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  3. Is geek an offensive term?

Is geek an offensive term?

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  • S stevepqr

    Surley only geeks and nerds would discuss such a subject? Everyone else already knows the answer ;)

    Apathy Rules - I suppose...

    Its not the things you fear that come to get you but all the things that you don't expect

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    Timothy W Okrey
    wrote on last edited by
    #29

    Very funny point. I think that most of the discussion has trailed off from the original intent proving that your observation is correct.

    'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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    • R Roger Wright

      Well said, John! :-D If you depend on the opinions of others to define your own self-worth, you might be a girlie-man.

      "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

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      Timothy W Okrey
      wrote on last edited by
      #30

      Roger Wright wrote:

      If you depend on the opinions of others to define your own self-worth, you might be a girlie-man.

      And how does this statement correspond to the initial question? :)

      'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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      • M Mircea Grelus

        Paul Watson wrote:

        former richest man of the world known as a super nerd

        I would wouldn't call him a nerd. The term nerd implies social inability, or lacks in the matter, and it's usually used to refer to a person that learns a lot about a subject without even though the information might not be useful for him. As a result of their social inability they're usually lonely persons. Geeks on the other hand are pasionate about technology but they have no problem socializing and "get the job done" unlike nerds that will go around in circles learning things of no real use while having troubles planning and finishing the job. I would call him a geek but definitely not a nerd. For that matter I don't consider "geek" as being an offensive term, but I do consider "nerd" one.


        Last modified: 19mins after originally posted --

        Cheers, Mircea "Pay people peanuts and you get monkeys" - David Ogilvy

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        Paul Watson
        wrote on last edited by
        #31

        Mircea Grelus wrote:

        I would call him a nerd.

        I am glad you agree ;)

        regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

        Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:

        At least he achieved immortality for a few years.

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        • P Paul Watson

          Mircea Grelus wrote:

          I would call him a nerd.

          I am glad you agree ;)

          regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

          Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:

          At least he achieved immortality for a few years.

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          Mircea Grelus
          wrote on last edited by
          #32

          Ah crap. :)

          Cheers, Mircea "Pay people peanuts and you get monkeys" - David Ogilvy

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          • M Mircea Grelus

            Ah crap. :)

            Cheers, Mircea "Pay people peanuts and you get monkeys" - David Ogilvy

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            Paul Watson
            wrote on last edited by
            #33

            I just think the majority of non-techies would label Bill Gates as a nerd. And a geek. Most people use both words to mean the same thing. And his success has thus enhanced the case for nerds and geeks.

            regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

            Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:

            At least he achieved immortality for a few years.

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            • P Paul Watson

              I just think the majority of non-techies would label Bill Gates as a nerd. And a geek. Most people use both words to mean the same thing. And his success has thus enhanced the case for nerds and geeks.

              regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

              Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:

              At least he achieved immortality for a few years.

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              Mircea Grelus
              wrote on last edited by
              #34

              Paul Watson wrote:

              Most people use both words to mean the same thing.

              Non-techies usually make this assumption. Heh ... amateurs. ;)

              Cheers, Mircea "Pay people peanuts and you get monkeys" - David Ogilvy

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              • T Timothy W Okrey

                Roger Wright wrote:

                If you depend on the opinions of others to define your own self-worth, you might be a girlie-man.

                And how does this statement correspond to the initial question? :)

                'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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                Roger Wright
                wrote on last edited by
                #35

                Who cares? I wasn't responding to the initial question. :-D The answer to that, though, is obviously the same. Why care whether the terms are derogatory or complimentary. If it matters to you, you're a wimp and deserve the scorn of all. I've been called a nerd, a geek, a brain - whatever was currently popular for the great unwashed horde to call their intellectual betters - all my life. Life began when I learned to consider the source, and value the names I was called as honors due a superior being. Without us, the horde would still be sitting in cold damp caves wondering if rocks are edible.

                "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

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                • R Roger Wright

                  Who cares? I wasn't responding to the initial question. :-D The answer to that, though, is obviously the same. Why care whether the terms are derogatory or complimentary. If it matters to you, you're a wimp and deserve the scorn of all. I've been called a nerd, a geek, a brain - whatever was currently popular for the great unwashed horde to call their intellectual betters - all my life. Life began when I learned to consider the source, and value the names I was called as honors due a superior being. Without us, the horde would still be sitting in cold damp caves wondering if rocks are edible.

                  "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

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                  Timothy W Okrey
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #36

                  Fair enough. I am not concerned what people think either. I just was asking if those of use that are considered geeks by the rest care. The responses have been quite amusing.

                  'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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                  • T Timothy W Okrey

                    Is it just me or does anyone else feel that being labeled a 'geek' or a 'nerd' is unflattering?

                    'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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                    peterchen
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #37

                    Not anymore. In my observation, our the stereotype has arrived in public culture. I have been distinctly recognized as "one of these" by: A stewardess on the flight to Lisbon, a (german-born) tour guide in Chile, and the hair dresser at the corner. This is somewhat discomforting, but also has turned geek into "just another group". Nowadays, "Geek" is no more offensive than Punk, Yuppie, Hippie, Goth, Raver, Jock, and whatever has replaced these ancient terms in the last 15 years :) ("Emo"! I know "Emo"! :D)

                    We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
                    blog: TDD - the Aha! | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighist

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                    • T Timothy W Okrey

                      Is it just me or does anyone else feel that being labeled a 'geek' or a 'nerd' is unflattering?

                      'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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                      PIEBALDconsult
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #38

                      Geeks are circus performers. I'm a nerd. P.S. Is "Revenge of the Nerds" available on blu-ray yet? :cool:

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                      • T Timothy W Okrey

                        Is it just me or does anyone else feel that being labeled a 'geek' or a 'nerd' is unflattering?

                        'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno

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                        Vasudevan Deepak Kumar
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #39

                        Though not offensive, you may first open up your sensors to detect if there are any attempts of flattery?

                        Vasudevan Deepak Kumar Personal Homepage
                        Tech Gossips
                        A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all - he's walking on them. --Leonard Louis Levinson

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