Geek or nerd?

[kage]

I'm just curious - which would you rather be called and why? personally, i'd rather be a nerd. for some reason, i view nerds as being at least slightly more socially adjusted than geeks.

[Starálfur]

I'd rather be a nerd. 'Nerd' tends to be directed more toward intelligent, hard-working people while 'geek' usually refers to someone abnormally obsessed with something like Star Trek.

[Alex D]

Geek chiqué

[TygrHawk]

Originally posted by kage23 i view nerds as being at least slightly more socially adjusted than geeks. To me it's just the opposite. Hence, I would prefer "geek".

[kage]

Originally posted by TygrHawk To me it's just the opposite. Hence, I would prefer "geek". i wonder if there's any sort of "standardized" definitions . . . *checks wikipedia* Pundits and observers dispute the relationship of the terms “nerd” and “geek” to one another. Some view the geek as a less technically skilled nerd. Some factions maintain that “nerds” have both technical skills and social competence, whereas “geeks” display technical skills while socially incompetent; others hold an exactly reversed view, with “geek” serving as the socially competent counterpart of the socially incompetent “nerd,” and call themselves “geeks” with pride (compare Geekcorps, an organization that sends people with technical skills to developing countries to assist in computer infrastructure development). Another view is that “geeks” lack both social competency and technical skills. Arguably, a “nerd” is a more self-controlled sort of person, while a “geek” can be something of a loose cannon—or at least more awkward in an obstructive way than a “nerd.” Some regional differences may exist in the use of the words nerd and geek. Some claim that on the North American west coast the population prefers the term geek to nerd, while the North American east coast prefers the word nerd to geek (see Ellen Spertus's page on The Sexiest Geek Alive). The term "nerd" is broader in its significance than "geek", defining a person's entire way of life. A nerd has the tendency to pursue intellectual gratification at the expense of social or physical gratification. A geek, on the other hand, simply has an interest in a particular subject. This subject could be intellectual, such as the arts, theatre, classical music, technology, or mathematics, or it could be something less generally "useful", such as movies, television, video games, anime, or even sports. Such a person may be perfectly well-rounded, merely showing a preference for his desired subject of interest. A nerd, on the other hand, is by definition not well-rounded. Thus the term "geek" should not generally be used or taken as an insult, while "nerd" might be in some cases (but certainly not all). Similar terms exist which are always insulting; dork, dweeb, goon, and doofus are a few examples. These terms imply the lack of social skill suggested by the term "nerd", but imply none of the mitigating intellectual factors. The word "nerd" refers to a person of "above-average intelligence" whose interests (often in science and mathematics) are not shared by mainstream society. By contrast, a "geek" is essentially a person who is fascinated, perhaps obsessively, by obscure or very specific areas of knowledge and imagination. A good example of this is found in an episode of the television show, "Married with Children." The protagonist Al Bundy complains about wearing glasses, saying he'll look like a nerd. His friend, Jefferson Darcy responds, "No Al you won't be a nerd. You're too dumb to be a nerd" Thus a "nerd" is primarily marked as having a high intelligence and is not necessarily more fascinated with one subject any more so than another. A "geek", however, is obsessively fascinated with particular subjects, but is not necessarily attributed an above average intelligence. Thus a "geek" has the compulsion and drive to learn vast quantities of knowledge about a particular field such as computers, or Star Trek trivia, without high intelligence being assumed. Some also hold that the reverse is true, geeks being those with high intelligence, and nerds being those who obsess over obscure subjects. More than likely, the main confusion between the terms comes from their common association with specific areas of knowledge that seem to require a high level intelligence (for example, mathematics and science). Thus a "geek" who was obsessed by the pursuit of mathematical or scientific knowledge, might also be classified as a "nerd" as society considers such pursuits to be intellectual in nature and as requiring high intelligence.[/b] well, that wasn't extremely helpful.

[Dagget]

I'm a dork, I'd rather be a geek though and actually be good at something.

[Pastro]

Id rather be a geek, I always have thought they seem to be socially acceptable but like to play a large amount of video games.

[kage]

Originally posted by Dagget I'm a dork, I'd rather be a geek though and actually be good at something. you are! you're a Dream Geek!

[Amethyst Star]

<------------------- Band Geek

[Gwendolyn]

I think I am both.

[Lucifer Sam]

I'm definitely a nerd....or maybe I'm a geek? Actually, I don't like to define myself, because if you define yourself, you have limits, I'd rather be a God. I'm immortal for as long as I'm alive.

[kage]

after a discussion of this issue last night with some friends of mine, i am now in doubt as to my status. they all said they'd rather be a geek than a nerd. they said a geek is someone who revels in their status as such, who made a choice to be such, and who might even be considered "cool" for it, like comedy central's old show Beat the Geeks. a nerd, however, wears horn-rimmed glasses and pocket protectors and is always trying to overcome their innate nerdiness, like the movie Revenge of the Nerds (which i haven't actually seen). baesd on these definitions, i'd rather be a geek. but i don't know.

[Distant Clone]

I see a nerd as someone who has chosen to study rather than socialize, and a geek as a Trekkie-type person, with one main interest, probably of a technical nature. Going off those definitions, I would rather be a nerd.