I’ve seen references to the Society of Geek Advancement for several months but haven’t been motivated to mention it until tonight when I saw Peter Black post this same video on his blog.
Initially I wasn’t really sure what the “I am a Geek” thing was all about, but reading into this a bit further, it appears that the motives behind the movement are several fold.
According to the Society for Geek Advancement about page:
“THE SOCIETY FOR GEEK ADVANCEMENT was founded upon the principles that we should all embrace our inner and outer geek and have fun while doing it. As individuals who love learning, innovating and believe in possibility as well as change, the second step of responsibility is to “be the geek that keeps on giving”. As a member of SGA, we work together as a global community to provide the tools and help others realize their true potential too!”
If the above video is any indication, a core component to the movement is old fashioned fun and togetherness. I don’t know about you, but I for one felt a tremendous amount of Geek Pride after watching the clip and am no longer the least bit self-conscious of my social deficiencies and fashion ineptitudes. Social skills or no, geeks sure know how to have a good time.
“A person who is interested in technology, especially computing and new media… who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who passionately pursues skill and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance.”
Room To Read
Reading into this further, the objective of “giving” through the pursuit of fundraising and charitable donations. Proceeds from sales of of “I am a geek” T-shirts go to a charity known as Room to Read, which builds libraries and schools for children in developing countries.
So in addition to the Society acting as a networking hub and congregation point for a proverbial cornucopia of geeks of all shapes and sizes, it also seeks to make the world a better place. Not bad for a network of fringe-dwelling technophiles.
Thanks for sharing that vid. I think the definition of Geek has changed in just the past 10 years or so. It is far less of a derogitory term than it once was. I'll be looking for you in the next video of this campaign.
Indeed! As I recall the word Geek used to mean someone who bit the heads off of chickens in a circus sideshow, didn't it? We've come along way baby