What qualify's who in being a nerd?

[Reincarnate]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

"Nerd" and "geek" have overlapping territory imo, but to me "nerds" are a more driven, intellectual form of "geeks."

For instance, you could be a computer nerd, a science nerd, a chess nerd, a video game nerd, a math nerd, a music nerd, a literature/politics nerd, etc. To be a nerd, I think you need to have some sort of skill or intellect present in activities that are seen as mentally taxing.

That being said, I see "geeks" as losers. They aren't necessarily smart and they don't always understand the underlying principles of things -- they just have strong, obsessive, almost tunnel-visioned interests in niche activities. You could be a Star Trek geek, a Disney trivia geek, a stamp-collecting geek, etc.

To me, there's no such thing as a "Harry Potter nerd" -- just a "Harry Potter geek," because you aren't actually doing anything requiring any real skill.

It is possible to be either a nerd or a geek and not be socially inept (it's not necessarily a defining characteristic), but I would say that, empirically, geeks tend to be more inept than nerds.

[who_cares973]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

Right now I am drinking a mikes hard lemonade which explains my stupidity.

lmao are you an anorexic woman by any chance?

"Nerd" and "geek" have overlapping territory imo, but to me "nerds" are a more driven, intellectual form of "geeks."

For instance, you could be a computer nerd, a science nerd, a chess nerd, a video game nerd, a math nerd, a music nerd, a literature/politics nerd, etc. To be a nerd, I think you need to have some sort of skill or intellect present in activities that are seen as mentally taxing.

That being said, I see "geeks" as losers. They aren't necessarily smart and they don't always understand the underlying principles of things -- they just have strong, obsessive, almost tunnel-visioned interests in niche activities. You could be a Star Trek geek, a Disney trivia geek, a stamp-collecting geek, etc.

To me, there's no such thing as a "Harry Potter nerd" -- just a "Harry Potter geek," because you aren't actually doing anything requiring any real skill.

It is possible to be either a nerd or a geek and not be socially inept (it's not necessarily a defining characteristic), but I would say that, empirically, geeks tend to be more inept than nerds.

this is how i have always seen it.

[TheNoSoMan]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

"Nerd" and "geek" have overlapping territory imo, but to me "nerds" are a more driven, intellectual form of "geeks."

For instance, you could be a computer nerd, a science nerd, a chess nerd, a video game nerd, a math nerd, a music nerd, a literature/politics nerd, etc. To be a nerd, I think you need to have some sort of skill or intellect present in activities that are seen as mentally taxing.

That being said, I see "geeks" as losers. They aren't necessarily smart and they don't always understand the underlying principles of things -- they just have strong, obsessive, almost tunnel-visioned interests in niche activities. You could be a Star Trek geek, a Disney trivia geek, a stamp-collecting geek, etc.

To me, there's no such thing as a "Harry Potter nerd" -- just a "Harry Potter geek," because you aren't actually doing anything requiring any real skill.

It is possible to be either a nerd or a geek and not be socially inept (it's not necessarily a defining characteristic), but I would say that, empirically, geeks tend to be more inept than nerds.

^

But how did the stereotypes of nerds (huge glasses, scrawny body, nasal tone, socially inept, etc.) come into being. I'm curious about this.

[XCV]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

Sums up my thoughts pretty well.

[Reincarnate]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

^

But how did the stereotypes of nerds (huge glasses, scrawny body, nasal tone, socially inept, etc.) come into being. I'm curious about this.

IMO it's an older stereotype. "Nerd" and "geek" used to be interchangeable for a long time, but with technology becoming more of a presence in our lives, the jargon split off once people noticed that there were really two types of dorks, here -- the kind who can actually do amazing shit, and the kind who are just obsessed over niche things. The scrawny-dork stereotype still exists in either category, but my point is that it's no longer an automatic assumption.

[Cavernio]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

Sounds like you should go into some sort of social science and study that shit NoSoMan

[spidersilva]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

lmao are you an anorexic woman by any chance?


this is how i have always seen it.

lol a anorexic woman? hahahah, naw man what makes you think that?

[Emithith]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

IMO it's an older stereotype. "Nerd" and "geek" used to be interchangeable for a long time, but with technology becoming more of a presence in our lives, the jargon split off once people noticed that there were really two types of dorks, here -- the kind who can actually do amazing shit, and the kind who are just obsessed over niche things. The scrawny-dork stereotype still exists in either category, but my point is that it's no longer an automatic assumption.

^this.
I do also have to say that even when they do use the word, the people I asked what they mean by that (I honestly didn't know the difference, myself..) and they couldn't explain the difference for the life of them.

[uijeongbu]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

I believe a "nerd" is any person who follows their own path through life and doesn't quite fit into the "norm", but if needed can conform to meet the needs of any given situation. "Bill Gates" would be considered a nerd.

I believe that the term "geek" would qualify the person as any annoying individual who appears to be clueless to the everyday "normal" person. The fictitious character "Napoleon Dynamite" would fit into this profile.



I consider myself to be a "nerd" due to these facts:

My interests differ from the majority.
I am an anti-social (yet I talk to everyone) individual.
I am not a follower.
I don't like sports.
I don't drink.
I don't smoke.
I'm not interested in changing who i am for anyone.
(Yes, there are "nerds" in the Army)

[Emithith]

Re: What qualify's who in being a nerd?

nerds have their own world whether cool or not. they define a person nerd because they are unusual, unique and very different from most of the people.

:C I don't mean to be shoving you out of the conversation, but could you look at the timestamps before you bump 3-4 CTs?