Being Called a Geek - Derogatory Or Complimentary In This Day And Age?

LEE929394

LEE929394

LEE929394

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Well i'm what you'd call a 'tech head' and proud of it. I've got very average computer experience and knowledge, can get myself out of trouble when things go wrong, have built my own PC, follow and take interest in the latest tech/gadgets etc.
Nothing special to say some of my friends who are programmers and web developers.

At work i get called and am definately the company 'geek'.
I'm the only person who has any sound computer knowledge at my workplace.

I assume nowadays the definition of geek has slightly changed, having more of a cultural aspect and a lifestyle rather than plain 'nerdy'

I also notice amongst other technically minded people the word is complimentary, technophobes and people with modest interest in tech may use it as an insult.

To be a real geek i think you must enjoy and are good at programming/coding but i have a feeling many programmers would hate to be called 'geek' depending on their perspective.

Then what about 'nerds'? Nerds or being nerdy definately sounds more insulting although i have friends that are self-confessed nerds and embrace the term willingly!


I think the old stereotypes such as geeks aren't successful with women, stay in their bedrooms etc is such old hat but many people still have this bad attitude.
The fact i play games (on a PC) still raises eyebrows from co-workers (mainly older generation) though surely nearly everyone plays games nowadays?
World of Warcraft seems to have a nerdy stigma attached to it.

My belief is, geeks created the online world, non-geeks use the facebooks and online shops of this world created by geeks, without geeks technology wouldn't progress, society would not evolve.
If i am indeed a geek i am proud to be one in that case!;)

Lol to the wording of my thread but a point needs to be made here, your views? :)
 
The rules of geekiness is that you never say that you are a geek.
While a nerd is someone who says that they are a geek/nerd.
Therefore you are a nerd.
 
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For the record...

geeknerdvenndiagram.jpg


I like to think I am just about socially capable enough to escape from being a nerd into being a geek, but it's a close thing some days.

That being said, I talked to a girl for 5 minutes about her wedding today, so I must be doing something right.
 
You can have Geeks outside of computing, it just means someone who has a passion for some subject and is intelligent. Someone like Ed Milliband can be classified as a Politics Geek, he's perfectly functional in social situations.

If you have what you call average knowledge of computer stuff, then you are either far too modest or not a Geek.

Nerd implies to me someone who is socially awkward.
 
My ex used to be an expert on this. She used to tell me in detail about the differences between nerds/geeks/dorks whatever. So I should be an expert. But whenever she was talking I just switched off to her waffle and started thinking about her boobies.
 
LEE929394 said:
My belief is, geeks created the online world, non-geeks use the facebooks and online shops of this world created by geeks, without geeks technology wouldn't progress, society would not evolve.
If i am indeed a geek i am proud to be one in that case!;)
Click to expand...

I think the quote is...

"be nice to the geeks...chances are you'll end up working for one".
 
Depends on context really but 'geek' isn't necessarily derogatory - I think 'nerd' is more likely to be but if you're trying to separate the two terms then tbh.. you definitely are one.
 
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