12. Conclusion

12. Conclusion
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The "geek" issue is mainly a concern within a Canadian culture context. While other cultures may have similar issues, the mix of cultures in Canada makes this problem a hard one to see. It IS there, however, and if this blog has, at the very least, raised an awareness of the possiblity it does exist, then I believe it was worthwhile.

11. The Geek Squad

11. The Geek Squad
---------------------------------
Mentioned in my first post, this topic deserves another look: The Geek Squad
http://www.geeksquad.com

This "company" which focuses on fixing computers as a service has amalgamated with Futureshop and Best Buy stores at some point in the recent past. The problem with this, is that in their advertisements, they portray a stiff looking person, associated with the classic geek look, standing proudly.

The next time you go to Futureshop or Best Buy, look behind the counter of the GeekSquad section. I bet you that you won't find anyone that remotely resembles the "geek" in their ads.

10. The extremists: perhaps the strongest reason geeks are labelled geeks.

10. The extremists: perhaps the strongest reason geeks are labelled geeks.
---------------------------------
Having an uncommon interest, I believe I have clearly asserted by now, is normal, and shouldn't be labeled with the old geek image.

There are, however, people that take these interests so far, that it makes these interests seem weird to even those who are also into it.

As for myself, while I try to keep an open mind about things like this, I admit that I can't help but shake my head in shame for what is going on with some of their activities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ekugPKqFw

9. Anime Expo

9. Anime Expo
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Anime. Anime is a form of media that can be best compared to a "cartoon". Basically its the form of animation that has is based and is almost exclusively
produced in Japan. It differs from North Americans not only in artistic style, but more importantly in the fact that in Japan, it is a widely accepted form of media across all ages, including titles aimed at children, others aimed at teenagers and younger adults, and even manifest erotica adult forms.

It's adoption into North American broadcast has seemed to have taken a huge increase in popularity especially in recent years with such titles as, Naruto, and earlier titles such as Pokemon and Digimon. Today, several others have been ported to American television, increasing more and more as each year passes.


This foreign based phenmomenon definitely classes itself as an "uncommon interest" as per the definition of a geek, and goes so far as to create its own subculture in America. The most recognizable manifestation of this subculture can be found in an anime convention, where anime lovers around the country come together to celebrate it. "Cosplay", which involves people dressing up as their favorite anime characters, is easily the strangest thing to observe in these conventions, and are perhaps both the biggest attraction and biggest turn off, leading to why those that are associated with anime are often labelled as geeks.

The first video highlights various cosplayers in this year's "Anime Expo" convention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYzU41J0Jh8

The second video highlights perhaps the most disturbing cosplayer, which anime lovers either love or hate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htzwtJQeNmE

Personally, I wish to attend Anime Expo next year and would even consider cosplaying, in order to get the best possible experience.

8. Boom Headshot!

8. Boom Headshot!
---------------------------------

Pure Pwnage, a group based on the internet releases episodes about a group of gamers that follow a similar parody style to South Park's WoW episode. This one in particular features an over-exciteable Counter-Strike: Source player (a first person shooter) that represents a gamer that more or less lives video games. The interesting aspect that I would like to point out in this video is that these person aesthetically, does not fit the geek stereotype image. Instead he seems like someone you might see at a local skatepark or at a house party smoking the chiba out of a hukka pipe.

Again, enjoy and feel free to comment :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LpI6yN6Os

7. The Daedalus Project

7. The Daedalus Project
---------------------------------

This site is definitely worth checking out if you have a remote interest in online video games, or even just a little bit intrigued about the culture of it. It studies, based on polls of gamers, the psychology behind video game culture, why gamers are the way they are, and shares numerious stories of issues that are discussed in this blog.

It's really great to see someone out there actively studying the takeover of video games as a form of media.

http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/
enjoy ;)

6. What the, World of Warcraft Marriage?

6. What the, World of Warcraft Marriage?
---------------------------------
http://www.wow-europe.com/en/community/wowparents.html

If you're a gamer, you might not be surprised to hear that people actually meet partners through games, more commonly in MMORPG type games. If you're not and this seems as absurd to you as using Lavalife to meet people, then yes it does happen, and is happening more and more frequently. Girls DO play games!

You might go so far as to call both of them geeks, but it goes back to the same argument, if this is going to become more and more common, how long until this is considered the norm therefore no longer geeky?

5. Make Love, Not Warcraft

5. Make Love, Not Warcraft
---------------------------------
The Fall 2006 season premiere of the long running adult "cartoon" South Park, was based around the "online sensation" video game, World of Warcraft, which is classified as an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game).

This satirical story about the show's main characters playing World of Warcraft worked to both promote video game culture as well as illustrate the common characteristics of gamer geeks.

While those that understand this episode will laugh and praise at it, I worry that those that are not geeks will take it for what it is on the surface and accept it as truth, that their perceptions of gamers as geeks are correct, and will continue considering those that play Warcraft or any MMORPG are that erronious label of a geek.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3tR-chxBS8

4. Play Culture

4. Play Culture
---------------------------------
"The growth of this new play culture has not been publically acknowlodeged" (Media Analysis Lab, SFU, 1998).

This pretty much expresses why geeks are labelled the way they are. When it does, however, (and it will) will things change for the geeks?

Read the entire article @ http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/research_documents/studies/video_games/video_game_culture.cfm

3. Video Games are for Boys

3. Video Games are for Boys
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You might think, geeks are boys that spend all their time at home playing games. I think girl gamers are becoming more and more common.

http://www.gamegal.com/mediakit/

If games are becoming the dominant form of media, surely they have to cater to the other half of the population right? The thing to consider is that the gamelist of current video game systems have for a long time been based around things that would not seem interesting for your average female. Puzzle games, which seem to be far less gender-biased have been popular and are today for females, and are easily accessible on any current cellular phone. Other games such as Counter-Strike which rely on heavy violence may or may not ever be popular among girls, but when it comes to video games as an accepted form of media rather than it being geeky, ask yourselves the following questions

"Do games have to cater to both genders to be accepted?"
"TV is accepted, TV is diverse. How many guys enjoy watching Gilmore Girls?"

2. Games are now the dominant form of media.

2. Games are now the dominant form of media.
---------------------------------
According to a recent article in CPU Magazine December 2006, written by an industry veteran, Alex St. John, video games have gained such a massive popularity increase that it is now considered the dominant media form, especially among young males.

"If books are the medium of ideas, radio the medium of sound, and video the medium, then games are the medium of interactivity... Our kids will grow up thinking that passive media you just sit back and listen to or watch is like black-and-white television and phonograph recaords are to us, antiquated media" (St. John, 2006)

The level of multi-tasking from this generation compared to the last, and the last to the ones before is extremely different. With today's need for high multi-tasking capabilities, it is no surprise that games, with their level of interaction appears to be taking over video and music as the dominant forms of media. With that said, and with the definition of geek labelled earlier, would it make sense to continue to call gamers, geeks?

Article can be read in December's issue of CPU (Computer Power User) Magazine, page 14.

The New Geek: Revisited

1. A Thesis Offering
---------------------------------
In Canadian Culture, there is a growing movement of people that are inaccurately and unfairly being labelled as being in a part of the "geek" stereotype, which is due to the proliferation of technology and its use in everyday life. This stereotype is dated in a time when the activities that these people engage in are moving closer to being accepted as a part of mainstream culture.

Geek: Those persons associated as showing to different degrees, an interest in an uncommon, or yet to be accepted form of activity. Common activities include video games, anime, and computer technology

Years ago, those that were into these sorts of uncommon activities, such as fans of Star Wars or Star Trek coming together for conventions, were considered the geeks. As games and technology, and on a different but parallel layer, anime, eventually joined such activities and are also considered to some extent "geeky". The point is, these labels which were affiliated with old ideals are no longer sufficient or accurate, especially when considering its growing popularity.

I will intend to explore why these activities are considered geeky, from both sides, including outside influences, and declare that a change in perception regarding these activities and the people that encompass it, is needed.

The New "Geek" : Archetype or Stereotype

The New "Geek"

Abstract: I like technology, I like video games, and my idea of a fun friday night involves upgrading my computer. Am I a dork? Probably, right? But....... perhaps not.

Video games, Computers, and Animations are a few of the growing number of activities that people are becoming more involved in, shaping a part of who they are, the subculture they are a part of, and the mainstream culture in which they are forming. The problem is, however, that these among other such activities have a history of being branded as "geeky".

@#$@#$@#%@#^@^#$@#$@

Sure, I play alot of video games, have spend countless hours watching anime, and follow technology like a groupie follows their favorite band. I would go so far to admit that I would often rather spend a Friday night upgrading my computer than going out and blowing 60 dollars on liquor at a night club. So does that make me a geek?

Geeks have been synonymous with these activities for a long time, and I will admit, there are a significant number of people out there that fit this stereotype. Recently I went to Best Buy (yes, it was to buy a video game, so eat me), and was looking at some of their laptops because my Dad asked me to pick one out for him. While browsing I saw several signs which decorated the area, all with the tag "Geek Squad" with a picture of a stereotypical geek persona. What the fuck.

Surely, Games and Computers have, in the past, only been accessible by those well versed with technology. Times have changed. Everyone uses a computer, and video games have become mainstream. Video games are the first of such activities to be more or less accepted by mainstream culture, but what about the others? Computer culture? Anime? Seems like these have a long way to go. The computer enthusiast and the die-hard anime fan are pretty can get so out of the ordinary in the ways that they express their interest that it can shock or digust some "normal" people. What I'm getting to in this blog, however, is the simple fact: Just because someone is into these kinds of activities does NOT make them a "geek".


If you ever thought someone you know is a "geek" with the above reasons, here's some insight into what they might think about you :)

You think I'm a geek because I play games? Well I think you're boring and unimaginative.

You think I'm a geek because I'm into computers? I think you're an idiot for not knowing anything about it.

You think I'm a geek because I watch anime? Who are you to judge something from a different culture which you know nothing about.


I enjoy doing the same things as "cool" people do, and I know there are several people out there just like me that are sick of being labelled a geek just because we are into some things that isn't mainstream (Well honestly, I don't care THAT much, since those that know me know I'm not really a geek but just like to call me that to bug me :P ). In any case, these subcultures are here to stay and I dare say they are moving their way into mainstream culture, just like video games.

People like myself are becoming a normal thing, and we grow in number everyday, so get used to it and be careful who you label as a geek!

Are you like me? Do you agree with me? Think im a dork that needs to shutup?
Post something... PLOX