What is a geek/nerd?

I am writing a paper about geeks for an essay class and need to know what people think of when they hear the words geek and nerd. What comes to mind? Are they the same thing, or what are the differences?

Thanks for your help.
Sammo1999

 

the clasic geek steryotype is the frekled, overbit, pocket protector, coke bottle glasses and no friends..... however we know this is wrong...



A geek is someone who doesnt fit in with the rest of the world as well. He/she cares about obscure technical facts and enjoys reading sams 24hour and for dummies books in his spare time. He plays games that stretch the immagination while other arround him fool arround with trivial matters such as physical and emotional relationships, cars, and social status. A geek doesnt CARE what people think as long as they come running to him when BSOD rears its ugly head. After which he will drink a highly cafinated beverage and laugh at the guy who just tried to print yellow text on yellow paper


at least thats my opinion

 

Sounds about right to me.

 

I agree great description...Any thougths about a nerd?

 

Nerds are the less popular geeks. IMO, geeks have enough social skills to be moderately cool to non-geeks. A nerd, however, is totally helpless. The kind of person that knows Pi out to 50 digits and can tell you how to calculate the spin state of a quantum particle.

 

Geek - computer tech wiz kids, smart folk, but cool enough to be accepted as almost-normal, socially acceptable, with moderate and above social skills.

Nerd - less popular geeks, much like kiljoi's example

 

It boils down to:
A geek is someone fascinated by technology.

A nerd is someone who is hoplessly uncool.

ch424

 

A geek is someone who is abnormally smart and interested in a certain subject (usually computers, but could be anythign I suppose), knowing more than is taught in school, maybee nothign to do with popularity. A nerd is someone who has no friends.

For example, I've always considered most of the people in the top class in my school are geeks (as everyone in the top class gets out on most weekends + holidays, yet are knowledgable in science, computers and maths). Wheras the nerds, the peoeple who spent their spare time in the library in our school (through choice, not force) were not in the top two classes as the 'geeks' were. (but im not trying to say nerds aren't ever smart, just saying they don't have to be smart, just insocial)

Although theres exceptions. Bah you'd realy have to be in my year in my school to see what I mean, but I tried.

 

This might help steer you in the right direction. From the Oxford English Dictionary (online):

Geek:
• noun, informal, chiefly N. Amer. 1 An unfashionable or socially inept person. 2 an obsessive enthusiast.

Nerd:
• noun, informal. A person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.

I imagine both geeks and nerds as being very studious (as far as knowing numbers, calculating equations, and recounting historical events). I think a geek would be more specialized in his knowledge (reference definition 2 in the "geek" entry), while a nerd has much broader, but less specialized knowledge.

I suppose you could say that geeks are specialized nerds, whereas not all nerds are geeks. When it boils down to it, in general common conversation I think the two terms are becomming synonomous.

my 2 cents,
monkey

 

A geek is a nerd with a social life.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I am actually looking forward to writing a paper for this class for once.

Keep um comming...

 

I, am a geek..

Bindi, Is a nerd.

hehe

 

731|\|37, do you mind if I base my definition of a geek off yours? Not exact quoting but general ideas.

[Edit] Actually could I quote the

"He plays games that stretch the immagination while other arround him fool arround with trivial matters such as physical and emotional relationships, cars, and social status. A geek doesnt CARE what people think as long as they come running to him when BSOD rears its ugly head."

I will give you credit for the quote if you want.

 

I operate under the GNU GPL


sure go right ahead whatever notation you want to put in is fine ^_^ I've never been quoted before

 

Thanks Buddy

 

just one request...

post your finished work?

 

I agree. I'd like to read this too.

 

some would say.. someone who is a book worm and have their own world..
some would agree that it accompanies passion with obsession...

 

Socially outcast geeks. Geeks are cool. Nerds are not.

 

To summarise:

A geek wonders what sex would be like in zero gravity.
A nerd wonders what sex would be like.

Matt