Geeks vs Nerds... a difference? I think so...

[Nicragomi]

imo...

Nerd = Star Trek

Geek = Star Wars

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

No-one's posted this yet?

Although I cannot escape the irony of defining 'nerd' and 'geek' through the use of a Venn diagram.

 

[FalloutJack]

Here is the thing: I am not concerned with whether or not anyone is a geek or a nerd by admission or which is which. Not important to me. I am annoyed that LIKING ANYTHING that they like is perceived as being a geek or nerd as well. Liking a thing - a show, a comic, a game, etc. - does not automatically mean this, and shame on anyone who says different.

I'm not saying that either is a bad thing, if that's what you're wondering. I'm simply sharing an experience.

Again, you don't have to agree, but please don't shoot the messenger.

Oh, I'm not targeting you, pal. I'd've quoted ya if I was specifically addressing you in particular. The above was my discussion value. The difference between the two isn't as important to me as people telling the difference between geek and nerd...and other people trying to have a good time without anyone hitting 'em with the title. That wasn't a lash out. That was my two cents.

 

[TheMadJayWoman]

Ah, this old argument...

In my perspective (in short form), Nerds are the standard brainy, bookish obsessives, while Geeks are a similar but more modern offshoot with closer ties to pop culture. There's plenty of room for overlap in that Venn diagram with all the shared interests and behaviour, but I view subtle differences. For example, a Nerd will dissect every line of Tolkien and covet an early edition copy of The Hobbit, where a Geek will spend more time immersing themselves in playing LOTR Online.

Still, at then end of the day, I use the terms fairly interchangeably...

 

[remnant_phoenix]

This seems fitting and fairly accurately depicts my opinion on the subject

I agree, except for the "dork" part.

I know that it means flying in the face of the consensus at this con that the OP attended, but my understanding of the words goes back to those teenage-philsophical conversations I had with my friends in high school about the words, and this is what we concluded:

A "nerd" is someone who is personally invested in something academic, a "math nerd," a "history nerd," etc.

A "geek" is someone who is really into a certain hobby that has little-to-no real-world application, "a role-playing geek," "an anime geek," "a gamer geek," etc.

A "dork" is someone who seriously lacks social graces like knowing when to keep their mouth shut as well as possibly keeping up with their personal hygiene and the way that they present themselves in public.

And, of course, there is a lot of overlap between the three.

Of course, if you're attractive and popular, you can side-step the nerd label by passing it off as "ambition." "I'm not into math because I actually enjoy it. I'm into it because I want to be an engineer and make the big bucks."

If your hobbies are considered typical of your gender/race, you can side-step the "geek" label. For example, you can play Call of Duty, Halo, Madden, or FIFA without being considered a "gamer geek" because shooting things and playing traditional organized sports is "manly."

Anyway, it's all subjective, but that's how I see it.

 

[dvd_72]

I always saw nerds as people who were very intellectual

such as a physics professor who loves reality TV is still a nerd..if there ever is such a thing

also unrelated but people seem to think being cynical makes them "smarter"

I wouldnt call myself a nerd because Im not an acedemic acheiver nor do I know enough about any given topic

EDIT: well it seems a few people define it the other way around

I see it as something similar. Nerd has allways seemed something more academically related to me while geek is more entertainment oriented. Personal definitions can be odd can't they?

 

[miketehmage]

Let's extend that same assertion here - how many of you agree or disagree and why? Do you have any examples or stories you would like to share yourselves? Or perhaps you wanna know about the parallels of the "sports jock" (if you will) and the "nerd/geek"?

I had a friend that used to get incredibly worked up if you called him a nerd instead of a geek. He was therefore called a nerd, purely for being bothered by the distinction between the two!

Seriously though; my impression was always that geeks are the ones that do well in school and don't like breaking rules, whereas nerds are the ones that love cosplay and are likely to own everything from a genuine prop lightsaber to entire armies of 40K figurines.
I freely admit that there is probably a fair bit of overlap between the two categories!

There might also be differences between British and American uses of the word - any other Brits care to say if they agree with my definition or not?

Scotland here. As far as I can tell most people use "Nerd" to mean smart geek. And geek, is your classic geek definition.