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GeekNights Thursday - Fake Geeks
Tonight on a very special GeekNights, we tackle the (rightfully) contentious issue of "fake geek girls" and the wider discussion of "fake" geeks/nerds/fans. Why is this even a thing? Why not "fake football dudes?" What do these labels really mean? Is it simply latent sexism (yes), or are there other factors also at play? (also yes). We try to take this on with a more subtle opinion than most people on both "sides" of the issue have taken in this great wide Internet, and you may be surprised with our thoughts. Suffice it to say, however, the people who actually, with genuine intent, use the term in any of its permutations, are bad people who probably also think "Ladder Theory" is a valid, well, anything.
BUT FIRST, an awesome subway conductor, Google Hangout adds manual bandwidth controls, conspiracy nuts think calling them conspiracy nuts is, predictably, a conspiracy, we consider "Rym's theory of fasted hadouken," and Penny Arcade appears to have a crossover character with Oglaf.
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Speaking more directly to labels, it's a very personal thing. I choose to call myself self a geek, a fan, and an enthusiast. The label dork isn't even in my lexicon. I'm not going to try and argue that society should establish a hard and fast glossary of terms but in broad strokes, I think everyone will agree what a geek/dork/nerd/fan is. If you want to have that conversation to better understand what the people in that conversation mean, you already get on well enough that it's going to likely be a trivial distinction.
So sexist "fake geek girl" is a sexist fuck who will be his way no matter what anyone does. Yes, their existence is annoying but you guys hit on the appropriate response. Ignore them and don't interact with them. That's the end of it, IMO.
- I hope that bit about humming TV show themes (Unsolved Mysteries) and then blowing right into the "things of the day" jingle was clever editing. I laughed.
- Pre-planned Street Fighter could be very interesting. Have you thought about starting with Yomi meets Robo Rally? Just fill up your hand and plan out a shit-load of turns.
- You guys should have IndieCade East on your meta moment radar. You could actually hit it up after that ass-early Netrunner thing. My plan is to go Saturday.
- Spot on about this being a larger issue of geeks not understanding those who only have shallow interests, and shitty sexist people latching onto that to create a "fake girl" issue. Like you said about football fans, geeks should try to shepherd the shallow fans into taking a deeper interest in your geekery. There is an appropriate XKCD comic for this.
I don't agree that this is limited to guys vs. girls, though. I've seen people hop on forums and Twitter, act outraged about a story of a geek girl getting treated like crap, and then go make snide remarks about stupid "bro gamers" who only play Call of Duty and Madden. All of a sudden those people are not "real."
There will always be shallow people who pretend to have an interest in the same thing as you but actually know nothing. There will always be shitty people who want to be the most "into" the thing they like, and will find subgroups to mock. Both exist. One should be helped, the other ignored, that's all.
I feel like I should surrender a card of some kind.
It became apparent I'd missed a recent episode of Doctor Who without realising it. (And of course I'm in England.)
Geek is a weird label. I don't always like what other people do with it. But I'm my own person and I know I don't need to tie my personality to labels and interests. I think that part of the geek label is associated with not believing that.
Edit: I get kind of pissed off at people who do it purely for fashion reasons. Ny uni has started selling T-shirts that have"GEEK" in big letters across the front, the bar is filled with people quoting the big bang theory followed by "OMG Im such a nerd!" as they adjust their fake glasses. To me those people are fake geeks, and honking douche bags beyond that most nerd stuff is ok in my books.
2nd Edit; oh and people who fucking think JJ Abrams invented Star Trek. Fuck those guys with a massive stick.
However, I think the actual number of truly "fake geeks" out there is very small. Probably even smaller if you look at the so-called "fake geek girls" attending cons. If you're actually paying your own money to attend a con and spending your own money and time to make a costume and cosplay at said con, odds are you're legitimately a fan. The only potential "fakes" are most likely booth babes and such who are paid to be there, and even then there is a non-zero chance they took the job because they honestly enjoy what they're portraying.
1. Forumites: largely don't listen to the show.
2. Fan Friends: people we know in real life who we met via them being fans of the show.
3. Straight Fans: very enthusiastic in person, never join forums.