What is a geek? The word comes from the German word geck, meaning fool, and in the late 1800s the term geek referred to a performer in a traveling freak show—thus the term came to be used for a peculiar person.
The word has evolved to connote someone who is extremely knowledgeable—even to the point of obsession—about a topic. There are wine geeks, sports geeks, and Ringers*, each closely following the minutiae of their chosen obsession.
What was a derogatory term for the socially inept has now been taken back. Geeks are now eccentric, intelligent, full of enthusiasm, and sometime a little awkward. Geek Pride Day is an initiative to promote geek culture, celebrated annually on 25 May. The date was chosen as to commemorate the 1977 release of Star Wars, but shares the same date as two other similar fan "holidays": Towel Day, for fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy by Douglas Adams, and the Glorious 25th of May for fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld.
This May 25, at From My Shelf Books bring a towel, and get 20% off any Geek related item--such as Doctor Who, Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons, and more. Feel left out because your geek isn't tweeked? Prove your geekhood and get the 20% off.
*Nomenclature for LOTR fans (Lord of the Rings, a trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien)
No comments:
Post a Comment