The word geek originally came from the old English word geck which meant fool or freak. It was usually used to refer to circus or carnival freaks. These days the meaning seems to have evolved to denote someone who is very technically adept, or someone who has peculiar and a high level of interest in things like computers or gaming or anime.

 

Geek is still sometimes used as a derogatory term for someone who is a social “nerd”. Someone who may sometimes be seen as having a weird hobby or interest. 

 

However, if you notice the trends these days, with some of the best selling items being electronic gadgets, something which used to be the exclusive domain of the geeks. And the most popular movies being based on high fantasy like Lord of the Rings, science fiction (Star Wars, Matrix) or comic books (Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man). TV stations dedicating prime time slots to Japanese animation. The proliferation of Toy Conventions, Anime Conventions, Gaming tournaments at very public locations. Even some of the richest and most successful people in the world are geeks. Does the name Bill Gates ring a bell? It really would seem the the day of the Geek has come. Are we finally mainstream? Have we finally actually inherited the Earth? With the advent of the computer age, it would inadvertently seem so. 

 

Be proud. Be Geek!!! Be Geeky Chic! 

 

Unfortunately, sometimes the world does seem to want to throw you back. Closed minded people still abound and would like to easily label things and people they do not understand. I just came from a meeting where they were initially stating that they no longer wanted us to run our “events” in the mall.

 

I was flabbergasted. We have run events in that mall for over 10 years, that overall do not cause too much noise or trouble. (When was the last time that you remember that there was a physical altercation). Considering that we organize tournaments based on one on one competition and have like a 99% player base of males, this would seem likely.) We do attract a huge number of people and as far as I know that is good for malls. People in malls mean people spending in malls. In fact I do know that malls spend a good deal of money trying to get people to go to their malls, and here we are holding events which don’t cost the mall a single dime, since they charge us for security, electricity, maintenance and all the other extra charges for the event. In fact the crowd we draw generally spend quite a bit on food, based on the trash we see left on the tournament tables. 

 

We still live in a world where people like to prejudge and label the things they do not know or understand. 

 

I had to explain to the people at leasing what we do. (This after being in the mall, and running events in the mall for more than 10 years now) I had to explain that we were not gambling, and that we were not the rowdy type of people that they seem to think we are. Apparently some of the tenants near the tournament areas we use have complained that we negatively impact their sales. I asked them for concrete statistical data on this. I sincerely doubt if we have any significant statistical impact on their sales. Unfortunately, human nature and the usual Filipino talangka mentally will always find something or someone else to blame rather than accept personal blame (or personnel inefficiency) for their own poor performance. 

 

Personally I have not seen people who are about to pass the area which we currently occupy at the East Wing of the mall suddenly turn tails and walk away the moment they see us there (I totally rely on the “usisero” mentality that attracts people to where the multitude is). If anything they push through, take a quick look at what we are doing and move along. I am pretty sure some of the stores at the east wing have in fact had a slight increase in sales because of the crowd we get there. I am sure that the food establishments in Galleria appreciate the business coming from you guys, but they seem to fail to realize that you are the same person hanging around the tournament area playing with cards. It is not like we go around wearing a big “I’m a GAMER.” sign on our hats or shirts.

 

What I found even more disturbing was that Victory Christian Fellowship, certainly a bigger tenant for the mall complained about us too as being too rowdy, and engaging in “gambling”. They might have found that piece of scripture with Jesus throwing away the vendors in front of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13), and by all means I tend to agree with Jesus on that matter. However, in this situation a bit of history and perspective needs to be established. We have been a tenant of the mall far longer than VCF has been in that location, we were in the mall when they were still congregating at then the Robinsons Galleria Suites, now called the Holiday Inn Galleria Suites. We were organizing events at Galleria long before they were organizing their “service” in the mall. And for a long time when they were our neighbors when we were still located at the 4th floor, we never had problems. So this may not be a case of the money lenders and vendors using the front of the Temple as a place of business, it really is a case of VCF turning a place of business (the mall) into their “temple”.

 

I thought Christianity would promote tolerance and understanding. Do they see us as “sinners”? And even if they did see us as “sinners” should they not be thanking the Lord for sending us right at their doorsteps where they could easily minister to us and show us the way? Jesus let the lepers and the prostitutes come near him, and touch him. He let the gentiles and unbelievers listen, but I guess gamers are a different matter altogether and we are probably doing something “unforgivable” and beyond redemption that they would just rather cast us out of their sight. We certainly don’t go about their clients, este, members and minister to them the merits of gaming. That based on statistical data, our subgroup actually statistically are less prone to violent and socially disruptive behavior, less prone to commit crime, and this with a sub population of predominantly young males, the most statistically violent demographic of society. That gaming promotes good social skills and good sportsmanship. That gaming exercises your mathematical and reasoning and logic. (HECK!!! If this is the case then everyone should be a gamer! The Philippines would probably be better off.)

 

What I find even more ironic is that VCF seems to welcome personalities known for being “sexy”. I guess it’s OK as long as they don’t show everything. I’m sure no one “sins” as they are looking at those “suggestive” pictures. I guess those people are redeemable, but we are not. By no means am I judging the Hot people. In fact if any of the HOT BABES would like to play Magic, I would be willing to supply them their cards for Free if they join the tournaments, I’m sure they would draw a big crowd, and could only help me in marketing gaming. (Hmmm, could their logic be the same?) 

 

In fact I can even talk or relate with a prostitute and not judge the person, and just accept and understand that she probably got into that line of work due to personal economic reasons. Who am I to judge how another person makes money as long as they do not lie, cheat, steal or kill people while doing it. In fact if you really think about it, we are at fault for having a society that pushes people to that extreme. Jesus let the sinners and the prostitutes near him, but I guess Gamers are another matter. I am seriously looking through the Bible where it says that, but I’m still at a loss. I guess I should just go ask them for the specific verse.

 

I am by no means trying to pick a fight, in fact I would like to have an open dialogue. If any of you guys know some high ranking “elder”, “pastor”, “Pharisee” or whatever they call them there, that would like to have an intelligent and open minded discussion with me, I would gladly welcome it. I would like to understand it from their side of the fence, and my apparent inability to understand why they would cast us out, complaining to the mall and thereby making the open and unleased area at the 4th Floor West Wing of Robinsons Galleria now a “No Gamer Allowed Zone”.

 

At this point, I am truly saddened by the lack of tolerance and ignorance people have towards gamers and gaming as a sub group of geekdom. It seems that we should start having an advocacy with regards to our right to enjoy what we enjoy. The right to play games and not be judged. The same goes to the anime fans, the toy collectors etc. The right to enjoy your hobby without having to feel ashamed of it.

 

Be proud. Be GEEK! Be Geeky Chic!

 

 

To the credit of the open minded people of Robinsons Galleria leasing, we did come to an amicable arrangement. We had a lengthy discussion wherein I tried to explain what we actually do in their mall, and what kind of crowd we attract (educated, proficient in English, highly computer literate, with disposable incomes). In the end, they just requested us to put up barriers during events to help control the crowd, and told me that the explanation I gave actually helped them understand.  

 

So this coming weekend prepare to have yourselves be corralled in. :) As for the problem with the “schmackers” , we will probably just have to let the security handle that problem. They really do cause problems with regards to blocking hallways, and that matter really is something else and another issue altogether.

 

Really the solution to this problem is to explain and expose our hobby. Hiding in your room/attic/basement rolling dice and playing D&D should be a thing of the past. We may never be mainstream, but when has not being mainstream been a crime or a sin? I mean society has accepted gays and lesbians, how can they not accept gamers??? Was Jesus mainstream? I certainly hope not.

 

As a parting word. I really was tempted to say something like Austin 3:16 but truly Matthew 7:1-5 is probably more appropriate. Peace!