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ZDNet on the Essence of Geek

Posted by Zonk on from the do-not-try-to-define-me dept.

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."

6 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Everyone is a Geek. by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Everyone. Everyone has that one area of passion in which they excel and have a knowledge of minutae. Be it Red Sox stats dating to 1903, the best ways to obtain and smoke drugs, or how to make a rocket- everyone is a Geek in one way shape or form. Now we're just finally realizing it.

    After all, how different is dressing up for a Star Trek Convention and a Football game? Not much...

    --
    If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
  2. And geek is not chic. by khasim · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  3. I'm a geek now! by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 5, Funny

    Like, omg, I'm so totally a geek now! I can IM, and sync my ipod, and blog, and post myspace pix! And like, even I know that those popups are annoying!

    I am SO geek!!!!

  4. Book of Revelations? by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 5, Funny

    "For a few years, an interest in computers and technology became inextricable linked with wealth and power -- geek became chic"

    I'm pretty sure this is one of the signs of the apocalypse

  5. The Geek is dead. Long live the Geek! by davidgrouchy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now the guys who picked on me are geeks too?

  6. Using technology vs. controlling it by lawaetf1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    --
    CommentBot 0.7a running with args "-module irritate,disagree -target random"