NationStates Jolt Archive

It is time to settle this. We throw around these words with no formal definitions. This thread is to finally define the terms : geek, nerd, doofus, dork and any others that you think need adressing. What is a nerd, what different kinds of nerds are there? As far as I understand it, a geek is a nerd with a social life, but is that really what it is. Please post in an attempt to deal with this issue for once and for all. What am I? :confused: :confused: :confused:

A nerd is a smart geek. A dork is a nerd with an even smaller social life. A doofus is an idiot. I don't know how to define geek, though.

A nerd is a smart geek. A dork is a nerd with an even smaller social life. A doofus is an idiot. I don't know how to define geek, though.
OCD, bad fashion, social life only with other geeks, takes sexual pleasure from finishing their homework first... something like that

A geek is someone of above average intelligence, usually entirely interested in something technical - hence the innate attraction to that pinnacle of technological achievement, the computer.

A nerd is a geek minus the social skills.

They are both labels that mean nothing.

They are both labels that mean nothing.
On this empty bottle next to me is a label: "beer". Doesn't that mean anything too?

On this empty bottle next to me is a label: "beer". Doesn't that mean anything too?

Certainly more than the labels we put upon people. A beer is a beer. A person is a person. It is not a geeky beer anymore than we have geeky people. The labels we put on beers (light, dark) are universal. The labels we put upon people are individual perceptions. A perception from me is not going to be the same to you. You may call a dude with glasses a dork, another person may call a steroid breathing guy a dork. Our labels for people are simple stereotypes that demean our very existence.

I think Moonshine got closest to the head on that nail. Nerds were plentiful when I was in school, and while they were sharp, they weren't very socially adept. Geeks not only tend to include more social skills, but also get deeper into their field than the average nerd. Perhaps the sociability adds a certain "balance" that lets them extend themselves further, I don't know.
Example: I know many nerds, but very very few do hardware, they're software gurus. Most geeks I know are pretty good with both.

Doofus? Your run-of-the-mill idiot. Like a linebacker, who doesn't understand why the QB gets all the press, and has never understood why dinner settings have two forks. (I'm not saying he has to use them, just understand the reason behind it)

Dork? I think of a nerd(generally akward but content) who craves a social life, but lacks the skill, this his efforts are obvious and akward in execution.

Dictionary.com says:

geek-
a. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
c. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

nerd-
a. A foolish, inept, or unattractive person.
b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept

Not much of a difference.....except for the whole "biting the head off of a live chicken" thing.

Geek- http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=geek
Nerd- http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=nerd

geek-
a. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
c. A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

nerd-
a. A foolish, inept, or unattractive person.
b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept

Not much of a difference.....except for the whole "biting the head off of a live chicken" thing.

Exactly. We have all made mistakes in our lives by our clumsyness or foolish attempts. We all have someone in this world that may consider us unattractive. Therfore (in label terms) we all are a bunch of nerdy geeks. In the end we are all equal.

Ok here is how I have had it explained to me

Geek is a nerd with social skills lol.

Everyone is a geek, we are just different types of geek. Some may be into music, while others are into computers. I'm sure you could be a football geek if you wanted.