Are you a geek? [Archive] - Physics Forums

BobG

Aug13-04, 08:24 AM

Just a geek for me.

BoulderHead asked:
What is the primary difference between a Geek and a Nerd, which one would be more likely to have a slide rule in pocket, and do either of these constitute a squirrel ?

Strange they didn't have one question about strange eating habits. Technically, a geek is a carnival performer who bites the heads off of live chickens or snakes to entertain the crowd.

Math Is Hard:
Major. Extra points for my calculator collection, I suppose. Geez! Like there's anything weird about that!

Digital or analog? I collect the analog calculators (and I do have a pocket-size one that I sometimes carry). I only have about a dozen, but just about all of them are the really good ones. A couple of Post Versalogs (including my Dad's slide rule that I learned on after he got his first digital calculator), a Post 1491 (a chemical slide rule which is extremely interesting and almost more effective than a digital calculator for Chemistry classes - especially if the book is written by Chang, whom I suspect may be a collector himself, judging by how all the problems seem to be optimized for slide rule solutions), a Hemmi 255 Electrician's slide rule, a Hemmi 259 (the sister slide rule of the Post Versalog), an Albert Nestler 23R (the favorite of Werner VonBraun and Albert Einstein), a couple of Soviet Gosts (the equivalent of the AN 23R), and the big dog of slide rules: the Faber Castell 2/83N Novo-Duplex rule (size does matter).

:uhh: Uh, maybe I better go back and add a couple of extra points.

Artman

Aug13-04, 08:37 AM

Just a geek for me.

BoulderHead asked:

Strange they didn't have one question about strange eating habits. Technically, a geek is a carnival performer who bites the heads off of live chickens or snakes to entertain the crowd.

Math Is Hard:

Digital or analog? I collect the analog calculators (and I do have a pocket-size one that I sometimes carry). I only have about a dozen, but just about all of them are the really good ones. A couple of Post Versalogs (including my Dad's slide rule that I learned on after he got his first digital calculator), a Post 1491 (a chemical slide rule which is extremely interesting and almost more effective than a digital calculator for Chemistry classes - especially if the book is written by Chang, whom I suspect may be a collector himself, judging by how all the problems seem to be optimized for slide rule solutions), a Hemmi 255 Electrician's slide rule, a Hemmi 259 (the sister slide rule of the Post Versalog), an Albert Nestler 23R (the favorite of Werner VonBraun and Albert Einstein), a couple of Soviet Gosts (the equivalent of the AN 23R), and the big dog of slide rules: the Faber Castell 2/83N Novo-Duplex rule (size does matter).

:uhh: Uh, maybe I better go back and add a couple of extra points.

How in th world did you not get at least Major Geek!!!
:smile: :confused:

graphic7

Aug13-04, 08:52 AM

31 % - Total geek.

I was rather disappointed. I was shooting for a bit of a higher score. I think what hurt me was unchecking, "I think this quiz is cool."

DarkAnt

Aug13-04, 09:02 AM

Super Geek. Worst part is...I've taken this test before. Its good to be a geek :biggrin:

arildno

Aug13-04, 09:25 AM

I think the reason why I didn't score enough here is that I threw away my Vesuvan Doppelgangers years ago, along with the Mahamoti Djinns and the rest of that stupid card game..

selfAdjoint

Aug13-04, 09:28 AM

Just a geek (24+%) on the cusp. Plusses, my career in programming, my math background, and my interest in self educcation. Minuses, no games at all, except Trivial Pursuit, at which I am properly geeky. Also little or no TV.

BobG

Aug13-04, 10:29 AM

How in th world did you not get at least Major Geek!!!
:smile: :confused:

I think you have to be a multi-dimensional geek to score well on this test. It covers several different categories: math geeks, computer geeks, gamers, trekkies, etc. If you rated by category, I'd rate pretty high on the math category, maybe at least make it on the scale in the computer category, and score around zero for most of the other categories (except maybe history or useless trivia).

Besides, collecting slide rules is a little like collecting art, except more functional.

Monique

Aug13-04, 11:34 AM

I think anyone who completes that test is a geek :eek: too long!

Dooga Blackrazor

Aug13-04, 11:49 AM

I achieved a 19% and am only a regular Geek.

check

Aug13-04, 12:54 PM

19.9211%, Geek

Evo

Aug13-04, 01:37 PM

I can't believe that there are not higher levels of geekdom among our members.

I think some people are in denial of their true geekiness. :wink:

arildno

Aug13-04, 01:42 PM

I think BobG has the right view:
There's only mono-geeks around here.

Dimitri Terryn

Aug13-04, 02:05 PM

11,24% Geekish tendencies.

Math Is Hard

Aug13-04, 04:03 PM

Digital or analog? I collect the analog calculators (and I do have a pocket-size one that I sometimes carry).

Mine are all digital but I am looking for an abacus for my collection. I might build one if I can't find one I like.
Hey, Bob - maybe you should create a coffee table book about slide rules. What a great gift for the engineer who has everything! :biggrin:
I would totally buy a copy for my Dad.

Gokul43201

Aug13-04, 04:13 PM

They didn't ask, "Do you time how long it takes to mentally calculate logarithms to 4 digit accuracy, in order to determine your blood alcohol level ?" Damn them ! :grumpy:

Entropy

Aug13-04, 04:53 PM

Damn I'm one of the higher ones! 42%!

Grizzlycomet

Aug13-04, 06:47 PM

25% - Total Geek :biggrin:

Moonbear

Aug13-04, 11:23 PM

I can't believe that there are not higher levels of geekdom among our members.

I think some people are in denial of their true geekiness. :wink:

I was surprised by this too. I've always accepted myself as a geek, so was shocked that I didn't score very high on that quiz. However, I think that quiz is confusing geek with nerd. All those questions about gaming seem like more nerdy activities than geeky things to me. I don't know if others have this distinction in their mind, but I tend to think of geeks as people who have a lot of technological/scientific interests, the ones who like to learn and share what they've learned just because. I think of nerds as those who completely lack social skills, who live in their own world, possibly virtual, who take things like gaming as too much of their reality. Basically, I guess my distinction is that nerds are maladjusted and geeks are just intellectuals. Most of the folks around here seem fairly well balanced as people, and it seems the test doesn't know how to account for us.

Gokul43201

Aug13-04, 11:27 PM

Bravo ! My exact sentiments.

Imparcticle

Aug14-04, 12:06 AM

Ditto. I'm no computer/game person. I'm into math and physics. I don't even know how to play anything but solitare.

I am composed of 20% Geek.

Artman

Aug14-04, 10:23 AM

Damn I'm one of the higher ones! 42%!

Oh my gosh, I had a 43+% :yuck:

The Bob

Aug15-04, 01:19 PM

22.68245% - Geek

The Bob (2004 ©)

chroot

Aug15-04, 03:26 PM

Gee, I would have thought that a person who goes around calling himself "The Bob" would have scored higher on the quiz...

FYI, physicsforums.com reserves the copyright to anything you post here...

- Warren

motai

Aug15-04, 04:05 PM

38.65878% - Major Geek

Its odd that some sections I left almost blank and other sections I almost completely checked all the boxes (especially in the "I Like To" and "I Want To (2)") sections. Probably also a sign of geekyness considering that in the last sentence I closed all brackets and quotations.

Kboom

Aug16-04, 02:15 AM

Not quite. :biggrin:

The Bob

Aug16-04, 03:14 AM

Gokul43201

Aug16-04, 08:56 AM

for your information

The Bob

Aug16-04, 12:57 PM

for your information

Ok, Cheers.

The Bob (2004 ©)

Civilian2

Aug17-04, 11:43 PM

hmm 4.33925% - Poser ...

Oh well. I should have got an extra 10 for doing the test lol. That was ages long.

fisipavia

Aug18-04, 12:19 AM

8.48%-POSER

well, that's because I don't watch star trek (or comics) and neither play with my computer?

daveed

Aug18-04, 10:26 AM

32%--what was all that about star trek and comic books? -_-

Saint

Aug18-04, 07:41 PM

What is the meaning of GEEK? Does it mean Freak ?

The Bob

Aug19-04, 03:18 AM

What is the meaning of GEEK? Does it mean Freak ?

Hard to explain. It is sort of a freak in the way that they are a genius because they work hard unnecessarily. They normally stay at home and do nothing but computers and maths. I know that is very stereotypical but it is the best way I can describe it in writing.

The Bob (2004 ©)

Gale

Aug24-04, 11:32 AM

32.5 % total geek. highish.... but i'm not really a geek, i just try to be. but i guess trying to be a geek is almost as geeky as being one!

jimmy p

Aug24-04, 12:28 PM

10.45365% - I have geekish tendency. Bow before me, nerds!!

Tom McCurdy

Aug24-04, 05:36 PM

I perfer Nerd

Tom McCurdy

Aug24-04, 05:38 PM

I've always thought of geeks as low-IQ stereotypes. Imagine my disappointment when I scored at the Super Geek Level on this test (http://www.innergeek.us) . :frown:

You are on A Forum--- Physics forums posting about a Geek test you took. By now I didn't even have to see the results. What about being a geek surprised you.. Look at us

jimmy p

Aug24-04, 05:47 PM

You are on A Forum--- Physics forums posting about a Geek test you took. By now I didn't even have to see the results. What about being a geek surprised you.. Look at us

*Coughcough* Look at YOU guys. I have geekish tendencies, but so does everyone. Apart from the real geeks. That fact that I post on PF is no relation to this :rolleyes:

Dissident Dan

Aug24-04, 09:09 PM

Wow, I thought that I was going to score really high, but I only got regular Geek.

Moonbear

Aug24-04, 10:50 PM

Wow, I thought that I was going to score really high, but I only got regular Geek.

I think you care too much about making the world a better place to score much higher :wink:

8.48%-POSER

well, that's because I don't watch star trek (or comics) and neither play with my computer?

hmm 4.33925% - Poser ...

Oh well. I should have got an extra 10 for doing the test lol. That was ages long.

You both get an extra 10 points for complaining about not scoring higher. Clearly you must be geeks if you're worried about a low score on that quiz! :biggrin:

recon

Aug26-04, 12:42 AM

You are on A Forum--- Physics forums posting about a Geek test you took. By now I didn't even have to see the results. What about being a geek surprised you.. Look at us

I attribute my high geek score to having an interest in both movies and science.

I have more than 100 DVDs in my DVD collection. I thought that having an interest in movies would "balance" out my other geekish interests. By the way, I've watched around half of all Friends Episodes. That should make me a NON-GEEK!!!! :grumpy:

I'm so bored at school that I don't do my homework and frequently skip school to stay at home and watch TV. I've not turned in a single mathematics homework in 2 years.

I think I should have been labelled a cool-geek by the test! :approve:

Saint

Aug26-04, 03:27 AM

is a person who likes pornography a porn-geek?

recon

Aug26-04, 04:59 AM

is a person who likes pornography a porn-geek?

Eh? Please do not digress from the topic of this thread.

recon

Aug28-04, 08:11 AM

There's another geek test someone recommended me to take. JOIN THE GEEK REVOLUTION!!! Determine your geek decade at http://www.spacefem.com/geektime/

I'm a 1970s geek.

plover

Aug28-04, 07:33 PM

I was initially declared a 1950's geek. If I change one answer from a rational answer to an experiential one, then I'm a 1960's geek, go figure... :rofl:

Strange considering I wasn't alive in the 50's and don't remember the 60's (no, not for that reason). :tongue2:

Moonbear

Aug29-04, 01:43 AM

I'm A 1970s Geek

Though, I had trouble with that one question that said "being geeky is all about..." There was no all of the above choice!

Whatupdoc

Aug29-04, 02:29 PM

4.14201 % - Poser

man that test was so long....!

Gokul43201

Aug29-04, 03:19 PM

I'm A 1970s Geek - heck, I was born near the end of that decade. :rolleyes:

Yeah, the "being geeky" question ...

Werdatothewise

Aug31-04, 12:43 AM

I'm A 1970s Geek

Though, I had trouble with that one question that said "being geeky is all about..." There was no all of the above choice!

MoonGeek, ........ who was who said, "Once you have reach Geek Status, it is only then you have obtained being comfortable who you are?"

I also am a 1970s Geek - loved every single minute of it. ~Love Werdas'

Evo

Aug31-04, 11:46 PM

I'm also a 1970's geek.

Saint

Sep1-04, 12:28 AM

what is geek?
confused?

Werdatothewise

Sep1-04, 01:17 AM

Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
Date: 1914
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of
- geeky /'gE-kE/ adjective
Online Dictionary (http://http://aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/home-aol.htm)
~Werdas'

physicskid

Sep1-04, 04:02 AM

No, i think the definition of 'geek' more close to what the quiz mean is:
- "A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept."

Got a Total Geek ( 25.64103% ) ... i'm surprised! I thought i'm the king of all geeks.

amwbonfire

Sep1-04, 05:34 AM

1970's geeks? Dang, in 1970 I was -17 years old. I'm 17 years old now, so that's double my lifetime ago.... :surprised

I don't mean to call anyone old. :redface:

According to that test, i'm a 23% Geek. Which means I'm a geek, but not much of one. But I ticked lots of boxes! :grumpy:

But some questions were pretty dumb. Look: "I have wished for a lightsaber". WHO HASN'T?!? :confused:

And even more proof that they're silly: "I like to browse the dictionary to learn new words." I mean COME ON! Everybody does that! Right? *Not so sure anymore* :eek:

I'm not a geek :cry: I WANT TO BE ONE!!!

Sorry for the outburst. Thankyou for your patience. :blushing:

Matter

Sep1-04, 07:10 AM

Geek! I didn't even think I'd make the grade.

Werdatothewise

Sep1-04, 03:37 PM

Geek! I didn't even think I'd make the grade.

I DID! 41.42%

Click here: INNERGEEK: http://www.innergeek.us/

TITLE: Super Geek
Lyrics and Chords

She's a very GEEKY girl
The kind you take home to mother
She will never let your spirits down
Especially discussing a physics magazine,
~ ow girl

/ Dm7 Am7 G Am7 / / / /

She likes the techies in the land
She says that I'm her all-time favorite
When I make my check mate - it's the right time
She's never likes to lose, oh no

{Refrain}
That girl is pretty wild now - the girl's still a super GEEK
The kind of girl you read about - in new-computer magazines
That girl is pretty GEEKY - the girl's a super GEEK
I really love to play a good game of chess with her -
Every time we meet

She's all right, she's all right
That girl's all right with me, yeah
She's a super GEEK, super GEEK, she's super-GEEKY, yow

/ Dm7 Am7 G Am7 / / / / FG Am7 FG Am7 /
/ FG Am7 - - Fmaj7 - E - / Dm7 Am7 G Am7 / /

Super geek, super geeky....

@2004 Werdas' TheSuperGeek

Moonbear

Sep1-04, 06:22 PM

1970's geeks? Dang, in 1970 I was -17 years old. I'm 17 years old now, so that's double my lifetime ago.... :surprised

I don't mean to call anyone old. :redface:

The dates refer to a second quiz posted a page or so back. It tells you what decade geek you are. I guess there's a lot of appeal to the 70s for geeks :biggrin:

Saint

Sep1-04, 06:48 PM

freak and geek have similarity?

Moonbear

Sep1-04, 07:57 PM

freak and geek have similarity?

That's an old usage of the word. In circus sideshows, the geek used to be the one who would do things like eat a live chicken. Worse than a freak, just gross stuff.

But, that's not our meaning here. It's more similar to a nerd the way we are using it in this thread. Someone whose technological interests would be too esoteric for most people. A good example is the computer whiz kid who loves science fiction books or movies, but unlike a nerd, doesn't have to wear broken glasses, a pocket protector and short-sleeved plaid shirt. Geeks are allowed to be good looking.

Werdatothewise

Sep2-04, 02:16 AM

That's an old usage of the word. In circus sideshows, the geek used to be the one who would do things like eat a live chicken. Worse than a freak, just gross stuff.

But, that's not our meaning here. It's more similar to a nerd the way we are using it in this thread. Someone whose technological interests would be too esoteric for most people. A good example is the computer whiz kid who loves science fiction books or movies, but unlike a nerd, doesn't have to wear broken glasses, a pocket protector and short-sleeved plaid shirt. Geeks are allowed to be good looking.

Moonbear ~
Yes, I wear my in-cog-geeko uniform .... :wink: ~Werdas' And I 4.0 you for your comments. :::take a bow:::

Geeks are allowed to be good looking.

The Bob

Sep2-04, 02:24 AM

Werdatothewise

Sep2-04, 02:45 AM

I need one. :biggrin: How much and where from???

The Bob (2004 ©)

Dearest Bob,

Of course! Before I can answer your question ~ my question to you is - are you looking to GEEK-UP, or, GEEK-DOWN? :biggrin:

Werdas' 42% Geek, and a 100% hip-chick-psychology Ph.der, who is ready and willing to preform ectomies of the brain ~ for needed research of course :surprised

The Bob

Sep2-04, 02:49 AM

Dearest Bob,

Of course! Before I can answer your question ~ my question to you is - are you looking to GEEK-UP, or, GEEK-DOWN? :biggrin:

Werdas' 42% Geek, and a 100% hip-chick-psychology Ph.der, who is ready and willing to preform ectomies of the brain ~ for needed research of course :surprised

Geek-Up.

The Bob (2004 ©)

Werdatothewise

Sep2-04, 03:37 AM

Geek-Up.

The Bob (2004 ©)

Bob, Bob, Bob............ this is how it is done. Take this $5 buck. I will wait in the van. You will enter the Salvation Army with your $5 total spending money. You have EXACTLY 6 minutes to complete a clothing outfit that cannot exceed the $5 you have in your pocket. ::::Major Geek Accomplished!

Ps: What the "heck" are we both doing up at 3:26 AM typing/communicationing on the Physics Forum?

Signed: (2004 ©)
Werdas' ~ 42% Major Geek, 100% Hip-Psycho-Chick and loving each day!

The Bob

Sep2-04, 04:24 AM

Bob, Bob, Bob............ this is how it is done. Take this $5 buck. I will wait in the van. You will enter the Salvation Army with your $5 total spending money. You have EXACTLY 6 minutes to complete a clothing outfit that cannot exceed the $5 you have in your pocket. ::::Major Geek Accomplished!

Ps: What the "heck" are we both doing up at 3:26 AM typing/communicationing on the Physics Forum?

Signed: (2004 ©)
Werdas' ~ 42% Major Geek, 100% Hip-Psycho-Chick and loving each day!

Ok, I get it.

It is 10:23 am in England.

Cheers.

The Bob (2004 ©)

P.S. You are mad.

Werdatothewise

Sep2-04, 03:47 PM

Ok, I get it.

It is 10:23 am in England.

Cheers.

The Bob (2004 ©)

P.S. You are mad.

Dear "The Bob"
YES, I am! ::::evil laughter:::: especially in my white coat :surprised

Werdatothewise

Sep2-04, 05:02 PM

I was surprised by this too. I've always accepted myself as a geek, so was shocked that I didn't score very high on that quiz. However, I think that quiz is confusing geek with nerd. All those questions about gaming seem like more nerdy activities than geeky things to me. I don't know if others have this distinction in their mind, but I tend to think of geeks as people who have a lot of technological/scientific interests, the ones who like to learn and share what they've learned just because. I think of nerds as those who completely lack social skills, who live in their own world, possibly virtual, who take things like gaming as too much of their reality. Basically, I guess my distinction is that nerds are maladjusted and geeks are just intellectuals. Most of the folks around here seem fairly well balanced as people, and it seems the test doesn't know how to account for us.

Mr. Moonbear,

I delight in reading your twelve-lined comprehension of the "Geek Test". Although I scored 42% (never owning a television) I am in complete agreement with your statements as listed above, and as quoted below...

Quote: Moonbear:
"Basically, I guess my distinction is that nerds are maladjusted and geeks are just intellectuals. Most of the folks around here seem fairly well balanced as people, and it seems the test doesn't know how to account for us."

Moonbear

Sep2-04, 10:51 PM

Mr. Moonbear,

:grumpy:

Maybe I should start posting in pink. It seems my gender is being questioned quite often around here. No wonder I can't find dates! :rofl:

P.S. I only pretend to be offended. I know that only those who have had the fortitude to read through the member photo thread to about the 35th page or so would know I'm female. How come nobody even guesses I'm female? It's a 50/50 chance, you'd think the odds are somebody would guess it right on occassion.

Hurkyl

Sep2-04, 10:54 PM

Don't you know? A 50/50 chance either has a 90% or a 10% chance of being guessed correctly. :frown:

Werdatothewise

Sep3-04, 12:19 AM

Don't you know? A 50/50 chance either has a 90% or a 10% chance of being guessed correctly. :frown:

Odds Against/Odds in Favor
Odds against is a ratio of the probability of A not occurring to the probability of A occurring.

A typical method of calculating this would be P(Ã) to P(A), where P(Ã) is the probability of A not happening and P(A) is the probability of A happening. These might possibly be expressed as a fraction, but beware that odds are not probability. Notice that if these probabilities are expressed as fractions, the denominators of both could be the same and could represent the number of outcomes in our sample space, if unreduced.

The odds in favor or odds for is the "reciprocal" of the odds against: P(A) to P(Ã).

Odds against or odds in favor [of] are sometimes left unreduced, but are typically reduced with a "numerator" of 1. They are most commonly expressed in the form a:b or a to b. When one says you have a 50:50 chance of getting heads, this is a typical statement of odds, but can also be interpretted as saying you have a 50% chance of winning and a 50% chance of losing.
~Werdas'

decibel

Sep3-04, 12:31 AM

I am a.........poser. :confused:

The Bob

Sep3-04, 05:37 AM

Math Is Hard

Sep3-04, 08:56 AM

:grumpy:

Maybe I should start posting in pink. It seems my gender is being questioned quite often around here. No wonder I can't find dates! :rofl:

I empathize. Someone (in a post) just referred to me as "he" again. I haven't been called "dude" in a while though, so I'll count my blessings. :biggrin:

Dr Transport

Sep3-04, 10:11 PM

Only 17%, I thought I was worse........

plover

Sep3-04, 11:20 PM

Only 17%, I thought I was worse........
Would worse be a higher or lower percent?

tumor

Sep4-04, 12:30 AM

Are geeks (no offence to anybody) usually kind of ugly, or behind those glasses perfectly normal?
I'm not a student so I don't meet them,but once on Discovery Channel I saw most beautifull geek girl.She had old fashines glasses and funny dress but still her face and manners were faultless.