Difference Between Nerd and Geek

Has anyone written a scientific treatise on the differences between nerd and geek?

On the one hand, I could instigate endless debate about the finer points of nerds.

On the other hand I could construct nerds with a 3-D meat printer.

@programmerhumor@lemmy.ml

  • Wooster ( Wooster@startrek.website ) English
    33·
    2 years ago

    If this is a joke, it’s going over my head. But as I understand it:

    Geek: Socially Acceptable, Really smart about a particular topic, or in general. Nerd: Socially awkward, really smart about a topic or in general. Dork: Socially awkward, not especially bright.

    • snooggums ( snooggums@midwest.social ) English
      11·
      2 years ago

      How I remember it being used as a kid in the 80s/90s and were about less popular things like math/science/chess/D&D/band/etc.

      Nerd - Knows a lot of minutes about a thing, but is generally introverted in how they approach it. They will discuss it calmly with other needs, hang out in small groups, and might even hide their interest if they are bullied.

      Geek - Knows a lot of minute about a nerdy thing, but is extremely excited about it externally. They 'geek out about the thing and want to share it with everyone.

      I assume they were used differently in different places and times, so that’s just my experience.

    • flora_explora ( flora_explora@beehaw.org ) 
      2·
      2 years ago

      Same. I often find people identifying with “nerd stuff” and wanting to be seen as nerdy somehow annoying for exactly that reason. I didn’t choose to be awkward or to have intense special interests.

        • flora_explora ( flora_explora@beehaw.org ) 
          1·
          2 years ago

          Interesting question!

          I have the feeling that intense interests often lead to being awkward because it is assumed that “normal” people don’t so this. If I start passionately talking about my interests, neurotypical people often don’t get why I’m so intense about it and either find me boring, too much or cute (in a patronizing way). And having learnt to mask a lot and not show my interests, I often feel frustrated not to be able to share my interests. So for me, being awkward and having special interests are tied together.

          But still, I’d rather be awkward than being such a boring person without the passion for their interests. I’m also trans and queer, and I wouldn’t like to be a cishet person either. Although it sucks so much not fitting in society and frequently being discriminated against, I wouldn’t be me without these traits. I would just be a very narrowminded, boring and passionless person I guess (I obviously don’t know how to imagine being someone else, not meant to be offensive). In my utopia, people would just be accepting of others and different needs and expressions.

          • Ethan ( firelizzard@programming.dev ) English
            1·
            2 years ago

            I’m a cishet white dude so I experience effectively zero discrimination directed at me, but I am on the spectrum.

            I guess basically everyone I regularly interact with either is also on the spectrum or has intense interests regardless, or is used to people like that. Though TBF I have learned to not get intense if I’m in public talking to random strangers. But if someone asks me a question like, “how do computers work”, I will answer at great length.