I made a new friend recently and in seeing a lot of myself in him, I learned some things about myself. I realized that some of the things that make me who I am, including some of the things I struggle with, are typical traits of what I call geeks. The following is a generalization, based my knowledge of many geeks, not a confession based solely on my own geeky quirks and flaws. This includes the fact that all of the geeks I remember from my life have been male.

A geek is a kind of intellectual. They are typically shy and socially awkward. Because they are so focused on logic and facts, they tend to overlook the subtext in conversations. They often need things spelled out clearly for them because they don't realize what's being implied. But the thing they are probably best known for, is their tendency to obsess. Their ability to recall fine details or plot inconsistencies from movies like Star Wars and The Matrix is a manifestation of their obsessive tendency. This, combined with their strong focus on factual accuracy, may compel them to irritate those around them with corrections over unimportant details. Their predisposition for obsession, combined with their social awkwardness, tends to get them into trouble when it comes to women. An otherwise healthy interest in a woman can develop into very intense feelings while they are nearly helpless to make appropriate social contact. Sometimes geeks develop creepy, stalker-like behaviors because their brains are better at analysis than healthy social interaction. They find ways of getting to know a woman without making social contact. (Cue eerie music here.)

Hopefully my epiphany will be of value to some, whether for entertainment or to understand the geeks in their lives.