Self Loather
Here’s an interesting fact about me. I hate talking geek outside my house and work. It’s always been something that I’m just not comfortable with. I mean, I realize that I’ve always been a geek. I draw cartoon porn. I play and make video games. I’m not athletic in any way, shape or form. I fit the role quite nicely. But I feel that it’s a side of me (a rather large side) that I don’t need to showcase to everyone. I know some people are just fine with talking geek out in public (Dr. Who, Xbox, Comics) and that’s great. It’s just not for me. Maybe deep down I’m not comfortable with who I am and so I’m trying to hide it from the world. Maybe I’m afraid I’m going to get teased and laughed at. What ever the reason, I always keep my geek in check when I’m out. Mostly… sometimes it slips out.
Play Asia
September 13th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Embrace the geek, you should. Easier it is. Let the opinions of others worry you none. A good life you have. Enjoy it while it lasts, you should!
September 14th, 2012 at 3:07 am
indeed. well said Master Yoda.
September 14th, 2012 at 5:39 am
I think part of the issue is more with who you’re talking to out in public, rather than what. If you just don’t associate with other geeks irl, then it’s natural that you’re going to avoid such subjects if nobody brings them up in a familiar manner. If people aren’t likely to relate to the subject or have little knowledge of it, there’s not much point bringing it up.
Say you worked out at a gym – it’s not the sort of subject you’d think of bringing up in a more geek-orientated crowd, would it? You don’t want to bother people with stuff they probably don’t care about, which seems just as good a reason not to bring it up than worrying about what they’d think of you talking about it.
Which incidentally, seems to be one of the reasons I’m crap at making small talk irl. When the majority of your interests lie in the geeky realm of things, I find I’ve less to add to any given conversation. Cars, sport, politics, whatever – I just zone out, and hence don’t care so much for going out and being social. Not that I see it as being antisocial, just I prefer social circles that are less common irl.
September 14th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
I have learned over the years the value of staying quiet about some of my likes and dislikes. Especially about things that are viewed as geeky or abnormal. Despite the flourishing of nerd culture in the last few years, there is still a stigma society puts on us for liking certain things.
There are times, though, when I have to defend my nerdiness. So when some jerk asks me why I like ‘stupid nerd stuff’ like cartoons and sci-fi and fantasy, I counter with “I don’t know. Why do you like a bunch of prima-donna jocks who get untold riches dumped at their feet for their ability to move an air-filled bladder across a line?”
October 9th, 2012 at 9:11 am
I’m fairly similar, but I might take it even further. I negatively judge people who openly embrace their geek culture, while simultaneously wishing that I could do the same thing. I should note that I also chastise myself for judging others so–I know that I shouldn’t, but the thoughts just occur to me. I even go so far as to actually glean some enjoyment from some really geeky thing or other, but some part of me hates that I do get said enjoyment. It is really annoying. It is so troubling that I sometimes (depending on context) will be reticent about admitting to liking something even to those who are full-on into it. For example, if I were in a room full of nothing but avid fellow cartoon porn fans, I would probably be unable to articulate a shared interest in said fandom for some foolish psychological reason or another. Ah well….
October 13th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Yeah, that sounds like me too. Sounds like we view and handle geek culture very much the same way. Shame on us.