View Full Version : How do you define a "geek"?


aimeeandbeatles
Sep 21, 2008, 12:46 PM
Experience? College degree? Amount of geeky stuff? Interest? Operating system?

How do you define a "geek"? Do you consider yourself one? Is there only one type of "geek", or different types?

Discuss. And please try not to get this into a flame war.

I consider myself a geek, but I'm really a noob compared to the rest of you.:lol:

Macha
Sep 21, 2008, 01:28 PM
There are many types of geek. I would consider a high level of interest in something considered to be geeky (computers, science, anime etc.) to be a geek.

Genocidicbunny
Sep 21, 2008, 01:39 PM
Someone who has a passion and knowledge about a subject. For instance, Im a computer and chemistry geek ( Although the chemistry geekdom has a loooong way to go )

aimeeandbeatles
Sep 21, 2008, 01:46 PM
Does that mean I'm a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers geek? LMAO...that sounds weird.

Anyways, most people I talk to are noobs, so they consider me a geek. I sometimes have to explain in detail ("Press the red circle to start recording") how to do things. Fortunately, most of them I don't have to.

Right now I'm explaining the difference between memory and hard drive space to someone.

WildFire
Sep 21, 2008, 05:02 PM
if you describe people you talk to as noobs then you're a geek.

mdwh
Sep 21, 2008, 06:34 PM
I also note that trying to come up with a strict definition to classify people as being geeks or not, is itself a geek thing :) (Don't worry, I do it myself too.)

Padma
Sep 22, 2008, 10:48 AM
A carnival performer who bites the heads off chickens. ;)


(Well, that was the original meaning....)


More seriously, "A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance." From The Hacker's Dictionary (http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/G/geek.html), also known as 'The Jargon File'.

And, for the record...
http://www.nerdtests.com/images/ft/cg.php?val=0848 (http://www.nerdtests.com/ft_cg.php?im)

aimeeandbeatles
Sep 22, 2008, 12:01 PM
My dictionary says this:

1. A carnival performer who does disgusting acts
2. A person with an unusual or odd personality
3. A knowledgeable and obsessive computer enthusiast

Onionsoilder
Sep 22, 2008, 03:45 PM
Stuff

http://www.nerdtests.com/images/ft/cg.php?val=6736

EDIT: Took the Nerd Test 2:

http://www.nerdtests.com/images/badge/nt2/a1a71daf4060946b.png (http://www.nerdtests.com/ft_nt2.php?)