Geek Girls Unite!

As many of those who know all the geek girls know, we all met on a wonderful “social show” Harper’s Globe. The net show that works in conjunction with Harper’s Island.

Well of late, many of the Geek Girls have been fighting a fight to save the site. Harper’s Globe was funded by CBS and run through EQAL, the group who brought LonelyGirl15 to the netverse. But apparently there was no intention of keeping the site going after Harper’s Island ended.

Now I know many people will wonder why that is such an issue, and I do understand that there may be some contractual crap involved. But what is bothering the Geek Girls, is the fact that 1) We where never notified that this was a temp site (LG15 was up for years until recently) 2) They apparently will be taking down all user created content and 3) While the show is over in the US, there are other viewers to come in other countries that will not get to enjoy HG.

I know for myself, I’m annoyed mostly because it seems like the companies could careless about those who gave time to this social show. That and the fact EQAL seems to be cutting all it’s ties to what got them started in the first place. I used to be heavy in LG15 when it first started, I used love what it stood for… the fact that a small company could make good with unique ideas. But of late I have a very bad taste in my mouth for what EQAL has done. LG15 was just sitting on a server that was connected to a website where other new shows where being put out…. now for no reason, and little fan fare… they remove what gave them their start.

I said it last night and I’ll say it again… It’s as if George Lucas just said “Star Wars never existed and I want nothing to do with it, and will erase all copies in existence.” LG15 is not as great as Star Wars… but the idea is the same.

There was a time, not too long ago, when a group of young people took to the streets to protest things they felt where unfair or wrong in our government. These people where called Hippies… and they protested a war they felt was unjust.

Now, in this time of chaos in Iran, there is a new Hippy movement… and it’s not just on the streets.
It’s on the internet and people worldwide are involved.

Twitter, a small blog site that once was considered an annoyance by many… has now become crucial in keeping the world informed on what is going on in Iran. The people of Iran can not, and will not be silent… and they risk their lives to ensure that someone knows.

I have been following #iranelection for days now, and can not tear myself away. The news coming out from students in the middle of this, is both heartwrenching and brave. My heart bleeds that I can’t do more for them, for all these poor children who want nothing more then to have thier voices heard…. but I do my part.

I had someone ask me if I went green because I supported the politics. No. I went green because I support free speech. I do not believe that any government has the right to silence its people, to keep the voice of the youth from speaking, to use the word democracy to cover up a dictatorship. Freedom is not Free. It is fought for, it is earned with hard struggle and constant effort.

I may not be on the streets of Iran, I may be in a country that allows me to express my opinions without fear of jail or worse. But I am, in spirit, a revolutionary… I stand by silenced voices and if I can I will scream what they can not say.

Do your part, don’t let silence claim the voice of freedom. Make it known, keep it going, show the photos, discuss the issue.

Peace can not be found in silence, only oppression.

Let the voices of Iran’s youth ring free!

To speculate on the causes of Geekdom in our society is to ponder the quintessential question… Who Am I? In relation to the world at large, the answer is most often… I am (name). But what is a name when tied to a label and a function?

What is it that makes one person named Bob different from another Bob? Or more precise, is there an inflection in the tone of Bob 1′s name that is different then Bob 2′s name? If both are asked what their names are, will they say it the same way? Or does anyone other then myself really care?

What can I say words, names in particular, fascinate me.  Growing up I had an uncommon name, or what had once been uncommon.  I had heard it pronounced three separate ways, but only one of them was my name. The others where not right. But over the years I have seen a few women with my name as well as one horrible video game character. As I met more women with my name, and that horrible movie based off the video game, I noticed that it was always pronounced different… and that each woman was as protective of their own pronunciation as I was of mine.

OK so what was going to be a blog post about Geek Latin… has turned into something totally different. This, boys and girls, is what happens when you ask my over caffeinated mind to do one thing and it decides it wants to do something else. Yes, my mind has a mind of it’s own… it’s a wonder I get anything accomplished.

So I leave you with one last random thought. Next time you see a name that can have more then one pronunciation, ask… before someone says “There’s no one here by that name.”

Once, in a day thankfully passed, to be known as a Geek or a Nerd was the greatest of insults.

In those days, before the Internet, I was still proud of my Geekyness. Yes I was that odd girl in the corner who knew all the answers, but never spoke to most people.  The books in my arms, everything from Poe to Chaos Math. I did not participate in sports, I was not a member of band, and all I did in Drama class was run the lights because no one else would. I wore glasses, and clothing that wasn’t in fashion (until goth and grunge became fashionable). But I was fine that I did not fit in… who would want to be a sheep in a world of sheep?

But now, Geek is a fashion all it’s own. To be a Geek is an honor, no longer an insult. Geeks have taken over TV, Movies, Music, and of course our haven… the Internet. I fit in. It is an odd feeling to be counted as a group that is socially acceptable and no longer viewed with disdain. Girls in baby-doll shirts proclaim loudly “I heart my Geek”, Leet speak is understood by more teenagers then common English, and video games have become “social activities”.

I don’t know what I think of this change in Geek society… while I find the acceptance… amusing if not a welcome change, the fact is… it’s not the same.

Not to turn into the old woman on the rocker yelling to kids about “back in my day”, but things where different before. The feeling of kinship that you shared with Geeks was something that not only brought people together, but created friendships. Days that wearing a Batman shirt would get you a random nod from someone as you passed, instead of just over looked as yet another person in the latest movie shirt.

These days, to truly stand out as a Geek, one must go above and beyond! No more Batman for me, I instead wear The Black Flash! No more digital watches, now you must wear a binary watch… and be able to read it! No more speaking Klingon…. um OK no that ones safe still. But you get the picture.

My name is Tenshi.

I am an Elder Geek.

I played LoRD on BBS.

I read Lord of The Rings before the movie came out.

I still know what thac0 is.

I saw Star Wars in the theater… the first time.

I programed games in Turtle Graphics!

I am Tenshi Akui… I Geek Therefor I Am.