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The Rise of Geekdom

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the news-to-nobody dept.

cynagh0st writes "In what can only be described as the biggest newsflash for the Slashdot community since Microsoft was sued: It is the age of the geek. New York Times Op-Ed columnist and author David Brooks writes a brief article that can be best summed up in the following: All your culture are belong to us. In the article proper he summarizes the rise to power and discusses a technocratic geek dominance on the social construct. He writes, '... the new technology created a range of mental playgrounds where the new geeks could display their cultural capital. The jock can shine on the football field, but the geeks can display their supple sensibilities and well-modulated emotions on their Facebook pages, blogs, text messages and Twitter feeds ... They've created a new definition of what it means to be cool, a definition that leaves out the talents of the jocks, the M.B.A.-types and the less educated ... There are now millions of educated-class types guided by geek manners and status rules.'" I'm thinking Brooks must have been AFK for the 2nd half of the 90s when this started. To be more precise, late 97 ;)

6 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Oblig. by owlnation · · Score: 4, Funny

    And for once, it's not just a meme, I really mean it when I say:

    "I, for one, welcome our new geek overlords!"

  2. Re:The biggest risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No what Brook's major error is that he missed the sexual revolution that is sweeping the country:

    Furry.

    Join the pack now, or you will be devoured later!!

  3. No....just....no by NewbieProgrammerMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the geeks can display their supple sensibilities and well-modulated emotions on their Facebook pages, blogs, text messages and Twitter feeds...

    I'm sorry, but "geeks," "supple," "well-modulated emotions," "Facebook," "blogs," and "Twitter" should never appear in the same sentence.
    --
    [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']
  4. Real Geek punishment by Hankapobe · · Score: 2, Funny

    He should be taken outside and soundly thrashed.

    No, that'd make you a jock. You're supposed to snicker at him, make condescending remarks about his writing and journalistic ability, point out every flaw in his reasoning (being as pedantic about it as possible), and all the while saying it with the Comic Book Guy's voice.

  5. Brooks is out of touch. by stuntmanmike · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're dead on.

    If Holden Caulfield was the sensitive loner from the age of nerd oppression, then Harry Potter was the magical leader in the age of geek empowerment.

    Fucking Harry Potter? What does he think we are, a bunch of overgrown man-children?

  6. Re:Aw, furrfu! by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 2, Funny

    Must kill otaku... exterminate... Wapanese... EX-TER-MIN-ATE! *Exterminate!* *Exterminaaatee*!!!