Adam Lasnik February 20, 2003
Back in high school, I was a nerd.
There’s a big difference, at least in my humble opinion.
Generally very socially inept
Usually quite unfit and also not good at sports
Totally lacking in interest in and/or awareness of popular culture
Singlehandedly focused on and often very talented in academics
Do you think my ad hoc definitions fit the bill?
Do you have friends who are geeks or nerds?
And can someone really change, as I’ve suggested that I have? 🙂
Crazy Kate Feb 21, 2003 Link Reply
I agree with your definitions. And I’d definitely consider myself a geek. Always have been, just more lately than I used to be. I can’t say I’ve ever been a nerd. I’ve liked people interaction too much for that. 😛
Here at WPI, I put the EE in gEEk. 😉
Celia B. Feb 24, 2003 Link Reply
Did you know the definition of a geek is a carnival performer doing bizarre acts such as biting off the heads of live chickens? See the movie “Nightmare Alley” starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell about 1945 where circus performer is changed to half man/half monster.
How does this fit in with your self definition?:)
Personally I think geeks are just grownup nerds. Not a bad thing, just learned a few key social skills having to do with people instead of machines.
Matt Hendrickson Feb 24, 2003 Link Reply
Celia- don’t you mean “FREAK?”
Jennifer Feb 25, 2003 Link Reply
I know I’m a geek, and I’m content with that (note: computer geek, not biting-heads-off-chickens geek). I’m part of that slightly-rarer breed: the female geek.
Ever notice there seem to be a lot of female geek bloggers? I think it’s just a good environment for us. We’ve come out of the woodwork.
Now, has anyone seen that chicken? I know I left it here someplace… Never mind.
Yes, I HAVE noticed that there are a ton of women bloggers… seemingly more than female Webmasters (Webmistresses? :D).
You mention that you think it’s a “good environment” for women… but why do you think this is? Is it because bloggers can focus more on actual writing than Web page technical tinkering? Is it because women are somehow inherently more ‘communicative’ (“My mother-in-law won’t shut up!” :-P) or perhaps particularly drawn to the collaborative and community aspects of blogging?
I wonder what the gender ratio is like in the ‘real world’ of paper journalism. Hmm. I think I’ll ask one of my friends at the Washington Post (http://nonsense-verse.blogspot.com).
Oh, and I can’t believe I forgot to mention this amazing (albeit very long) article on “Why Nerds are Unpopular”—this was actually the trigger for my original post on geeks and nerds!
You have a right to get an SUV!
Adam Lasnik February 20, 2003
Back in high school, I was a nerd.
There’s a big difference, at least in my humble opinion.
Generally very socially inept
Usually quite unfit and also not good at sports
Totally lacking in interest in and/or awareness of popular culture
Singlehandedly focused on and often very talented in academics
Do you think my ad hoc definitions fit the bill?
Do you have friends who are geeks or nerds?
And can someone really change, as I’ve suggested that I have? 🙂
Crazy Kate Feb 21, 2003 Link Reply
I agree with your definitions. And I’d definitely consider myself a geek. Always have been, just more lately than I used to be. I can’t say I’ve ever been a nerd. I’ve liked people interaction too much for that. 😛
Here at WPI, I put the EE in gEEk. 😉
Celia B. Feb 24, 2003 Link Reply
Did you know the definition of a geek is a carnival performer doing bizarre acts such as biting off the heads of live chickens? See the movie “Nightmare Alley” starring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell about 1945 where circus performer is changed to half man/half monster.
How does this fit in with your self definition?:)
Personally I think geeks are just grownup nerds. Not a bad thing, just learned a few key social skills having to do with people instead of machines.
Matt Hendrickson Feb 24, 2003 Link Reply
Celia- 
don’t you mean “FREAK?”
Jennifer Feb 25, 2003 Link Reply
I know I’m a geek, and I’m content with that (note: computer geek, not biting-heads-off-chickens geek). I’m part of that slightly-rarer breed: the female geek.
Ever notice there seem to be a lot of female geek bloggers? I think it’s just a good environment for us. We’ve come out of the woodwork.
Now, has anyone seen that chicken? I know I left it here someplace… Never mind.
Yes, I HAVE noticed that there are a ton of women bloggers… seemingly more than female Webmasters (Webmistresses? :D).
You mention that you think it’s a “good environment” for women… but why do you think this is? Is it because bloggers can focus more on actual writing than Web page technical tinkering? Is it because women are somehow inherently more ‘communicative’ (“My mother-in-law won’t shut up!” :-P) or perhaps particularly drawn to the collaborative and community aspects of blogging?
I wonder what the gender ratio is like in the ‘real world’ of paper journalism. Hmm. I think I’ll ask one of my friends at the Washington Post (http://nonsense-verse.blogspot.com).
Oh, and I can’t believe I forgot to mention this amazing (albeit very long) article on “Why Nerds are Unpopular”—this was actually the trigger for my original post on geeks and nerds!
You have a right to get an SUV!