How do you define a "geek"?

[aimeeandbeatles]

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.

 

[Macha]

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]

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]

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]

if you describe people you talk to as noobs then you're a geek.

 

[mdwh]

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]

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, also known as 'The Jargon File'.

And, for the record...

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

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]

Stuff

EDIT: Took the Nerd Test 2: