[Not Afraid]

EDIT: Well, now that I see this is in Open Mic and not in another forum, I'm not sure I should be "discussing" it. Bad me.

I love etymologies and origins of idioms. It fascinated me and and I can never resist the chance to do research on terms and phrases.

The slang "Cool" as something excellent, great, supurb, etc.

The usage of cool as a general positive epithet or interjection has been part and parcel of English slang since World War II, and has even been borrowed into other languages, such as French and German. Originally this sense is a development from a Black English usage meaning “excellent, superlative,” first recorded in written English in the early 1930s. Jazz musicians who used the term are responsible for its popularization during the 1940s. As a slang word expressing generally positive sentiment, it has stayed current (and cool) far longer than most such words. One of the main characteristics of slang is the continual renewal of its vocabulary and storehouse of expressions: in order for slang to stay slangy, it has to have a feeling of novelty. Slang expressions meaning the same thing as cool, like bully, capital, hot, groovy, hep, crazy, nervous, far-out, rad, and tubular have for the most part not had the staying power or continued universal appeal of cool. In general there is no intrinsic reason why one word stays alive and others get consigned to the scrapheap of linguistic history; slang terms are like fashion designs, constantly changing and never “in” for long. The jury is still out on how long newer expressions of approval such as def and phat will survive.

I think the term can also be widely interpreted by the individual. What is cool to me may not be cool to you.


Geek was always a slang word and has no "normal" meaning like the word "cool".

The same site defines Geek as:

1. 1. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
   2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
2. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

I think the definition that comes closest into play for those of us who define themselves as "Disney Geeks" is 1.b:

• A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

Our acomplishment is not scientific or technical, but rather social and I wouldn't catagorize most of us as being socially inept (although there are those), but the single mindedness of our hobby is a bit more extreme than "most" people. Although, one would have to put a "value" on what is "normal" these days.

For example: if a mother was really into posting to a "Mom's Board" and ended up meeting other board members on occasions at a designated spot, would that be more or less "normal" than what we do?

We're actually probably more akin to "Hobbyists" who share a deep interest in something and gather people with like interestes around them. We just happen to have a great big world of Disney to play in.

Is our hobby escapism? As someone who spend a few years practising real life escapism, I think not. I think we have an interest in things which are magical, wonderful and happy. The real world still exists and I am aware of it while being absolbed in my hobby, but I like a good, healthy distraction now and then.

So sue me! I like being this brand of "geek".