So, earlier this week I was browsing through my newsfeed and I saw two stories that served as stark reminders to me that geeks are not as mainstream as we’re led to believe. Not only is it not mainstream, but the “cool kids” are in the corner, waiting to pounce. I have to admit, it feels good and the scales are about to achieve balance again.

The first case, and most damning, involves the Fox News show “Your World With Neil Cavuto”. The show brings the host and guests Carley Shimkus and Mike Gunzelman, the alleged Star Wars fan of the group who thought that Harrison Ford was dead… yeah… posers all in the house. So, Neil and Carley go at The Force Awakens trailer full bore, questioning why was it even on during a sporting event, making fun of the fans and laughing at the idea of the pre-sales crashing Fandango.com. Gunzelman then pipes in, as the Star Wars fan of the group, and Carley states how they need to pity him. This goes on until the segment ends. It was an extended “let’s make fun of the nerds” outing and a reminder that there are others out there who are proudly part of the old guard.

There was a similar situation on one of the local morning news shows. One of the members of the team was visibly excited about the trailer while the other members of the news crew talked about never seeing any of the movies, not having any interest and not understanding the appeal. I’m not against people having differing views. I am all for it, but not at the cost of making fun of others. These were all adults whom one would expect to conduct themselves in a more mature manner – sadly, that was not the case.

The second instance is one that again involves Fox News, but this time also the Marvel comic Captain America: Sam Wilson. There was a controversial story involving a militarized white supremacist group “The Sons of the Serpent” and their attacking Mexicans crossing the border in the Southwest. On the show “Fox and Friends” the comic was used as fodder for how the character is attacking concerned citizens with conservative beliefs. Now, this may not be a full on attack of geeks and geek culture, but it is an example of how sorely misunderstood we still are.

I have to admit, I like knowing that there are segments of the populace that will never “get” us. I take comfort that we won’t go the way of alternative music and goth culture, that we won’t be assimilated and lost in the crush. It is quite alright with me and I will continue to do my part to embrace my geek, rock my weird, and let the norms know that “They can’t take the sky from me!”.