Let’s face it, 2008 is the year of the geek. Everywhere we look we see people getting more into technology, playing more video games, and taking more computer related classes than we have in the past. This is a good thing by the way if you’re looking to date a geek or are a geek who wants to date. But dating is becoming more and more difficult in this day and age so I thought I would share some tips on how to land a date as a geek.

1. Talk confidently about what you do, but don’t make it hard to understand.

   If you’re a programmer or web designer, simply state that. Don’t go into details that are over some-one’s head that isn’t in your field. Try not to overwhelm them with technical jargon, keep it simple.

2. Use self deprecating humor in moderation but don’t make it come off as depressing.

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   It’s ok to make fun of yourself a little bit for things like knowing all the words to T.V. theme songs from the 80’s, just make sure you don’t come off as depressing because that is an instant turnoff.

3. If you talk about games, talk about well known,
   party style/multi-player games.

   If you’re a big gamer, make sure you don’t get into a conversation where you talk about tournament style play or complicated moves such as wave dashing or roll canceling, or your level 60 paladin in WoW. Keep the conversation to more well known party-ish games like rock band or mario party.

4. If he/she compares your job to a movie, don’t explain the difference.

   If you’re a video game tester, and someone compares it to Grandma’s Boy the movie, don’t try to go into excessive detail over the differences. Acknowledge the fact that they know of a movie that relates to your job and try to compare the other person’s job to a movie.

5. Let your geekery out as he/she does.

   Some people find it interesting that you dress up as your favorite character when you go to Comic con, but they’re a small percentage of the people you’ll talk to, so try to keep things like that out of the conversation until the other person lets their inner geek out. If they tell you that they are playing Pokemon Diamond, and you are playing that as well, use it to your advantage and offer to trade over Wi-Fi, and you’ve got yourself the beginning of a date (so to speak)

6. Offer a service such as fixing a computer or helping with his/her myspace page.

   People are afraid to ask for help in today’s world so you’ll have to keep an ear out for anyone that might need help. If you overhear someone talking about the layout of their myspace page, offer to help with it. Or if you hear someone that you’re interested in say they can’t get their computer working, offer to come by and fix it. Going over to some-one’s place to fix their computer is a golden opportunity to interact more with them in a more private area than let’s say the mall.

7. Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone, no one is out of your league unless they’re dating someone.

   When you go out to meet people, and you see other people out at the same pace, they’re probably there for the same reason you are, so why not go and talk to one of them. Too many times an opportunity is missed because a person wasn’t talked to. If you notice someone looking over in your direction, go talk to them, what’s the worst that could happen.

8. Use skills that you have to make yourself stand out.

   Once you’ve initiated conversation with someone, try to use one of your talents to make yourself unique. If you’re good at origami, make the person something and you could find yourself teaching them how to make it and the next thing you know, you’re well into a conversation about what you do or where you learned how to do origami and you’re ready to move the conversation elsewhere.

Well I hope these tips get you started on your adventure of dating as a geek and remember, everyone has something interesting to offer, once you find out what your’s is, you can then use that to make yourself stand out and talk to someone with conifdence.