What do you think about the rise of Geek Culture?

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I know that this isn't strictly related to autism but there are a lot of autistic people involved in the various Geeky fandoms.

So, what do you think about the rise of Geek Culture? Personally I think it's awesome and I only wish it had happened when I was a lot younger.

For so long, large parts of the media (generally lazy journalists and second rate comedians) gave out the message that being interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy, comics, role playing games and video games was completely unacceptable. We were a laughing stock. I always thought this was unfair.

Now there are conventions in most big cities several times a year and loads of people are walking around sporting Star Wars or Marvel inspired T-shirts or bags.

I've found people at conventions to be very friendly. There is so much creativity on display in terms of cosplay and art and fan fiction. (You can see photos of my attempt at cosplay here: http://www.wrongplanet.net/posts8620-start5505.html)

As I say people have always been very friendly to me. Several people have come to speak to me who I took to be on the Autistic Spectrum. The Geek culture has given me somewhere to feel I "belong" which I've never had before, It has been hugely positive for me. For me, Geek Culture isn't just about passively consuming manufactured entertainments. These movies and books and TV shows and games all provide new stock for my "mental toybox" and fuel my creative activities- digital and traditional art, writing short stories and making models and props.

There has been some grumbling about "fake geek girls" and Gamergate moved a few rocks and some horrid things (on both sides of the debate) crawled out but I am sure we can handle them. As far as I am concerned everyone is welcome and there can be no such thing as "fake geek". If people respect one another and just employ good manners we can all have a great time.

Any thoughts?

So mainstream media/society laughed at you, and now they want to be you.....seems to be the gist. Though that doesn't just happen with geek culture. One downside however when things like this get more 'popular' sometimes you end up with people who just go for the image which can be confusing....that happens with music too though. Like once me and my sister where talking to a guy with a marylin manson shirt and when we tried discussing marylin manson the guy was clueless to our disappointment.

I remember Pet Rocks, Mood Rings, puka-shell necklaces for men, leisure suits and a music-recording industry that has been stalled since 1992.

As a result, I loathe trends. They come and go. As far as social groups are concerned, the 20th century focused variously on the Gilded Age elite, the flappers, the gangsters, the Zoot Suiters, the bikers, the beatniks, the mods, the hippies, the disco and lounge lizards, the preppies, the grungers, the new gangsters, the code heads, the nerds ... and now, the Aspies and Auties.

Enjoy it while it lasts, because the next chic group should be coming along about 15 minutes ago.

When that happens, we will all be about as exciting and edgy as a 60-year-old Sheldon Cooper.

Sweetleaf words this perfectly.

Also, everyone wants to be Sheldon Cooper.

Yeah I think we've pretty much reach the point where geek culture has completely sold itself out. Movie theaters show nothing but comic book superhero films. People brag about how geeky they are when they really aren't. Geeks even ridicule/attack other geeks. It's like the world has gone topsy-turvy. Granted the only upside is that people feel less alone in their geekdom now that they have a larger base of connection. But even those connections feel unauthentic. Social media was invented by geeks for geeks and now it's been corrupted by every kind of human being imaginable. There's no individuality in being a nerd or a geek anymore, so I try to not associate myself with either category,

I blame Steve Urkel.

Aspies and Auties are not social groups, they are people with aspergers or autism....however people with autism can be in social groups. But yeah its not like there is a specific common interest, style or belief system that defines people with autism so therefore cannot be a social group.

I think it's Groovy, Baby!

I feel like there is still a significant difference between real geeks/nerds and people posing as them. I mean sort of like there are a lot of people calling themselves 'metalheads' that don't even know what metal is, but I am not trying to not associate with metalheads anymore since there are plenty of real ones still.

The reason why geeks are now popular is because some of them have become billionaire; a very superficial reason. The reasonning is that "you work for him in the future", it's about the success of some geeks, the american dream.

I think we need a new word with a definition working for today world. Knowing about webcomics like 8-Bit Theater and xkcd should worth more points that knowing about superhero comic books. (The US comic books industry really suck compared to the french-belgian comics (In which Québec is a little know attachment.) and manga by the way; Webcomics and manga may very well marginalise it in the future.) Playing The Legend Of Zelda The Wind Waker or Pokémon when you more than 12 should worth more points that the more popular and inferior Call Of Duty and Halo games. Being a fan of Gundam while not asian should worth more points that being a fan of Transformer. And so on.

Of course, but we have been turned into a commodity for Hollywood and Madison Avenue insofar as we sell humor and drama (currently). I should have specified that my use of the phrase "social group" was intended as an invented marketing demographic. In that context, Aspies and Auties (or geeks and nerds) are the demographic that sells ideas to the civic dialogue. How we use that temporary fame for our benefit (not the marketers') will determine how long the attention focuses on us.

I say let people have their trends, keep enjoying what you enjoy and eventually the masses will move on to something else for a while.

I am not social and I am not part of any social group. I'm a loner, an outsider, and society in general thinks I will end one day shooting a school or practice cannibalism. Well, maybe not as much since I'm not a guy. Plus Geek Culture doesn't seem to be a thing in the non-major city I live in. I only hear about comic book conventions and cosplaying as superheroes happening in big cities. Where I live many people are in their seniors because most young people move away in order to get a real job, go to a decent college or just plain have a life!

Sorry! I had to do this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwrTpW39tU[/youtube]

Well I don't identify as a geek/nerd but whenever I admit to playing magic the gathering I preface it with "yah I'm a bit of a nerd". Cause nerds play magic. I just feel compelled to preface it with something whenever I admit to playing magic. I'm not trying to pose I just don't know what else to say that provides some kind of (fake) explanation for my interest.

idk i find most trends annoying i don't think this one is an exception.. 'gamer girl' crap gets on my nerves as well, like we get it you're female and enjoy video games big whoop..