Top 10 Reasons to Date a Geek (like Gilbert)

Geeks (or nerds) are our most undervalued resource. The meek might inherit the earth someday, but the geeks will definitely inherit the stars! 

Here are ten reasons why geeks make the best boyfriends or girlfriends:

1. Passionate

As Gilbert Garfinkle tells Amber in Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, book one) , all geeks are passionate about something: “The very definition of being a geek is that you love something just because you love it, not because someone is telling you you should, but in spite of them telling you you shouldn't. There's no greater love than geek love. If you're lucky, maybe someday you'll find it too.”

2. Intelligent

It takes a certain genius to be a true geek.

3. Fun

Who better to watch Doctor Who with than a fellow Whovian? What do you mean, you've never seen an episode of Doctor Who? Well then, you are in for a treat! Just try to get to the episodes with Amy and Rory quickly. They're the most romantic couple on TV ever. And you can watch The Princess Bride together, and he can tell you, “As you wish,” and... 

You are just going to have so much fun together.  

4. Likely to get rich someday

That’s true in Gilbert’s case, anyway. He’s a computer genius who invents things. True, he’s not really interested in money, but the potential is definitely there.

5. Happy and often funny

Geeks are happy because they've found something they love. And while not all geeks are funny, many have a great sense of humor. Gilbert does.

6. Inventive

Whether your geek is into designing software, writing science fiction, or drawing comic books, he or she is sure to come up with creative ways to express his or her love for you.

7. Appreciative

Geeks generally don't expect to be loved, so when they are, they appreciate the one who loves them.

8. Doesn't judge

You know those people who only want to hang out with the popular crowd and who dress and look a certain way and wouldn't dare deviate from what's currently considered cool? Those people aren't geeks, and they have no idea what they're missing.

9. Loves you for who you are

A geek cares most about what's in your heart and would never ask you to change for him or her.

10. Encourages you to express your own geeky side

Stop caring about what people might think. Is there something you love so much you want the world to know? Then tell the world! You'll soon find you aren't alone. There's someone out there who is as geeky about that thing as you are, and you can share that limitless passion together.

Gilbert's 10 Favorite Songs for Geeks

There’s a scene in Why My Love Life Sucks that reveals Gilbert’s favorite kind of music. This is after Amber has turned him into a vampire, and she’s been trying unsuccessfully to get him to leave his old life and join her.

* * *

I grab my backpack, and head for the bus. I know I have to make a short detour at the school, but I can’t wait to get to Queens.

Amber meets me at the corner. I start singing, “And there’s a creepy doll, that always follows you. It’s got a pretty mouth . . .”

Amber frowns. “You make that up just now?”

“No, it’s a Jonathan Coulton song.”

“Never heard of him.” Figures. “Who else do you like?”

“Well, I . . .” Okay, obviously I can’t say any Nerdcore bands or singers, so that leaves out MC Frontalot and MC Lars. If she’s never heard of Weird Al Yankovic, the only word she’ll hear there is “weird.” She’s definitely never heard of Stephen Lynch, and if she has, she probably doesn’t find songs like “Beelz” very funny. Come on, who do I like that most people like?

Oh, I know. “I like the Barenaked Ladies.”

She scrunches up her face and crosses her arms. “Most guys do, but they don’t usually mention it when there are girls around.”

What? Oh. “No, they’re not ladies. They’re a bunch of Canadian guys.”

“And they play naked? Ewwww!”

“No, they don’t play naked. You must have heard of them. They sing the theme song to The Big Bang Theory.”

“The TV show?”

“No, the actual Big Bang. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe from Douglas Adams’s book was so successful they turned it into a franchise, and they gave the Barenaked Ladies a permanent gig there.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. I keep walking, she keeps following, the song “Creepy Doll” keeps playing in my head.

* * *

So what are his ten favorite songs? It’s hard to narrow it down, but I’ll try.

1. “Creepy Doll” by Jonathan Coulton

2. “Code Monkey” by Jonathan Coulton

3. “Still Alive” by Jonathan Coulton (sung by G.L.A.D.O.S.)

4. “Goodbye, Planet Earth” by Matthew Ebel

5. “The Saga Begins” by “Weird Al” Yankovic

6. “Download This Song” by MC Lars

7. “D&D” by Stephen Lynch

8. “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” by Eric Idle

9. “One Week” by the Barenaked Ladies

10. “The Big Bang Theory” by The Barenaked Ladies