An Appeal for Star Wars Day

For all those folks who are gleefully wishing each other a "May the 4th be with you" please take a moment to appreciate the cultural underpinnings of sci-fi fandom.

Those of us of a certain age who were geeks and nerds growing up were often othered and bullied for our intense passions for various fandoms that are now considered mainstream. There is a bittersweetness to seeing things that we loved gain mass acceptance. It is awesome that the world is moving towards acceptance of nerd culture and geek fandoms, but that childhood pain still remains, and likely will forever.

So.... As you reap the benefits of the culture that we have provided you, what are you doing to create a better world for today's geeks and nerds and weirdos? Do you speak up when your children laugh at or make fun of the weird kid who talks to himself in movie quotes? Do you or your children make jokes about the Bronies and the Furries? Do you worry about your child's obsessive love of My Hero Academia and force them into team sports where they are bullied? Do you make fun of the crazy cat lady? How about the dude who loves nothing more than to go to Comic-Con dressed as female characters? Or the kid with slightly robotic speech who runs in a strange way? Or the person who excitedly spills about their passions in a way that doesn't fit into your limited way of socially engaging? Do you open up your lives to these weirdos or just passively tolerate them? Do you step in when people laugh or you witness bullying?

Because it is these weirdos who have gifted you everything that you love. They have gifted you pop culture, the Internet, your prize phone and video game system, and the cars that allow you to travel. The only difference between George Lucas and the weird kid who you used to make fun of is luck. If you truly want to honor these nerdy stories that you have found such depth and resonance with, please help create a world where the weirdos can create their own stories too.