Check out this amazing venn diagram from Mashable. As you can probably guess, I identify as a geek. I’m definitely a computer geek with a real obsession about coding and Macs. And I’m certainly good at it, so that covers the intelligence. I don’t think I’m awkward, so that negates the social ineptitude.
Here’s a really interesting article I found about nerd vs. geek and it seems like this diagram wasn’t always accurate. Geeks bit the heads off of animals in the freak shows and nerds are a fabrication by Dr. Seuss. But mostly the article is cool because it takes a bunch of geek/nerd icons and finds out how they identify.
There’s a great quotation about geeks from one of the stars of Big Bang Theory:
So the term ‘geek’ or ‘nerd,’ it really just transcends to someone who’s very passionate about a certain lifestyle. You see a lot of people living their lives in the middle. These guys don’t. They don’t live their life in the middle, they go for whatever they want. And of course, according to the regular society it’s really not the norm, but I think we share that similarity
We’re all passionate. That’s the most important of geekdom, and even of nerds.
So, what are you? A geek, a nerd, a dweeb or a dork? And how does that make you feel?
hi camille – me strictly a loner/ george mcfly tyoe – we’re all geeks about something – i lover bikers, hoolkers , gay people the underbelly of ‘normal’ society – id rather be me than anyone lse. but for a geek youre so damn beautiful.
Aw, well, thank you. I think geeks are beautiful.
a nerd… just a mixture of the three.
An excellent way to be.
I wrote a piece for G33kMade about what it means to be a geek. You can read it here: http://www.g33kmade.com/g33k#more-79.
You certainly qualify based on my definition, and that’s what really matters to me. I enjoy your tweets, and even more that you reply to me. You are a genuine sweetheart and I’m enjoying getting to know you.
Geek on!
Aw, well, you’re a sweetheart too, Phineas! And that’s an interesting article. I do feel like geekdom lacks social ineptitude, so I’m gonna stick with that definition.
Guess I’m awkward enough to be a nerd then, but I can live with that, if that basically means being passionate about something. Didn’t know what a “Dweeb” was till now, but I think I have enough obsessions not to be one, and I plan to keep it that way
Haha, well, obsessions can be good. You can even be obsessed with porn!
I’m definitely kind of awkward and I know for a fact that I miss important social cues (my girlfriend had to hit me over the head with a clue by four back in the day). I’m driven about the strangest things, passionate about niches but I’m too social to feel like I fit anywhere in that red circle. I know I’m stepping on toes and I lack for tact when I shouldn’t, but I do too damned much!
Besides, I think geeks have a better chance of running with the cool kids once in a while
Haha, clue by four.
You’re charming, Chris B.
Former rock guitarist wannabee, until I figured out I’d never make a living at it. But definitely a geek. Code caught my attention back when there were still, umm, punch cards. Awkward/shy, but not really socially inept. Naughty nice geeky guy?
Je dois sûrement être un geek, et même si tout n’est pas rose dans ma vie, ça ne me dérange pas d’en être un. Bref, j’assume^^
Et j’adore cette chanson de Kate Bush qui date quand même de 1989 et qui déjà, à sa manière, parle un peu des geeks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8GqkRhp-fI
Sayonara,
Gilles, R.
C’est une très belle chanson, Gilles! Merci d’un geek à l’autre.
I’d just like to know where to find more female geeks and nerds. Being a linguist (and thus a language geek) and Mac nerd who loves to run, write, follow politics, play in the snow and climb trees. I find it tough to find similar ladies who are interested in similar areas and can handle a bit of condensed passion for the obscure.
I’m not sure, but us female geeks walk among us. You’ll find one!