My Surprising Super Geek Score: Reflections on the Geek Stereotype

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants' reflections on their self-identified "geek" status as measured by a quiz. It explores the stereotypes associated with geeks and nerds, the criteria for being considered a geek, and personal scores from the quiz. The scope includes conceptual distinctions between geek and nerd identities, personal anecdotes, and varying levels of self-assessment.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at their high scores, challenging the stereotype of geeks as low-IQ individuals.
  • There is a question about the difference between geeks and nerds, with some suggesting that geeks have more technological and scientific interests, while nerds may lack social skills.
  • Several participants report their quiz scores, with a range of self-identifications from "just a geek" to "super geek."
  • Some participants argue that the quiz conflates geekiness with nerdiness, particularly through its focus on gaming.
  • One participant mentions that collecting slide rules is akin to collecting art, suggesting a functional appreciation for such items.
  • There are expressions of disappointment regarding low scores, with some attributing their results to specific quiz questions they found irrelevant.
  • Participants share personal interests, such as programming, math, and collecting calculators, which they believe contribute to their geek identity.
  • Some participants humorously suggest that others may be in denial about their geekiness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a range of self-identifications as geeks, but there is no consensus on the definitions of geek and nerd, nor on the implications of quiz scores. Multiple competing views remain regarding what constitutes geekiness.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the quiz may not adequately account for the diversity of interests within the geek community, leading to confusion between geek and nerd identities.

  • #31
Damn I'm one of the higher ones! 42%!
 
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  • #32
25% - Total Geek :biggrin:
 
  • #33
Evo said:
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.
 
  • #34
Bravo ! My exact sentiments.
 
  • #35
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.
 
  • #36
Entropy said:
Damn I'm one of the higher ones! 42%!

Oh my gosh, I had a 43+%
 
  • #37
22.68245% - Geek

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
  • #38
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
 
  • #39
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.
 
  • #40
Not quite. :biggrin:
 
  • #41
chroot said:
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

Me too. :smile: :biggrin: What does FYI stand for?

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
  • #42
for your information
 
  • #43
Gokul43201 said:
for your information

Ok, Cheers.

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
  • #44
hmm 4.33925% - Poser ...

Oh well. I should have got an extra 10 for doing the test lol. That was ages long.
 
  • #45
8.48%-POSER

well, that's because I don't watch star trek (or comics) and neither play with my computer?
 
  • #46
32%--what was all that about star trek and comic books? -_-
 
  • #47
What is the meaning of GEEK? Does it mean Freak ?
 
  • #48
Saint said:
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 ©)
 
  • #49
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!
 
  • #50
10.45365% - I have geekish tendency. Bow before me, nerds!
 
  • #51
l

I perfer Nerd
 
  • #52
Oh by the way

recon said:
I've always thought of geeks as low-IQ stereotypes. Imagine my disappointment when I scored at the Super Geek Level on this test . :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
 
  • #53
Tom McCurdy said:
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:
 
  • #54
Wow, I thought that I was going to score really high, but I only got regular Geek.
 
  • #55
Dissident Dan said:
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:

fisipavia said:
8.48%-POSER

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

Civilian2 said:
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:
 
  • #56
Tom McCurdy said:
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!

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:
 
  • #57
is a person who likes pornography a porn-geek[/size]?
 
  • #58
Saint said:
is a person who likes pornography a porn-geek[/size]?

Eh? Please do not digress from the topic of this thread.
 
  • #59
Determine Your Geek Decade

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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #60
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... :smile:

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

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