Fake geek girls-male insecurity or icky fandom ruiners?

[Red Team]

I'm sure this thread is just going to be overflowing with valuable insights into "geek culture" and its attitudes towards women.

Of course! Doesn't everything topic get thrown off course eventually? And generally in that direction too.

[Ylhkainplypktkos]

calling yourself a geek and calling it "geek culture" is just absolutely ridiculous. their never was a geek culture and their never will be. just enjoy your hobby and stop trying to be a "cool-kid" person.

[Nailed to the Perch]

But I bet you don't go out of the way to make other people feel that about you.

Why would you? That is just plain silly.

Maybe because it's something you like and you want to connect with other people who like the same things?

I like that when I wear my Sunnydale High School t-shirt, people sometimes say, "Oooh is that a Buffy shirt? I love Buffy!" and then we talk about Buffy. I like that when I wear my "+20 Shirt of Smiting," people sometimes say, "Haha, are you into RPGs? That's awesome" and then we talk about RPGs. I'm not sure why I shouldn't want people to feel that I am someone with whom they can have awesome conversations about things I like talking about.

[Purpelia]

Why would you? That is just plain silly.

Maybe because it's something you like and you want to connect with other people who like the same things?

I like that when I wear my Sunnydale High School t-shirt, people sometimes say, "Oooh is that a Buffy shirt? I love Buffy!" and then we talk about Buffy. I like that when I wear my "+20 Shirt of Smiting," people sometimes say, "Haha, are you into RPGs? That's awesome" and then we talk about RPGs. I'm not sure why I shouldn't want people to feel that I am someone with whom they can have awesome conversations about things I like talking about.

Ah, you mean it's like when I wear my plain black shirts and plain black pants and plain black shoes and people ask me if I am a satanist and I look at them and say "WTH man?!" (actually happened to me once or twice when I was younger)

[Potenco]

calling yourself a geek and calling it "geek culture" is just absolutely ridiculous. their never was a geek culture and their never will be. just enjoy your hobby and stop trying to be a "cool-kid" person.

No, I think it certainly has a culture of its own and follows the same rules as subculture based on, say music.

[Red Team]

Why would you? That is just plain silly.

Maybe because it's something you like and you want to connect with other people who like the same things?

I like that when I wear my Sunnydale High School t-shirt, people sometimes say, "Oooh is that a Buffy shirt? I love Buffy!" and then we talk about Buffy. I like that when I wear my "+20 Shirt of Smiting," people sometimes say, "Haha, are you into RPGs? That's awesome" and then we talk about RPGs. I'm not sure why I shouldn't want people to feel that I am someone with whom they can have awesome conversations about things I like talking about.

That's fine, but that isn't going "out of your way" to advertise it. That's just being you.

[Big Jim P]

Maybe because it's something you like and you want to connect with other people who like the same things?

I like that when I wear my Sunnydale High School t-shirt, people sometimes say, "Oooh is that a Buffy shirt? I love Buffy!" and then we talk about Buffy. I like that when I wear my "+20 Shirt of Smiting," people sometimes say, "Haha, are you into RPGs? That's awesome" and then we talk about RPGs. I'm not sure why I shouldn't want people to feel that I am someone with whom they can have awesome conversations about things I like talking about.

Ah, you mean it's like when I wear my plain black shirts and plain black pants and plain black shoes and people ask me if I am a satanist and I look at them and say "WTH man?!" (actually happened to me once or twice when I was younger)

Oddly enough, I wear the same and people assume I am a Goth.

[Wikkiwallana]

I'd say insecurity. This article on it was pretty cool, in my opinion.

[Norstal]

Dont get me wrong, I find fake geeks really annoying too, its simply that calling out girls specificlly is rather sexist. I personally feel that a person should have to at least read textbooks for fun to consider themselves geeks. A person who simply watches Anime is pretty much just a dork if he has no desire to learn.

Sorry abut the bloggish OP. What do you think of the growing paranoia over "fake geek girls"

I do so love the backlash that happens against female cosplayers. I don't know why, but it happens a lot. And it's just so weird that it makes it funny. Maybe it's because, and I hate using this term because there isn't an English word for it, of a tsundere reaction against girls. Where they like the girls, but they try to hide that fact by making kneejerk reactions.

[Purpelia]

Ah, you mean it's like when I wear my plain black shirts and plain black pants and plain black shoes and people ask me if I am a satanist and I look at them and say "WTH man?!" (actually happened to me once or twice when I was younger)

Oddly enough, I wear the same and people assume I am a Goth.

I once got asked if I was a satanist. The other time I think it was darker or emo or what ever was the leading fad in black a few years back.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

How is it possible to be a "fake geek"? Who would WANT to be a geek, other than a geek? I don't even...

Its become an oddly mainstream thing to call oneself, especially since The Big Bang heory

I wonder how that horrible excuse of a TV show ever made so much success.

[Norstal]

Why would you? That is just plain silly.

Maybe because it's something you like and you want to connect with other people who like the same things?

I like that when I wear my Sunnydale High School t-shirt, people sometimes say, "Oooh is that a Buffy shirt? I love Buffy!" and then we talk about Buffy. I like that when I wear my "+20 Shirt of Smiting," people sometimes say, "Haha, are you into RPGs? That's awesome" and then we talk about RPGs. I'm not sure why I shouldn't want people to feel that I am someone with whom they can have awesome conversations about things I like talking about.

Treating nerdy hobbies like any other hobbies such as sport? What are you, insane?! We must be different because everybody hates nerds, maang.

[Red Team]

Its become an oddly mainstream thing to call oneself, especially since The Big Bang heory

I wonder how that horrible excuse of a TV show ever made so much success.

I've never actually seen a full episode, but what I saw was pretty good.

[Big Jim P]

Oddly enough, I wear the same and people assume I am a Goth.

I once got asked if I was a satanist. The other time I think it was darker or emo or what ever was the leading fad in black a few years back.

I have been wearing black ever since I started picking my own clothes, long before the Goth/Emo thing came about. Long before I became a Satanist in fact.

Still, when people assume I am a Goth I just tell them, that I am what a Goth might grow up to be.

[Ethel mermania]

i dont hink i ever met someone who wishes they were geeks. i have met plenty of folks who wore the badge proudly. but no one who said "i wish i was a geek".

[Grenartia]

How is it possible to be a "fake geek"? Who would WANT to be a geek, other than a geek? I don't even...

Because people who think its cool, and do anything to be cool, and just automatically say they're a geek without doing/knowing any stereotypically geeky things.

The whole idea of "fake geek girls" is some misogynistic bullshit. People who aren't woefully insecure don't react to "someone else appears to enjoy the same hobby I do" by throwing a tantrum or testing them to see if they do their hobby "right." They just say, "Oh, cool, I also like that thing!"

Nobody's saying that girls can't be geeks. What we are saying is that people who pretend to be geeks (I'll concede that women mostly face the brunt of the accusations, but anybody of any gender can be a fake geek) should stop.

I dont know, when I look around my room and see Star Trek TNG boxsets, MLP:fiM posters and textbooks that ive been reading about fun and I look in the mirror, I have to admit that im pretty dweeby.

Nothing wrong with that. I play Star Fleet Battles and read textbooks for fun.

I collect Pokemon cards, and have been known to read entire encyclopedia sets for fun.

[Red Team]

i dont hink i ever met someone who wishes they were geeks. i have met plenty of folks who wore the badge proudly. but no one who said "i wish i was a geek".

Welcome to the metaphorical club.

[Norstal]

How is it possible to be a "fake geek"? Who would WANT to be a geek, other than a geek? I don't even...

Because people who think its cool, and do anything to be cool, and just automatically say they're a geek without doing/knowing any stereotypically geeky things.

Or maybe, like any other hobby as it should be treated as, it's okay to say "I'm a Trekkie" just as sports fans call themselves whatever team they support.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

I wonder how that horrible excuse of a TV show ever made so much success.

I've never actually seen a full episode, but what I saw was pretty good.

Obvious, silly joke lines. Previsible stereotypes. Fashionizing of what it means to be a male oppressed for lack of social skills but great intellectual/cognitive skills that make you a reason of jokes.

Quite frankly, a billion times more Desperate Housewives, Drake and Josh or Oprah.

[Purpelia]

I do so love the backlash that happens against female cosplayers. I don't know why, but it happens a lot. And it's just so weird that it makes it funny. Maybe it's because, and I hate using this term because there isn't an English word for it, of a tsundere reaction against girls. Where they like the girls, but they try to hide that fact by making kneejerk reactions.

Well before I say anything I want to note that I have not in fact ever even witnessed cosplaying or anything similar. So I am merely speculating based on what few images I could google up in the last 5 minutes and that one article that was just linked to.

I'd say insecurity. This article on it was pretty cool, in my opinion.

In fact what I am about to say is based entirely on this image from the article and that image alone:
http://www.newstatesman.com/sites/defau ... 465077.jpg

I think the matter is thus. Some of us people like seeing our girls dressed and acting in certain ways. Like say sitting on a tiger with a sword in her hand wearing naught but a chainmail bikini. But we also know that in reality something like that is stupid, pointless and just weird. I mean why the hell would any sane girl want to look like something that came out of a D&D manual or the cover to Conan the Barbarian. So when we see girls dressed like that we get a WTH reaction. It's the same reaction girls would get if they saw us dressed like this: http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.49776963 ... 5&pid=15.1

[Potenco]

Because people who think its cool, and do anything to be cool, and just automatically say they're a geek without doing/knowing any stereotypically geeky things.

Or maybe, like any other hobby as it should be treated as, it's okay to say "I'm a Trekkie" just as sports fans call themselves whatever team they support.

The funny thing is im ashamed to admit that I enjoy football and am a huge packers fan, because I feel like its a silly thing or me to occupy my time with

[Red Team]

I've never actually seen a full episode, but what I saw was pretty good.

Obvious, silly joke lines. Previsible stereotypes. Fashionizing of what it means to be a male oppressed for lack of social skills but great intellectual/cognitive skills that make you a reason of jokes.

Quite frankly, a billion times more Desperate Housewives, Drake and Josh or Oprah.

I also liked Drake and Josh. Never seen Desperate Housewives (sounds stupid) and don't like Oprah.

[Big Jim P]

Obvious, silly joke lines. Previsible stereotypes. Fashionizing of what it means to be a male oppressed for lack of social skills but great intellectual/cognitive skills that make you a reason of jokes.

Quite frankly, a billion times more Desperate Housewives, Drake and Josh or Oprah.

I also liked Drake and Josh. Never seen Desperate Housewives (sounds stupid) and don't like Oprah.

Roan watches/watched Desperate Housewives. There were a few hotties, but otherwise, meh.

[Red Team]

Or maybe, like any other hobby as it should be treated as, it's okay to say "I'm a Trekkie" just as sports fans call themselves whatever team they support.

The funny thing is im ashamed to admit that I enjoy football and am a huge packers fan, because I feel like its a silly thing or me to occupy my time with

Well, football is pretty silly.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

Obvious, silly joke lines. Previsible stereotypes. Fashionizing of what it means to be a male oppressed for lack of social skills but great intellectual/cognitive skills that make you a reason of jokes.

Quite frankly, a billion times more Desperate Housewives, Drake and Josh or Oprah.

I also liked Drake and Josh. Never seen Desperate Housewives (sounds stupid) and don't like Oprah.

From the late 6th season on (the time I started to see it) DH was awesome.

I don't know Oprah, only watched it once, but she sounds nice and Josh always idolized her so it must mean something.