(1) University students that perform such biased, skewed and condescending anthropology are perhaps a bit insecure. For example, who has ever, at any time, and for no discernible reason, told anybody in a shop (let alone a “Games Work”shop) that they are at university. Why, man, why? In what context? And to what purpose? Does anybody here ever tell the counter staff in Boots where they live or work? Or that their new house has a medium sized patio? Thought not.

(2) Males who even *think* along the lines of “…it is absolutely impossible to feel confident in outfits that lend no shape” are, judging by the overall piece, effete tossers.

(3) Anybody, anywhere who complains of “…a sickening lack of daylight and fruit” is, again, an effete tosser.

(4) University students named Liam, ergo, are effete tossers.

Still, I look forward to the next pieces of self-congratulatory hate and condescension from Mr O’Brien, the Guardian Nazi: “Gay For A Day”, maybe, or “Down Amongst the Homies”. Although the very mention of such pieces is offensvie – and rightly so. But why, then, is Liam’s block of leaden (and strangely joyless) prose acceptable?

Discuss.

Lee

I regard myself as a bit of a geek since I enjoy reading and watching sci fi and fantasy stuff (this includes buffy, firefly, charmed etc which, granted is quite ‘mainstream’ but still qualifies as geekery if you *love* it). I’m a woman and also love fashion and the like. I see no problem with aligning myself with the tag of ‘geek’!

Also, your article seems a bit gendered (in favour of men). There are a lot of women and girls out there who get involved with fan-’girl’ism, gaming, the internet, forums, sci fi and fantasy and so on. Personally, I would try and be a little less narrow minded.

Also, people take things at face value on the internet and in text messages because sarcasm is so much harder to detect in prose. An internet post does not have a tone of voice, so it is easier perhaps to speak plainly and assume that others are doing the same.

Finally, I agree completely with Phil and George. I also feel that unless Liam set out to be insulting, he stuffed up this article a little. It still reads well, I just feel that his preconceived notions of geekdom (whatever it actually is) overtook everything else, and defeated the point of his week as an undercover geek.

Aren’t all stereotypes the result of some sort of prejudice and lack of understanding of what a real cross-section of society is like?

Your comments on utter neglect of anything in the real world is rubbish. As a self-confessed geek (you’ve gotta be pretty self-assured to admit that, after looking at the article and your post). I enjoy lots of things which aren’t “designed in a Honshu studio”. I play lots of sports, I like going to pubs, I like gigs; allsorts really. Most pastimes (’geeky’ or not) are just forms of escaping from the everyday. Whether that’s going to the cinema (to see a ‘geeky’ or ‘non-geeky’ film - whatever those may be) to getting trolleyed in Ziggy’s on a Wednesday.

Liam, isn’t that a pretty self-fulfiling conlclusion? There’s little to suggest you’ve gone out and met ‘geeks’ (of which I could be classed as one). All you’ve done is acted out the stereotype, without going out and engaging geeks (won’t an accurate report do that); of course your experiences are going to live up to those stereotypes…

Chris Northwood’s post is pretty accurate; it has a much better understanding of ‘geek culture’.

Rick Priestly, the creater of Warhammer recently was quoted in an article as describing wargaming as “Drinking beer [ok, not the younger players], talking rubbish and playing games.” From that quote, it doesn’t sound too much different from the football club’s Pro Evo nights; something I feel few would find ‘geeky’.

As for the everything being taken at face value, you’ll find that doesn’t happen much with geeks meeting in person, only really on internet forums. I thought it was fairly widely known that only 10% of communication is down to the words; body language etc. are more important and often lost when writing in forums.

Interviewing someone from a group you might consider ‘geeky’ by your definition, such as Sci-Fi & Fantasy soc would make for a much more thoughtful and understood article.

Anon, I was bowled over by the weight of substance in, and indeed the relevance of your jibe.

Michael Felix kazich

As a geek, I think some of your stereotyping is fairly inaccurate, other than perhaps that of “People appeared to take everything posted at absolute face value” which is probably true, mainly due to the prevalence of Aspergers Syndrome in geeks.

I also think you’ve completely missed the point. The geek culture isn’t just about the activities, it’s more about the whole frame of mind, the passion behind the beliefs, the fanboy-ism (as you put it), the political movement (you completely failed to mention Slashdot’s political activism), and everything else

(Oh, and I’m not a geek. And yes, I’m sure the article was intended to be harmless and innocent.)