For example, the sci-fi club at the school I just graduated from getting together yearly to dramatically recite the first chapter of the Fellowship of the Ring, and to celebrate (complete with non-lie (and non-lye) cake) Bilbo Baggins's 111th birthday.
(It's 111th, right? Or was it 101st or 110th?)
FWIW, they only call themselves the sci-fi club; they're more like the general geekery club. With the possible exceptions of...well, the two fields of geekery that I am personally more interested in, which are gaming (tabletop, board, card, and video) and animé.
Similarly, people love to tout their "geek cred" in the form of things like how many details they know about LOTR, Star Wars, Star Trek, and such.
Obviously, some people hide these things in front of non-geeks, but others display it proudly. I am just interested in the psychology behind this difference.
edited 23rd Sep '10 9:48:12 PM by GlennMagusHarvey
Why do geeks (that is, people who perform geeky activities) perform geeky activities? Uh
[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.Define geeky activities.
(In before someone one says editing TV Tropes...)
Maybe it's out of Insult Backfire. They're so used to being picked on for being geeks... or seeing others be picked on for being geeks... that they feel the best way to defy this is to act like "geeks."
Not sure if playing into these stereotypes is the best way to combat this though.
There are plenty of things that are points of pride amongst geeks that aren't really stereotypes. For instance, many geeks are Wil Wheaton fans, but that isn't a stereotype, because outside of geek culture most people don't even know who he is.
And then there are ways that geeks are often outright at variance with the stereotypes. Think how the appearance of a stereotypical geek (pocket protector, large-frame glasses) varies from the appearance of a real geek (XKCD T-shirt, small-frame glasses).
So I think your question, like many questions that begin with "How" or "Why" is fundamentally misguided.
Can you confirm that the only or primary reason they enjoy the habit is because it's stereotypical?
Fight smart, not fair.So we have N Word Priviledges? What's next, if one of us becomes a CEO and makes tons of money and joins the bourgeoisie and gets a prominent political position we'll call him a class traitor and a sellout?
'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?Unless you're saying that geeks do stereotypically geeky things because they're stereotypically geeky things or something like that, the only thing you're really saying is that these stereotypes are based on reality.
And that's how I ended up in the wardrobe. It Just Bugs Me!Because they enjoy their activity. Plain and simple. Why do I like studying warfare and weapons despite how nasty war is? because it is also fascinating and I enjoy the study.
Hey I had fun with my microscope and tinkering when I was younger.
Some geeks can march. Marching Band Geeks come to mind. Also military geeks. :P
Give me a week Ill get them in step. >:D
Who watches the watchmen?...Just as long as you don't use the goofy Marine-version of calling commands, Tuefel, and I'll try to do my best at a counter-coulmn.
Marching band for the win.
Yes, I own an 8-bit tie from Thinkgeek. Since I'm in my thirties, I couldn't give a flip about what most other people think of me.
Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Open question.
Why do geeks enjoy following stereotypes of geeks? Even when some of these stereotypes are viewed negatively by non-geeks?