Are you a geek?

jen_energy · 10-31-2007, 12:41 AM

The word 'geek' - insult or badge of honour?

Any thoughts?

jillduffy · 10-31-2007, 12:55 AM

Great question! I love it.

"Geek" is honorable, whereas "nerd" implies dippy to me.

I especially like the phrase "to geek out on something." It suggests you are aware your appreciation of the thing is a little frivolous, but you can't help getting your hands deep into it.

A generation or two ago, the word was "jerk," which kind of meant "loser nerd." Then there was that song "Cool Jerks," which sort of tried to reclaim the jerk term in the same way that "geek" has been reclaimed.

yaustar · 10-31-2007, 02:09 AM

Like most terms, its both. From a marketing point of view, it is usually seen as 'hip' and 'in' to be a geek.

Look at the US site shop ThinkGeek for example: http://www.thinkgeek.com/

jen_energy · 10-31-2007, 09:43 AM

haha, yes, I've seen that website before, I love it!

it's interesting what Jill says about it the term being reclaimed - I remember someone was talking about that at the game career fair too last week. That's why I was thinking that people feel less insulted if they are called a geek, and that there are even those out there who proudly proclaim themselves as geeks!

Gshonk · 10-31-2007, 09:46 AM

The geeks will rule.

Or something like that. Yea I think now it is like a badge of honor/trendy thing. I see people at school all the time trying to have the geeky look.

Liquid-Laughter · 02-27-2008, 11:00 PM

I used to think it was hilarious people called me a geek, but then people kept mixing it up with nerd. Now, I feel like the term is way overused...but you know, whatever. It just means I was cool before it was cool to begin with :B

mrberns · 03-01-2008, 01:47 PM

I think it more or less just signifies that I have a passion for things that have been typically thought of as nerdy or geeky. Not a bad thing anymore, but just a way of describing my interests I guess.

ronnoc10 · 03-05-2008, 01:06 PM

To save keystrokes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillduffy

Great question! I love it.
"Geek" is honorable, whereas "nerd" implies dippy to me.

Quote:

Now, I feel like the term is way overused

myfourtwofour · 06-06-2008, 03:31 AM

I say badge of honour! If it means to be totally bonker-obsessed about something then i reakon that is credible - better than not being interested in anything at all . . .

also i totally dig that high waisted trouser, white sock and over-sized glasses look!

TimEdwards · 06-06-2008, 09:11 AM

I am a nerd. Nerds in my opinion are the smart ones (Steve Jobs, Bill Gates) book smart, education smart, etc.

The geeks I ALWAYS classified as the poser nerds. Geek is a funnier word, but I would use geek to describe my jock friend who hung out with the nerds as a geek... or anyone who plays Collectible Card Games or MMOs as geeks.

I also feel that people who play mostly MMOs aren't gamers... I'm odd that way, but my arguement is this: Why are they a gamer if they only play one game online for X amount of hours? A gamer in my mind is someone who has no genre bias.

Just my rant for the day... I haven't had one in a week!

Tim Edwards