The difference between a geek and a nerd - Valleywag Comments

The difference between a geek and a nerd

mycroft — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:14:02 PST

Bluetooth? Tech smart? In the same sentence? Seriosly?!

Dweeb - the person that came up with that list.

mycroft

The difference between a geek and a nerd

Blackjack — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:46:12 PST

I think there's an easier way to separate the group.
Geek - tech smart, socially adept
Nerd - tech smart, socially inept
Dork - tech inept, socially inept

Anyone want to take a crack at what dweeb means?

Blackjack

The difference between a geek and a nerd

Hadrian — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:48:36 PST

To paraphrase Fear of the Black Hat:

"A nerd, well, a nerd has sex with everybody, but a geek, a geek has sex with everybody but you."

Hadrian

The difference between a geek and a nerd

jfruh — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:30:39 PST

They seem to be implying that geeks are actually techies, while nerds are just high-functioning participants in nerd culture (i.e sci-fi, D&D).

My take of how the terms are generally used in conversation is that a geek is someone who is really interested to the point of obession about one subject, a nerd is someone who is likes to learn stuff (esp. science/tech stuff and ancillary cultural ephemera) for its own sake, and a dork is someone who is socially awkward. The categories are not mutually exclusive.

jfruh

The difference between a geek and a nerd

jaggedlittlehelper — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:29:42 PST

There is a quiz to identify which one you are. I think the table above has nerd and geek switched. Dorks are socially awkward, geeks are obsessed with the arcane things they love, nerds are just good at what they do (which usually involves the brain).

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=99350309900467388...

jaggedlittlehelper

The difference between a geek and a nerd

rex — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:08:57 PST

Dorks take screengrabs of html tables. (j/k)

rex