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Are Fake Geeks Dooming Real Ones?

Posted by Soulskill on from the nerds-and-dorks-still-secure dept.

mattnyc99 writes "In the wake of the Best Buy 'geek' trademarking and Miss USA calling herself 'a huge history geek,' writer (and self-proclaimed geek) Eryn Green has an interesting piece for Esquire on how so-called 'geek chic' is pervading the culture so much that no one appreciates an actual geek anymore. From the article: 'The difference between brains and beauty is that you're more or less born into good looks — entitled, if you will. Intelligence? That takes work. If the hallmark of real geekiness — of America — is determination, then we seem too determined to have an entitlement problem.'"

7 of 492 comments (clear)

  1. Premise of story is bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You do realize that "geek" does not mean "computer nerd" right? Calling oneself a "history geek" is perfectly valid.

    1. Re:Premise of story is bullshit by Dahamma · · Score: 3, Informative

      As long as the fact that she is a history geek makes her "peculiar and unlikable". "Computer nerds" weren't called geeks because they are techie, they were called that because they were also socially maladjusted and shunned, like a circus freak...

  2. Real Geeks? by Thelasko · · Score: 3, Informative

    Strictly speaking, a geek is a person that performs in a circus sideshow. Everyone else is a fake geek.

    --
    One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
  3. History geek, uh huh..here's a translation by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Miss USA-speak: "I'm a huge history geek"
    English: "I read an article on fashion history in Vogue once."

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  4. Re:Nothings changed by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 3, Informative

    "Real" geeks are carnies who do things like bite off a chicken's head. Anything else is a fake geek.

  5. Re:Intelligence by GSloop · · Score: 4, Informative

    Read Carol Dweck.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Dweck

    In short, there may be some upper limit to raw brain power, but for most, that limit isn't ever reached.

    So, claiming that "intelligence" is some inherent trait and, like most, assuming that failure equals non-intelligence causes a whole range of problems.

    People can sharpen their skills and those skills are usually viewed as intelligence.

    The real rub is this: When kids think they are "intelligent" or not, then nothing they do can impact that inherent trait. They will do all sorts of odd things to avoid failure and being labeled "stupid." [The inverse of intelligent.]

    When they are told they can learn, and that "intelligence" is not a fixed trait, they do much better, and the odd behaviors of attempting to either gain entry into the "intelligent" club, futility of being in the stupid club, or working to avoid losing the "intelligent" club card vanish.

    Read this: [It's from Dweck herself. Her book "Mindset" is an excellent start too.]
    http://web.me.com/dianamadsen/Walden_Webpage/Parent_Resources_files/The%20Perils%20and%20Promise%20of%20Praise.pdf

    Cheers,
    Greg

  6. Cut Miss USA some slack by voss · · Score: 4, Informative

    Miss USA was only 1 of 2 contestants in the contest to come out for teaching evolution only, and
    spoke about it correctly referenced the stuart and tudor eras when talking about history,
    talked about her book collection and has come out in favor of gay marriage.

    She may not be a geek in the slashdot tradition but shes geek-friendly and since there is not
    an overabundance of geek friendly smart hot girls I say cut her some slack.