What is the difference between a nerd and a geek?
Feb 15, 2009As a kid, I was obsessed with computers and my family had an apple ][+ and a software company and around when I was 10, the software company, called "software productions" got written up in a newspaper and mentioned that I was a serious nerd. A friend, John Heck, was like, "Aren't you furious?" but I remember taking it as a compliment.
I got kind of curious because so many people use these terms interchangeably. What's the difference between a nerd and a geek? Lots of people wrote interesting things,
Here are a few interesting facts about the term nerd:
1. It was first used in a Dr. Seuss book.
2. It is rumored to have roots in the word drunk spelled backwards as knurd meaning someone who studied rather than partied.
3. Stereotypically it is someone who is awkward.
4. It is a type of candy produced by Wonka
5. Slashdot references nerds in it's tagline: "news for nerds, stuff that matters."
The word geek, on the other hand, also has its own interesting facts about it:
1. Geeks are obsessives who get into things and focus on them.
2. Sometimes defined by being outside of the mainstream.
3. The definition has roots in carnival and circus culture.
Bobtiki pointed to a really great comic that takes a stab at the difference between nerds, dorks, and geeks.
I asked this question on twitter. Thanks to all who responded! Leave a comment if you have any ideas or anything to add to the above lists!
Reader Comments (19)
Oh, but you fail to reference the season three episode of Happy Days in which Joanie sends Potsie anonymous love letters, dubbing him her 'dren'. Everyone considers Potsie a nerd, but she knows he's the opposite of that.
Does knowing that make me a nerd, a geek or a dork?
typo on Dr. Seuss =)
And man, that is one good Cat and Girl comic, i hand't seen that one yet! X)
-x
Thanks Naomi, fixed it!
I was surprised by how similar many of the responses are, particularly since the distinction was something I often wondered about.
(And props for Cat and Girl.)
Yup. Sounds pretty right, actually.
I'm a geek by that definition, but I'll proudly answer to "nerd" (though I've never felt that I could live up to the title enough to claim it). Generalism and impulsivity over diligence and dedication. Learning the most through doing, and maybe obsession with a project or idea. Though with some of the social awkwardness, for fear of offending through improper assertion around people who probably know more, and who don't know me well enough to know the difference between character projected and heart.
And I guess my mom was a carny if you count Ringling Bros... so that fits ;-)
Real nerds get my props fo' shaʊ̯.
What do you consider yourself, Bre?
I also think, btw, that geeks are more likely to have characteristics that could be, rightly or not, classified as descriptive of ADD. And they probably need at least one specialty, like music geek, or mac geek, or unix geek (as opposed to a formally educated unix professional), or computer geek, or anything else that could learn through what is essentially a hobbyist's obsession. Without solid knowledge or experience through exploration in at least one domain, you're probably just a dork.
Geeks have their own Squadron!
I guess you can have just about any kind of geek. They just need to semi-randomly hyperfocus on things. Gloves, for instance...
I once asked my little 8 yr old niece which she liked more, nerds dorks or geeks. She thought about it for a while and declared
"Nerds! Because they taste good!"
[...] Read more from the original source: Bre Pettis | I Make Things [...]
No real opinion or insight about which is what, but I was amazed to find out one day that I walked among them.
I had assumed it to be a finely delineated sub-culture, but found a whole ecosystem of indie-intellectuals feeding on each other's passions. It was a complete perspective shift and a welcome one.
I suddenly realized that all those times I answered "it's common knowledge" to the question "how/why do you know that?" I was dead wrong.
Oh, and it made me love my parents even more. I hope I can live up to their standard someday. Imagine going 20+ years misunderstanding geek/nerd-dom for normalcy.
Geeks get excited.
Nerds are smart.
You forgot to mention the Japanese version - Otaku! "Otaku (おたく/オタク?) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga, and video games.", says Wikipedia.
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is this true??
Thanks :)
It's funny how we've 'taken back' these terms ever since it became apparent that geeks and nerds run the world.
So when it comes to transparent govt I am a nerd...
and when it comes to tea I am a geek?
and I am one of those odd ones that never really qualifies as a dork?
Cool!
Geek vs nerd vs dork: fictional Differences Expressed in Terms of Everyday Items comparison chart: http://militantgeek.com/2006/12/21/geek-vs-nerd-vs-dork/" rel="nofollow">http://militantgeek.com/2006/12/21/geek-vs-nerd-vs-dork/
"For the record geeks are those that have technical aptitude, nerds are bright but socially awkward and dorks are just inept excuses for protoplasm."
@Don: Dren! You're absolutely right.
Holy crap, I was just thinking about tweeting the same exact question today!! Seriously.
So what is the difference in your opinion?
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