identity

Fan I Am #3: Identifying As A Fan

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Whirlpool

Previously I identified the following forms of fans:

  • Recreational – The fandom is fun.
  • General Interest – There is definite interest in the subject, and time is put in.but not much is done with it.
  • Social – One identifies with, socializes, and bonds with other fans.
  • Active – One is actively doing things in the fandom.
  • Applied – One’s fandom interest is involved in career and/or large parts of one’s life.

So now we’re back to one of the questions that started this all: does it make sense to identify as a fan.

I meet so many fans and people for whom fandom is a strong part of their identity. I also see pathology in fandom identity, in flamewars and meltdowns and worse. Yet I also see people for whom it delivers passion and happiness.

So it makes sense to ask such a question.

But First . . .

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Geek As Citizen: What Is A Geek?

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As I mentioned last week, I’m going to be exploring the role of geeks as citizen. What is our place in a functional society? Where do we belong? Where are we needed? I think a lot of us kind of have an idea, but it’s worth exploring in an age where, almost accidentally, we kind of created modern society and to a lesser extent run it.

I’m not sure we intended to do this, but there you go. Me, I’d want better environmental policies and a reduction in stupid reality shows. But that’s for another time.

In order to actually ask “what is the ideal role of a citizen geek” we kind of have to define geek. I’ve taken a stab at it – many have taken a stab at it – and doubtlessly we’ll be arguing about it for years to come. But I’m going to make an effort (again) to try and do it at least to solidify my recent insights and give us a working theory.

Let me note that my definition is designed to be descriptive and not exclusionary.  I have no interest in promoting geek exclusion or exclusivity, there’s enough “not geek enough” garbage out there.  Instead I’m interested in it as a kind of demographic description – pretty much a case of “you are one if you think you’re one and identify as one.”

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$68 Bucks Makes A Man Who Never Existed Internet Famous

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Kevin Ashton worked some internet Necromancy to create Santiago Swallow.  Generated names, photoshopped face, Twitter followers, etc.  All for no one.

So a few questions for you:

  • How many other people have done this – and how many did it for themselves versus fake people?
  • How much can we actually trust a lot of what covers “fame” on the Internet?
  • How do we cut through the B.S. for ourselves?

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers athttp://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.