Notebook Entry, Page 84

Here is what being a geek means to me. It means you don't rely on other people to fulfill any part of you. Instead, you use books, music, movies, video games or whatever geeks obsess over, and you eat your heart out that way. It means you don't look for mates, but for new reading material. It means you don't care if people watch you when you floss in public, crochet in public, sing in public or roller-skate in public.

Thinking about it in depth, geeks have the right idea. Their trust can be put in a book and the trust won't be broken. The book will be solace, the book will suffice. The book will not take the geek's heart away, her wall down, then demand she receive it back just as easily. For a book, she can let her wall down and not be torn apart.

'He held up the book then. "I'm reading it to you for relax."

"Has it got any sports in it?"

"Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders... Pain. Death. Brave men. Cowardly men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

"Sounds okay," I said, and I kind of closed my eyes.'

-WIlliam Goldman, The Princess Bride