Towards a Theory of Geekery

Abstract

Introduction

Geekery, the quality of being a geek, or of geeking, is much misunderstood. It is widely seen as a social dysfunction, where a person has developed an unhealthy obsession with a non-mainstream topic (though it is the non-mainstreamness of the topic, rather than the depth of obsession, which creates the perception that it is unhealthy). Much has been written about the psychological implications of engaging in such behaviours: