Geeks Don't Bite

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Space Commander Hoda on the S.S. Algonquin

I was fortunate enough to have our resident Trekker (the more respected term for a Star Trek lover than the popular Trekkie) Hoda, pose for a few pictures on Halloween two weeks ago. She divulged her love of the new Star Trek movies while she posed on what was clearly a real ladder on the Enterprise. Dressed in Star Trek ketchup red, my model — my muse for the day —whether she is a true geek or was just playing one for Halloween, proved to me what I’ve been saying all along: geeks and geek culture are on the rise.

Before it was cool to have gadgets and thick-rimmed glasses and to be a little socially awkward, there was a certain amount of shame felt by those who preferred the light of their monitors to the light of the sun. (Geeks and vampires are not synonymous despite my implication) An entire culture stayed underground and hid their innate desire to be geeks.   

Now however, you’ll find wizards wielding magic cards in place of the old Monday night football crowd at the pub. Lady geeks getting superhero manis at The Comic Book Shoppe on Bank St., and Dungeon and Dragons players living out their fantasy roles on campus at Ottawa U. And for those who aren’t really geeks, but just want to capitalize on the trend, there are plenty of Super Mario, Batman, or Thor graphic T’s out there to satisfy the trend.  

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An example of one of the many geek events held in Ottawa

The thing I’m discovering that I like most about geek culture, the thing that runs deeper than wicked superheroes and the greatness that is the iPhone, the iPad, or the iAnything, is the inclusive nature of geek culture.

Geeks, who now claim the majority (so it seems), could take this opportunity to outcast the non-geeks and push the technologically non-gifted back into gyms and the other non-geeky places they came from; but they won’t.

Every geek I know, who I've spoken to about my blog, was happy to contribute in some way: Hoda modelling her Trek attire — and doing a fine job I might add, Miss Emilie Louise, sweetly inviting me to her pub magic night, and my patient guy, who has taken me to every superhero movie this year, a task that has surely pained him.

On my journey to geekin' out, discovering geeks love to share and inspire their passions has been a relief for this nerdy, non-gadgety girl.  

Mia Maloney

is a twenty-something student, cat mother and all-things-food lover, trying to figure out what it means to be a real obsessive, intelligent, and secretly-running-the-world kind of geek.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram

A Geek Above the Rest

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Geek, finally explained

While I sit on the bus, regrettably listening in on stranger conversations due to my lack of foreseeing the death my favourite distraction (iPod)’s battery, I wonder, though I know little about, I could almost assume, that these Pokemon characters are some real live, kick-ass dudes.

There are two young girls, in their early twenties, both very attractive (I looked) recounting their weekends and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think they lived second lives mortal-combatting bad dudes and doing cross-fit.  The reality is that —Pokemon is a video game — and they’ve been gaming all weekend. I know this plays into the whole notion that we think geeks are loners and don’t get invited to parties on the weekend, but they’re speaking so loudly and so proudly, they’re virtually wearing out their geek badges of honour. Honestly, I don’t know much about Pokemon and the little I do, is hardly worth sharing. But what I do know is that those who love Pokemon love it, and are pretty obsessive and frankly a little scary about that obsession, and it’s that obsession; that need to know everything about a certain thing and build upon that knowledge everyday, paired with being pretty freakin’ smart, that makes up my fond new obsession that is geeks.

I mean you can really be a geek about anything from homemade guitars, to cheeses of the world, so long as you’re passionate about your obsession and willing, at a moment’s notice, to become an expert witness, phone-a-friend, or argument settler on your particular subject. It’s not just aptitude for the techy stuff (like video games) and the love of comic books that makes someone a geek, but it IS the superheroes, the game heroes — the Batmans and the Supermans — that really get serious geek love.

Smart, sophisticated, handsome, strong and out to do good, it’s what most of us aspire to. Superman has his human looks and alien strengths; Batman his skills and resources and he’s ready for anything. Can you say, total package?

There’s no question why geeks aspire to know everything about their heroes and the rest of us just want to dress up like them for Halloween, birthdays, bachelor parties; whenever we get the chance.  It’s that innate drive to chase all information and know all, and for some, have everything related to their particular obsession that separates geeks from the rest of the herd.   

To find out more about how geeks live out their obsessions visit http://www.comic-con.org/ 

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Mia Maloney

is a twenty-something student, cat mother and all-things-food lover, trying to figure out what it means to be a real obsessive, intelligent, and secretly-running-the-world kind of geek.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram

Geeks: Live Long and Prosper

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Live Long and Prosper

As long as I’ve known about Star Trek, I’ve known I am not interested in Star Trek. My idea of this kitschy television show from the ‘60s — a time when super heroes squared off with bad guys using campy dance moves and foxy remarks — was about space captains and sexy sidekicks wearing tight, condiment-coloured felt costumes. No offense to any Trekkies out there, but to me, it always seemed a little… cheap. That is until, after a little prompting, and the promise of all-I-can-eat buttery popcorn, I went to see Star Trek Into Darkness this past summer, and I have to say — I liked it.

Suddenly I was thinking about the U.S.S. Enterprise, Klingons, The Wrath of Khan, and I wondered why? Was I suddenly becoming a geek? Or had it been in me the whole time?

What I discovered — like the hipsters who emerged from their plaid-filled closets before them — geeks, were now rising from their parents' basements and letting their geek flags fly. It appeared, this one-time counterculture, was now gaining mainstream momentum and being a geek was not only worth admiring, it was worth emulating.    

So, from the barmaid with the retro Spock tattoo on her leg, to the barista lamenting Ben Affleck as the new Batman, I began wondering, who’s really a geek, and who’s on trend? As a self-proclaimed book reading, losing-days-to-a-good-read, kind of nerd, I thought I’d explore the appeal of this sudden spike in “geek culture”, and do it in a truly nerdy way: I’d read, I’d research and I’d dissect. In the spirit of "geekin' out”, I’m putting on my proverbial “Spock Ears” and boldly going where, well, many have — but this girl — has never gone before.

Through Batman, Superman and of course the aforementioned Star Trek, what I will discover and you will too, is there’s a lot more than gadgets, space travel and punchy captions to “geek culture”. The things that geeks really love about their beloved heroes are the same things I love about the characters in my books: their struggles, their relationships, their humour and how they fit into this world or the one they live in. Geeks, unlike most nerds however, just happen to be tech-savvy, and thanks in part to the Steve Jobs’ and Bill Gates’ of this world, have been able to get their interests out on a massive scale. While intentionally or not, geeks have managed to foster a now très sheik “geek culture” and the once hidden, bullied and pocket-protected geeks, are now the cool kids on the block. 

Mia Maloney

is a twenty-something student, cat mother and all-things-food lover, trying to figure out what it means to be a real obsessive, intelligent, and secretly-running-the-world kind of geek.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram