When does a noob turn into a geek?

[aimeeandbeatles]

When they take some computer course in college? When they build their first computer? Not all at once? Is it relative? When they actually understand what everyone here is talking about? Never?

When does a noob turn into a geek?

 

[Turner]

Probably when other people stop understanding what *you're* talking about.

Keep in mind, there are varying degrees of Geekdom. I pretty much consider myself one, but there are people at work who make me look like a poser. I get a lot of people at my job and my wife's job asking me to work on their computer.... and then I get stumped and go running to someone else!

So it really depends....

 

[Onionsoilder]

When they know what they're talking about even(especially?) if others don't.

 

[Aramazd]

When they take some computer course in college? When they build their first computer? Not all at once? Is it relative? When they actually understand what everyone here is talking about? Never?

When does a noob turn into a geek?

When your right about stuff.

 

[Padma]

From the Jargon File:

geek: n.

A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance. Geeks usually have a strong case of neophilia. Most geeks are adept with computers and treat hacker as a term of respect, but not all are hackers themselves — and some who are in fact hackers normally call themselves geeks anyway, because they (quite properly) regard ‘hacker’ as a label that should be bestowed by others rather than self-assumed.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

When you get to the point that reading about new techy things makes you excited and when your idea of a joke makes other people go 'WTH'.
According to Padma's definition, im geek numero uno -- well, okay, im good with computers but not that exceptional, but everything else.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Some people I know say I'm boring. I go, "Well you got your concerts and your fancy high-def TVs and your silly clothes and shopping, but give me a decent computer any day."

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Does it also mean that when you want to curse someone out, you say "I hope you have a head crash!!!" or "I hope your mobo dies one day after your warranty runs out!!!"

 

[kcwong]

Computer geek?

When you have a problem, and your first action is to search for an answer online (with search engines, not asking on forums/usenet) and experiment with your findings. Most problems you can solve that way... others you consult computer geeks you know, and you are satisfied when they give you some more keywords to search with.

In short, the willingness and ability to research and learn on your own. A few years in school studying related subjects might speed you up on that (by removing basic knowledge from your to-be-learned list).

 

[GoodGame]

When does a noob turn into a geek?

Geeks discuss esoteric techy things that most people don't care about.

Noobs need help doing basic things, or just plain fail to read the manual (a.k.a. RTFM).

Probably several years of intensive study are needed to go from noob -> competent -> geek

 

[Aramazd]

Does it also mean that when you want to curse someone out, you say "I hope you have a head crash!!!" or "I hope your mobo dies one day after your warranty runs out!!!"

No, nobody says that.

 

[Padma]

That's geek-wannabe speak.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well it's still fun!

 

[Perfection]

Not for the people around you.

When you talk like that people begin to hate you.

 

[lndm]

aimee, I think you are a geek, and I mean that in the nicest possible way

I remember when I was a noob (an obvious one, I'm still one from time to time ), I was still a geek, just a young one. I think you could define it as a strong desire to learn....and that that learning sometimes diverts you from other things in your life.

Not just anyone can be a geek. It takes a good concentration span and the right desires. What you'll find is that you delve deeply into things that you really don't require (like filesystems ). If you ever have to explain what you're doing to someone else, you have to paraphrase it carefully in order for them not to tell you you're insane.

Then one day you find that no-one seems to understand what you're saying anymore....and if you think that's their problem and not yours, congratulations, you're there

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yes, I ask questions whenever I can (after Googling), and usually don't like to assume things.

On another forum (not computer-related), I recently diagnosed someones laptop with a dead mobo...I asked them some questions, they answered it. And basically what happened was their laptop kept rebooting, and the BIOS wouldn't show up, and they tried to change the battery but it didn't do anything. And there weren't any beeps. And I said, "I'd think it was a shot LCD, but it kept rebooting, and since you can't see the BIOS, I'm suspecting a dead mobo. And since it's kinda hard to replace hardware on a laptop, I'd recommend you take into the shop." It's actually kinda fun troubleshooting.

 

[lndm]

and usually don't like to assume things.

The curiosity, I forgot to mention that one.....son, why are you [mixing those/breaking that open/setting that on fire]? Oh, no reason mum, I just want to see what happens.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My mom once got upset when I took apart a floppy disk to see what was inside. There wasn't anything important on the floppy, anyways, but she was still upset.