Addition is a serious issue, and geeks are grossly susceptible. Unfortunately for serious geeks, we can have several addictions, each costing about as much as something classy like cigarettes or cocaine. The problem is the hobby begins to feed itself - if you’ve been doing something for 10 years, why stop?

Case in point, I’ve been a compulsive action figure collector for years, amassing a solid 300 plus figures.  I open the boxes, display them in awkward positions, and have oodles of fun.  Recently, my interests, especially financial, have been more focused on video games leaving me less budget for action figures forcing me to prioritize - the new Marvel Legends or dinner.

The problem is my action figure collection is so large, it begins to feed itself.  I want to buy more figures just to justify the figures I already bought.  If I stop buying them, it makes the first 300 look like a waste of money.  And that would be silly.

The challenge is always time and money.  I now have more video games than I have time to play, more comic books than I have time to read, too many movies and TV shows to watch, and obviously no social life.  So it’s always a challenge when I want to buy something else, but can’t figure out where to fit it.

For action figures, I’ve slowed my purchasing, weaning myself off the addition.  I still buy figures I’ve had on my must list for a while like Ra’s Al Ghul and upcoming Despero.  Thankfully Hasbro’s take on Marvel Legends is so crappy otherwise this would be much more of a struggle.  Of course, new Battlestar Galactica figures are just too tempting.

So I’m not really one to help you cure the addictions.  Better to just come up with justifications.  Me, I promise to stop after the I get my life-size Lee Adama figure.

There are many factions within the geek community, most viciously opposing and plot the death of other factions. Just try to get a Star Trek fan to agree with a Star Wars fan on anything. The truth is there is a hierarchy of geeks, and geeks in higher parts of that hierarchy are well in their power to look down on those lower in the hierarchy, the same way jocks and cheerleaders look down on all geeks. This list ranks the geekiest of geek hobbies in, well, order of geekiness. Enjoy one of these doesn’t make you a bad person. Just really, really geeky.

7. Star Wars geek

When it comes to sci-fi geekdom, Star Wars wins. It’s just huge, with every comic book, novel, action figure, and video game to collect, memorize, and horde. No other single franchise can match this insanity.

How to know if you are one: You have read anything Star Wars related outside of the 6 movies

Wastes money on: Anything Star Wars related outside of the 6 movies

6. Anime

Pokemon has helped turn anime into a less embarrassing hobby, as long as you are younger than 12. Once you his puberty, it’s time to hide those big-eyed cartoons and start watching South Park. But some geeks can’t break the habit. They just love the speed lines.

How to know if you are one: You understand anime

Wastes money on: Subtitle software and Japanese lessons

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Years of withdrawal after my parents threw out my action figures inspired me, after I ran away from home (to college), to begin collecting again. I started collecting at the early stages of Toy Biz’s Marvel Legends and the already churning DC Direct line. Every few months, about a dozen new and awesome figures earned a place on my shelves (yes, I open them…and play with them). And this went on for a few years until now I have a modest 300 or so figures.

But recently, the wind has left my plastic shell. DC Direct has shrunk their action figure lines to four characters instead of the previous five. When one or two of these figures is Superman and/or Batman, it doesn’t leave room for much variety. And Marvel Legends now under Hasbro have plummeted in quality, loosing most of their articulation and featuring cheap looking sculpts with plain paint jobs.

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You should want to sit at your desk. Your desk is where you keep your computer. You might even do work there occasionally. So when your boss isn’t looking (or your just messing around at home), you can mix business with pleasure. Taking breaks is healthy and helps productivity, but we need some real incentive. Playing games or playing with toys, here are some ideas to make your desk a more rewarding place.

Action figures

No longer solely for your ten-year-old nephew, action figures appeal to a larger demographic. Based on everything from comic book characters to television shows to historical figures, action figures are the perfect thing to fiddle with while that presentation downloads. Extensive collections based on the Simpsons, Family Guy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer make for excellent entertainment and unique conversation starters. Many figures are now made “super-poseable” meaning you can put them in all sorts of inappropriate positions giving a mature edge to your inner child.

Video games

From Pong to Yahoo! Games, there’s less and less reason to work on your computer. Puzzle or simulation games are quick and stimulating satisfaction. Thousands of variations exist of Asteroids, Space Invaders and Pong giving you a valuable 15 minutes of mindless excitement. You can find dozens of free games online at Yahoo.com or download some from Download.com and GameHippo.com.

Snack drawer

The details of a snack drawer are a very personal choice, but vital for any desk, at home or work. Keeping a healthy stash of unhealthy junk food allows your mind to work while your body feels satisfied (naughty magazines are a full fledged distraction but fulfill similar needs). It’s best to prepare for various potential cravings: chocolate, fruity, salty, minty, chewy, etc. Individually wrapped candies are of course best, but also consider boxes of cereal for light, healthy snacks.

Pen spinning

An amazing distraction for almost any circumstance, pen spinning not only entertains but impresses. Pen spinning is literally spinning a pen around your fingers. There are different tricks: spinning it around your thumb, ring finger, spinning the pen backward and more. It’s surprising how something seemingly mundane can dazzle for so long. Pen spinning takes time to learn, but the people you’ll impress will be worth the effort. Check out Pentrix.com for excellent guides on pen spinning tricks, complete with videos.

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