"We are geeks. We like to hang out with other geeks."

--- VANESSA FINE,software developer Computer nerds find social niche with others like them.

Jeff Kephart, who calls himself "a typical computer nerd," is part of a new cultural movement. He doesn't know it, though.

Single and self-employed, Kephart is a 37-year-old amateur radio operator who lives with his sister in Pittsburgh. At night, Kephart builds personal computers, doing some of his best work between 3 and 4 a.m. He sleeps during the day.

For fun, Kephart and his ham radio friends go to "ham fests," where they trade electronics, radios and computers with others in the area. Kephart's group also gathers each Sunday at a different restaurant to talk about technical problems, trade secrets and discuss new technology.

"It's really just a bunch of friends who dig computers," Kephart said. "The bottom line is, we all like to B.S."

So-called "geeks" or "nerds" used to be social outcasts. But that was before the technology boom. Now, social-geekery, techie- hobnobbing and nerd-networking are in high style. The industry's growth is allowing computer enthusiasts such as Kephart a chance to create a coterie of people and places that are unique to their tastes, interests and needs.

"We are geeks," said Vanessa Fine, a 35-year-old software developer for Storm LLC who helped start Geek Night, a once-every- other-month networking event for technology workers. "We like to hang out with other geeks."

As the Geek Night Web site (http://www.pghgeeks.org) explains: "The Pittsburgh high-tech industry is small, incestuous and full of people we haven't seen in ages but keep meaning to call and invite for lunch. So we figured, let's get all those people in a room together for some really efficient social geekery."

The invitation is open-ended.

"If you're a geek --- and you know who you are --- then you're welcome," she said. "Drink beer. Trade stupid user stories. Enjoy the soothing chirp of a room full of pagers."

But Geek Night is not the only social option for the computer set. Geeks also gather now at Ultimate Frisbee matches, pinball tournaments, soccer games, rock climbing events, women-only coffeehouse gatherings and happy-hour events that cater to smart, obsessive, idiosyncratic people.

"I don't feel like the employees at large and small high-tech companies know each other that well," said Phil Compton, the chief financial officer at CoManage Corp.

Copyright 2000
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