In recent years the idea of being a geek has taken on a new meaning. Previously, the idea of being called a geek would be social suicide. Images of pocket protectors and suspenders with the inevitability of a swirlie come to mind. Today, however, the prospect of being a geek is a cool thing, a desirable thing.

Take for example World of Warcraft. Commonly referred to as WOW, this massive online multiplayer game was for the realm of geeks, computer nerds who would hole themselves up in a dark room all day. One of their latest ad campaigns, though, features none other than Chuck Norris. A man who has regained popularity within the past five years due to the Chuck Norris facts, he is the man no one will mess with. Choosing him to advertise for World of Warcraft makes the game cool. After all, Chuck Norris does say that the people in the world exist because he allows them to.

Looking farther into the virtual world is Star Wars. This past December another massive online multiplayer game came out called “Star Wars the Old Republic.” In this game, players get to decide what life they want to choose – do they want to be a jedi or a sith? How about a bounty hunter? On top of this, they can choose to go over to the Dark Side if it suits them. This game puts players in the world of Star Wars as never seen before.

This is not the only way in which Star Wars is reviving itself. On Feb. 10, “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace” will be re-released in theaters, but this time it will be in 3D. While the price of a 3D ticket may seem absurd, people are still sure to show just so they can see light sabers popping out of the screen.

America has also experienced a resurgence of superhero geekery. With “The Avengers” set to release on May 4, this is just another in a series of superhero films to find its way to the silver screen. In recent years cinemas have seen the “Green Lantern,” “Iron Man,” and “Superman.” Following the release of The Avengers is the new Spiderman on July 3. The most anticipated superhero movie of the year, however, has to be “The Dark Knight Rises,” coming out on July 20. As the final episode in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, theaters are sure to be sold out weeks in advance of the premiere screenings.

Geek just does not refer to computer techies, sci-fan fans, and comic book readers, though. In her book “Geek Girls Unite,” author Leslie Simon points out that a geek is anyone who has obsessed over any form of entertainment. With this in mind, “The Hunger Games” trilogy produced a new group of geeks. Following in the footsteps of the Harry Potter series, “The Hunger Games” will bring fans straight into the games with its movie coming out on March 23.

No matter what a person is interested in, it is now possible to become a geek. Whether it be music, movies, or video games, there is a geek out there with a deep passion for it. No longer does the thought of being a geek mean that one’s lunch money will get stolen. Now, the term offers a sense of pride and a sense of authority, a sense that everyone seems to be embracing.