It’s easy and cheap, and can be done by anyone who cares to try – so it’s not geeky.

>Maybe this whole issue is analogous to professional chefs sharing their skills and knowledge?

Um, no don’t see that – the word chef doesn’t have negative connotations. I can’t think of another area of work that degenerates itself so readily.

I’m responsible for the term – I thought it was ‘bouncy’ and captured the essence of the idea fairly well – it came about from a discussion on the self-describing http://geekup.org community mailing list.

I just thought ’speak to a professional internet consultant’ didn’t have the same ring to it

I think you raise an interesting point about the potential for language reinforcing barriers for using techl, I’m just not sure I agree that it causes any problems.

The idea for the event came about because we thought there was potentially a lack of knowledge about how to tackle issues such as setting up an effective search engine marketing strategy, using ’social media’ effectively etc. – if we’re able to share our experiences, and yes, skills into helping those people who regard this stuff as complex, or an non-core activity, then I think the nomenclature is fine.

The ‘Geeks’ are all professional consultants – professional in that they charge for their time and expertise as ‘geeks’; I think this does create a natural division of skills and labour – basic societal exchange, really

It’s a marketing issue, really – we want people to know that a lot of this stuff is easy, cheap and accessible to their organisation…

I know you’re not having a go at the event (quite the opposite), but thought I’d wade in

Maybe this whole issue is analogous to professional chefs sharing their skills and knowledge?