ZDNet on the Essence of Geek

sebFlyte writes "ZDNet has a feature on The Essence of Geek, which looks at the rise of the geek (and the fact that everyone's turning into one), in the years post .com boom." From the article: "For a few years, an interest in computers and technology became inextricable linked with wealth and power -- geek became chic. Technology companies suddenly became the focus of the kind of attention that had been reserved for the music or fashion industries. In the UK TV makers even went so far as to create a hip series, Attachments, based around the antics of a tech start-up."

Comments

It takes more than that

[MoxCamel]

and the fact that everyone's turning into [a geek]...

Um...no. Owning an iPod and knowing how to use it doesn't make you a geek. Knowing how to use your Windows smartphone doesn't make you a geek. Discussing mobile phone design doesn't make you a geek, because from tfa, I don't think they were talking about protocols or other engineering aspects. Even knowing how to synchronize your email with your smartphone doesn't make you a geek. It makes you a slave, but not a geek.

Knowing how to use technical things in the prescribed manner does not make you a geek, any more than knowing the exits on an airplane makes you a flight attendent. Knowing how to use technical things in ways they were never meant to be used makes you a geek. (and this is only one small definition "geekiness.")

Saying that "we're all geeks" is like saying "everyone is special, just like you."

Mox

Re:It takes more than that

[D-Cypell]

"Nerds are people that are fascinated by technology. Geeks are people that are fascinated by technology, but know what to do with it."

Case in point, Bill Gates is a nerd. Linus Torvalds is a geek. IMHO.

Do me a favour! You are suggesting that Bill Gates, the guy who built a technology company that changed the entire planet and based on the success attained a personal fortune that is larger than the GDP of many countries is someone who is "fascinated by technology but doesnt know what to do with it!". I think not!

It is time to stop trying to define the terms nerd, geek, dork etc they mean nothing. I happen to be a software professional whose hobbies are mostly related to tech too. I have been called all of these things (and more :oP), as a wise-mane once said... "I am what I am and that's all that I am!".

Re:It takes more than that

[LiquidCoooled]

I see Bill as a business man.
He used computers as an end to a means, MONEY.

Linus is here for the code.

Re:It takes more than that

[ocbwilg]

I think yes. What he did/does is marketing, nothing to do with technology.

I disagree. I think that Bill Gates, along with Paul Allen and the other early Microsofites are all geeks. The difference is that now that they're multi-millionaires and billionaires, you don't see as much of the geeking as you used to.

If you read some of the histories of early Microsoft (or bios of Gates) I think you would be suprised. Bill dropped out of college because he was more interested in tinkering with early computers and writing software for them than getting his degree. The first company he formed with Paul Allen (Traf-o-data) was basically just the two of them building traffic monitoring computers and writing software for them, and then trying to sell them to cities for flow/congestion analysis.

Bill himself was responsible for writing some of the early BASIC interpreters on multiple platforms in the late 70's and early 80's. They wrote CPU emulators because they couldn't get their hands on prototypes of early computing platforms but needed to write software for them. And this was the stuff that was going on when MS only had 8-10 employees.

You might not like Bill Gates or Microsoft for what they are today, but it is absolutely ludicrous to pretend that he hasn't more than earned his chops as a geek.

And geek is not chic.

[khasim]

Until the high school cheerleaders start hanging out at the chess club, geek ain't chic.

This is just about toys. Pre-packaged, nearly idiot proof, toys.

Re:And geek is not chic.

[Lord_Dweomer]

Honestly I could care less about the cheerleaders. What I'm happiest about with this "geek revolution" is that suddenly...a lot of the things that used to be mocked and uncool are cool. What this does is cause a lot more um...to put it bluntly...HOT girls to hang out with geeky guys because they now share similar interests. I'm talking about things like anime...video games...MMORPGs, etc.

And yes, I realize there are many people who are attracted to these things because they're suddenly "cool", but many stayed away from them in the past because of the stigma that was attached to them. That stigma is fast disappearing.

So while we don't get to feel all special because we're into the things that are now mainstream, I for one welcome it. I'm excited that I get to enjoy my hobbies with a wider range of people now and not be looked at funny when I mention them.

Re:And geek is not chic.

[Cutting_Crew]

you would be suprised at how "geeks" are looked upon by your average girl, no matter what any news article or study says. notice i said your everyday normal girl, hot or not. Sure there are girls here and there that do web design, do a little gaming, and know how to do more on their computers other than IM, add to her 'myspace' and type something up in Word, but for the most part girls are right brained..fascinated by art, fashion & design, cooking, interior design and other things that fall closely into that category. I have found that most girls i talk to, chat with or come in contact with shutter in amazement or just give me the "deer in the headlights look" when the infamous question comes up.."so..what do you do for a living?" and/or "what do you like to do?" and i tell her that i am a C++ programmer and i do OpenGL programming on the side, i have a LAN at home(which leads to a whole other explanation if she is bold enough to ask) and i like playing video games. She might think its cool or even muster that to you but in the back of her mind she is thinking how much in common this guy would have with me and the answer would be about 0.05%. Ohhh he is a programmer so he must smart and he has a LAN?? huh? what a nerd.. likes playing video games? what a socialphobe..umm i want to have kids thank you...i dont want to marry a 10 year old still playing video games...this is what i think your average girl would think.. but hey i could be wrong..

I don't know about rockstar

[AviLazar]

I still don't have my 5000 groupie girls who would spread their legs open for me en masse'....however, when I meet girls and i tell them I program they pretty much go "oh wow, you must make a lot of money" and then i snicker to myself in sadness...obviously i don't argue with them (what girl wants a poor guy) but hey :) It is, however, more accepted. I know many hot girls who love places like myspace, AIM, etc.

Ancient Geek Mythology

[digitaldc]

He claims that increasingly, "we're all geeks" -- even if a lot of people don't care to admit it.

I remember when a geek was a guy who was extremely intelligent, read books, didn't dress well or had the latest fashions, never had a good haircut/hygiene, was not good at sports and never made out with girls.

If we are all indeed 'geeks' than the word geek doesn't mean anything. Or maybe we're just all nerds trying to be geeks?

Re:"Everyone's turning into one"

[LWATCDR]

Frankly the geek bar seems to be getting lower not higher.
I know people that just because they can us Windows think they are a "Geek". I hate the term geek I like the term hacker. If you can not create technology then you are not a hacker. If you can code, solder, or wire wrap then you are a hacker. If you can IM you are not. If you can write an IM then you are.
It is about creation not use.

Geek-Cred

[Slipgrid]

Um...no. Owning an iPod and knowing how to use it doesn't make you a geek. Knowing how to use your Windows smartphone doesn't make you a geek. Discussing mobile phone design doesn't make you a geek, because from tfa, I don't think they were talking about protocols or other engineering aspects. Even knowing how to synchronize your email with your smartphone doesn't make you a geek. It makes you a slave, but not a geek.

Yeah, but some teen who wants to *fit-in* with the geeky kids, might buy these things thanking it helps. It's like when you were in high school, and saw that guy walking about with a tie dye Dead shirt on. He wasn't a hippy, and likly never found a Dead song that he liked, and never when to the show, but he did buy a tie dye shirt. Very trendy.

Now, I've got a cs degree, and I know I geek my friends out with blab that they don't care about, but I don't own an iPod because of the DRM issues. Some people might say that someone who won't buy an iPod because of the DRM issues is a bigger geek than someone who owns them. However, the article is making a point. It does't matter if these people have any geek-cred. It's obvious that they want that geek-cred, just like the dude with the tie dye shirt.

Using technology vs. controlling it

[lawaetf1]

No doubt the term "geek" has been coopted by the media to describe, basically, the digerati generation. But I have to agree with my fellow /.ers... using your ipod and knowing how to upload photos from your cell phone does not make you a geek.

Geek's don't just use technology, they understand how it is put together and desire to change or "hack" it for their own purposes. A geek molds technology to suit him, a regular schmoe makes do with what has been handed his way by 3com, intel, microsoft, etc, etc.
That is the difference.