Nerds vs Geeks ... Does that still exist?
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
Nerds are studious. Geeks are circus performers.
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
Geeks are (like circus geeks) unusual in the way they show their passion. Nerds are unusual in the depth of their passion. A geek will bite the head off a chicken. A nerd will spend days analyzing the bite marks.
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
For me, GEEK applied to technology. And more socially capable. Nerd covered the socially awkward kids playing Dungeons and Dragons, getting too deep into ANY of the Sci-Fi stuff, etc. I was a Geek, I had friends who were both nerds and geeks. But in a foreign country... I could see the challenge. The two words could be interchanged. In Big Bang Theory, I consider them mostly nerds!
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I live in a developing country. <= This statement has many things to do with the next paragraph. For us not having active scientific activities, the only thing that makes people "think" is school. That said, the "Nerds" in here are the ones who spend a good period of time studying, good enough to be classified above-average, more like 3 hours a day doing homework. On the other hand, a "Geek" is a person who meets a monospecific standard, which is: spending more than 2 hours on the computer daily. Doesn't matter if you are programming, playing video games, or chatting on facebook. You will be called a geek if that criteria matches you. Don't judge me - Unfrontatly, that's how things work in here. :((
Alaa Ben Fatma wrote:
monospecific
That is possibly one of the best management-speak words I've ever seen. I'm borrowing it; thank you!
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli
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For me, GEEK applied to technology. And more socially capable. Nerd covered the socially awkward kids playing Dungeons and Dragons, getting too deep into ANY of the Sci-Fi stuff, etc. I was a Geek, I had friends who were both nerds and geeks. But in a foreign country... I could see the challenge. The two words could be interchanged. In Big Bang Theory, I consider them mostly nerds!
Thanks for referring to TBBT! :) Yes exactly this is the point - at least regional around Vienna where I live, nobody ever ever uses the term "geek" - in fact, if I tell someone, that I am in theory more a geek than a nerd, I get back "Geek? What's that?" The thing is, here (again: at least regional), TBBT "created" the word "nerd" for the masses. Now everybody referres to "crazy tech/science people" as nerds - no matter if they play games, develop, repair printers for live for their mother-in-law :laugh: or are chemists/physicians. It's been years that I heard the word "geek" the last time. Even some of the very young junior dev's know "nerd" very well but you get a ... confused look from them if you refer to geeks.
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
This should answer all questions: venn diagram
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It doesn't matter which one you thi k you are, your friends and family think you fix printers for a living.
This space for rent
...and attach bluetooth devices to their phone and find files on their MacBook Air desktop!
Cheers, Mike Fidler "I intend to live forever - so far, so good." Steven Wright "I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met." Also Steven Wright "I'm addicted to placebos. I could quit, but it wouldn't matter." Steven Wright yet again.
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This should answer all questions: venn diagram
The venn is missing the "wears pocket protector" and "has calculator strapped to their hip in a zippered leather (or simulated plastic leather) holster." In my day (1970's), nerds, a pejorative term btw, gave themselves by what they wore. The term geek, also pejorative, existed but in my circle of friends wasn't used as often. Maybe because that's what we were. :)
Cheers, Mike Fidler "I intend to live forever - so far, so good." Steven Wright "I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met." Also Steven Wright "I'm addicted to placebos. I could quit, but it wouldn't matter." Steven Wright yet again.
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
If I had the inclination to really consider it I would say that the two are closely akin to each other however: Geek - Tends to suggest one who while being brilliant may at times often be disconnected from the world around them. While... Nerd - Seems to suggest to me that same individual who has managed to circumvent the disconnected state of a burgeoning geek and succeeded at bridging the gap between the technical and the physical world. Consequently geeks are more common than nerds and typically much more successful integrating and likely more accomplished based on world standards. Just my thoughts.
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
In my life, the term "nerd" is often a pejorative, used as a label for people you do not like. "Geek" is applied to someone who has deep technical knowledge.
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In my life, the term "nerd" is often a pejorative, used as a label for people you do not like. "Geek" is applied to someone who has deep technical knowledge.
You have that backward.
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
I just looked up the dictionary definition of a geek. Originally a geek was a carnival performer who performed wild or disgusting acts such as biting the heads off live chickens. How it came to be applied to our present understanding of the term geek I do not know but this original definition has fallen to second place. The first definition of geek is now "an unfashionable or socially inept person." Maybe geeks bite the heads off live computers!
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Alaa Ben Fatma wrote:
monospecific
That is possibly one of the best management-speak words I've ever seen. I'm borrowing it; thank you!
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli
Words are sensuous weapons. :laugh: I am happy that my reply helped you learn how to wield a new weapon. You've got a lovely profile picture out there!
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I live in a developing country. <= This statement has many things to do with the next paragraph. For us not having active scientific activities, the only thing that makes people "think" is school. That said, the "Nerds" in here are the ones who spend a good period of time studying, good enough to be classified above-average, more like 3 hours a day doing homework. On the other hand, a "Geek" is a person who meets a monospecific standard, which is: spending more than 2 hours on the computer daily. Doesn't matter if you are programming, playing video games, or chatting on facebook. You will be called a geek if that criteria matches you. Don't judge me - Unfrontatly, that's how things work in here. :((
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Well, I am natively speaking German, not English, so my thoughts may be very well caused by that language difference, but please let me ask you this question: At least here, where I live, in the last years, especially since Big Bang Theory hit the TV screens, which opens (in the german localized version) with the sentence "Neulich bei den Nerds" ("Recently with the nerds..."), I recognized, that nobody talks about Geeks, we all are "Nerds", be it programmers, people "who do that computer-thing", physicians, chemists, whatever kind of "technical" or "scientific" job profile it may be. Is it true, that the term "Nerd" has been silently chosen to replace or assimilate the term "Geek" and now we are all "Nerds" - or is this a local, language-dependant phenomenon? Do you still distinguish between those two factions? Are you as a developer nowadays a "Nerd" or a "Geek"? Cheers, Mike
|| You know nothing, Jon Snow. || My Android Label (mbar Software) on G+ || My Android Apps in Play Store
A geek finds a great deal of interest in computers and electronic gizmos; they show little interest in athletic sports, and tend to goofiness, and shyness. Their lack of physical prowess suggests they are more easily dominated than others. A nerd is a victim of society due to a lack of aptitude, both physically and mentally. Someone to destroy. In a mechanistic world, they are co-victims, and therefore the terms become confused as people attempt to distance themselves from the contests of bullies, and so on, of schoolyards and barrooms. Of course, the entertainment media settles upon stereotypes to which the audience can relate. These words can be confused easily. You shouldn't think of yourself as a nerd, IMHO, unless you're really weird.
Remain Calm & Continue To Google
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When in doubt, turn to
jargon.txt. geek[^] A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance. Geeks usually have a strong case of neophilia. Most geeks are adept with computers and treat hacker as a term of respect, but not all are hackers themselves — and some who are in fact hackers normally call themselves geeks anyway, because they (quite properly) regard ‘hacker’ as a label that should be bestowed by others rather than self-assumed. nerd[^] Pejorative applied to anyone with an above-average IQ and few gifts at small talk and ordinary social rituals. /raviMy new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
I agree that Nerd is strongly pejorative, and in some contexts might imply that the person doesn't know their subject matter all that well, though they think they do. These days, Geek has a much more positive social slant. For example Public libraries recently did a "Geek the Library"/"What Do You geek?" campaign. And someone asked in a Penguicon discussion if they could be considered a geek about sports. :omg: It seemed like the writing on BBT got very lazy early-on, and I stopped watching. It went from "Haha, they have found an absurdly creative way to make bunnies the most fearsome creature in this game!" to "Hurr-hurr, they are playing a board game!"
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A geek finds a great deal of interest in computers and electronic gizmos; they show little interest in athletic sports, and tend to goofiness, and shyness. Their lack of physical prowess suggests they are more easily dominated than others. A nerd is a victim of society due to a lack of aptitude, both physically and mentally. Someone to destroy. In a mechanistic world, they are co-victims, and therefore the terms become confused as people attempt to distance themselves from the contests of bullies, and so on, of schoolyards and barrooms. Of course, the entertainment media settles upon stereotypes to which the audience can relate. These words can be confused easily. You shouldn't think of yourself as a nerd, IMHO, unless you're really weird.
Remain Calm & Continue To Google
You're right on the nerd-as-victim. The movie "Revenge of the Nerds" had a ring to it because you wouldn't imagine nerds being ept enough to exact an effective revenge. "Revenge of the Geeks" would be something else entirely.
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Alaa Ben Fatma wrote:
Don't judge me - Unfrontatly, that's how things work in here.
It does however have the distinction of being a very precise definition. Which presumably nerds and perhaps geeks would approve.
...correct.
