Over the past year or so I have heard people answer the question “What does it mean to be a geek?” with “It means that you like or are really into something”. Now, on the surface, this answer is correct. It does mean that you’re really into whatever it is you do, but we have to be careful. In the age of the “tumblr geek” we’re starting to see people who like the t-shirts and the movies, but have never opened a comic, touched a d20, or read a scientific article for pleasure in their entire life. They’re loving the swag and the trappings that come with The Age of the Geek, but have never dealt with the struggle. Now, I know that this is going to sound a little “us vs them”, but I’m just stating facts.

The issue is this whole “really into something” part. By that definition, all jocks are geeks, The Home Depot is a geeky store, and the home and garden show is a Con! WRONG!! Sorry, I just can’t rubber stamp that. This need to include everyone as part of our community, including those who, for the longest time, excluded us, confuses me. For now, geeks and nerds are enjoying the freedom of expressing ourselves with little or no reproach, having programming that we’d enjoy readily available, and more on the way. But, eventually the tide will turn. That doesn’t mean that our shows will all go away, but we won’t rule the roost as we do now. And when that day does come, will the “norms” think to include us?

We’ve all seen it, especially on TV. A new network begins and it promises to show nothing but “insert genre here”. But then, after about six months to a year of being on, one or two programs sneak on that are outside of that genre, then a few more…and so on, and so on. Before you know it, by year three, the network is talking about diversifying it’s format and there you have it. And, I, for one, do not want to see that happen with the badge I proudly wear called “Geek”. I have been loud and proud before it was cool and will continue after. But, when we water it down, it does a disservice to us all, because the ones who are just looking for the next hip thing will drop this one as quickly as they picked it up… just saying.