Geek vs Nerd
A light-hearted post today.
I thought I’d explain, as I see it, the difference between a geek and a nerd.
What Makes A Geek/Nerd?
Geek and nerd aren’t specific computer related terms. You can be geeky or nerdy about any subject. Cars for example.. they have plenty of geeks and nerds. How do you say? Well I’ll explain shortly.
For the most part geeks and nerds tend to be involved in things with a lot of detail. They both exhibit a knowledge of their subject beyond what a lay person may even think is possible. Indeed, that could be the very definition of where the boundaries lie. Good examples of this could be: role-play games, cars, computers (of course), or fitness.
The Geek
A geek is someone that uses their field for productivity or pleasure, and has accumulated - through a desire to enjoy their experience more or become more proficient at a task - an extensive knowledge of a subject.
Geeks that are involved with machines (cars, computers, stereos, etc) tend to see these things as tools, and by gaining more knowledge about - and hence control over - them they intend to maximise their use of the tool. Be it driving better and for longer, or being able to code an efficient web page without looking at a reference book. The result is the same in terms of difference to a layperson. This type of geek will often know lots about the construction of their area, and can be excited by the prospect of upgrading a small part that may seem insignificant to an outsider, but it impacts (or the geek feels it impacts) the performance of their tasks.
Geeks tend to be concerned with issues in a broader scope than nerds, and are certainly more focused on issues that affect them (this journal for example - web design, and similar issues) and less with the minutiae of details.
The Nerd
A Nerd is someone that has taken their use of a tool or discipline and raised it so that they no longer value the result of it more than the tool or discipline itself. It is the subject that is their love. A geek might know a lot about computers, but it will be what they need to know. A nerd will learn everything they can about computers, but gain no practical benefit for this. Moreover they will experiment with things that will take a lot of time and have no real benefit to them - just because they are learning about the subject.
Nerds tend to be even more fanatical about improving in their subject than geeks, but have a more holistic approach. Rather than improving in their area they must improve overall in all areas.
Nerds are usually the more preachy and anal of the two (though this does depend to some extent on personality - a geek can be an arse too!) and are more prone to nitpicking small irrelevant details and using this as an excuse to junk the rest of the information. This is related to that Nerds are often the hardest group to teach, as their knowledge is sacred to them - and so can never be proved wrong. Sometimes even when presented with overwhelming evidence to the contrary a nerd will still claim that their knowledge is correct.
Nerds are the more annoying of the two, and the most observed. They are highly critical, and tend to put down people rather than help them (as most geeks will try to do - until they lose patience). Often the distinction is missed between these two groups, as the Nerd is usually heard the most.
In Summary
Without Nerds there would be less pushing of the boundaries, but without Geeks no-one would find these things useful. Remember a geek or a nerd doesn’t actually have to have a certain amount of knowledge, it is an attitude to their subject that creates the geek.
Geeks and Nerds are closely related, in fact many nerds will start out as geeks - a starter techie if you will. Geek shouldn’t be a negative term, as it merely infers knowledge. Nerd is more negative, mainly due to the unhealthy obsessive nature of the classic Nerd, however the benefit a Nerd can have on a subject should not be overlooked either.
Viva La Difference!
Of course making your own definition of Geeks and Nerds certainly qualifies you for one of the categories… which one is up to you…
on June 24th, 2005 at 7:01
Geek
I also thought a geek and a nerd were different, I was wrong. I take the term geek as an insult, but the term nerd as a compliment. I was surprised Dictionary.com class them as the same thing.
on July 19th, 2005 at 7:27
brilliant!
I used these definitions in explaining to a friend why I’m a geek but not a nerd.
on July 19th, 2005 at 7:59
hahaha! Excellent! I’m glad my perspective on things is useful to someone!
on November 21st, 2005 at 8:49
Neeks and Gerds unite!
on January 18th, 2006 at 2:11
o.O It seems in my school we’ve mixed up the definitions. Everyone thinks being a nerd means just being really smart, and a geek is someone who’s socially incapable. So uhhh I guess a nerd in my school is a good thing ^_^” because you can still be amazingly looked up to o.O
on January 18th, 2006 at 3:59
Wow.. wierd. I mean I have heard geek used negativly before now - that’s not that uncommon - but never nerd as a good thing.
on January 26th, 2006 at 6:35
[…] So,What The Fuck is the Difference? […]
on February 10th, 2006 at 16:28
Gregory, thats because people use the terms improperly, hence the need for this piece.
I wrote something similar a long time ago, for a site which is now defunct. I will take great pleasure linking to this in my sidebar
Thanks Gregory.
I will also add here in no uncertain terms, what is already nested in the above text.. that Nerds are by and large much more socially awkward than Geeks… beyond that, Geeks may choose to ignore the social graces, but Nerds seem to have genuine difficulty with them.
on February 10th, 2006 at 16:30
Oh… and each can be a good thing… in the case of “nerdy girls” for instance. The stereotype of the glasses-wearing introverted bookworm. Not an insult, in fact often a fetish.
on February 10th, 2006 at 20:06
I dunno, I’d still say out of “geeky girl” and “nerdy girl” the geek would be less insulting.
But yes there is that whole “bookworm” schoolgirl fetish thing…
on February 12th, 2006 at 20:09
Really glad to see someone sort it all out, and now i can explain my dislike of my nerd counter parts without seeming like a self hating geek.
on August 14th, 2006 at 13:54
I was at a party on Saturday night with some people who were hotly discussing the difference between the two.
One thing is for sure, discussing this at a party made all of us geeks or nerds depending on your view point.
I myself consider Nerd to be better than Geek although I take your point about Nerds being “usually the more preachy and anal of the two”.
on August 19th, 2006 at 23:17
heh…. i’m kinda proud to be a geek.. and, yes… i kinda “ignore social needs” … tho i’m having some difficulties with it too >_>
anyways… a good page to link when i’m told that i’m a nerd… :F
thanks ^^
on August 22nd, 2006 at 0:13
great site it makes me feel better in being a geek. I like not being social. You can’t get hurt that way.
on December 14th, 2006 at 21:34
It was my understanding that nerd described someone who was more into the knowledge of a subject and geek was into the lifestyle. Like a Star Trek ners would know everything about every episode and know the gramatical rules of klingon but a Star Trek geek would own the costumes, go to conventions, and tell people to live long and prosper on a regular basis.
..nerds would be the ones reading text books for fun and geeks would bewalking around in an anime tee shirt and a naruto headband.
I’ve also noticed that nerds are more likely to know there is a difference between nerd and geek.
Whether one is negative or positive just depends on what you like; I personally would hate to be a geek but a lot of my friends are geeks themselves.
on May 10th, 2008 at 14:15
Whether one is negative or positive just depends on what you like; I personally would hate to be a geek but a lot of my friends are geeks themselves
on June 12th, 2008 at 9:27
Oh… and each can be a good thing… in the case of “nerdy girls” for instance. The stereotype of the glasses-wearing introverted bookworm. Not an insult, in fact often a fetish.
on June 12th, 2008 at 9:27
Gregory, thats because people use the terms improperly, hence the need for this piece.
I wrote something similar a long time ago, for a site which is now defunct. I will take great pleasure linking to this in my sidebar
Thanks Gregory.
I will also add here in no uncertain terms, what is already nested in the above text.. that Nerds are by and large much more socially awkward than Geeks… beyond that, Geeks may choose to ignore the social graces, but Nerds seem to have genuine difficulty with them.
on August 6th, 2008 at 8:31
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on August 6th, 2008 at 8:31
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on August 6th, 2008 at 8:31
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on August 6th, 2008 at 8:32
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