teresa@capeeyes.com

On Being Geek (or how to make the world an endlessly interesting place) - I admit it. Sometimes I jump up and down with excitement because some new gadget or application or tidbit of knowledge is so cool that I just have to learn more. I probably look pretty silly at that moment but ya’ know what? I don’t care. I’m a geek girl and proud.

Let’s clear a misconception up front. Geeks do not necessarily equal experts. Someone can be both, but the beauty of geekness is that it isn’t about being a know-it-all. The power of being a geek lies in being curious and interested. And, more importantly, in being unafraid to show that enthusiasm. Women, especially, tend to shut down their curiosity for fear of looking stupid. Girls stop exploring the science they loved in elementary school because they worry it doesn’t fit the social image in middle school. The inner geek wants to say “ooooo, let me look closer” … and the outer world says “you don’t look good doing that.” What a push-pull we’ve created

In an environment where geek is celebrated, endless learning is also socially OK. In technology, this is critical because the only thing any of us know for sure is that what we know today is going to change tomorrow. So if we can’t embrace the curious learner inside, we’ll forever fear technology. Not because technology is too hard, but because we’ve blocked off our openness to new things. Geeks, in contrast, love new things.

Another hallmark of geek is a willingness to teach and share. If you know something, you don’t hoard is away like secret weapon; instead, you tell the world about it. You never laugh at someone’s question; instead, you see it as a way to help someone else understand why this gadget really is so cool. You never treat someone like they are stupid; instead, you are excited they are interested and encourage that interest. Yah, sometimes we can go overboard in our excitement, but you’ll never accuse us of making you feel bad about being interested in something.

Embracing an inner geek is incredibly empowering. It puts the focus of interest on your honest self instead of on what the world thinks you should be. It says “It’s OK to take the time to explore something deeper.” It says, “Who cares?” when someone rolls their eyes at your passion for Topic X. It says that with a little curiosity and willingness to try and fail and try again, you can do anything, you can learn anything, and you can follow your interest wherever it goes. Now how cool is that?