23 Comments For This Post

1. rjac1978 Says:
   May 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

   I am a mixture off all those above … and then some.

2. Mandy. Says:
   May 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

   I’m anti-geek because of it’s original origins.

3. GeminiDragon Says:
   May 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

   I’ve been accused of pretty much all of these things, and I am proud of all of them!

4. Orionsaint Says:
   May 30th, 2008 at 12:01 am

   I’m antisocial hehe.

5. Perzephone Says:
   May 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am

   I’m all of the above ^_^

6. Skiptastic Says:
   May 30th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

   I’d say nerd. Revenge of the Nerds was a pretty good movie, even though I would hesitate to say any of them represent me.

7. Druidblue Says:
   May 31st, 2008 at 1:35 pm

   This is always a pet peeve of mine- I even have an old blog about it.

   Geeks are people passionate about something. Anyone can be a geek on any particular topic, though you mostly hear it used in terms of technology concepts. I, for instance, am a gamer geek and a Prince geek.

   Nerds are (normally) booksmart types who do not have an understanding of social skills or norms, specifically how to act or dress “normally” (meaning societally acceptably) in public. Loving science fiction and fantasy, living in your mom’s basement, playing role playing games- these do NOT make you a nerd. Most people who claim to be nerds are not close to being nerds. I personally have never been a nerd a day in my life despite how big a geek I am towards some topics.

   Dork is the last concept, and EVERYONE can be and IS a dork at various times. Being a dork is NOT a permanent thing. You can be dorky or say something dorky, but once you’ve finished, you revert back to “non-dork” status, as it were.

   As an example of all of this, I am being a dork in pointing this out because I am an English language geek.
   =)

8. Mandy. Says:
   May 31st, 2008 at 2:31 pm

   DB- If you’re an English language geek, then you should know the original meaning of “geek” was a carnival worker who bit of the heads of chickens — hence the reason, I’m kind of turned off the term.

   But hey, there was a day when gay meant just happy too.

9. whatistechnoagain Says:
   May 31st, 2008 at 4:01 pm

   Hurray for English language geekdom, Druidblue! Me, too!

10. Druidblue Says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    Oh, absolutely Mandy- few words remain true to their original meanings… especially in today’s world when people keep trying so hard to make up new meanings for words.

    I was simply referring to their modern use (which is, to say, often incorrect as most people use them interchangeably, which is just so wrong!)

    (Ok, what I’m REALLY saying is: Don’t call me a nerd.)

11. Johnny Wadd Says:
    June 1st, 2008 at 8:08 am

    I’m a drunk.

12. Golbez Says:
    June 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    I consider geek, nerd, or anything like that an insult. I don’t get why some people accept it. Some people that use those words are more nerdy than most video gamers. People don’t have any idea that I play games unless I tell them. I’m not ashamed of like games or anything, I’m proud of it, but I don’t consider myself a nerd or geek. I think it is demeaning, and nobody should take it.

13. Traycee Says:
    June 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    It depends on the person… me personally, I laugh when people call me a nerd or whatever because I don’t care. It’s a word that has no racial meaning or real malice (in my opinion anyway)… it’s kind of a lazy put down. So if someone wanted to upset me, calling me a nerd, geek, or dork wouldn’t be the way to go.

    … but if you think it’s demeaning, then I wouldn’t call you that Golbez, because I’d respect your wishes not to say it to you.

14. Golbez Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Traycee, you make a good point. Maybe I take it too seriously. I just think there is a lot of prejudice held towards people who play games still by a large percentage of the population, even though it is just something we all do for fun (and that some people do for work).

15. Mandy. Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 6:10 am

    It probably depends what age/school/tone of voice that it’s used in. My non-gaming friends still <3 me, so I know it’s a term of endearrment.

16. aktrez Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am

    I am going to say a few things here and, please don’t take offense to them as I am just trying to make a point.

    I recently was speaking to a sociology grad major about this topic. He brought up a very good point.

    In the african american community, they have adopted the term “nigger” and use it in their music and in their every day. This gives the term less importance because they have adopted it. Now, of course when someone uses it rudely it is still seen as an insult.

    Many other cultures are the same way. When derogatory words (or ones that have been used in the past that way) are used in a culture that accepts them … even embraces them … it takes away the power of that word.

    We all call each other bitches. It’s funny. Paris and Nicole adopted that and now it’s part of our language. Now, if someone said it aggressively toward me, I would still knock them on their assets.

    So, I think that by adopting the terms above (especially the less derogatory of all of them - geek) we are changing the term and making it something more positive. We are taking away the derogatory meaning of it and putting the power in our hands (wow.. that was VERY Power Rangers there)

    I consider myself a geek and sometimes a dork. I am proud to be a geek and I think others who share our hobbies should also be proud to be geeks.

    The stereotype will only change if those of us who normally wouldn’t be put INTO that stereotype openly state that is what we are and are proud of that fact.

    If that makes sense?

17. Mandy. Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 8:25 am

    Good points Becky, but I also think it just depends on the area you are in. I actually read an article that Geek is used more on the West Coast, and Dork on the East. I’m not kidding! Personally, I’d much rather be called a dork than a geek, so maybe that location thing is true.

    However, shows like Beauty & The Geek are bringing the word to the forefront too. Same thing happened with “queer” it used to be an offensive term, but then shows liek Queer Eye for the Straight Guy came out, and now gays have adopted the word and taken it as their own.

    It’s a defense mechanism.. take the offensive word and make it an endearment term among your pals. Then when someone says it who’s not in your clique or what not, then you’re like “hell yeah I am”. It’s like whenever I do something stupid, I try to point it out first and make fun of myself before anyone else can.

    I definately do not think nerd, dork or geek are nearly as offensive as racial slurs or slang words for gays etc. Plus, I think most people who are dork/nerd/geek already know that!

18. Tommy Tallarico Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    I personally can’t stand it when gamers are referred to as geeks, computer nerds, etc. I think they are all demeaning terms and used by people who don’t understand that things like gaming, comics, action-figure collecting, anime, etc. IS becoming mainstream.

    By accepting (and labeling yourself) as one of these terms only sets the pop-culture industry back in my opinion.

    And although some from within all these communities are proud to be labeled as such and may find the terms endearing or cute, the reality is that to the average person not into the kind of things we are thinks of it as a demeaning term. Example… If on CNN tonight you heard Barrack Obama refer to gamers as nerds and geeks would you be proud? I wouldn’t. I want the mainstream world to know that EVERYONE is into things like gaming. Whether you’re a geek, nerd, jock, loser, stoner, popular, etc… Would he be using it as a negative? Absolutely… and I’d be pretty upset.

    I personally hate those terms but can respect people who may find them endearing. Just be careful though… keep in mind that the rest of the “real” world doesn’t understand.

    Tommy

19. BrianJK Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    I would agree completely, Tommy. This poll both irritated and surprised me.

20. rjac1978 Says:
    June 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    But there are other types of geek that have come to be accepted. I, for one, also consider myself to be a movie geek. I have heard many people refer to themselves this way as well. In my everyday life and people on tv and the internet. There is no negative connotation to it, just someone expressing that they feel they are more into movies than others. And people do not shun them for this. Does this make them outsiders to the real world or the mainstream. No, I do not think it does. They are proud to be who they are.

    It all comes down to really how you use the term, I think. Just like everything else. There are limits to who and who should not be saying something. Which is rather ridiculous, but that is the way it is.

21. Miscue Says:
    June 5th, 2008 at 12:30 am

    I don’t like being called a computer geek, even in jest… because of the connotations. I sometimes use “computer geek/nerd” in a demeaning way myself.

    Those terms sit here in my rough, imperfect, made-up-on-the-spot mental hierarchy of technology people (in increasing level): Webmaster, Non-Technical, Casual/Consumer, Enthusiast, Geek/Nerd/Charlatan/Quack/Code Monkey/Fraud, Technician, Professional, Engineer/Developer/Architect, Guru, Alan Turing

    The Geek/Nerd category is the only one with a negative connotation… these are the folks that are habitually concerned with the appearance of aptitude… and try to use enthusiasm and above-average knowledge to seem to be more than what they are… to those who don’t know better (usually works!). They often don’t realize the limitations of their own skull… and the distance between them… and someone who is actually good/rare… with lesser limitations.

22. raczilla Says:
    June 9th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Lump me in with everyone who said they don’t want to be called any of the above.

23. Traycee Says:
    June 10th, 2008 at 1:12 am

    Words are beginning to take on double meanings in this society… and many of them don’t take on the original meanings. For example:

    Cool= Hot
    Hot= Very good looking person
    Tight/Dope/Def/Ill= Outstanding, awesome, very cool
    Chick/Bird= A girl
    Dog (dawg)= A friend
    Bitch/Hoochie= Female friend (not that I use this)
    Dude= A guy
    Boo= Sweetie-pie
    Bomb= Excellent
    Bones/Cheddar= Money
    Crib= House
    Freak/Honey= Beautiful girl
    Grindage= Food
    Jock= to steal, or mess something or someone up
    Junk= shit, butt, stuff
    Mad/Bad= good

    …and so on. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent (Eleanor Roosevelt). So, if someone calls any of you a geek or a nerd or whatever and you feel bad about it, it’s probably because you feel that you are, and you’ve let the word control you.

    If you’re not offended by these words… it’s probably because you control what and who makes you feel bad (and thats a good thing).

    These are not words of malice… I mean, seriously. We live in a society full of slang and double meaning.

    I’m not trying to change minds here, but not everyone is going to agree with any given topic 100% of the time. Some don’t mind these words, and others do. If these terms bother you, figure out why, then throw it away. Life is way to short to worry about silly terms like these.

    Now, if someone called me something racial meant to upset me, then it would be a different story…

    P.S. I am all of the above and I’m proud to admit it. Why? Because I don’t care and I’ve embraced who I am a long time ago… plus I’m weird, do you think I care? Nope!

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