Of Geekiness, Nerd-dom, and Being a Dork
The "Batman" post (footnote 1) reminded me of a conversation I was having Saturday afternoon at Crumbs with J2, K1, et al. I was sharing my theory (which I think has been established by many reputable experts) that being a geek, a nerd, and a dork are all very different things. Of these, being a geek is probably the best, followed closely by being a nerd. Becoming a dork, on the other hand, is a highly undesirable condition.
Definitions
Geek - One who is particularly interested in a particular area, particularly one related to technology/science. While a geek will probably have above-average knowledge or interest in an area which much of the population may ignore, that's not necessarily a huge problem. The general population watches Fear Factor, buys Ashlee Simpson albums, and can't locate Canada even if you spot them a map with an arrow pointing north of the U.S. So being out of step with them is not a big problem. It just means that the geek has developed a specialized interest in an area, and so long as they do not let it get out of hand (moving toward dorkiness), it will enrich the geek's life.
Nerd - One who is smart and has high levels of achievement in academic pursuits. Sure, it isn't going to get you any varsity letters (other than the terrible academic letters my high school handed out, which only TWO people wore on varsity jackets [fn1]) or many chicks, but ultimately, all your bases are belong to nerds. Exhibit A: The world's richest man, Bill Gates.
Dork - This is a generally annoying person. They may quite possibly be nerds or geeks as well -- these categories are not mutually exclusive -- but the dork takes things to another level. They generally have under-developed social skills and want to force their area of interest down your throat. They're the people who come to a party and pull out their Magic: The Gathering cards so that they can spar in an imaginary world with their dork friends. fn2. Being a dork is bad because unlike being a geek or a nerd, it means that other people don't want your company, which isn't too cool.
This whole conversation became particularly relevant for me because soon after this discussion of nerds, geeks, and dorks, I started telling a story which started out, "My high school physics teacher...." Everyone started laughing at me, and understandably so. (I will note that it was a damn good story, however, and very germane to the topic we were discussing at the time.)
This led me to a theory about stories that begin with "My high school physics teacher....", which also provides a great example of the difference between nerd, dork, and geek.
Stories recounting your interaction with your physics teacher are almost inevitably nerdy. They have something to do with some physics fact that you learned in high school. I mean, seriously... first sign that you are a nerd: you took physics in high school. Second sign you are a nerd: you remember and still talk about what you learned ten years ago in high school physics. Third sign you are a nerd: you believe these great physics theories are fodder for social conversations.
However, stories about your physics teacher might be geeky, as in "My high school physics teacher....took me to my first Star Trek convention." fn3.
There is also a chance such stories can be dorky. For example, one could say "My high school physics teacher....let me come hang out in his room during lunch sometimes when I got too bored of my regular lunchtime table in the library." That is the definition of "dork" right there. And that, my friends, is unfortunately a true story about me, proving that despite my efforts to the contrary, I am a dork.
How incredibly depressing, eh? Oh, you say you're laughing. Of course you are, you big bully!
1. It should be noted that of the two people who wore their academic varsity letters on varsity jackets, one was a good friend of mine who also happened to be an all-league soccer goalie and tennis player. He wore both his academic and athletic letters on his jacket, thereby earning him an exemption from extreme dorkiness. When you're as much of a badass as he was, you can put whatever the hell you want on your varsity jacket and it's ok.
2. Oh no. This isn't directed at a particular group of people in my high school. Not at all.
3. This is not the case with me. Unlike some people who will remain nameless (JLRS, I'm talking to you), I have never been to a Star Trek convention. However, had I wanted to go to such a gathering, my physics teacher would have been happy to take me along, as he went regularly.
Definitions
Geek - One who is particularly interested in a particular area, particularly one related to technology/science. While a geek will probably have above-average knowledge or interest in an area which much of the population may ignore, that's not necessarily a huge problem. The general population watches Fear Factor, buys Ashlee Simpson albums, and can't locate Canada even if you spot them a map with an arrow pointing north of the U.S. So being out of step with them is not a big problem. It just means that the geek has developed a specialized interest in an area, and so long as they do not let it get out of hand (moving toward dorkiness), it will enrich the geek's life.
Nerd - One who is smart and has high levels of achievement in academic pursuits. Sure, it isn't going to get you any varsity letters (other than the terrible academic letters my high school handed out, which only TWO people wore on varsity jackets [fn1]) or many chicks, but ultimately, all your bases are belong to nerds. Exhibit A: The world's richest man, Bill Gates.
Dork - This is a generally annoying person. They may quite possibly be nerds or geeks as well -- these categories are not mutually exclusive -- but the dork takes things to another level. They generally have under-developed social skills and want to force their area of interest down your throat. They're the people who come to a party and pull out their Magic: The Gathering cards so that they can spar in an imaginary world with their dork friends. fn2. Being a dork is bad because unlike being a geek or a nerd, it means that other people don't want your company, which isn't too cool.
This whole conversation became particularly relevant for me because soon after this discussion of nerds, geeks, and dorks, I started telling a story which started out, "My high school physics teacher...." Everyone started laughing at me, and understandably so. (I will note that it was a damn good story, however, and very germane to the topic we were discussing at the time.)
This led me to a theory about stories that begin with "My high school physics teacher....", which also provides a great example of the difference between nerd, dork, and geek.
Stories recounting your interaction with your physics teacher are almost inevitably nerdy. They have something to do with some physics fact that you learned in high school. I mean, seriously... first sign that you are a nerd: you took physics in high school. Second sign you are a nerd: you remember and still talk about what you learned ten years ago in high school physics. Third sign you are a nerd: you believe these great physics theories are fodder for social conversations.
However, stories about your physics teacher might be geeky, as in "My high school physics teacher....took me to my first Star Trek convention." fn3.
There is also a chance such stories can be dorky. For example, one could say "My high school physics teacher....let me come hang out in his room during lunch sometimes when I got too bored of my regular lunchtime table in the library." That is the definition of "dork" right there. And that, my friends, is unfortunately a true story about me, proving that despite my efforts to the contrary, I am a dork.
How incredibly depressing, eh? Oh, you say you're laughing. Of course you are, you big bully!
1. It should be noted that of the two people who wore their academic varsity letters on varsity jackets, one was a good friend of mine who also happened to be an all-league soccer goalie and tennis player. He wore both his academic and athletic letters on his jacket, thereby earning him an exemption from extreme dorkiness. When you're as much of a badass as he was, you can put whatever the hell you want on your varsity jacket and it's ok.
2. Oh no. This isn't directed at a particular group of people in my high school. Not at all.
3. This is not the case with me. Unlike some people who will remain nameless (JLRS, I'm talking to you), I have never been to a Star Trek convention. However, had I wanted to go to such a gathering, my physics teacher would have been happy to take me along, as he went regularly.
posted by N at 7:54 PM
3 Comments:
VIVA LA GEEK!
by the way, you used the word "germane" in your post, thus perpetuating your status in at least 1 or more of the categories in question.
I'm so proud of you! **sniff!**
i find it interesting that you rank geek above nerd.
nerd, in my opinion, is a rank of desirable status, since it pretty much only entails being smart and having high levels of acheivement. and who doesn't wanna be smart?
geek, on the other hand, is a special brand of person, who, while he may or may not be smart, he leans towards the weird/strange/unacceptable in today's society (which admittedly, is not that bad a position to be, like you so aptly stated), but yet, geeks are defined more by the obsessive quality they exhibit towards such. not necessarily uncool, but with so much more potential to be uncool than a nerd (cause in my opinion, nerds are cool simply cause they're smart). actually, a geek doesn't even need to be smart, so in my mind it can't compete.
i dunno, maybe other people rank all 3 categories as undesirable =) and i'm just a nerd defending my own kind
k4, you make a strong argument for why nerds should be ranked above geeks. however, I still think it is worse to be a nerd. why?
in short, because "geek" is just the term that the population as a whole as assigned to people who are interested things of a more academic or obscure nature. it is practically the same as calling someone a "fan". it's just that "fan" is cool, geek is not (after all, do you ever hear anyone say "oh, he's a really college football geek"?)
being labeled a nerd, on the other hand, just seems worse to me. i can really think of a logical reason why.
in short, i think you're right that it's better to be a nerd than a geek. i just think it's better to be labeled a geek than a nerd.
Post a Comment
<< Home