Here’s a quandary. You are falling head over heels for this rare person who hasn’t been scared away after three-five dates and you’ve managed to reign in the Star Trek analogies (of which there are many). But now your hopeful significant other wants to come over to your place…your Fortress of Solitude, filled with all your action figures, video games, comic books and/or Vampirella posters. Will s/he be scared away? It’s a scary thought. But here are some ways to lessen the blow.

• Prep the object of your affection from the first date
  You risk scarying them away earlier, but better to find out someone’s a geekaphobe earlier than later. Just express your geekiness in cute ways. I like working in an aforementioned Star Trek reference into the conversation, and then tilting my head saying “Yeah, I’m a huge geek.” Basically, play up the boyish charm. Girls, you’ll have it easier of course. Guys will just be happy to have someone willing to watch Star Trek with them.
• Show the breadth of your knowledge
  You might know every different kind of Stormtrooper, but you also know the current real estate market. You love debating the ethics of super hero registration in Marvel Comics, but you also enjoy a hearty debate about stem cells or about Britney losing her kids. It doesn’t matter what your extra curricular interests are, just as long as you have some outside of geekdom that you feel passionate about. Being a geek is something to be proud of. Not having a life is not.
• Show a lot of interest in your significant’s other’s interests
  Even if all your girlfriend cares about are Coach bags, express an interest in learning and understanding. We are all geeky about something, whether it’s comics, Star Wars, or fashion or sports. So be understanding and understanding will find you.

Every Thursday, I put my geeky gayness to the task of bring geek culture to the fashionable mainstream. This is your geek life guide.