Geek-ism dyeing? Blasphemy!

So, I read a really, really well written article over at Film.com that was in response to a comment made that said as a whole, geek culture is dyeing. The time where those socially inept, Star Wars quoting movie geeks are coming to an end, saying that because of the internet, and IMDB, the people that knew everything there was to know no longer stand out, and as a culture, it's dyeing. Well, as a self-professed movie geek, I can't let a statement like that go by without responding, can I? Of course not. They would take my geek card away.

First off, and no disrespect to the writer, I don't like the underground mentality. It's the same thing with music or comedy or restaurants. The idea that something is really cool when no one knows about it, and then, when that same thing becomes popular, it's no longer cool. That seems to be the idea of the article, and I disagree. If something is good, or cool when no one knows, it's the same if everyone knows. I think the same applies to movie geekery.

Since when does having more movie geeks become a bad thing? The Internet has given the shy, quiet movie geek (me) a voice; whether anyone wants to hear it doesn't matter. Besides, with so many voices, collaboration has gotten better, communities and friendships have blossomed and movies are getting made, and the art and business is growing as a result.

Now, is our culture dyeing? I don't think so. I think the geek culture is stronger than ever. When a whole bunch of people become knowledgeable about a subject, it forces the true geeks to be even better. Sure, it may be a little tougher to spot a real geek in a crowd now, but the culture is there, it's just not as obvious with the pen protectors, the suspenders and thick glasses, as before.

I will say, however, with movie geeks, the big, dominant franchises that we all grew up with, like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Star Trek haven't been as prevalent as they used to be. Go ahead, think of a franchise that's as strong. Harry Potter? Maybe. Twilight? It has the ferocity, just not the longevity. Other than that, what else is there to hang your geek hat on? That seems to be the only possibility for a decline in geekery. But I think, it's not a bad thing, it just requires us to be more well versed in different movies and different genres.

So, as a self-professed movie geek, I say the geeks out there are alive and well, and while we may share some of our culture with the rest of the world, it doesn't mean that culture is gone. What do you think? Is geekery dyeing?