Is Geekiness genetic?

Do geek parents spawn geek children? Your thoughts/experience please.
'Normal' people can have geek kids (I am living proof) but can geeks children ever be normal, will my children automatically be tarred with the brush that is geekdom?

 

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It seems to me the 'geEKnome' often skips generations. It depends on whether your a godgeek or a goofygeek

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Its probably more environmental though. Dull house and good scifi on TV = potential geek. Best to take the Bathleth from over the fireplace and remove complete pesudoscience sci/fi (Clarke etc is good). Then the little geeks might learn something and get a good job someday.

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Based on my family, the evidence is unclear, to say the least. My dad - definitely into computers, but not programming yet. My brother - plays games, does word processing, doesn't want to know anything else. Me, I want to know as much as possible about what and how I'm doing what I'm doing.
I suggest geekiness is a combination of genes, some to do with curiosity, others for just computer interest.

 

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Geekiness may be genetic, but I hear it skips a generation.

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Is intelligence genetic? Some will argue against that.

 

Smart people aren't always geeks and geeks aren't always smart. I suppose geekiness is best summed up by 'unusual taste' although the ability to admit that one has that taste is also a big factor. Geek numbers are declining because very few of the people who's taste does include sci-fi or computers are brave enough to readily admit it and face the social stigma associated with said tastes. I personally don't get it being a geek is so much more fun than trying to conform. Maybe I should start a 12-step program to unlock your inner geek. 'My name is Joe Normal and I am a geek'

 

Well.. My Dad ain't no geek. But I am. My sisters and brother aren't either. Though, if I had a child, I'd want him to be a geek too. Maybe it skips. Though, I don't think Grandpa was a geek either.

Maybe I'm the only one. Though, I am the only Mac user in the family <ZEALOT>and the only one who sees Windows for what it really is.</ZEALOT>

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Hmm, thinking about it for a bit and I think it's more strongly environmental AND genetic that I first thought. I've noticed most geeks I have encountered had a 'defect' of some kind at an early age. Personally, my left eye is 'lazy', it is optically 20/20 and it tracks perfectly (matches my right) but sends a weak signal to my brain. I can see everything but I have trouble interpreting what I'm seeing and reading with it, is nearly impossible. I do have some stereo depth perception. It’s a bit like seeing the world perfectly through my right and having very extended peripheral vision to my left.

Anyhoo, the down side was I had to wear a sticky eye-patch as a kid (4, not my parents fault, it was the best, dumbest, medical advice available) to try an improve it. I had friends in the classroom, but I was a year or two younger than everyone else and could not find them in the playground anymore. I still have 34 squeaky voices in my head (argh!! the voices keep talking to me! lol), the only way I could find my classmates outside. I could not play team soccer (tennis ball..) games anymore and started to develop a reputation for being 'too thinky..'. I suppose the early conditioning stuck with me. On the other hand the kid who was in a wheelchair (polio) was much loved. I guess kids are willing to forgive a major problem, but not wired for more subtle things.

Most other geek-types seem to have something that slowed them down a bit (asthma, poor vision, small, overweight etc) and had to amuse themselves. If I ever have kids I will know what to watch out for…

'Geek numbers are declining because very few of the people who's taste does include sci-fi or computers are brave enough to readily admit it and face the social stigma associated with said tastes.'

It struck me this could also be because teachers etc. are much more aware of these problem than they were. Being in isolation a bit, definately makes you mentally tough though. Possibly the recent rise of superficial behaviour is caused by there being more 'normal' kids than there were. There might be an increased herd pressure to demonstrate you are 'unique' plus many other influences...

As my Ma used to say, 'Yer not funny looking son, yer SPECIAL!'

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Typing too fast again.. hope this is of interest.

 

hmmm.

well, my grandfather was a biiiiiigggggg calculus buff... he even wrote books on it...but my mom and dad aren't the shiniest(hehe, that word looks funny) apples in the bunch...but I am also an aspiring math buff and geek in general ;-) so I'd agree with the 'skip a generation' theory....

 

geek n. Slang

1. a. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
2. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

I am not sure if I like the definition of a geek, so I have never thought of myself as one. Although the last definition is kind of . . . er, weird. But why would anyone ever be proud of being socially inept??

Socially irresponsible, I can understand. Not caring what the #### most people think of you, that sort of thing. But surely there will be someone you will want to care about you? Or just general getting along with all the idiots at your school, or at work. Although if they are "geeky" too, it might not be so important.

I think it would depend on if you wanted your children to be geeky; if you thought that particular set of emphasis's and values to outweigh the disadvantages incurred by relative social alienation, especially for a young child. Not to mention the health issues associated with uncooked meat.

I must admit I am stereotypically image based. But if you are going to not care about what the rest of the world thinks of you, is it not better to do it in a "cool" way? Necktie, funky socks, the works?

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Back to the question, I am not sure if you will even have that much of a choice. Geekiness may even be preferable to what your children may become! (just look at my brother. yeech.) I am refering to the issues laid out in Nico's thread in Life>Free Thoughts.