Am I a proper 'geek'?

estebanrey · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:34

I'm always surprised when I meet fellow computer/tech enthusiasts who are surprised that I'm not into X-Men, the latest Batman movie or Sci-fi.

TBF, I get more of it from non-techy types who just assume because I'm into Science, Technology and PCs that must mean I also like science fiction, World Of Warcraft and spending my weekends playing soldiers at the local Games Workshop.

It's odd though because I notice a lot of science type people love things like Star Wars/Trek and Game Of Thrones when in my opinion the reason I love science is because it's reality. Hence why I prefer films based on real events and get annoyed by so-called poetic licence.

So who else self-describes as a geek but isn't into fantasy novels and the cliche geek hobbies?

dirtychinchilla · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:36

You've played WOW. End of story!

Craterloads · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:36

They are two different hobbies/interests, strange people seem to merge the two.

Fulax · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:38

So...you don't love Game of Thrones...?

On Holiday · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:39

dirtychinchilla said:
You've played WOW. End of story!

I know you aren't serious (or are you), but I've met so many people who play WoW who are the complete opposite of "geek", it's incredible, I think it's becoming more socially acceptable

dirtychinchilla · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:40

YarwoodUK said:
I know you aren't serious (or are you), but I've met so many people who play WoW who are the complete opposite of "geek", it's incredible, I think it's becoming more socially acceptable

Hah I am partially serious. When did you play it though? Early days or beta tests I think would define you as a geek

Doomedspeed · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:41

YarwoodUK said:
I think it's becoming more socially acceptable

Get..ge.. Just Get o...

< Door!

On Holiday · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:42

dirtychinchilla said:
Hah I am partially serious. When did you play it though? Early days or beta tests I think would define you as a geek

Never played it, is that a good thing?

Played APB, Age of Conan and Lord of the Rings Online though.

StriderX · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:45

estebanrey said:
I'm always surprised when I meet fellow computer/tech enthusiasts who are surprised that I'm not into X-Men, the latest Batman movie or Sci-fi.

TBF, I get more of it from non-techy types who just assume because I'm into Science, Technology and PCs that must mean I also like science fiction, World Of Warcraft and spending my weekends playing soldiers at the local Games Workshop.

It's odd though because I notice a lot of science type people love things like Star Wars/Trek and Game Of Thrones when in my opinion the reason I love science is because it's reality. Hence why I prefer films based on real events and get annoyed by so-called poetic licence.

So who else self-describes as a geek but isn't into fantasy novels and the cliche geek hobbies?

Except if you combine it with Philosophy, is it really reality?

To be honest i think this is mostly an Americanism, where groups define people, rather than the other way around...which is not entirely untrue of other places, but it is quite an thing over there.

As long as the characters and story are worthwhile, i don't care what i watch.

estebanrey · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:47

dirtychinchilla said:
You've played WOW. End of story!

No I haven't, that was kind of the point of the OP.

Fulax said:
So...you don't love Game of Thrones...?

Well OK I do watch it, but mainly out of peer pressure and now I've seen the first three 'seasons' I'm kind of committed to watching it now. But I did sigh when they brought 'dragons' into it (I prefer the medieval politics/violence) and have no desire to go out and read the books.

StriderX said:
Except if you combine it with Philosophy, is it really reality?

Not fan of philosophy either. I regard it as one person's opinion dressed up in fancy prose to give it more credence than it actually deserves as an objective notion.

nick.lidgett · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:52

When i think "geek" i think big bang theory, anyone who doesnt fit this profile is not a proper geek imho

estebanrey · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:54

nick.lidgett said:
When i think "geek" i think big bang theory, anyone who doesnt fit this profile is not a proper geek imho

Ahh see this is where I disagree. The people on Big Bang Theory I regard as 'nerds' and, IMO, there is a difference.

Geek = someone with an interest in a particular field or fields and wants to increase their knowledge in them.

Nerd = Bespectacled, fantasy novel loving, asthma suffering, socially award person who may or may not have a knowledge in any one particular field.

oldbag · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:55

Its better than being a nerd.

On Holiday · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:56

estebanrey said:
Ahh see this is where I disagree. The people on Big Bang Theory I regard as 'nerds' and, IMO, there is a difference.

Geek = someone with an interest in a particular field or fields and wants to increase their knowledge in them.

Nerd = Glass wearing, fantasy novel loving, socially award person who may or may not have a knowledge in any one particular field.

Have to agree.

arknor · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:56

I know a guy that did the DND days etc at travelerman or whatever its called.

he certainly wouldn't be considered a geek by people who know him

I'd class my self as a geek but don't like superhero crud , starwars , harry potter , lord of the rings etc.

I'm not a fan of most fantasy stuff but like game of thrones.
I'm a big fan of space scifi like BSG , the star trek series , stargate etc

oldbag · 26 Sep 2013 at 22:58

You speak to a geek who plays RPGs and they'd talk about the various quests and would touch on the weapons they use. A nerd would give you every property of the weapon in question and why its better than everyone else's, with extra adenoids.

StriderX · 26 Sep 2013 at 23:00

arknor said:
I know a guy that did the DND days etc at travelerman or whatever its called.

he certainly wouldn't be considered a geek by people who know him

I'd class my self as a geek but don't like superhero crud , starwars , harry potter , lord of the rings etc.

I'm not a fan of most fantasy stuff but like game of thrones.
I'm a big fan of space scifi like BSG , the star trek series , stargate etc

You mention all those and not Babylon 5.

:mad:

Nitefly · 26 Sep 2013 at 23:08

I think geek just means you have an overly enthusiastic interest in something. Most of us here are geeks.

[FnG]magnolia · 26 Sep 2013 at 23:16

estebanrey said:
I regard it as one person's opinion dressed up in fancy prose to give it more credence than it actually deserves as an objective notion.

I know it was unintentional but that sentence is hilarious

I imagine there's a lot of geeks on here if by geeks we mean 'fans of'. Computers, tech stuff, phones, cars, boats, football - it's almost as though having different sub forums where these people can hang out was planned.

StriderX · 26 Sep 2013 at 23:25

[FnG]magnolia;25012458 said:
I know it was unintentional but that sentence is hilarious

I imagine there's a lot of geeks on here if by geeks we mean 'fans of'. Computers, tech stuff, phones, cars, boats, football - it's almost as though having different sub forums where these people can hang out was planned.

Maybe, they can have a subforum for people that delve so far into the almighty troll theorem as to make it worth a discussion?