Geek to Geek: Anti-Progeeky Fields

Are there any fields that are minimally geeky or outright ungeeky, and why are they like that?

Tamara: Retail and finance.  In both cases, there's a rigid structure and you have your instructions.  In retail, you're not allowed to get creative with strategies and techniques because your job is "You.  Go do that."  In finance, everything you do has to lead directly to the company making money.  There's no long term thinking or placing a value on anything other than the impression of capital.

Steve: Nope, no such thing – YOU are what makes it geeky.  Some just inherently have the synergy that makes it MORE geeky.

Ellen: I guess Geeks tend to be profound; they take interest in things that are applicable intellectually, creatively, and philosophically, and that challenge the imagination. RPGs are geeky because of the psychology and the real-world benefits of slapping on a different attitude, along with the ability to recognize imagining entire worlds, characters, and cultures without leaving the dinner table. Technology is geeky because it is always becoming more amazing, and changes the entire world in mind-blowing ways.  

Looking at the other side of that, a less Geeky field would be something less stimulating, something that was harder to be challenging, innovative, or to apply imagination to. This is likely more a subjective choice, but some potential examples which I'm sure have exceptions, might be carpentry, laundering, banking, toothpick manufacturing, or shoe shining. On that note, I think being fun makes something susceptible to geekery as well. 

 

Bonnie: It's been my observation that fields that involve straightforward number-crunching, with no creativity involved, seem to attract few or no geeks. I don't think I've ever met a geeky stockbroker or accountant.

 

Lauren: Rough question. It really cuts down to what makes a geek. 
For me, a geek would be somebody incredibly passionate for—and possessing encyclopedic knowledge of—their field. So really, you can find geeks in any white-collar job. Entomologists that squee when they discover a new breed of caterpillar. Economists who chart the peaks and valleys of the stock market with rapt attention. Bartenders who can juggle drinks while they prepare them.
 
I'd argue that if you're NOT a geek for your job, that's a problem you need to solve. If you're not obsessed with what you're doing at work each day, then your field is incredibly geek-unfriendly—toward your particular brand of geek. 

 Serdar: If I work in a construction job and nobody there is a fan of Glee, but they're all "up" on construction from a creative, craftsman's POV, that's fine — that's the kind of geekery that matters for that work. What they do in their spare time isn't as important. If you have, say, one guy who also builds mini-dollhouses (because his precision carpentry work enables it) and the other folks at the job are enthralled by that, that would be great, too.

Scott: Off the top of my head, Marketing and Sales.  Not that there can't be geeks in those fields, but Marketing and Sales focuses on manipulation, not exploration.  Advertising is an odd exception – there's a creative element while trying to get noticed.  Business might be another field that's minimally geeky.  However, again, people in Business might be geeks, but the field tends to be mainstream.  Accounting, however, has people who like playing with numbers – very geeky.

  • http://www.claudeandmo.net/ Rob

    I agree with Steve; no such thing as non-geeky. You’re saying that computer retail (real computer retail, not Best Buy) isn’t geeky? What about comic or anime stores? Geek is what you make it.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/tamara126 Tamara Hecht

    @Rob
    It’s what you’re allowed to make it. In my experience (not saying this is always what happens, as I’m only referring to the jobs I’ve had), you have to stick to corporate policy like glue. Maybe in indie stores you’re allowed creative leeway, but in big name chain stores, the store has to look exactly like the model store, you have to have certain items in your hands at certain times, and you have a set of predetermined phrases you’re supposed to use.
    Let me put it this way: last Christmas, part of my job was wrapping gifts. I had a strip of paper left over from the end of the roll, so I folded it into a paper fan and taped it to the top of our sign. My manager made me take it down because it was “inconsistent with corporate signage policy.” Is there a way to make that job geeky? No. But it’s good that I had that experience, because it’s made me all the more determined to make my own business a success (mostly so I don’t get stuck working for companies like that for the rest of my life).

  • http://geekymanifestos.wordpress.com/ Venus DC

    While all of the above are quite good examples, Healthcare is one of the most un-geeky professions. Mainly because, you are in a field where being an open geek is frowned upon. Usually this is because most of us in the profession are considered unprofessional if we are nothing but serious all the time. When you are responsible for people’s health and livelyhood, it’s a bad time to talk about “Death Note”. That, and thanks to HIPPA laws, we are sworn to secrecy, and not allowed to share any of our adventures with anyone if we value our jobs.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/tamara126 Tamara Hecht

    @Venus
    Good point. I wonder, if someone is otherwise happy with their non-geeky profession, how else might they bring some personality to other aspects of their life?

  • Scott D

    It’s going to depend on the culture of the workplace. Some places allow for personalization of cubicles while others want conformity. Still, there are always ways, especially when one works away from the general public. IT generally gets away with a lot more – it’s expected. Someone working where the the public interfaces with the company/government department might not have as much leeway to personalize, even not having pictures of family/friends. Oddly, the Public Service here in Canuckistan isn’t as fussy about what’s on a desk – work gets done, manager is happy, minister doesn’t have to deal with the headache.