NationStates Jolt Archive

So the thread on why geeks are worth it inspired me to ponder why I'm glad to be a geek myself.

I've been a geek/nerd since before high school, although it was in high school that I came into my own.

I think the main reason for that was the school I attended until 8th grade was very small (400 students in grades K-8) and the social cliques were rigid and everybody knew everyone else. I was in the geek crowd but in that environment the geek crowd consisted of about 4 people and we had no common defining characteristic other than we got good grades, were generally disliked by the popular crowd (because we refused to show them proper deference) and weren't particularly good at anything the popular people felt was worthwhile.)

In High School the geeks were regarded in the same way but the sheer size of the school (3500 students in grades 9-12) meant we didn't get in each other's way. The Geeks were a social group who played Dungeons & Dragons, were generally handy with computers, got good grades and didn't bother with Guess? brand jeans.

Why is this a good thing?

-I never had to worry about my grades. I was in a social group where intelligence and accomplishment were respected and encouraged, and I always had help with homework when I needed it.

-I had actual creative hobbies like designing computer programs, painting/assembling models and miniatures, and was able to rig a Frankenstienish electronic juggernaut in my bedroom that served as a Computer, television, VCR, CD player, telephone, radio, game console and all without any modern computer technology like optical drives or even a hard drive. This proved eminently satisfying.

-Girls in a geek group are remarkably freaky. Who knew? 'nuff said. (And yeah, my wife is a geek. WooT!)

-Being in a social group of 'misfits' means very little social pressure, enabling one to relax and be himself/herself. By not having to put on a persona in order to interact with my fellows, I could come to know myself well and either accept myself or take positive steps to improve who I am.

-Because our conduct was good, school administrative staff gave us more latitude that was afforded the average student. We had access to study rooms in the library that others would not, where we could study, play games or simply hang out. (There was also suspicion that some members of my group were having sex in there too, but this was never proven. If my girlfriend at the time had gone to my same school, I'd have done it for sure.)

-These patterns continued later in life, where academic success translated into professional success, with the same advantages.

-I still have the same friends I did in High school, 16 years after my graduation. They're no longer just friends, they're my brothers. We know each others' true selves, and like each other anyway.

-Orion Slave Girls

-And we still play the same games, or better ones. (Although it's humiliating when we get pwned by my sons in Halo... but then, I got my revenge in CoD4 so all's well :D )

-Since 2000 I've been running a Dungeons & Dragons club and we meet on alternate Fridays. This has brought me new friends along the way whom I'd trust with my life.

-Geeks appreciate certain forms of entertainment at a level that's well beyond the average person's ability to understand. Think Babylon 5 was just about spaceships shooting at each other and funny looking aliens? Think Dune was just about big worms in the desert?

-Battlestar Galactica

-Despite the amount of ribbing they get, geeks are typically quite comfortable with who they are and possess a healthy self esteem. This comes in no small meausre from the acceptance they find from their peers.

Some of the items in this list aren't exclusive to geeks of course, but it's the combination of these elements that I find to be greater than the sum of its parts.

If you can think of more I may have forgotten, please add them!

I'm damn glad to be a geek.

It sounds all good on paper but:
- The social skills non-geeks got in highschool translate to real world social skills. After highschool, I spent a year in an environment where there were very few geeks. I had to overcome the isolation of geekdom and learn to act in a social manner.

- I went to a small high school. About 100 in my grade, and there were probably 6 of us who were geeks, and then a further 12 that were hybrid geeks (other people who participated in geekdom). Quite often I'd be put in a situation without any of my close friends. Nobody likes been by themselves when everybody else is in groups

Even now, I can go out and I feel as if I am only been accepted by the people I am with because they don't want to appear rude. In group settings, I am often very quiet, which people assume is me been rude/arrogant but is just that I am shy (or I just have no interest in whatever they are talking about)

Nowdays, I am not as geeky as I used to be, but still hold some of the social handicaps of it.

EDIT: NS is probably the geekiest thing I do.

It sounds all good on paper but:
- The social skills non-geeks got in highschool translate to real world social skills. After highschool, I spent a year in an environment where there were very few geeks. I had to overcome the isolation of geekdom and learn to act in a social manner.

I disagree with this statement on the grounds that geeks DO interact in a social manner with each other. Sometimes they're just socially awkward people who attract one another, I admit, but not always so. Besides, what I found during my early days is pep ole who adjusted their behavior to be more accepted by the 'in crowd' generally were only posers who lost themselves more than they gained.

I confess that being a girl geek did not come naturally. I wasn't one growing up, though my father and brother were. They were BSG fans of the original series but worse had all the books and had read them. :p

While I was busy swooning over the Osmonds and my cool new 10-speed bike (a fantastic advancement for kids in the day), my brother's room was full of Star Wars and Tolkien.

So the question comes is it nature or nurture?

I have become a geek, or was I just a closet geek in denial all along?

I don't know. But all three of my sons are geeks and have been from the beginning. I think it started with an electronic spelling toy we had early on. ;) My mother bought it for them, I have since wondered if she is not also a closet geek.

I know that I did not teach them to be geeks it just happened. But they have an uncle who is a hard core geek, so perhaps it is genetic. Maybe I had a seed of geekiness in me and my sons showed me the light? Asking for things like Star Wars and chess sets, mech warriors and Ninja turtles for Christmas instead of sound systems and baseballs.

The wonderful thing, as a parent when that horrid age of puberty came along they have all made it fine. I don't worry about drugs, or self mutilation, or drinking to excess or whoredom with them. They are way too wrapped up in gaming, sci-fi, and gadgets to have the time or desire to cause me (and themselves) such grief. I love it, and can honestly say geekiness has made my life as a parent so much easier. :)

Geeks rule!

The wonderful thing, as a parent when that horrid age of puberty came along they have all made it fine. I don't worry about drugs, or self mutilation, or drinking to excess or whoredom with them. They are way too wrapped up in gaming, sci-fi, and gadgets to have the time or desire to cause me (and themselves) such grief. I love it, and can honestly say geekiness has made my life as a parent so much easier. :)

Geeks rule!

That, right there, is exactly how I feel. My older son is every bit as much the geek as I am and I never worry about what he's doing when I'm not around.

"Geeks go home and develop skills and talents that help them when they go into the world. Non-geeks go out into the world and develop drug addictions and pregnancies that destroy them when they go home."

Or something like that.

I disagree with this statement on the grounds that geeks DO interact in a social manner with each other. Sometimes they're just socially awkward people who attract one another, I admit, but not always so. Besides, what I found during my early days is pep ole who adjusted their behavior to be more accepted by the 'in crowd' generally were only posers who lost themselves more than they gained.
Geeks (in general) get along with other geeks. They do not go so well when they have to talk to other people. High school is the stage when kids are meant to be learning how to have the social interactions with anyone. Because I always hungout with the same 5 people unless I had to work with someone else, I am not as good as making new friends now as other people.

It is my fault, and now I am getting the hang of it. Considered it delayed learning as opposed to posing.

I think every geek of us out there knows how crap it feels to be the only one by themselves. Whether you try to change it or just accept it is up to you.

I have been a geek all my life and frankly I wouldn't have it any other way. I am part of the Science-Fiction society at my university and have been for the past 7 years, a lot of people remain members even after graduating (assuming they stay in York and a lot do) and through it I have met some of the best friends I am ever likely to have.

Unlike other students, our idea we tend to socialise by playing RPGs, LARP, wargames, board games or card games rather than going out an getting drunk. On those occasions where we do feel like a good night out, these generally consists of going to a good old fashioned pup and just sitting down and talking about pretty much everything under the sun over a couple of pints.

Also I tend to find that geeks, and indeed goths who I also tend to hang out with (the overlap is significant) tend to be very open-minded. I have never had any problems with my sexuality and despite being one of the few girls there, people have always backed off once I have told them I'm not interested. I also swear we have a higher proportion of bi people in the SF&F society to the norm... however I do get the impression that this is something you find more in UK roleplaying groups than the US (please, do enlighten me people)

pfft everyone knows the kids who never bothered with school are way better *ponders what I've done with my life*

-These patterns continued later in life, where academic success translated into professional success, with the same advantages.

where is this magical world where you work? :p

edit:

EDIT: NS is probably the geekiest thing I do.

I wouldn't really consider forums all that geeky

There are way more reasons not to be a geek.


However, the debate is just like "Why it's good to be gay" - it's not something one has a choice in. Better a geek than a dork, at least.

.

I wouldn't really consider forums all that geeky

By themselves, forums are not overly geeky, but add in a game where the purpose is to roleplay a national leader where the focus is on politics (as opposed to blowing shit up) and it becomes moreso :P

It is still good fun though :)

I wouldn't really consider forums all that geeky
Then I don't consider D&D to be geeky. I think someone is in denial! :eek:

There are way more reasons not to be a geek.


However, the debate is just like "Why it's good to be gay" - it's not something one has a choice in. Better a geek than a dork, at least.
Name 'em. Being a Geek is WAY better then being a Jock.

Name 'em. Being a Geek is WAY better then being a Jock.

Are those really the only two choices? And what exactly is the definition of a geek?

By themselves, forums are not overly geeky, but add in a game where the purpose is to roleplay a national leader where the focus is on politics (as opposed to blowing shit up) and it becomes moreso :P

well I do always close NS when someone walks into the room :cool:

Then I don't consider D&D to be geeky. I think someone is in denial! :eek:

laugh all you like but soon you will notice your starting to be more social and before you know it you will be going out drinking every other night having sex!!1

Name 'em. Being a Geek is WAY better then being a Jock.

I have yet to see any real consequences of being a Jock beyond having every American movie ever made play you as some kind of asshole

Name 'em. Being a Geek is WAY better then being a Jock.
Sure. Not being a geek means you have social skills. That, in turn, means you aren't stuck at the implementation-level jobs for life, that you can eventually get leadership positions and not botch them, that you don't waste half your life on IRC, that you can change the surroundings rather than adapt to them, IRL rather than in computer world.

And while you can't do all of the things a non-geek can (coding in 10 languages, 3d, gfx, etc), you can be just as good or better at what you actually need, and ask others (since you have social skills) for what you need rarely.

laugh all you like but soon you will notice your starting to be more social and before you know it you will be going out drinking every other night having sex!!1

o_O
No thanks. I'll stick with NOT ending up a sixteen year old father.
Or getting drunk out of my mind for that matter.

I have yet to see any real consequences of being a Jock beyond having every American movie ever made play you as some kind of asshole
It's usually true. Jocks are usually jerks.
Sure. Not being a geek means you have social skills. That, in turn, means you aren't stuck at the implementation-level jobs for life, that you can eventually get leadership positions and not botch them, that you don't waste half your life on IRC, that you can change the surroundings rather than adapt to them, IRL rather than in computer world.

And while you can't do all of the things a non-geek can (coding in 10 languages, 3d, gfx, etc), you can be just as good or better at what you actually need, and ask others (since you have social skills) for what you need rarely.
Issac Newton was a geek, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Shigeru Miyamoto (A nerd WITH social skills!:eek: ) must I go on?

o_O
No thanks. I'll stick with NOT ending up a sixteen year old father.

if that where true I can assure you that most of NS would be parenting before work on Monday ;)

It's usually true. Jocks are usually jerks.

and yet I have never really seen the whole sport = jerk connection unlike say those weird magic card gamers who where hostile to everyone

seriously if anything the ones who had any talent at sport usually happened to be quite dull:confused:

Issac Newton was a geek, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Shigeru Miyamoto (A nerd WITH social skills!:eek: ) must I go on?

good at science =/= geek surely?

Are those really the only two choices? And what exactly is the definition of a geek?

1. It's not the only two choices, I was just saying one was better then the other. If I say Ubisoft is better then EA games, does that mean that they're the only two choices?

2. We had a thread on this a while ago...

if that where true I can assure you that most of NS would be parenting before work on Monday ;)
Yeah, that would be true :p
But I've two problems with the aforementioned scenario:
1. My religion.
2. The possibility.

and yet I have never really seen the whole sport = jerk connection unlike say those weird magic card gamers who where hostile to everyone

seriously if anything the ones who had any talent at sport usually happened to be quite dull:confused:
*coughs* Discrimination, in denial *Cough cough hack*


good at science =/= geek surely?
From teh great Wiki Geek article:
"a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, gaming, etc
And nerd, which I consider interchangable...
Nerd *Snip* refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests...rather than engaging in more social or popular activities.
Albert Einstein fits this one perfectly.

*coughs* Discrimination, in denial *Cough cough hack*

are you saying magic gamers are jocks :eek:

From teh great Wiki Geek article:

you missed out overly obsessed

Albert Einstein fits this one perfectly.

if anything Einstein was in the mechanic crowd especially in his early years

are you saying magic gamers are jocks :eek:
Pardon me, but now you're just being willfully dense.

you missed out overly obsessed
Which only reinforces my point.


if anything Einstein was in the mechanic crowd especially in his early years
/self-defeating statement

In his EARLY years. Crushed again! *Haz D&D party*

Watching CM try to argue is like watching a penguin try to fly....

Shigeru Miyamoto (A nerd WITH social skills! )
Nerd with social skills == dry water.

The whole definition of nerd or geek is based around lacking social skills.


You're essentially trying to argue the point "why is it good to be smart", which no one argues with.

Nerd with social skills == dry water.

The whole definition of nerd or geek is based around lacking social skills.

Erm... Not really. The definition of a geek or nerd is:
a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, gaming, etc
I'd say Shiguro Miyamoto is pretty obsessed with electronics and gaming.
*Rolls natural twenty*:)

Erm... Not really. The definition of a geek or nerd is:

I'd say Shiguro Miyamoto is pretty obsessed with electronics and gaming.
*Rolls natural twenty*:)

If your'e going to quote wiki's definition, use the rea definition:

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers

A "nerd" or "geek" is a stereotype, or perhaps an archtype, of a certain type of person. The same as "jock". It does not mean "someone who is smart" any more than jock means "someone who is good at sports". It's a modeled archtype, and to suggest someone can be a "nerd" or "geek" while not conforming to that archtype is nonsensical, and is like saying there is such a thing, as pointed out, as dry water.

If your'e going to quote wiki's definition, use the rea definition:



A "nerd" or "geek" is a stereotype, or perhaps an archtype, of a certain type of person. The same as "jock". It does not mean "someone who is smart" any more than jock means "someone who is good at sports". It's a modeled archtype, and to suggest someone can be a "nerd" or "geek" while not conforming to that archtype is nonsensical, and is like saying there is such a thing, as pointed out, as dry water.
I never SAID it meant someone who's smart. the argument was started over whether being popular was better in the long run, or being a nerd, sheesh. And about your statement on Jocks...
, by most accepted standards of the stereotype (if one is American), is an individual - usually a tall, physically fit, male in his late teens or early twenties - who is well-known for his athletic abilities.. Jocks are more widely recognized in certain team sports, such as basketball, football, American football, and other physically demanding sports.
:)

I never SAID it meant someone who's smart. the argument was started over whether being popular was better, or being a nerd, sheesh.

And then you listed so called "nerds" who you demonstrated no further qualification as to their status as such other than they were smart.

You're not very good at this are you?

And then you listed so called "nerds" who you demonstrated no further qualification as to their status as such other than they were smart.

You're not very good at this are you?
:confused: Where did I say that? I just gave examples of successful nerds.

Pardon me, but now you're just being willfully dense.

not really

Which only reinforces my point.

these men where not overly obsessed especially Newton who was rather anything that takes his interest which was quite allot of things

In his EARLY years. Crushed again! *Haz D&D party*

he tinkered with toys all day and was rather smart that doesn't mean he sat indoors all day with his curtains closed

Watching CM try to argue is like watching a penguin try to fly....

at least flatter him

not really
Really.

these men where not overly obsessed especially Newton who was rather anything that takes his interest which was quite allot of things

You can be obsessed with more then one thing ya know.

he tinkered with toys all day and was rather smart that doesn't mean he sat indoors all day with his curtains closed
I'm a nerd, yet I don't sit inside all day with my curtains closed.

:confused: Where did I say that? I just gave examples of successful nerds.
Who aren't all nerds anyway.

For one, if a geek/nerd learns social skills, he stops being a geek/nerd, and becomes just an enthusiast or a technical savvy.

Geek/nerd/dork all imply first of all lack of social skills.

You know RPG, so you should understand the concept of character class and skills, right? So,
High physical - medium social - low technology -> Jock
Low physical - low social - low-mid tech -> Dork
Low-mid physical - low social - high tech (in an enthusiast subject) -> Geek
Low-mid physical - low social - high tech (in school/uni/job subjects) -> Nerd
High social - high tech -> Business genius
...
...
And so on, you can build a set for every "class", although of course they aren't limited to this (as seen in geek-nerd distinction).

Who aren't all nerds anyway.

For one, if a geek/nerd learns social skills, he stops being a geek/nerd, and becomes just an enthusiast or a technical savvy.

Geek/nerd/dork all imply first of all lack of social skills.

You know RPG, so you should understand the concept of character class and skills, right? So,
High physical - medium social - low technology -> Jock
Low physical - low social - low-mid tech -> Dork
Low-mid physical - low social - high tech (in an enthusiast subject) -> Geek
Low-mid physical - low social - high tech (in school/uni/job subjects) -> Nerd
High social - high tech -> Business genius
...
...
And so on, you can build a set for every "class", although of course they aren't limited to this (as seen in geek-nerd distinction).
I wouldn't quite agree with the bolded part, as we nerds are quite social with our own. If we weren't how would we play D&D! :p
That and I consider Geek and Nerd to be interchangable.

It doesn't make geeks' social skills good in the real society.

And it's a well known fact that when people are outcast by the general society, they group within themselves better. See ethnic communities for an example.

You people are arguing about definitions of stereotypes? :eek:

It doesn't make geeks' social skills good in the real society.

And it's a well known fact that when people are outcast by the general society, they group within themselves better. See ethnic communities for an example.
All right, point conceded.
You people are arguing about definitions of stereotypes? :eek:

You've been in II too long!:p

Really.

http://static.flickr.com/24/56733884_8a9876603c.jpg

You can be obsessed with more then one thing ya know.

which Newton was not

I'm a nerd, yet I don't sit inside all day with my curtains closed.

so what do you do all day? because if you do anything like Einstein your just a tinkerer

http://static.flickr.com/24/56733884_8a9876603c.jpg
O RLY IS DEAD!

which Newton was not
You contradict yourself, as before you said:
Newton who was rather anything that takes his interest which was quite allot of things
Unless I misread that because of the poor wording.


[QUOTE]so what do you do all day? because if you do anything like Einstein your just a tinkerer
So Einstein was just a tinkerer. Wow.

You've been in II too long!:p
Wrong. I had been offline too long! Let's argue about that, shall we? :D

If your'e going to quote wiki's definition, use the rea definition:



A "nerd" or "geek" is a stereotype, or perhaps an archtype, of a certain type of person. The same as "jock". It does not mean "someone who is smart" any more than jock means "someone who is good at sports". It's a modeled archtype, and to suggest someone can be a "nerd" or "geek" while not conforming to that archtype is nonsensical, and is like saying there is such a thing, as pointed out, as dry water.


Ahhh... I think I'm getting your issue here. You appear to associate popularity with social skills. These are very different things, I can assure you.

O RLY IS DEAD!

*feasts on corpse because its still vegetarian if it died of natural causes*

You contradict yourself, as before you said

obsession =/= interest

Unless I misread that because of the poor wording.

its okay I won't tell anyone ;)

So Einstein was just a tinkerer. Wow.

its not really all that surprising considering his massive issue with quantum mechanics

its not really all that surprising considering his massive issue with quantum mechanics
Please tell me that was a joke.
*feasts on corpse because its still vegetarian if it died of natural causes*



obsession =/= interest



its okay I won't tell anyone ;)
How late is it where you're at? I'm having trouble understanding your posts today. Mainly:
its okay I won't tell anyone ;)
Won't tell anyone what? that I misread it? You won't tell anyone that you contradicted yourself? WHAT!?!? WHAT WON'T YOU TELL!?!?!??!?!?!

Please tell me that was a joke.

no, mechanically minded folk have trouble with Quantum theory

How late is it where you're at? I'm having trouble understanding your posts today.

its 16:36-ish

Won't tell anyone what? that I misread it? You won't tell anyone that you contradicted yourself? WHAT!?!? WHAT WON'T YOU TELL!?!?!??!?!?!

this

It doesn't make geeks' social skills good in the real society.

And it's a well known fact that when people are outcast by the general society, they group within themselves better. See ethnic communities for an example.


Nah I don't agree with that at all. My oldest son is a geek through and through and he is captain of his college academic team, a player in theatre, and part of the flag football and baseball intramural teams in college. He works two jobs waiting tables (must have decent social skills to get decent tips) and is a voluteer in Scouting. He also bicycles 125 miles a week so he is athletic to boot. It doesn't change that he is a geek, he plays RPGs is a computer nerd, loves history and asks for things like PBS dvds for Christmas. He is a very well rounded geek.

The concepts are not mutually exclusive at all.

its 16:36-ish



this

Oh okay.
no, mechanically minded folk have trouble with Quantum theory
Ah. I still don't agree that he was just a tinkerer.

Nah I don't agree with that at all. My oldest son is a geek through and through and he is captain of his college academic team, a player in theatre, and part of the flag football and baseball intramural teams in college. He works two jobs waiting tables (must have decent social skills to get decent tips) and is a voluteer in Scouting. He also bicycles 125 miles a week so he is athletic to boot.

Then WTF are you calling him a geek?


There are thousands if not millions of normal people who know well how to use a computer and who do play TRPG, that doesn't make them geeks.
And history never was a geek subject anyway.

Then WTF are you calling him a geek?


There are thousands if not millions of normal people who know well how to use a computer and who do play TRPG, that doesn't make them geeks.
And history never was a geek subject anyway.
I wouldn't go THAT far....

it's not something one has a choice in.

sex, drugs, and punk rock worked for me

Then WTF are you calling him a geek?


There are thousands if not millions of normal people who know well how to use a computer and who do play TRPG, that doesn't make them geeks.
And history never was a geek subject anyway.


Oh he is a geek don't mistake that at all. He will tell you he is. I don't know why you think geeks are somekind of social outcast or social introverts that can't have social and athletic skills because they aren't.

Btw I attended SOE Fan Faire a couple of years back and felt sure I was going to be surrounded by misfit basement-dwellers (I was a new gamer geek, so I had pre-concieved notions sadly). I was so very wrong. 900 gaming geeks and it was the most fun I have ever had!! (And I have had my share of fun in my life....I'm a party girl. ;))

No inhibitions, no superficiality, no pretensions, and no one judging. When you really look at it, those who aren't geeks are the superficial social misfits in my opinion.

Then WTF are you calling him a geek?


There are thousands if not millions of normal people who know well how to use a computer and who do play TRPG, that doesn't make them geeks.
And history never was a geek subject anyway.


We play 6 degrees to World War II in my house. Of course it is a geek subject. :p

Oh he is a geek don't mistake that at all. He will tell you he is.
Probably it's getting popular to mark yourself as one, as the social acceptance has increased.


We play 6 degrees to World War II in my house. Of course it is a geek subject.
Hell, that might make me a geek, I know a lot of most historic naval battles. Any escape route?

Probably it's getting popular to mark yourself as one, as the social acceptance has increased.



Hell, that might make me a geek, I know a lot of most historic naval battles. Any escape route?

That maybe right. When I was young (a gazillion years ago) a geek was someone who loved and completely understood a slide rule and probably had a decent understanding of the Klingon culture. The rest of us had no interest in understanding a slide rule and yawned all the way through Star Trek.

Today's geek is generally very proficient with computers and is always a good friend to have simply because everyone (most) has a computer. They also are huge gamers generally, and were gamers before gaming was popular.

Their toys became popular, thus they have become more popular among all types of people. That in turn has probably made their social skills much more well rounded.

My brother and dad were geeks in the 60s-70s...it was not popular at all then. Today....heh, it rules. :D

And:
I'm not sure what you mean by escape routes. I blow at WWII history but my hubby can take any subject and take it to some aspect of WWII in 6 degrees or less. Drives us nuts! hehe He is a USS North Carolina junkie, so naval is his fav. (Yes that makes you a geek.) =)

The difference is, a geek is generally one who lacks the skills commonly needed, i.e. social skills (and somewhat physical), but has proficiency in what nobody cares about.

As things nobody cared about slowly became mainstream subjects, such as computers, they became known to lots of perfectly normal, healthy, sociable people.
40 years ago, these people would have skills in car repair instead, 120 years ago in servicing machinery, 400 years ago they'd be blacksmiths.

The difference is, a geek is generally one who lacks the skills commonly needed, i.e. social skills (and somewhat physical), but has proficiency in what nobody cares about.

As things nobody cared about slowly became mainstream subjects, such as computers, they became known to lots of perfectly normal, healthy, sociable people.
40 years ago, these people would have skills in car repair instead, 120 years ago in servicing machinery, 400 years ago they'd be blacksmiths.

Hmmm, geeks are perfectly healthy, normal, sociable people though.

Where are you getting your definition of what a 'geek' is?

Hmmm, geeks are perfectly healthy, normal, sociable people though.
What makes them geeks then?



Where are you getting your definition of what a 'geek' is?
From general usage. No one or virtually no one calls normal sociable persons who happen to have some skill 'geeks'.

From general usage. No one or virtually no one calls normal sociable persons who happen to have some skill 'geeks'.

Depends on what generation you're in. My parents don't use it that way. Pretty much everyone in my age group who I've heard use the term does.

Of course, in my experience, the term "geek" has less to do with particular skills and more to do with interests (ie. gaming, fantasy, sci fi, science, computers, comics, etc.)

Depends on what generation you're in. My parents don't use it that way. Pretty much everyone in my age group who I've heard use the term does.

Of course, in my experience, the term "geek" has less to do with particular skills and more to do with interests (ie. gaming, fantasy, sci fi, science, computers, comics, etc.)

Yes, that is how I see it. It is about their interests more than anything else.

Today those interests are popular so there are more geeks than ever before. (At least admitted geeks...see earlier post about closet geeks...like me ;))

Geeks are not based on physical attributes or a lack of them. Just as a jock can be great in science, but his main interst is sports. Being a jock doesn't mean no brain (though I have seen that combo a lot), anymore than being a geek means non-athletic (also seen that combo). But they certainly are not mutaully exclusive as I said.

It is about interests and passions.

So every programmer is a geek?

And a clear-cut social misfit, but pursuing a "non-geeky" subject isn't?

This strips the word "geek" of any original meaning whatsoever, then, and pretty much equates it to "potential/actual white-collar worker", or "someone who has at least one non-sport interest".

I think I can justifiably say my social skills are too weak to be a geek. :P

That term, in the pejorative sense, was originally applied not to those whose interests were in unpopular, technical, or esoteric fields, but to those whose interests were in specific unpopular, technical, or esoteric fields. Nowadays those fields have become mainstream, so the term can only be applied to those who met the stereotype back when it was a pejorative (between 10 and 30 years ago) or who meet it now when it implies an otherwise "normal" individual who simply happens to have more knowledge of and interest in, say, computers and roleplaying games than average.

I mean, the point has come when geeks are now just another social group. I don't mind them, but it does irritate me when they try to make out as though they are some kind of misunderstood and underappreciated group, or point out how superior they are to other people who don't like fantasy or sci-fi or D&D or whatever (see the OP, or that other thread on the topic). They're mainstream now; in the US, for instance, I'd imagine that they make up at least a fifth of the under-30 population. Nothing to be ashamed of, but not really any more deserving of pride than any other social group.

As for my stereotype.... if anything, I'd be a geek to the second degree; the kind of person the "average" geek would reject. I have little technical knowledge of computers or electronics and little interest in learning. I don't own a television or a video game console and never have; I don't play games involving tabletop miniatures (apart from Risk, I guess). I have no interest in meeting or finding other people like myself or who share my interests. If I am a social outcast or misfit, it is through choice and not because my favoured activities are peculiar or unintelligible to ordinary folks.