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What Does It Mean to Be a Geek?

Really, what is it?

By Raven TorrencePublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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In order to properly answer the question what does it mean to be a geek? one must first define the word "geek." There are, of course, a few different definitions for it. Not to mention, to be a geek can mean something completely different for everyone who identifies as one, thus making it more personal to oneself.

Defining 'Geek'

According to Dictionary.com, to be a geek in the form of a noun, you must be unfashionable or be socially inert, or you might be a carnival worker performing wild or disgusting acts. To use it as a verb, you might be someone who is skilled in technology and can hold an intelligent conversation about the inner and outer workings of technology as a whole. You might also hold the same amount of information someone else has about technology for a movie series, show, or book of some sort.

If you were to type "geek" into urban dictionary, you would be told that they don't have to be smart, but they have an in-depth interest in video games, movies, books, etc. Better yet, it is defined as being the people you pick on in high school but are then found working for as adults.

So, what is it?

**This is purely an opinion-based summary**

There are no real requirements for being a geek; no specific series you have to read or watch. There's no test that grants you a membership into the club, and there's no actual club. We just exist. Everyone has a little bit of geek in them, just some have more than others. Everyone has an interest that doesn't exactly follow a career or life path, but it brings them joy to talk or think about. For some people, you might really love fashion; you can name everyone in the fashion industry and you know their back story and everything that they put out. For someone else, you might love comic books and know every superhero ever created and every villain that has existed in all of comic book history. Somebody else might be in love with musical theater, not necessarily saying they can sing, but dammit, when that musical hits the stage, they are the first in line for the tickets and already have the soundtrack memorized. The thing about being a geek is that there are so many things you can geek out about and just about anything with a mass following has a fandom name that makes it easy to find other people who share the love for that one thing or multiple things.

For me, being a geek is so much more than a label or where I stand on the social plain. Being a geek doesn't prevent me from meeting new people and it doesn't stop me from having interactive relationships with other human beings. If anything, it gives you something to talk about—find a common interest, maybe. Being a geek gives you advantages in life when it comes down to it. You read, you watch, you expand your knowledge while discovering things about yourself you didn't know you had. In reading The Hobbit, you might find strength you never knew you had because you see how Bilbo overcame an unexpected journey that brought him discovery and friendship, but along with it brought pain of loss he had never known. Maybe if you can't go that deep, you can still see how a piece of jewelry destroyed the world, symbolizing greed as something destructive. With the whole subject of superheroes, you see the strength you wish you had. They give you a role model and a hero. You might find the answer to life, the universe, and everything, and realize that it's as simple as the number 42. You learn that being alone is not all you have, that even the most alone people need someone. Through reading, writing, and watching, you discover so much about yourself—you find comfort and you see that you are not alone. There are so many people out there sharing your interests and enjoying the same things you do. You start seeing life as this great open canvas where billions of people live and have ideas that correlate with your ideas. It's absolutely mind boggling.

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