Okay, so I owe this blog post to brian layman and brrbach (who I don’t know)
So the basics are I saw Brian’s post about how Geek is better in the Nerd VS. Geek debate and it got me thinking.
But before I go any further lets take a look at Websters definitions
Geek
- a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
- a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked
- an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity <computer geek>
Nerd
- an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person ; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <computer nerds>
First, I gotta say the first geek definition kinda surprised/scares me, but now back to my thoughts.
Obviously in the past 10-15 years the term geek and nerd have went from being insults to more of a (at least what I consider a) complement. The term geek seems to have become a bit more vague and mainstream then nerd. You see it used in marketing, company names, and even on TV shows, Beat the Geeks and Beauty and the Geek are the ones that come to mind. Even gamers consider themselves geeks now. Maybe that is why I’ve stuck to considering myself a nerd and not made the switch to geekdom.
But who cares about me and what I think. I really wanna know what you think, so here is my question:
Do you consider yourself a geek, a nerd, neither? And why?
(the “And why?” part brings back horrible school memories, if it does the same for you I apologies.)
January 8th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Well I may or may not have bitten the head off of a live snake…so I might have to go with Geek…
But seriously, if I had to label myself as one of these, I’d choose nerd. But to be honest, when I first here these terms I think of the IT and support people who know all the terms and ins and outs of computers and the like.
I just like making videos and being involved in online communities, so does that put me in either of the categories? Now you’ve got me thinking…thanks Brian…
January 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am
well I consider myself a Nerd … proudly I might add. But when I think of a geek I think of someone that spends countless hours playing a MMORPG and checks 4chan all the time … When I think of nerd I think of someone that’s technologically inclined. Those are just my definitions though.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I don’t know, Brian…I wouldn’t catagorize myself as either a nerd or a geek as I really have no interest in the machinery or inner workings of computers or their lanquages. Neither am I a hardcore fan of sci fi or remotely good at or intersted in things mathematical or scientific. As a kid I was not part of the ”in crowd” as I was not a fashionista or into sports/cheerleading. I never smoked, drank or went to parties where they did. I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 18. I dressed to suit myself and no one else. I read books all of the time, not nerdy books but classic stories etc. I like animals, cats better than dogs and I’ve never understood the typical girl’s fasination with horses…what’s up with that? Anyway, if geek or nerd are not correct labels for a person like me then what would be? And please, be kind, those HS memories are still vivid even after 30 yrs!