I Wanna Be Porn-Stealing, Privacy-Violating Geek When I Grow Up!

The founder of Geek Squad says the jumper-resetting, network-troubleshooting tech handyman is becoming a cultural icon, with kids now dreaming of becoming an Alpha Geek when they grow up. Citing the popularity of media phenomena such as NBC's new series "Chuck" and the trend-setting "The 40-Year Old Virgin," Robert Stephens says the geek archetype he created and later sold to Best Buy has become a type of contemprary hero.

It all started when a computer geek became the world's richest person. The tidal forces began to shift from brawns to brains. The metrosexual has given way to the technosexual.

Of course, nobody mentions the real reasons a kid might want to join the geek elite: The opportunity to get paid (slightly) above minimum wage while engaging in treasured underage pursuits such as violating privacy, stealing porn and sneaking a peek of T&A.

Triumph of big-box geeks[Boston Globe]