Poll: Are you a Geek or a Nerd?

[Logan Westbrook]

I think if we were looking for definitions, Kari Byron from Mythbusters is a geek, but the comic book guy from the Simpsons is a nerd.

Although most people wouldn't bother making the distinction.

 

[Pyro Paul]

if we are looking for definitions...
both nerd and geek are orginally insults to call some one stupid. geek=fool nerd=stupid/square.

dork just means 'stupid' as well.

 

[Minhef]

God, these terms are terribly outdated. Besides, here in England, the social cliques are far less defined.

I like to think people are more complex than simple groups, too.

 

[JakubK666]

I am unique...just like everybody else...



Sad Face :'(

 

[Logan Westbrook]

if we are looking for definitions...
both nerd and geek are orginally insults to call some one stupid. geek=fool nerd=stupid/square.

Yes, but insults get reclaimed by the groups they were originally targeted at. Look at the gay community using 'queer' or the baffling prevalence of the word 'nigga' in hip-hop. My view is that to describe them someone as a geek implies that they are technologically minded and computer literate, while to call someone a nerd implies the same thing, but also implies an increased level of social maladjustment. I would happily describe myself as a geek, but I wouldn't dream of calling myself a nerd.

 

[defcon 1]

I'm unique but I fit the criteria of a geek. I'm enthusiastic about art, video games, digital technology, and Tolkin novels. I tend to research the fields I'm most interested in. When it comes to other academics, I suck at everything else.

I seriously don't mind that label. What's so bad about being a geek/nerd?

 

[sma_warrior]

I'm a geek mixed with a jock - it DOES actually exist, as long as you don't grow up in a US high school system. Coincidently, the label I get in the rest of the world is Matt...

 

[Bearclaw66]

I would consider myself both, but I usually just tell people I am a nerd because I don't like the word "geek."

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I amused, no, amused isn't the right word. I find it interesting the number of people who say they shy away from labels. Humans are not solitary creatures and a significant part of our personal identity is based on the social groups we form.

I think labels of any kind resonant with people more than they would admit. There is a certain romanticism to rebelling against the establishment, but often people rebel in the same way, because the sense of identity that belonging to a group instils often outweighs the thrill of being an individual.

There's nothing wrong with labels per se, it's when they are used pejoratively that it becomes a problem.

OK, that's my armchair sociology done for the night.

 

[FranicalFrazical]

Ah that boils it down for me... I had no idea what the difference was, I AM FRASER NIKOLSON AND I AM A GEEK, but I don't like anime or sci-fi and I only play one RPG (Oblivion, hate final fantasy, is that a RPG? hmm..im just rambling on sorry) but the rest is true

 

[dukethepcdr]

I would say I'm more of a nerd than a geek. Like some other posters have said, while both are kind of social outcasts as far as the "in crowd" is concerned, there are some differences. Maybe the terms have lost a bit of their meaning these days and are interchangeable to some people. I "my day", (holy cow, I must be getting old since I'm saying that stupid phrase now) and where I grew up, there was a difference. I'm a product of the 70's and 80's in Western Nebraska. When I was a kid, a nerd was a guy who was really smart about 'uncool' yet considered by teachers as important for your future like math, history, science, etc. A geek, meantime was also really smart about 'uncool' things but those were usualy more hobby-related topics like movies, music, fictional books, comics, T.V. shows, video games etc. Both wore clothes that were out of style according to the fashion aspects of the media of the day, bad at "cool" sports like football and basketball, bad at social networking, etc. I'm no genius, but I was considered one of the best in my school at science, history, writing and computers (we had the Apple II's in high school, remember those?) Yes, I liked and still like playing video games, reading fiction, watching movies etc. but not to the extent that it interfered with my studies (automatic nerd status in my day).

 

[sicDaniel]

I think i´am a drifter. I love gaming, but i´m not so much into computers and hardware. Heavy Metal, yes, but i do not dress like all black and stuff. I watch a lot of movies, even those nobody around here knows, but i still know some people who watch even more underground artsy french films and brag about it and are a-holes towards people who watch mainstream movies. I hate those guys. Oh, and Anime. That is one of the most creepy, frightening and weird things in the world to me and people who are into that make me very scared.

 

[s0denone]

Geek:
Geeks tend to be very into Gaming, Anime, Cult films, Cult fiction, RPGs, Heavy Metal/Classic Rock

Two of them applies, does that make me normal, mother?

 

[Jeroen Stout]

I am the kind of person who refutes all labels of all kinds. Irony, fuck yeah!

Quit weirding me out, every time you post I think "woah, Charlie Brooker actually just posted on this forum!" Especially since your post have the same funny sort of bitterness and self-harm.
..and then I realise that Brooker would not likely use an avatar of himself in a big heart. He'd claim not to have one.

 

[stompy]

According to you, I'm both. Geek 'cos of my hobbies (gaming, anime, so on), and nerd because I do well in school.

 

[Antlers]

That dork-whale-penis thing was in QI.

My waster friends who do arts in college think I'm a geek but I'm really just like maths and physics slightly more than average.

When I was 15 I was a complete emo-face. Stripey tights, panda-eyes, chains out of pockets. Eurgh. Luckily I can look back on that and laugh. By laugh I mean cringe.

 

[Sib]

Sib:
Gaming, Anime,RPGs, Heavy Metal/Classic Rock. They're also usually very good with technology and philosophy it seems. Geeks argue between themselves on a regular basis on pretty much everything.
I also find that most Sibs are rather intelligent people, and are usually very interested in any subjects they might study at college etc.

Thanks to some editting your post now labels me as a class