Go ahead. Get Geekish. Get geekish about…something,
anything, everything.
No judgement; no tests; no requirements; Just a passion for something.
We all have our own things that we ‘geek out’ over. It’s these differences that
make us all unique. But finding other like minded people who geek out over the
same things you do can make you feel more connected.
Belonging to a fandom can make any of us feel like we are part of a special
group. These differing interests we have can sometimes help define part of our
identities. Fandoms allow people from all walks of life to bond with others
who share similar passions. They provide a place to build social connections
and a place where people can freely express their ideas.
I remember the first time I walked into a comic convention, and the first
thought that entered was, “These….THESE are my people!”
Becoming part of an inclusive fandom can make a person feel welcome, build
connections with others, and feel not-so-alone in an often lonely world.
However, there can be problems that arise in fandoms, no matter how inclusive
and welcoming they started out as. Being that many fandoms are centered around
a particular franchise, this can lead to gatekeeping and hierarchy issues.
Fans have varying levels of investment can create inequity and judgment
between fans. (Have you ever been ‘called out’ for not knowing something about
a franchise you love, or been talked down to because you like a particular
episode of a series that someone else deems terrible?)
Part of human nature urges us all to be different and unique, while also
yearning to be a part of groups that we share interests and beliefs with.
(Remember, you’re unique, just like everyone else.)
Our goal with Get Geekish is to celebrate all fandoms and interests. You can
get geekish about comics, movies, books, or anime. You can get geekish about
cooking, cars, sports, or traveling. You can get geekish about language,
history, fitness, or technology. If you have passion about something…anything…you
get geekish about it.
We encourage everyone to get excited for each other, showcase the amazing
things people do, and put people’s skills and creativity on display.
Often our good thoughts are overshadowed by the negativity that we are
immersed in by politics, pop culture, the media, social echo chambers, and bad
attitudes. But the world is full of good things. Lots of them.
So join us, in celebrating the things that make us all happy. The things we
spend our spare time doing. The things that make us smile. The things that
bring us closer to others.
Instead of focusing on what’s not good enough, what’s not possible, and what
we can’t do. Let’s focus on what we ARE doing.
Let’s get geekish about something.