Why "geek" is a derogatory term

Tell someone that you're into science, and you're likely to be told that you're a "geek". This label - which I will argue is a vicious and unbecoming one - somehow doesn't have the same resonance when applied to, say, people who are employed in law, or business, or marketing. It's reserved almost exclusively for those working in the sciences, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, in technology roles.

What is it about these occupations and interests that lend themselves to such labelling? There are multiple reasons, all connected to each other. One of them is that science doesn't bow to the insipid drivel that passes as "culture" in our society. Those who pursue science are thereby seen as untrustworthy and unreliable outsiders, out of touch with the rest of "the community" (that is, white, "middle-class", Christian males), and so forth. In other words, they're weirdos. And weirdos, as we know, need to be mocked and sidelined, so that the cool people (whoever the fuck they are) can go their way unmolested and so that we may fawn over them and heap deference upon them so that they may be reminded of their coolness and perhaps, just maybe, let us into their coterie of coolness so that we too may become like them. Hence the name calling.

Another reason is that the pathetic lack of scientific literacy among the general population leads them to adopt some very erroneous conceptions of what science is. Science is "boring" and "impractical", "too complicated", and blahdy fucking blah. So it must follow that anyone who pursues it is an impractical weakling with strange tastes. I suppose another reason, less obvious, could be jealousy (?). Scientists are smart. People with nary a brain cell to rub on often don't take kindly to folk who use their grey matter for things other than manipulating their limbic system. This culture of ours requires plenty of people who are ready to allow themselves to become as stupid as it's possible for a human being to be, and this context, it's just not safe to have everyone being too damned smart. So the sciencey people are the fall guys.

Are the attributes that the word "geek" implies actually embodied in scientists? Sometimes (and even then, in varying degrees). And sometimes not. This is why it's sad to see people willingly label themselves as geeks, like as though it's cute or some shit, even when they lack these attributes. Lack them, entirely and utterly. What part of the label, then, are they acknowledging about themselves which they think warrants the label in the first place? What part of it is supposed to converge on some feature of themselves? The "I'm smart" bit? So basically, then, anyone who's not a geek is "not smart". If smarties use it to convey pride in their own intelligence, technical proficiency, or keen attention to detail, why do they denigrate this by advertising it through a loaded term like "geek" which clearly conveys other things that distract from this smartness? By willingly wearing the label, they are encouraging the stereotype. And get the fuck out of my face with the "But there's nothing wrong with being a geek" line. A huge chunk of the whole fucking society is telling you that there's something wrong with you, and instead of thinking that there might something screwed up about the society, you acquiesce to it, and even take pride in your "weird" pass times and interests. Well fuck you. I guess you really are a geek. You just can't seem to get it through your head that the proper response to being labelled isn't to embrace and celebrate the label; the proper response comes in the form of the phrase, "Go suck a dick, bitch."

But whatever. If people want to label themselves as geeks (and thereby reduce themselves to the lowest common denominator that others have assigned for them), that's no skin off my nose. If they like being placed into a category by which others can judge them, go for it. Just don't bring that shit anywhere near me or the scientific profession in general. I'm just saying.