I think this question is too complex for a poll, and could definitely have used a definition of "geek" in the OP.
The way I see it, "geek" generally means one of two things.
A person with a deep interest in the minutiae of a particular knowledge area.
A person who's into sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comic books, etc.
There is a LOT of overlap between these two, but they're by no means a package deal.
I actually feel a bit inadequately geeky around here. More often than not, when everyone's talking about some anime, or comic, or geeky movie, or geeky novel, I probably haven't seen/read it, and there's a good chance I've never heard of it. I've always enjoyed geeky(2) stuff, but I've never been really deeply invested in any particular property(1).
The one thing I DO get really geeky(1) about is art and the comics form. Lord help you if you wander into my studio while I'm looking at French graphic albums or something -- you'll hear no end of Claire Wendling's linework or how Olivier Vatine masterfully directs your eye from panel to panel. My girlfriend is a saint for putting up with it.
I think the accepted definition around here is that a geek is someone who does not obsess over one particular area normally associated with nerdyness, but instead has a healthy interest in a range of nerdy areas. If all you think and talk about is anime, you're an anime nerd. But, for example, if you like anime, but also enjoy video games, films, photography and backyard mecha construction, and yet find time to do social activities and have RL friends, you're probably a geek.
In my case, I like some anime, many types of video games, pen and paper RPGs, computer technology, science. But I also read "normal" books, have "normal" friends, watch sports, and I'm interested in politics. In my opinion, being a geek is all about having balance in your life (being a part of the world around you), while a being a nerd is about obsession and having a lack of social skills (trying to exist in isolation).
I think the accepted definition around here is that a geek is someone who does not obsess over one particular area normally associated with nerdyness, but instead has ahealthyinterest in a range of nerdy areas. If all you think and talk about is anime, you're an anime nerd. But, for example, if you like anime, but also enjoy video games, films, photography and backyard mecha construction, and yet find time to do social activities and have RL friends, you're probably a geek.
In my case, I like some anime, many types of video games, pen and paper RPGs, computer technology, science. But I also read "normal" books, have "normal" friends, watch sports, and I'm interested in politics. In my opinion, being a geek is all about having balance in your life (being a part of the world around you), while a being a nerd is about obsession and having a lack of social skills (trying to exist in isolation).
I don't think that's the best way to describe it. I think a geek is a nerd without so much singular focus.
For example, I totally and absolutely Geek out about Cars and Motorbikes. The sound of an engine isn't just a sound I like, It's fucking music. And incredible car to me is a visceral experience, something with the power to move me, in ways other than the horrible pun that sentence contains.. Shut up, It was just the vibration of the motorbike, a bit of motion thickness, nothing more. I love to get under the hood, to tweak and tune and make some petrol-powered piston-hearted beast just sing to me like my own furious choir or noise and beauty. But I also love Anime, Video games, and film, Horses and animals, the theater, Rock and roll, electronics, books, many other things, and I geek out over them too, though admittedly not quite to the degree that I do over cars and bikes - and that is the difference between Geeks and Nerds.
Were I simply a Car and bike nerd, then I wouldn't be as enthused about anything but Bikes and cars. Sure, I might enjoy them some, but I'd always be focused on cars with my interest, utterly. Where a Geek is a Renaissance man - if you'll pardon the gender specific term - a nerd is an idiot savant. Where a geek varies, a nerd focuses.
The best person to ask for this topic would be Uglyfred since she (Uglyfred is an FRC member named Jess) since she did a serious business anthropology study on the subject. If I remember correctly that is what got her, her degree.
I think this question is too complex for a poll, and could definitely have used a definition of "geek" in the OP.
The way I see it, "geek" generally means one of two things.
A person with a deep interest in the minutiae of a particular knowledge area.
A person who's into sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comic books, etc.
There is a LOT of overlap between these two, but they're by no means a package deal.
Actually, I purposefully avoided providing a definition, since I was more curious about how "geeky" people considered themselves to be according to their own definitions of "geekiness," rather than how well their interests or actions met a given set of variables (for example, a person could read fantasy novels or watch anime all the time and not consider themselves to be "geeky" in the slightest).
That said, my personal definition is more or less what you have described here --- albeit with (1) being the "geek" to (2)'s "Geek", if that makes sense.
While I am a serious geek, I try to let people figure that out for themselves and tend not to announce it to non-geeks. That way, people get the "nice kinda guy" part before the "zomg weirdo" preconception of a geek.
Proof of geekhood: I spent all morning reading an email in Japanese which talked at length about, among other things: Poke-tans, the N64 and, how Japanese people find the idea of rice pudding strange.
The differentiation between nerds and geeks seems very artificial to me. It's just a way to avoid a negative tag associated with your social group, that is quite true to some of it's members.
being a geek is all about having balance in your life (being a part of the world around you), while a being a nerd is about obsession and having a lack of social skills (trying to exist in isolation).
By creating a "us and them" situation one can preserve his image, without admitting the so called nerd may similar to him, only taken to the extreme (not specifically aimed at thaneofcawdor). It's seems like a satire when the Normal-Geek pattern is recreated as Geek\Nerd.
I consider myself better described as 'an inhabitant of planet earth, a carbon- and water-based life form, a mortal, a biped, a citizen of earth, a being, a creature, an animal, maybe human, mostly harmless, strange, one with geeky interests, one with ideologies, one who loves: the night sky, autumn leaves, cars, cats, dogs, family, girls, liquorice, the colour blue, computers, drops of water, thunderstorms, the setting sun, darkness, humour, laughter, memes, long lists, the improbability of his existence, his Chesterfield couch, the insignificance of this all' than a 'geek'.
Maybe, though the definition of "nerd" is not as accurate as the definition of "geek". Sometimes I do use "nerd" to mean the same thing around people who don't care what the difference is, at least.
Maybe I should just replace "geek" with "me" for the second option? XD
I often use "nerd" to define someone who is in complete denial, or worse, entirely unaware of the unsavory nature of their obsessions (most Trekkers qualify as nerds, in my experience). Geeks instead embrace these obsessions as quintessential parts of their identity, and are not cursed with a complete inability to function in a social context (a handicap that most nerds deal with for most of their adolescent years, at the least).
I often use "nerd" to define someone who is in complete denial, or worse, entirely unaware of the unsavory nature of their obsessions (most Trekkers qualify as nerds, in my experience). Geeks instead embrace these obsessions as quintessential parts of their identity, and are not cursed with a complete inability to function in a social context (a handicap that most nerds deal with for most of their adolescent years, at the least).
I often use "nerd" to define someone who is in complete denial, or worse, entirely unaware of the unsavory nature of their obsessions (most Trekkers qualify as nerds, in my experience). Geeks instead embrace these obsessions as quintessential parts of their identity, and are not cursed with a complete inability to function in a social context (a handicap that most nerds deal with for most of their adolescent years, at the least).
You're speaking my language there good buddy.
Good to hear. I'd also venture a guess that this is also the reason why geek is chic, but nerd is not the word, if you will.
I've always defined myself as both, as I said before. I never took negative offense to the word nerd, and always used both nerd and geek as descriptions of myself.
Geek definition #3: a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.
Screw all this shit. The real question is, who here has bitten off more chicken heads?
I remember some of my friends back in middle school this when I mentioned being a geek. They said that I didn't bite the heads off of chickens, so I was good. It was quite funny.
For whatever reason, I've encountered "geek" or "nerd" when I've been known to be informed about something. i.e. I build computers from parts, know how to navigate a network, set up a wi-fi connection, know how to make the printer work and therefore was branded a "computer geek" at my last workplace.
However I was also implied to be into porn because I enjoyed the film "Watchmen" and I knew what was going on throughout the film. I was pretty much lost for words on that one. I buy comic books instantly aligned with "The Comic Book Guy" from the Simpsons. I was into Star Trek before the JJ Abrams movie and thus also branded a geek. I also have a "nerdy" phone. However I'm not a geek or nerd because I've brewed my own beer before and can discern specific tastes in different beers, or that I can pretty much do any surgery straight after having a 5 minute read prior to scrubbing in.
To me these two words "geek" and "nerd", seem to be negative descriptors initially used by people who are deficient in understanding of one or more topics that are niches in relation to the entire group.
I don't take offense I just know who I am and I know how greater society views me. By general social circles I'm considered a geek however in personal circles I'm looked towards for valued opinions.
I spend hours researching and simulating the finer points of camshaft selection and cylinder head flow characteristics. I'm well versed on the subjects of lobe separation angle, overlap and their effects on normally aspirated, supercharged, and turbocharged engines. I'm currently researching a cost effective way to get my small block chevy V8 to a redline of about 7000 rpms and to produce about 400 hp. I'm also looking at the advantages and disadvantages of swapping a larger bore throttle body as well as frankensteining a higher flowing fuel injector setup from standard GM throttle body injection parts.
I spend hours researching and simulating the finer points of camshaft selection and cylinder head flow characteristics. I'm well versed on the subjects of lobe separation angle, overlap and their effects on normally aspirated, supercharged, and turbocharged engines. I'm currently researching a cost effective way to get my small block chevy V8 to a redline of about 7000 rpms and to produce about 400 hp. I'm also looking at the advantages and disadvantages of swapping a larger bore throttle body as well as frankensteining a higher flowing fuel injector setup from standard GM throttle body injection parts.
Cars are serious business to me. ~_^
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Comments
But I take pride in it!
The way I see it, "geek" generally means one of two things.
- A person with a deep interest in the minutiae of a particular knowledge area.
- A person who's into sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comic books, etc.
There is a LOT of overlap between these two, but they're by no means a package deal.I actually feel a bit inadequately geeky around here. More often than not, when everyone's talking about some anime, or comic, or geeky movie, or geeky novel, I probably haven't seen/read it, and there's a good chance I've never heard of it. I've always enjoyed geeky(2) stuff, but I've never been really deeply invested in any particular property(1).
The one thing I DO get really geeky(1) about is art and the comics form. Lord help you if you wander into my studio while I'm looking at French graphic albums or something -- you'll hear no end of Claire Wendling's linework or how Olivier Vatine masterfully directs your eye from panel to panel. My girlfriend is a saint for putting up with it.
In my case, I like some anime, many types of video games, pen and paper RPGs, computer technology, science. But I also read "normal" books, have "normal" friends, watch sports, and I'm interested in politics. In my opinion, being a geek is all about having balance in your life (being a part of the world around you), while a being a nerd is about obsession and having a lack of social skills (trying to exist in isolation).
For example, I totally and absolutely Geek out about Cars and Motorbikes. The sound of an engine isn't just a sound I like, It's fucking music. And incredible car to me is a visceral experience, something with the power to move me, in ways other than the horrible pun that sentence contains.. Shut up, It was just the vibration of the motorbike, a bit of motion thickness, nothing more. I love to get under the hood, to tweak and tune and make some petrol-powered piston-hearted beast just sing to me like my own furious choir or noise and beauty.
But I also love Anime, Video games, and film, Horses and animals, the theater, Rock and roll, electronics, books, many other things, and I geek out over them too, though admittedly not quite to the degree that I do over cars and bikes - and that is the difference between Geeks and Nerds.
Were I simply a Car and bike nerd, then I wouldn't be as enthused about anything but Bikes and cars. Sure, I might enjoy them some, but I'd always be focused on cars with my interest, utterly. Where a Geek is a Renaissance man - if you'll pardon the gender specific term - a nerd is an idiot savant. Where a geek varies, a nerd focuses.
That said, my personal definition is more or less what you have described here --- albeit with (1) being the "geek" to (2)'s "Geek", if that makes sense.
While I am a serious geek, I try to let people figure that out for themselves and tend not to announce it to non-geeks. That way, people get the "nice kinda guy" part before the "zomg weirdo" preconception of a geek.
Proof of geekhood: I spent all morning reading an email in Japanese which talked at length about, among other things: Poke-tans, the N64 and, how Japanese people find the idea of rice pudding strange.
That said, I prefer geek.
Who cares, remind me why I'm here again.
Maybe I should just replace "geek" with "me" for the second option? XD
i.e. I build computers from parts, know how to navigate a network, set up a wi-fi connection, know how to make the printer work and therefore was branded a "computer geek" at my last workplace.
However I was also implied to be into porn because I enjoyed the film "Watchmen" and I knew what was going on throughout the film. I was pretty much lost for words on that one.
I buy comic books instantly aligned with "The Comic Book Guy" from the Simpsons.
I was into Star Trek before the JJ Abrams movie and thus also branded a geek.
I also have a "nerdy" phone.
However I'm not a geek or nerd because I've brewed my own beer before and can discern specific tastes in different beers, or that I can pretty much do any surgery straight after having a 5 minute read prior to scrubbing in.
To me these two words "geek" and "nerd", seem to be negative descriptors initially used by people who are deficient in understanding of one or more topics that are niches in relation to the entire group.
I don't take offense I just know who I am and I know how greater society views me.
By general social circles I'm considered a geek however in personal circles I'm looked towards for valued opinions.
Cars are serious business to me. ~_^