What is a geek?
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? Statement - applies to me ------------------------------------ Questionable hygeine - 60% Inability to fit in socially - 90% Inability to relax - 80% Bad Posture - 80 % No dress sense - 100% Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? Cheap - 20% Waht does that make me
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
www.m-w.com gives the definition: "2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of" Which seems about right. :) I think of a geek as someone who is perhaps a bit too interested in the fine details of some art or technology, perhaps to obsession. Or maybe someone who can get things done that other people need but do not find interesting or understand themselves. (It seems mostly applied to science and computers these days, but in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" Hunter S. Thompson refers to himself as a geek. In the book he is a journalist and drug fiend, not a computer nerd.) But that's just my two cents. Words are whatever everyone agrees they are. :-) (I am desperately trying not to start a rant about people who simply cannot cope with the fact that "hacker" now has multiple meanings that are all as valid as each other, in context. :-) ) Interestingly, www.m-w.com also offers this definition of geek: "1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake" I suppose to many people computer programmers are doing equivalent acts. :-)
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
Aprox 21 yrs ago I first heard the term geek, whilst visiting Oz, on the moto-X circuit. (I was just a spectator :-) )
When I asked what a "geek" was back then. I was told . " If you take a group of any 15 guys anywhere , there is a simple rule, there's 5 good guys, 5 bad guys, 2 nerds, 2 jerks, and One geek. "
Later I discovered in an Aussie publication ( Two - Wheels Magazine ) that they had a staff writer called Phil Geek who was meant to have started this expression. --- Anyhow I never heard the expression for over 10 yrs, until it returned and was more computer orientated. --- Regardz Colin Davies -
> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? Statement - applies to me ------------------------------------ Questionable hygeine - 60% Inability to fit in socially - 90% Inability to relax - 80% Bad Posture - 80 % No dress sense - 100% Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? Cheap - 20% Waht does that make me
> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so >what then defines a geek?? >Statement - applies to me >------------------------------------ >Questionable hygeine - 60% 40% >Inability to fit in socially - 90% outside computing circles 95%, inside 2% >Inability to relax - 80% 80% >Bad Posture - 80 % 100% >No dress sense - 100% 200% >Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? No, Star Trek fans are nerds. Geek pastimes include computer games, eating pizza, watching 3D tech demos looking for glitches. >Cheap - 20% 100% if it's not computer related. >Waht does that make me? Not sure - you don't play computer games ? I love how geek has become less and less of an insult. I regard it as a badge of honour...
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> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? Statement - applies to me ------------------------------------ Questionable hygeine - 60% Inability to fit in socially - 90% Inability to relax - 80% Bad Posture - 80 % No dress sense - 100% Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? Cheap - 20% Waht does that make me
> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so >what then defines a geek?? >Statement - applies to me >------------------------------------ >Questionable hygeine - 60% 40% >Inability to fit in socially - 90% outside computing circles 95%, inside 2% >Inability to relax - 80% 80% >Bad Posture - 80 % 100% >No dress sense - 100% 200% >Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? No, Star Trek fans are nerds. Geek pastimes include computer games, eating pizza, watching 3D tech demos looking for glitches. >Cheap - 20% 100% if it's not computer related. >Waht does that make me? Not sure - you don't play computer games ? I love how geek has become less and less of an insult. I regard it as a badge of honour...
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www.m-w.com gives the definition: "2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of" Which seems about right. :) I think of a geek as someone who is perhaps a bit too interested in the fine details of some art or technology, perhaps to obsession. Or maybe someone who can get things done that other people need but do not find interesting or understand themselves. (It seems mostly applied to science and computers these days, but in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" Hunter S. Thompson refers to himself as a geek. In the book he is a journalist and drug fiend, not a computer nerd.) But that's just my two cents. Words are whatever everyone agrees they are. :-) (I am desperately trying not to start a rant about people who simply cannot cope with the fact that "hacker" now has multiple meanings that are all as valid as each other, in context. :-) ) Interestingly, www.m-w.com also offers this definition of geek: "1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake" I suppose to many people computer programmers are doing equivalent acts. :-)
>I am desperately trying not to start a rant about >people who simply cannot cope with the fact that "hacker" >now has multiple meanings that are all as valid as each >other, in context. Our building, basically 14 floors of computer companies, has a bar on the main floor that has "hacker" microbrew on tap. Just thought I'd toss in one more definition for hacker, which is quite often in context :
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Aprox 21 yrs ago I first heard the term geek, whilst visiting Oz, on the moto-X circuit. (I was just a spectator :-) )
When I asked what a "geek" was back then. I was told . " If you take a group of any 15 guys anywhere , there is a simple rule, there's 5 good guys, 5 bad guys, 2 nerds, 2 jerks, and One geek. "
Later I discovered in an Aussie publication ( Two - Wheels Magazine ) that they had a staff writer called Phil Geek who was meant to have started this expression. --- Anyhow I never heard the expression for over 10 yrs, until it returned and was more computer orientated. --- Regardz Colin DaviesHey Chris, now that sounds like a research project! Catch up with Phil Geek ex-staffer for two-wheel magazine for an interview. Way cool. And right in your back-yard.
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Hey Chris, now that sounds like a research project! Catch up with Phil Geek ex-staffer for two-wheel magazine for an interview. Way cool. And right in your back-yard.
I'll look him up when I get back. Me: "Phil - what do you think about the future of .NET and its effect on the resurgence of java based components". Phil: "Er...what model bike was that?" Me: "Thanks Phil Geek!" Phil: "That's Mr Geek to you" who knows..
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Aprox 21 yrs ago I first heard the term geek, whilst visiting Oz, on the moto-X circuit. (I was just a spectator :-) )
When I asked what a "geek" was back then. I was told . " If you take a group of any 15 guys anywhere , there is a simple rule, there's 5 good guys, 5 bad guys, 2 nerds, 2 jerks, and One geek. "
Later I discovered in an Aussie publication ( Two - Wheels Magazine ) that they had a staff writer called Phil Geek who was meant to have started this expression. --- Anyhow I never heard the expression for over 10 yrs, until it returned and was more computer orientated. --- Regardz Colin Daviesyay! etymology (the study of words and their orgins) is something i love. so, after a few minutes on Google, looking for 'geek'.... the best link i could find is this: http://www.takeourword.com/Issue051.html. sorry.... it's much older than Australia (the country, not the continent :) ). other links stated that Australia has its own meaning for 'geek': to look at - as we in the US might use 'gawk'. -
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
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I've been having some, er, discussions with some friends about what, exactly, constitutes a geek. Current suggestions are: Questionable hygeine Inability to fit in socially Inability to relax Bad Posture No dress sense Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) Cheap Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? cheers, Chris Maunde
Chris That depends. In my college days, we distinguished between plain geeks, and pencil-necked geeks, a much more serious affliction. I had a client once (a company name you'd recognize) who told me that hygiene had actually become a pretty serious problem in their development group. Putting a finger on the true essence of geekhood is difficult, but I think I'd describe it as someone who has an unhealthy fascination with "things," and who is awkward and uncomfortable trying to relate to other human beings in a social setting. But let's face it... where would the world be without its geeks. Lori
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> Obviously none of us fit any of these categories - so what then defines a geek?? Statement - applies to me ------------------------------------ Questionable hygeine - 60% Inability to fit in socially - 90% Inability to relax - 80% Bad Posture - 80 % No dress sense - 100% Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 0% ? Cheap - 20% Waht does that make me
Here are the figures that I think constitute a geek: Questionable hygeine - 80% Inability to fit in socially - 50% (they have other geek friends) Inability to relax - 20% (not true, they have Star Trek reruns to watch) Bad Posture - 80% (Mr. Burns from the Simpsons comes to mind) No dress sense - 100% (this is true) Geek pasttimes (computer games, Star Trek) - 100%, 100% (lots of people play computer games(but lots of nerds do), but only nerds watch Star Trek) Cheap - 10% (they need to buy Star Trek and Star Wars stuff