Nerd or Geek: Which One Are You?

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The discussion revolves around the identity of "nerds" and "geeks," exploring their definitions and the cultural shift in perception over time. Traditionally, a nerd is characterized as intelligent yet socially awkward, with a strong interest in science and knowledge. Many participants express their self-identification as nerds or geeks, often debating the nuances between the two terms. Some participants share personal anecdotes, highlighting their intellectual pursuits and social experiences, while others humorously engage in tests to measure their "geekiness." The conversation also touches on the social implications of being labeled a nerd or geek, with some rejecting the negative connotations associated with the terms. Additionally, there are playful exchanges about pirate identities, showcasing a lighthearted tone throughout the thread. Overall, the discussion reflects a blend of pride in intellectual pursuits and a desire for social connection among those who identify with these labels.
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Are you a nerd?
The definition from wikipedia:
Traditionally, a nerd is a very intelligent but lonely and socially awkward person who is fascinated by knowledge, especially science. Beginning in the late 1990s, many nerds on the Internet reclaimed the word nerd as a badge of pride, and began using it as a positive description of any technically competent person, with less implication or focus on social awkwardness. There is currently an ongoing dispute as to whether nerd and geek are synonymous, or if not, as to exactly how they differ.

I think I am a nerd. But I actually have some friends.
 
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Never been,never will.But sure,when I'm alone,if I'm not working,i'm sleeping.Do nerds sleep as much as i am...?:eek:

Daniel.

P.S.I don't match this one:"(a nerd is a) very intelligent,..."
 
I think I'm a nerd. I read Slashdot, which claims to be news for nerds. But I know my advisor is a nerd for sure...he made the news, for building a coffee bean roaster out of a vintage, '70s popcorn popper, a pair of thermocouples, variacs, 6-digit HP voltmeters and an old DOS computer, running an algorithm that he'd written up for the temperature control.

http://home.columbus.rr.com/thegramilas/coffee/roaster2.jpg[/URL] [/PLAIN]

I've never seen caffeine dependence listed as a criterion for nerditude (or is it geekiness?) - that's just wrong.
 
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Traditionally, a nerd is a very intelligent but lonely and socially awkward person who is fascinated by knowledge, especially science

Im not a nerd in the sense that i am very intelligent, because I am not. But the highlighted part would be true to me, as (i think) I am getting into a deeper and deeper state of despair to say that i have abandoned all of my 'friends'
 
Bit this if you can. (No it isn't me)
http://www.griggbros.com/images/team/Geek_Central.jpg
 
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Bladibla said:
Im not a nerd in the sense that i am very intelligent, because I am not. But the highlighted part would be true to me, as (i think) I am getting into a deeper and deeper state of despair.

Ditto. :shy:
 
I am slowly trying to become a nerd: I would say that I am an apprentice to a nerd.
 
I consider myself more of an intellectual hippy
 
I think I am. Whether I qualify with the intelligence criteria is debatable; I certainly fit the rest of the description. I identify more readily with 'geek' than 'nerd'. :blushing:
 
  • #10
I think I am a Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) in being nerd. Soon I will obtain the Ph.D. in being nerd and I will have completed the process of transforming myself in such an akward guy.

To Daniel I'd say that the process of transformation is unavoidable, wait some time and you'll cross to the dark side with me and those thousands...
 
  • #11
I never have been, and never will be a nerd.

I'm a geek!
 
  • #12
  • #13
42.40631 I am lacking in the movies department quite a bit
 
  • #14
I'm a geek, not a nerd.

Caffeine dependence is a definite criterion.
 
  • #15
Never thought of myself as a nerd because nerds have negative connotations associated with them. I instead think of myself as a Renissance Woman.
 
  • #16
Andromeda321 said:
Never thought of myself as a nerd because nerds have negative connotations associated with them. I instead think of myself as a Renissance Woman.


Ummm...so you marry at 14, are subservient to men, and look like the virgin mary?
 
  • #17
Ack, 42.20907% Geekyness, which makes me a Major Geek. It seems to have gotten higher in the past few years...
 
  • #18
I'm just another freak in the freakdom looking for kicks! :biggrin:
 
  • #19
franznietzsche- no, not quite. :wink:
The term "Renissance Man" refers to someone who's like da Vinci who has interests across the board: great at science, great at art, etc. A nerd, on the other hand, specializes more in only one direction.
And of course I had to change "Man" to "Woman" for obvious reasons. o:)
 
  • #20
franznietzsche said:
I'm a geek, not a nerd.

Caffeine dependence is a definite criterion.
Damnit! *rips up application form* I guess I'm not getting into GeekU then eh?


Andromeda321 said:
franznietzsche- no, not quite. :wink:
The term "Renissance Man" refers to someone who's like da Vinci who has interests across the board: great at science, great at art, etc. A nerd, on the other hand, specializes more in only one direction.
And of course I had to change "Man" to "Woman" for obvious reasons. o:)
Gah! Stop perverting the english language.

1. It's spelled Renaissance

2. DaVinci was a "Renaissance Man", because he was a man during the Renaissance (it's really that simple), in fact you could even attribute him with starting the bloody movement.

3. You can't just add 'Wo' to anything you want and completely change the meaning for your own petty comments. Bah!
 
  • #21
Smurf said:
Damnit! *rips up application form* I guess I'm not getting into GeekU then eh?

*Hands Smurf a big cup of coffee* It's not too late yet. We at PF believe in promoting any educational aspirations you may have.

3. You can't just add 'Wo' to anything you want and completely change the meaning for your own petty comments. Bah!

Well, it seems easier than adding those other things necessary to use the term "man." :biggrin: This coming from a guy who goes to school in dresses...you should know better! :-p
 
  • #22
Moonbear said:
This coming from a guy who goes to school in dresses...you should know better! :-p

ouch! :smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #23
Apologies for the misspelling. I have heard the term refer to people who are talented in many areas before, however, and it sounds more poetic then "jack of all trades" or some such.
And it's not meant as a feminism thing or anything though, I stole the term from my high school yearbook's theme actually, and I am what I am, so... *shrug*
 
  • #24
Andromeda321 said:
franznietzsche- no, not quite. :wink:
The term "Renissance Man" refers to someone who's like da Vinci who has interests across the board: great at science, great at art, etc. A nerd, on the other hand, specializes more in only one direction.
And of course I had to change "Man" to "Woman" for obvious reasons. o:)


I know what the term means, i was just making a joke.
 
  • #25
Andromeda321 said:
Apologies for the misspelling. I have heard the term refer to people who are talented in many areas before, however, and it sounds more poetic then "jack of all trades" or some such.

The usage was appropriate. We knew what you meant. These guys are giving you a hard time. :smile:

Damn! I only got 18.73767% geek! I need to learn more about computers!
 
  • #26
40.84% Geek.
 
  • #27
34.7% ... feel like "normal" !
 
  • #28
motai said:
Ack, 42.20907% Geekyness, which makes me a Major Geek. It seems to have gotten higher in the past few years...


You beat me!


 
  • #29
Judging significant digits only,i'm happy that i got 12% and that i have "tendencies"...:-p

Daniel.
 
  • #30
20.11834%... Geek!
Wow, I'm shocked that I actually beat someone.
That test was hilarious
 
  • #31
Ok, I got to say this. You're a geek if you actually took this whole test...it's got like what? 20k questions?
 
  • #32
Why wouldn't take the whole test,even with 200 questions...?Would you risk severe damage to nerve cells...?:wink:

Daniel.
 
  • #33
I'm a nerd, for sure. In fact, I think the best thing about being a parent is that being a nerd was suddenly an asset. Parents are supposed to be nerds. :approve:

Or maybe I'm just a hick with above average intelligence. Or maybe being a hick with above average intelligence led me down the path to nerd-dom, since being a nerd is lots better than being a hick. :frown:

There's a huge difference between nerds and geeks. Nerds take showers, for one thing. Geeks bite the heads off of live chickens, for another.
 
  • #34
BobG said:
There's a huge difference between nerds and geeks. Nerds take showers, for one thing. Geeks bite the heads off of live chickens, for another.

Hmmm...I suspect there's a difference in meaning depending on where you live. I would have said it's nerds who don't shower and geeks who do. As for biting heads off chickens, I leave that to the lead singers of Metal bands, who are neither geeks nor nerds, they're just strange.
 
  • #35
MMMMMM... live chicken heads...

A message from the Society for the Advancement of Geek Youth (SAGY).

hehe
 
  • #36
38.46%-major geek, but with a little effort I know I can do better.
 
  • #37
Moonbear said:
Hmmm...I suspect there's a difference in meaning depending on where you live. I would have said it's nerds who don't shower and geeks who do. As for biting heads off chickens, I leave that to the lead singers of Metal bands, who are neither geeks nor nerds, they're just strange.

Well, MY meaning is backed by Merriam-Webster's. How about yours? :smile: (I needed 10 characters, not including the quotes - but it didn't say what base, so I decided to play it safe).

Merriam-Webster Online said:
Main Entry: geek
Pronunciation: 'gEk
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
 
  • #38
Bob G is correct. Carnival geeks are famed for that particular heinous act.
 
  • #39
Math Is Hard said:
Bob G is correct. Carnival geeks are famed for that particular heinous act.


Can you blame us?

Them chickens is yummy.


Mmmmm, chicken. :-p
 
  • #40
I'm a pirate. Argh!
 
  • #41
I am so definately a nerd, in my own special way. I was like pseudo popular in school, at least, i had pleanty of friends, and i knew about my whole class and they knew me. But i decided that i'd rather hang in the library and read feynman lectures or try to understand quantum theory. I also really enjoyed "the beauty of math" sort of books... but either way, i became totally awkward and caught up in intellectual pursuit, the sheer definition of a nerd. Go me
 
  • #42
Gale17 said:
I am so definately a nerd, in my own special way. I was like pseudo popular in school, at least, i had pleanty of friends, and i knew about my whole class and they knew me. But i decided that i'd rather hang in the library and read feynman lectures or try to understand quantum theory. I also really enjoyed "the beauty of math" sort of books... but either way, i became totally awkward and caught up in intellectual pursuit, the sheer definition of a nerd. Go me

Same here... but I am not even psuedo-popular... hardly have any friends (only 1 or 2) and I hardly know the names of half of the people in my class, and the ones I do know I shrug off. As for the libraries and QT thing, yeah I do a lot of that :biggrin:. Its gotten to the point where intellectual pursuit is all that I do in my spare time, at least the stuff that I can figure out from the college textbooks at the local university.

It sucks that there aren't more people who have the same mindset as my own, it gets real lonely sometimes. Even my classmates who are also in the top of the class aren't much for conversation, anything I bring up intellectually doesn't work, and it seems like most of their conversations are extremely banal and lacking direction. For instance, whenever I try to elaborate by bringing up calculus, physics, or humor of both, I get a lackluster and unsatisfactory response. I usually end up eating lunch alone or without saying a word.
 
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  • #43
Physics_wiz said:
Ok, I got to say this. You're a geek if you actually took this whole test...it's got like what? 20k questions?
Your kidding right? Oh come on... look, for all you lot who are still in denial, I'm going to show you something.
Now, I know it'll be really hard for you to take, but try to be understanding.
..
..
..
..
Ready for it?
..
..
Ok
Look up at the top of your screen, it's blue and white with letters all over.
Physics Help and Math Help - Physics Forums -
 
  • #44
motai said:
Same here... but I am not even psuedo-popular... hardly have any friends (only 1 or 2) and I hardly know the names of half of the people in my class, and the ones I do know I shrug off. As for the libraries and QT thing, yeah I do a lot of that :biggrin:. Its gotten to the point where intellectual pursuit is all that I do in my spare time, at least the stuff that I can figure out from the college textbooks at the local university.

It sucks that there aren't more people who have the same mindset as my own, it gets real lonely sometimes. Even my classmates who are also in the top of the class aren't much for conversation, anything I bring up intellectually doesn't work, and it seems like most of their conversations are extremely banal and lacking direction. For instance, whenever I try to elaborate by bringing up calculus, physics, or humor of both, I get a lackluster and unsatisfactory response. I usually end up eating lunch alone or without saying a word.

You're a man after my own heart motai.

I feel your pain.
 
  • #45
Smurf said:
Your kidding right? Oh come on... look, for all you lot who are still in denial, I'm going to show you something.
Now, I know it'll be really hard for you to take, but try to be understanding.
..
..
..
..
Ready for it?
..
..
Ok
Look up at the top of your screen, it's blue and white with letters all over.

:smile: Yep, it's geek and nerd central here. The question isn't "Are you a geek or a nerd?" It's, "Which are you, a geek or a nerd?" :smile:

I opt for being a geek. Do I really have to bite the heads off chickens though, or can I just cut their heads off? I guess the vegetarians have to be nerds. :biggrin:
 
  • #46
I liked Entropy's idea. I want to be a pirate! That's way more fun than being a geek or a nerd.
ARRGGGHH MATEYS!
 
  • #47
Math Is Hard said:
I want to be a pirate!
ARRGGGHH MATEYS!

Ah ha...I see the quest to "experience sin" has been taken to the next level... :devil:

Sister MIH, aka "Nobeard"...scourge of the seven seas!...
 
  • #48
cepheid said:
Ah ha...I see the quest to "experience sin" has been taken to the next level... :devil:

Sister MIH, aka "Nobeard"...scourge of the seven seas!...


More like scourge of the seven sailors :wink:
 
  • #49
unfortunately, I only scored a 23 on the pirate test ("pirate-ish tendencies"). *sigh*
 
  • #50
Why would u say that...?23 is FAR better than 7:wink:...On any scale...(except Mercali & Richter :-p)...

Daniel.
 

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