Geeks vs. Geeky

We had a pretty good discussion about geeks and nerds on the latest CAVEradio show in relation to a little web project I’m starting with some of the CAVEcrew. The project is all about geeky stuff, but local geeky stuff. I’m tired of seeing local “lifestyle” magazines about trendy restaurants, indie music, and where to meet the best singles. Look, I’m married, I’m a geek, I’m a cheap ass, and I don’t feel any pressure to be particularly overly social. I’m not too concerned with whether or not I go someplace new on a Friday night. What this town is missing is something for the local geeks and nerds.

My intent is to create a zine site that focuses on local people that love and do geeky stuff. The trick here is defining the difference betwen being a topic geek and geeky stuff. Everyone is a geek (or nerd) about something. My mom is a sewing/craft geek. My dad is a firefighter geek. They guys at work are sports geeks. Jen is a music geek. If you’re hardcore into a topic, you’re a geek. I’m not looking for people that are simply geeks. I’m looking for people that are doing geeky things, regardless of what they love to do. Sewing, firefighting, and sports are not geeky topics. However, you can sew something geeky.

My mom can sew me a beautiful log cabin quilt. Not geeky.
Or she could sew me a quilt with Mega Man’s head on it. Geeky.
See the difference?

It’s actually very specific, but then you ask, “well, then how do you know if something is geeky?”

The answer to that is simply stereotypes and social opinion. Stereotypes will be the biggest guide, but the niche-ness of the subject is also a good determinate. Some topics just by their nature of geeky. Friend of the Toast, Big G, is a amateur ham radio guy. Ham radio in itself is geeky. It’s a geeky topic AND a geeky subject all in one. However, an area like photography is so broad that it alone is not geeky. There are plenty of photography geeks out there, but the number of photographers shooting geeky subject matter is much smaller. I’m looking for the latter. I’m not looking for a photographer that just talks apertures and shutter speeds. I want the photographer that is shooting/creating geeky stuff (regardless what he actually knows about photography). I’m not looking for people that are geeks by knowledge, per se, I’m looking for people that are geeks by heart.

Not all geeks love geeky.

Moving forward with this project will be an interesting challenge as we debate what type of stories to pursue. I know what I’d like in a local zine site and that’s what I’m after. It’s completely self-centered, I admit, but I know there are tons of people in this town that want the same thing.

And if you do something geeky and live in Columbus, drop a comment or hit me on Twitter.