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Yeah, I'm proud, found some friends and some enemies. But I don't care.

I'm proud to be geeky, but not so proud of the gamer gut I've let develop. So in an effort to become less of a stereotype and avoid being, "that guy..." I'm making sure to lose weight so I can better represent geekdom.

And honestly, geekiness is spreading wider and wider, so it's really just me trying to keep with the incoming hotter and more hip geek crowd.

Im proud of it!. My wife makes fun of me though T_T

Yep. I just love when people ask if I have any hobbies. If they're still there by the end of it, I just shrug and say, "you asked."

Im not really a geek ive loads of different hobbies,From Watchn dragonballz to goin to the gym an 2 days

In the words of Eminem

"Y'all don't like me...Blow me!"

Proud to the extreme.

My mum just called me an idiot for getting back in to the hobby. I'm twenty fething five, why am I so down trodden about that?!

Not really. It can be a bad social stigma.

hell yeah! I embrace it
aure I may be a bit of a social outcast but you know what, if people don't like me for me then I don't need them anyways

Ok I am gonna have to do a short rant about this, and I apologize if I offend anyone.

I am a geek, but I am not proud of it.

I just am. Being a geek is no achievement, just as liking rock music or Italian food is nothing to be proud of. Being able to do geeky things well IS, but this is not what we are talking about here is it?

The fact that people are so eager to declare that they are proud of their tastes indicates that they still view them as something that is not quite acceptable, something that makes them a rebel.
As if you are fighting back injustice. However, for the past 5 years in any western country, geek culture has been more and more accepted and even hip.
There absolutely no social stand or prosecution you are fighting here, with the exception perhaps of early high school environments, and even that is receding.

Geeks bombastically declaring their geek pride pushes our hobbies back 10 years when it comes to mainstream acceptance, and frankly I don't think it is a behavior that helps anyone.

So, yeah, I am a geek, been one for 20 years... I also enjoy Chinese cuisine.

One rule of thumb. When you explain to people about wargaming, the most likely thing they'll first get out of it is that you like collecting and playing with little kid toy soldiers. While you can explain to them that it's a hobby that people of all ages play, they'll most likely be confused, or will not get what you are talking about at first. If it's a subject people cannot relate to or will not understand easily, adopt the "If they don't ask, you don't tell policy." If they do ask, appeal to their personality or to something that you think might interest them. If that doesn't work, try something else, or ask them what they do instead. Wargaming might be widespread, but as it is, it is an extremely diluted hobby amongst most communities. Only if they are interested or ask about your collection do you tell. To say to a friend or someone you're going out with at first sight that you play with miniatures is not the wisest conversation starters and shows ignorance on your part of appealing your good qualities to someone else.

Yep, but every time I tell anybody about it, they just shrug.

I keep my geek on the down low depending where I'm at. I was at a bar once and I saw some guys breaking out the MagicTG decks.....I was like "really guys, on at a bar?? Put that business away."

But my geek shines thru and thru. The other guys at my work roll up on me and ask me about my various hobbies, especially when they see me filing flash away on my latest acquisition. Now I'm the goto guy when something geeky needs to be identified. Also at work I had to barter with the IS guys to get Dakkadakka off the restricted sites list.

I've got too many hobbies. My geek cannot be ignored.

Yep, me too. Do you think that geeks are considered smart? Sorry, kinda random, but wanted to know.

It depends on how the individual plays it. My geeks, even some that are a few circles out (think Kevin Bacon game) - some of them roll phat money at their jobs, a good number have college degrees. So on that front I do think it's pretty easy to see a geek as smart. Hell Felicia Day's a geeky geek, I wouldn't see her as stupid. My guys at work know I'm intelligent, albeit motivationally challenged sometimes.

Socially akward....different subject entirely.

Ah, but I see a Geek as a guy into stuff like 40k, and a Nerd as a smart one.

I've been 'disqualified' as a geek by my gaming group after missing 5 straight references that are apparently essential geek knowledge. Its kinda true, I'm more of a drifter without any real personal preferences, just drift wherever the friends go and lacking the depth that the 'true' types have.

.

Happy to be geek.

I could live without the label, but if thats what I am, then yeah: Proud.

Ya, so would I, but geeks still rule!

Way proud! Proud enough to have a skinful of beer, and in the middle of a heaving metal bar shout "FOR SIGMAR!" at the top of my voice.

Met some great people because I am a geek, so yes proud and happy!

Sams not a geek. He thinks he his but your egotistical and you think your better than everyone. You wouldn't have even played 40k if it wasn't for me. From the Oxford dictionary it states

1 an unfashionable or socially inept person.
• [with adj. ] a person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest : a computer geek.
2 a carnival performer who does wild or disgusting acts.
a nerd states

a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious : one of those nerds who never asked a girl to dance.
• an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession : he single-handedly changed the Zero image of the computer nerd into one of savvy Hero.

In which concludes you lack these attributes from knowing you since kindergarden. Your a Neophyte.

Western (English particularly) culture seems to be embarrassed by people:

a) Being very good at something, especially intellectually
b) Being very into something, other than sport

So, take a hobby like wargaming, which requires a reasonable degree of intelligence and investment, and we're automatically on the edge.

Once you realise that there's no shame in finding something interesting, and in being clever, then you can fly the geek flag high.

And this is my soapbox (apologies for those who've read it before):

Take three "hobbies": TV, video games and wargaming.

One of these requires the person to sit in a room and interact with no-one or nothing, other than to stare at a small box.

One requires the person to use their skill to complete tasks, whilst staring at a small box. They can do this alone or with others.

One requires the person to exercise their intellect and interact with others. You can't play wargames without a degree of intelligence and critical thinking skills. To most gamers, it also requires artistic and creative skills.

For some reason, the latter is regarded as sad and the first as acceptable. Which makes me realise that I need to make up my own mind.

In addition, I think one good thing about wargaming is that it forces lots of people who wouldn't interact with other people into a social situation. I mean, can you imagine what your average TFG would be like if he spent all day every day locked in a dark room playing computer games instead?

I am very, very proud of being a geek, I like playing with little plastic spacemen/army men. It really hasent done anything to my social life, cept the odd "lol...you play with little plastic army men"....from my friends.

If people look back at others, you can see a lot of them doing drugs, drinking heavily and just plain being stupid. Yes I'd much much rather being doing this then being a complete gakker, and being "cool".....




Automatically Appended Next Post:

doctorludo wrote: I mean, can you imagine what your average TFG would be like if he spent all day every day locked in a dark room playing computer games instead?

I play World of Warcraft (Which does take some level of thinking) and also wargame....where am I in the spectrum..!?!?!

I am proud of being me. Geek or not.

Lord of Baal wrote:Sams not a geek. He thinks he his but your egotistical and you think your better than everyone. You wouldn't have even played 40k if it wasn't for me. From the Oxford dictionary it states

1 an unfashionable or socially inept person.
• [with adj. ] a person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest : a computer geek.
2 a carnival performer who does wild or disgusting acts.
a nerd states

a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious : one of those nerds who never asked a girl to dance.
• an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession : he single-handedly changed the Zero image of the computer nerd into one of savvy Hero.

In which concludes you lack these attributes from knowing you since kindergarden. Your a Neophyte.

Rule Number 1 please. You are in no position to talk down to others on this forum and it is a blatant disregard for our most sacred of rules.

DrDuckman wrote:Short rant.

I agree, and said as much a few pages back. Sadly, it was lost amongst the pride. I like Chinese cuisine too, AND I'M PROUD.

Hmm...I think we are who we are. A geek, a musician, a football fan. I am all those plus more.

So whilst one of my hobbies is at one end of the spectrum of "geek" my other huge love, football, puts me right up there with the socially acceptable. I play regularly and attend matches.

I play all over the UK and Europe in bands often seen as one of the "coolest" things you can do. I'm the bass player, so even cooler, obviously.

...and I play with toy soldiers.

Don't limit yourself to one area!!!!!