Comments on: Geeks vs. Nerds

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:45:12 +0000

a geek is a person who is mostly focused on one thing
a nerd is someone who is socially weird

By: Eh...

Eh... — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:45:37 +0000

I’m trying to figure out which is which as well, as I’m currently writing a definition essay for my college english class with the purpose of defining “nerd.” From everything I’ve read, my own opinion has slowly strengthened in the direction of a nerd being a D&D buff, totally into video games, excelling at math and science, taking notes, dressing slightly offish (out of social complacency, the lack of NEEDING to fit in). What I’ve formulated from what I’ve read about geeks is that they put forth an effort to socially fit in, and this effort drives them to find a social niche for themselves, which is usually becoming a technical handiman. They practically thrive on being able to fix things for people, including (but not limited to) iPods, PCs, cell phones, etc. Although a geek doesn’t naturally fit in socially, they are attention hungry; nerds… not so much. Another thing about geeks, they somehow manage to find ways to be stylish without looking normal (nerds don’t look normal, but at the same time don’t have anything close to an edge on style, having parted their hair in the same spot since age 3).

Have I come anywhere near an accurate assessment?

By: Geek vs Nerd

Geek vs Nerd — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:44:57 +0000

I’ve always seen geeks as someone interested in stuff like computers, gaming, anime, roleplaying, movies (especially LOTRO and Star Wars) or such while I view nerds as people who are good at academic studies like mathematics or physics.

By: girl

girl — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:21:12 +0000

I have been told, I’m a nerd because I enjoy Star Wars, renaissance, LOTR, video games and so forth. I’m a geek because I read text books and am constantly studying random things , not to mention I love my Macs. Hmm… I suppose I could be called either and perhaps a dork occasionally. But I am not at all a nerd or geek by image nor do I view the terms to be a cool label. I just am what I have always been and what anyone should be. Themselves.

By: More on how VIM beats Emacs » lolcat.us

More on how VIM beats Emacs » lolcat.us — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:27:48 +0000

[...] Someone who posted something along the same lines as this: a comparison of the two, and he comes to the same conclusion – that there isn’t a clear delineation between the two terms. Not in objective reference, nor in subjective forums. [...]

By: More on how VIM beats Emacs « Theatre of Consciousness

More on how VIM beats Emacs « Theatre of Consciousness — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:34:45 +0000

By: Geek Studies » Blog Archive » Authentically Geeky

Geek Studies » Blog Archive » Authentically Geeky — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:43:27 +0000

[...] I’m curious, then, how people reading this blog might (or might not) draw the line between real geeks and faux-geeks. Certainly there are people who affect a trendy, nerdy image but wouldn’t call themselves nerds—but are people who actually call themselves geeks who you’d have to disagree with? If so, how can you tell that difference between the real and the fake? Even if you don’t make such clear judgment calls, do you find yourself acting differently around some geeks than you would around others? Personally, I’m more interested in keeping track of other people’s definitions than in declaring any one definition to be “right,” so I welcome any and all to chime in here—even if you’ve already put in your two cents on the subject of defining geeks vs. nerds. [...]

By: Jason Tocci

Jason Tocci — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:02:51 +0000

Honestly, I suspect most Americans don't even know the term. After the dissertation is complete, I'm planning to publish something a little more expansive on international and cross-cultural interpretations of geek stereotypes—covering the stuff I haven't had time or space to work on here! Feel free to chime in, though, about distinctions you see between the geek, nerd, dork, otaku, boffin, friki, etc.

By: Mike Wardle

Mike Wardle — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:10:16 +0000

What about us boffins?

By: Stewart Paske

Stewart Paske — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:15:04 +0000

I personally find it impossible to differentiate between the two. Both terms, as far as I am aware, were initially used as derogatory terms for the traditional American high-school stereotypes for the intellectually gifted.

Their passion for knowledge and education set them apart from their peers, and those who feared or failed to understand this difference – the kind of people who are unfortunately left with the task of defining what is and is not ‘cool’ – drove a social wedge between perfectly acceptable individuals and the rest of society.

Now however, the geeks are striking back. Much in the same way homosexuals were shunned in the past and now have gay pride, geeks are striking back in force with their own geek pride. The geeks and nerds of the 70’s and 80’s are now some of the most wealthy people in the I.T. industry, and intelligence is once again celebrated.

I could go on…