Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
The Kirkland Geek Gala is an organization that focuses on geeks giving back to their community and helping children. From diners to auctions, they raise funds for organizations like Extra Life that benefit local charities. So let’s meet one of the event organizers, Claire!
I miss Evangelical Geekery.
Oh not geeks that are Evangelical Christians. I miss the geek who preaches about this great comic or great program. I miss the person convinced this anime will turn you into an anime fan and it’ll be giant robots for all. I miss people who wanted to show me stuff to the point I got annoyed.
Such statements may seem strange. We all know people who have tried to push things on us to the point it turned us off. I honestly delayed reading the Harry Potter books as the evangelism and the politics of the fandom really put me off the books. Now I look back and miss that.
Honestly it’s like wondering when those people with the pamphlets are going to knock on the door. You wonder if they’re OK.
Because it seems that Evangelical Geekery has kind of disappeared. Some of it is that geekdom has matured, has become cool, has become a “viable and accepted subculture.”
And some of it is that parts of geekdom have put up more walls and gates and barriers.
Ever get the impression part of the job search is proving you have no life beyond what you do?
I see it sometimes when I apply for jobs, or hear of it when friends talk about their adventures. Perhaps it comes as a requested link to a portfolio or an example of code or discussion of a project. Sometimes in the interview process – and the application process – you discuss the hobbies you do that are, well, the same as your job.
This isn’t a given everywhere or in every job, but it’s something that keeps coming up. Show people your GIT repository, show them a website that you wrote. Show something that says your life is the same in and out of work.
Hell, *I* emphasize this. It’s great when hobbies combine with your jobs, as it brings fulfillment, shows dedication, and lets you monetize goofing off. But I’m thinking it’s gone a bit too far.