Geeks, like many of the groups I like and respect, tend to be rebellious. They take badly to being led. I'd identify as a member of a number of groups, large and small; and in many of those groups I'd be able to point to people who are central to the group, who produce more than they consume, and who I respect for what they do. But they don't lead, they don't give orders (except practical ones like "Please don't burn our venue down"), they don't expect obedience and they don't enact any sort of hierarchy. They hold a respected position because of what they do, which is to create, enable, encourage and bring people together. In some groups I'm one of those people, in others I'm not. If one of these people started demanding respect, issuing orders, expecting obedience - behaving like a traditional tribal leader - they'd very quickly lose all that respect.