Why geeks are tolerant

[HuckleB]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/geek-pride/201010/why-geeks-are-tolerant

"I was discussing geeks and nerds in my last post. Since I wrote that, I had some further thoughts on the topic, and memories of my own pathetic adolescence trying to navigate my way through the cutthroat corridors of my high school. Perhaps some readers had similar experiences. My experience as an awkward, "unpopular," outsider kid shaped me (both good and bad). The good: I've become a tolerant person. Why? Because geeks are a tolerant people.

They take in “the other,” the misfit toys, and not simply because no one else will sit with them at the cafeteria table. They have felt the sting of not being included. They know what it is like to not feel cool. They know the pain of being excluded.

So it's no surprise that those who indulge in geekery like role-playing games, costuming, and medieval reenactment groups like the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) accept gays, lesbians, cross-dressers, and transgendered folk without hesitation. In fact, they were one of the first groups to accept these "freakish" sub-cultures. (Only until recently, gays and lesbians had to engage in role-play --- as straight people -- just to get by in a largely straight world.)

There are others wrinkles to this. I think geeky types are drawn to fantasy and role-play precisely because some of the more daring, boisterous, successful behavior was denied them in the real world. So in these make-believe worlds, all is tolerated. Populated with cross-bred elves and dwarves, fantasy realms make people feel not quite so freakish. You can release yourself from your cage of identity. Playing half- or non-human characters can be an exploration of one's freak side, a new door into yourself.

..."


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I suppose he has a point. No?

:hi:

[Bjorn Against]

1. I was once a geek...

I will say there is some truth to what is said here, but there are plenty of exceptions as well. Many of the geeks I know are very accepting people, others are right-wing homophobic assholes. It is true however that many geeks don't feel accepted by society and in that sense many of them can really identify with the gay community or other minority groups. The majority of geeks are very accepting people, but like any other group they are far from monolithic and they do have their intolerant jerks among them.

[HuckleB]

4. Indeed. -eom-

[DCKit]

2. Yes, he has a point...

But we all need to work on being kind(er) to others and bullying shouldn't be tolerated.

Being more tolerant of others doesn't mitigate the damage the freaks, geeks, etc... still deal with.

[aikoaiko]

3. I dunno. Sounds like someone trying to create "the noble geek" myth

As a geek, of sorts, involved in some of the activities described in the articles, geeks and nerds are just people with the same good and bad qualities as everyone else. I like the LARP scene, but social and emotional dysfunctional people act out there too.

[McCamy Taylor]

5. Only if you exclude engineers who work for corporations. Very right wing.

Very conservative. Maybe they are "nerds"?

[HuckleB]

6. Engineers don't qualify as geeks, generally.