Monday, September 12, 2011

When is a Geek a really Geek?

    While listening to one of my many video podcast shows, the topic of geek came up over and over again and it made me wonder what really is a geek today as opposed to the past when it all started. In the past a geek was an enthusiast who explored into a technical topic like electronics using sometimes the cover of repair technician but always at home spending hours and hours exploring and learning, Most geeks of the past in technology had hard times trying to find information to clarify a doubt or learn and being recognized for his or her expertise even though most involved were young curious males.



For many years the geek was a lonely soul forced to travel long distances to find parts, manuals and more sharing mostly in weekly or monthly club local meetingIf the general public saw a "Geek" with his technology like personal computers. The common opinion was they were wasting their time playing with toys, boy has history proven them all wrong especially office workers that had to leave because the typewriters and other old obsolete office equipment was being replaced and they had to learn how to use it or loose their jobs. The educational system throughout the country refused for the most part to hire really experienced geeks to teach their students many aspects related to the personal computers and MAC's (Mainly Mac's due to agreements Apple was lucky to obtain with officials) and many students found themselves being misdirected and not taught properly, only at the home environment had they a chance to really learn if they wanted to. Many of those pioneering Geek's of the past that did the legwork are not rich or famous, only a lucky few today can claim fame and riches. 
There are still true Geek's today but it has become the costume of many in the media to label anyone who can say hard drive a Geek. In the past journalists who wrote about technology now today enjoy the title of Geek or technology wizard and enthusiast and even though they know a lot from years of writing about tech topics, they are NOT a true Geek just because. I don;t think there is a problem saying they are well educated in the topic but the self proclaimed title of geek is wrong and should be talked about not by tech journalists but current geeks and the industry experts that come close to geek-hood. So in conclusion maybe you should start talking and writing about science today and tomorrow you could be by default without the real legwork be proclaim by yourself (what an ego issue) and others that know no better, who knows.

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