the Definition of a nerd/geek

[endnow]

Ok so today at Tafe me and my friends were having this argument that was nothing short of epic about what classifies someone as a nerd. The argument was predominantly between myself and another friend both of which think the other is a nerd. Said friend of mine went to Barcelona and played FIFA09 for Australia and he argues that "being good at games doesent make you a nerd". He also argues that posting on forums for game is quiet nerdy... it was actually quiet a collossal stalemate that we reached!

Anyway the discussion went on with the rest of the group and their were even arguments over the difference between a nerd and a geek. The genral impression was that many different things can make up a nerd and that a nerd is not nessisarily socially inadequate however a geek is. I would however like to pointout that I dont have a problem with being labelled a nerd. At any rate the whole group could not agree on most of our discussion points and I still maintain that my freind is a nerd. What do you guys think?

Todays purley anecdotal experience aside and as a more genral question. What do you guys think makes a nerd? Do you think we are all nerds for posting on a forum site and aspiring to be better at games? Does being good at games make you a nerd?

 

[iKotomi]

Geek is a term used in programming community to describe people with in-depth technical knowledge about computers. It is in general a compliment to be called a geek in this technical sense. Outside, it generally means anyone who is obsessed with weird things. This definition is pretty much synonymous with that of a nerd which is used to describe people that are obsessed with primarily "anti-social" hobbies.

Whatever the case, arguments over definitions don't really go anywhere and are in fact pointless.

 

[Jaxel]

As iKotomo stated... a geek is a person with in-depth technical knowledge about systems. I take pride when people call me a geek... A nerd however is NOT a good term. A nerd would probably be the english equivalent of the japanese otaku. It is NOT a complement. It is an insult used to describe someone who has a fanatical interest in something or other.

 

[endnow]

Whatever the case, arguments over definitions don't really go anywhere and are in fact pointless.

thanks for your reply mate but I dont think the argument is totally pointless. I think its interesting to find out what different people classify as a 'nerd'. I didnt start this thread to reach any grand colclusions but that doesent nessisarily mean its a pointless disscussion.

Jaxel Whats your 'definition' of a nerd though? Are you saying its simply an insult?

Also me and my friend need some closure. Does being very good at a game make you a nerd? Jaxel, OFFMATIC ect dont answer that one :P

 

[nobody_77]

I think that a nerd/geek is no different from a jock and a goth...

Nerd, geek, and any other names are just words which are used by people to classes them into specific social groups... to me a nerd is someone who is engrosed in something so much that they don't realize other things that may happen around them, while a geek is pretty much the same thing but a little more lax and gets more of the whole picture... but a gamer that is something else, where I live you could either be a nerd, geek, and myself and my friends are the stereotypical gamer... playing, talking, and wearing gaming stuff ( I wear the SC 4 shirt sometimes)

When you talk about posting on forums I don't think you could be classed as a nerd because techniacally in my standards you are communicating to other people and asking for advice and I guess that could be classed as a geek because you are being socially active with other people

And I think that being good at games does not class you as a nerd just a gamer

yeah I don't think this helped that much...too late