It's all just run for big business: Yes of course. What isn't? Conventions are flooded with advertising but I can ignore it. The most heavily promoted movies at the last two conventions I've been to have been "Mrs Brown Da Movie" and another "Dumb and Dumber" sequel. I will vote with my wallet and pass on those two. I did pay out for "Under the Skin" and will do the same for "The Babadook" and "A Field in England". Seek out the creative stuff and avoid the production-line junk. That's what being a discerning fan of anything is all about.

Just for the record I don't watch "The Big Bang Theory" - I don't find it all that funny,

I know I'm kind of evangelising here but it has been really important to me to find somewhere where I can feel I belong, even at this stage of my life. I've never been in a group who shared my interests before and I've had to stand in silence as the others went on (and on and bloody on) about football. I've found people at conventions to be friendly and accepting of those who don't fit into traditional roles - I know there are some a**holes but they are a minority.

As I say above Geek Culture won't always enjoy the level of popularity it's got at the moment - it will probably start to wain as audiences tire of the current cycle of super hero movies - but I can't see it going away entirely while the Internet is still around. Which is good for me.

very good post falloy! i agree with your points and i'm glad you found a group where you feel you belong. i suppose i don't feel too enthusiastic about it because growing up all the kids around me where into games like me and all that. it seems like the only people i have heard call me a geek is older people. maybe a generational thing. or where you lived. in addition, i'm curious to see what geek culture will look like in the future, since technology is increasingly commonplace and attitudes towards 'geeky things' have changed. also like you said, with the internet, i don't see it disappearing anytime soon.

I'm upset that it is trendy. I have gone to conventions and geek gatherings and met people who haven't the foggiest idea of what any of it is about, they simply wanted to be a part of what's in.

The problem I have is that, as a person with ASD, the ratio of folks who I could relate to and get along with has gone down. It's as if I head to these gatherings and am suddenly 'the unpopular awkward guy' all over again.

Some of them could be there with friends. They might not all be posers. A group of my friends invited me to come to a convention with them so I did. Part of the reason is that I was led to believe it was a video game convention and I love video games but it was actually more of an "everything convention". I didn't enjoy myself as much as some of the other people. I definitely wasn't a poser but I wouldn't go by myself.

Sorry for missing the entire point of your post. That really sucks.

I liked the first couple of seasons. Since season 4 or 5, I could not longer relate to the show or its characters anymore...

Anyway, I tend to avoid mainstream "geek" culture and go for more "underground" / "obscure" geek culture instead, which IMO is more authentic and relatable.

I'm thinking about series like "Silicon Valley", "Mr Robot" or "Utopia".

That's why I don't like 'movements.' Usually, when a goal has been attained, most movements start to feed on themselves or stir up trouble to remain relevant.

I don't know if anyone wants to be Sheldon Cooper. They certainly like him though.

Wow, this is scary. I was pondering about this whole "fake nerdism/geekdom" thing before I checked Wrong Planet and spotted this thread.
Life, you did it again!

Whatever, I'll add my two cents to it too then.
Personally, I'm not a fan of such trend-movements.
All that happens is that I find it harder to filter out those who actually share my interests and those who just do it for the image/social status and acknowledgement or because they (apparently) feel too socially accepted and develop a desire to feel like a social outcast.

"They're geeky/nerdy because of what they show on the outside while being otherwise completely normal in behaviour and know the latest celebrity stories, so that must mean they'll be a very successful person, right?" This sounds like the logic that makes all this "cool", or at least that's what I see in it.

One doesn't get true understanding from such movements/trends, it rather boosts stereotypes. I wish understanding would be what you would get as a side-effect though.
When I still tried to socialize, this whole thing went big with Big Bang Theory and the whole "comicbook motives on shirts, hipster glasses and a plaid shirt are now the definition of nerds".
At that time, nobody thought I would be cool, because I didn't fullfill the nerd stereotype that is required to be cool and yet I heard people talk about how nerdy they are because they do X or Y while at the same time shunning me for being "a nerd". Confusing? Indeed. This whole trend was only confusing me even more and it took some time until I could get an idea of what I was even confronted with.
I can't wait until it's "out" again.

I was amazed to read through this thread and spot a fair share of similar thoughts being expressed.

PS: I have to admit, I don't like Big Bang Theory. I've watched (or rather was forced to watch) a handful of episodes and couldn't get into it - at all.

On one hand I feel like "well its about time" but on the other hand I feel like there are alot of fakers out there and because its "trendy" people will hop on the band wagon regardless of their generally interests just for the simple fact that its "the cool thing to do". Like the OP said many people on the autism spectrum indulge deeply in certain nerdy interests and the like. But unlike the NT "kool kid" who's merely going with the flow an autistic nerd or a true nerd in general is going to go in depth about the things that most people aren't going to care very much about. Since I don't know where else to go with this as far as explanation I'll use myself as an example.

I am an anime nerd and have been for well over a decade now. I watch anime on a season basis and although I watch alot I still have my favorites. The probably with "kool kid" anime fans is that they only watch anime on the shallow level and as a result they'll maybe watch attack on titan or SAO on a good day but not really care about anything else nor will they watch anything else. The second problem is when it comes to "favorites" they'll not really be able to go into significant detail on WHY something is their favorite other then saying "waahh its so cool the fight scenez maaan". When I come across this type of person I immediately shut it down and do not continue to engage because its just way too frustrating. I know it sounds so small to get angry about but excuse me for taking the fandom that I so significant indulge in and have for over a decade seriously. If someone I'm dealing with who also "likes anime" doesn't take it as seriously as I do then we are not on the same page and I just move on.

Here's the way I look at it:

Everything that gets popular gets the curious. If they come, see and do not come back, then who cares? The ones that stay are the ones who really liked what they saw and experienced.

It is a pain when you're dealing with the ones who are just curious though. But, it will pass. It always does.