When you were growing up, the chances are embracing geekdom was seen as a negative thing. Being described as a geek was not a compliment and you would have struggled with bullying, teasing, and isolation. However, in the twenty first century, geek chic is now all the rage. Celebrities and fashion houses alike are choosing to utilize all things geeky to inspire their latest creations and styles. Being a geek is something to be proud of. Geekdom means that you are an individual who is passionate about your interests and you invest much of yourself in what you love. This drive and passion transcends your image and your style, and becomes an important facet of your identity. Take a look at these simple ways you can embrace a geek lifestyle.
Interests
There are a few hobbies and interests that scream geek. If you are keen to express your personality through your love of comic books or videogames then go for it. You might be passionate about all things 1980s and old school. While Call of Duty and GTA might be all the rage on the Xbox, you might be more interested in whipping out your Super Nintendo and playing the classic Mario Brothers platform game. These 2D vintage games were all the rage amongst the youth of the 80s and 90s. There was no online gaming. Instead, pals would congregate around a console in a bedroom or they would head to the local arcade to play some classics.
Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog were some of the finest games of the time. If you head back even further, Centipede and Asteroid were the simpler, less graphic hungry games that people would choose. Gameplay and fun was more addictive than graphics and style. Everyone had their favorite game. With all things retro and vintage coming back into fashion, the world of the geeks has capitalized on this, showing the globe that they have always been one step ahead and have been playing these videogames for years.
Comics are the go-to interest for geeks. This is because the styling, art, and stories are fully immersive, allowing individuals to escape to another world. You might be keen to explore your interest in Marvel classics or you might prefer more obscure graphic novels. Whichever you enjoy, have a go at hunting out the comics and having a read.
Get Techy
Most geeks have some sort of interest in science and/or technology. It’s not unusual for a geek to know their way around a motherboard or to have a penchant for creating their own robots. Dive into this interest and become adept at taking apart a laptop and enjoy learning mobile app and web development.
While being a geek into computers was frowned upon and probably saw you lose friends in school, you can now embrace this talent of yours. Enjoy getting to know other like-minded geeks and embrace your love of tech. This will stand you in good stead if you want to explore career options and will probably futureproof your job in the long term.
Collections
Geeks have a tendency to become obsessive in a totally harmless way. They might become obsessed with Doctor Who, a Netflix box set, a comic or a collection of stamps. Consider collecting as a way of enhancing your mental health and creating some geeky decor for your pad. You might want to collect old school vintage cameras, typewriters, coins, or novelty mugs. Whatever it is that you have a penchant for, get collecting. It can be a buzz to find the latest Doctor Who novel or the elusive soccer collector’s card that has alluded you for so long.
If you want to become an avid collector you need to hunt down some examples on eBay, enjoy hot footing it to car boot sales, and keep an eye on the classifieds of local newspapers. Many people will see what you like collecting as junk so you might be able to pick up a bargain!
Social Life
Many people assume that geeks are lonely with no social lives whatsoever. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The geek community is close-knit and hugely supportive of one another. If you are struggling to expand your social circle, think about joining a club or two. There are many online clubs that allow you to communicate with many like-minded individuals. By forming new bonds and fostering healthy friendships, you can meet up with people and enjoy sharing stories about your geeky interests.
Social media is a great way to get in touch with people as it requires less confidence than if you meet people for real in the first instance. Geeks tend to be introverted and a little shy. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram mean that you can break the ice without having to put yourself out there quite so much. If you are embracing your geekiness, ensure that you are honest at all times online. You don’t want to be thought of as a catfish.
Your Geek Image
The image of a geek is often a spotty little fourteen year old boy with thick rimmed glasses and greasy hair. This cartoonish caricature is not the epitome of geekdom in real life. Instead, geeks emulate their interests in what they wear and how they present themselves. If you are keen to hone your geek image, venture to the salon and opt for a new geekier haircut. These hairstyles tend to be edgy, short, simple and easy to maintain. If you are struggling with dandruff, don’t put off a hair appointment. You can source baby cradle cap treatment options to ease your flaky scalp and to soothe.
When you consider your wardrobe, opt for some tee shirts that show off your passions. A funky eighties style tee shirt with a DNA sequence graphic is perfect for those bods interest in science. A funky Nintendo logo adorning a long sleeved polo top might be more to your liking. And if you adore nothing more than watching Doctor Who classic episodes, get a tee shirt or two emblazoned with Tom Baker and David Tennant. Fandom is a massive facet of a geek lifestyle so embrace it. Vintage and retro fashion originals will allow you to be even more geeky. You could buy reproduction tees, but by venturing to charity, thrift and second hand shops, you might be able to pick up a retro classic. Old school Levis, 1980s shell suits, and 1990s high tops will allow you to feel comfortable and at ease as you hark back to a bygone era.
Another way of embracing the fandom side of geekdom is venturing to Comic Cons whenever you can. These congregations of geeks are a lot of fun and brilliant if you want to spy one of your favorite actors or graphic novel writers. You can queue up and pay to have your photo taken with a classic geeky film star. How about Sigourney Weaver from the Alien franchise or Bill Murray from Ghostbusters fame?
Many people at Comic Cons even choose to embrace Cosplay and dress up as their favorite superheroes, comic book characters and Dungeons and Dragons characters. If you want to get on board with the fun, enjoy creating and making your own costumes to show off.
Embracing your fully fledged geekdom may take a little bit of courage. However, if you want to part of a supportive, friendly and happy community, get involved, get collecting, overhaul your geeky style, and be proud of your geekiness!
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