I’ve favored the term “geek” to describe myself moreso than “nerd” or any of the other similar words because I take them to have specific definitions, only one of which applies to me. Essentially, a geek is someone who is passionate about and deeply involved with a subject. There are computer geeks, car geeks, art geeks, science geeks, etc., all of whom share the same traits with respect to their field of choice. It is true that a certain amount of intelligence is to be expected from geeks, but only in their respective fields of interest and not necessarily the traditional kind (good grades or high test scores).
Nerds on the other hand are intellectual and smart by definition, but are also socially inept or dysfunctional to a certain degree. I’m not really socially dysfunctional, so I don’t call myself a nerd, but I am most definitely a computer geek.
Among other computer geeks I notice certain trends. For instance, it’s very common for a computer geek to also like anime and MMORPGs, neither of which appeal to me in the least. There are plenty of other things that computer geeks typically adhere to: science fiction, Japanese culture, trance music, comics, Honda cars, and/or bubble tea. Obviously I’m grossly overgeneralizing, but that’s the point of this exercise.
I don’t fit into any one of those categories and I notice the differences often. There are different typical geeks who share things out of that list and could be labeled separately, but I don’t want to label them now. I’ve just observed that I am completely different from most of these other computer geeks in many if not most respects and it’s strange. I wonder if there are more guys out there like me… stock sports car enthusiasts who love philosophy and Death Cab for Cutie — web app-designing, business-minded, travelling, easygoing computer geeks.
We all have our different interests… I’m not so much into anime or boba, but thats not to say I don’t enjoy them. We all have our different focuses and hobbies. Mine being (in addition to computers) people, music, cars (my limiting factor there being my lack of money, I’d have something more powerful given the opportunity), semiconductors, and almost anything with moving parts.
We just all get to (within our larger group) find out who else shares our secondary interests, and run with it.
./scott
I think our groups are much more diverse than we often realize. :)
I like Death Cab. I prefer Postal Service, though.
In what limited subset of “computer geek-dom” are you noticing this love of anime, MMORPG, trance, comics, and bubble tea? I work in a web agency of about 30 people, most of which would easily be described as computer geeks, and none of which share this love of said interests.
As you say, you’re “grossly overgeneralizing.” I don’t see how that’s the “point of the exercise.” If you’re saying that you’re special because you’re a computer geek that’s not into comics, etc, but that not every computer geek isn’t into comics, etc, because you’re “grossly overgeneralizing,” then how are you special? How are you a “different kind of geek?”
I take “computer geek” to mean “passionate about computers,” as you said, but that’s the end of the story. The only trait that computer geeks have in common is the ability to get excited about various computer types of things, whether it’s an MMORPG or developing a more efficitent way to distribute class files.
I think it’s strange that several people have taken offense to this post. It was never my intention, explicitly or latently, to say that I’m better than any other computer geeks. Any perceived degree of differentiation in either the positive or negative direction is purely a result overzealous inference. The point was to illuminate the differences between computer geeks and possibly find the label under which I fit.
The qualities I observed and listed were mostly among college-aged crowds in San Diego and L.A. Like I said, not all of the qualities apply to all computer geeks I was describing, nor are all computer geeks covered by the qualities listed. I thought this was abundantly clear from the first iteration. Again, the point was to collect many popular qualities that I observed among computer geeks, which is exactly what generalization does well.
The end result is supposed to be a more diversified picture of computer geeks within the comments, as everyone has a different perspective. From that, I thought it would be interesting to see who shared my interests.
I think Brad was just highlighting the fact that many people associate computer geeks with those activities that he listed because in fact many computers geeks do engage in those activities moreso than other people in my opinion. Being a comp sci major from UCSD I agree with him that the stereotypes among computer geeks do fit to a certain degree and that not engaging in these activities yourself may sometimes leave you feeling as if there are not many computer geeks out there who have a diverse range of interests. Just my opinion :)
Yo Brad! I totally get you man. All those things you mentioned are what I think of when I think of many computer geeks too, except the boba thing. Is that true?! Haha. I guess I’m thinking more of UCSD computer geeks, cuz, after all, those are the only ones I know. I mean I’ve read the occasional science fiction, but I’ll only watch it if it’s Good. None of that Firefly crap, HA. The Japanese culture thing is really funny. I kind of get it, but then I kind of don’t. It’s funny though, and a sure sign of geekdom. TRANCE music I hate! Why oh why?! But anyway, even though everyone is different, I will still adhere to my belief that (computer) geekiness is tangible. Totally. There’s just something… you can FEEL it. And as for you, you may not fit the average stereotype, but you have to admit that the stock sports car thing is geeky. Your car is cool, but, you know, car enthusiasts in general – geeky. I can confirm all of this with my set of super-trendy artsy fartsy friends who, granted, are artsy geeky in their own right, but not considered so by the general public.
You’re a nerd. Don’t deny it.
There are tons of people who fit both of your ridiculous molds (the “typical geek” mold and the “h3h geek” mold). Neither one is strange.
Nerd.
What complex said.
I find it stange that of those who defend the notion that all computer geeks like Japanese comics with tea, all seem to be from UCSD. Hmmmmmm…..could it be that you’re failing to recognize that there’s actually a world beyond the college campus?
OK, so maybe within the confines of UCSD-land, there’s a trend in trance music and computer nerds (I’d like to hear from one of them in this thread, by the way….so far no one admits to liking sci-fi or Hondas…you’re all “special!”), but that’s like that old story about the blind guys and the elephant. You know, the one where they’re each feeling a different part and then argue over what an elephant must look like because they’ve drawn conclusions based on the one tiny part of the whole that they experienced….
Found this through 9rules (backdating your stuff on the front page?)
Completely agree with the distinction of geek v nerd. The eldest of my two sisters also agrees, but the younger disagrees and believes geek is more derogatory than nerd…
Late, yes. But just worth stating… I’m a computer geek, and I like anime. In fact, even though almost nobody I know outside my computer classes likes anime, pretty much everyone in them likes at least one series.