I tend to reserve geek for the technological or scientific worlds, myself...
As do I. This may be a generational thing. (After all, I'm trying to figure out to what extent the meaning has *changed*. It sure wasn't about Hollywood when I first learned the word.) I should do another poll with age in it.
Geek is one of those words that seems to change definitions a lot. After all, an older definition would be the carnival geek - the dude who did disgusting sideshow acts.
Just realized I do also use it to denote expert. When I am gaming, a have my canon geeks I go to because I can't remember canon to save my life.
I don't reserve geek for scientific/technical interests/pursuits. To me, it represents a heightened, intense (possibly obsessive or borderline so) interest and knowledge in any particular subject, be it scientific/technical, artistic, cultural (including pop culture), etc. As much as I shun labels, "geek" is one I paint myself with using a broad brush. :-)
This pretty much nails my definition: intense/obsessive interest or knowledge in a subject area. Computer geek, math geek, drama geek, etc.
Now, that said, you don't usually talk much about the tractor pull geek, or the cotillions geek, so perhaps there's something else there that's less defineable.
I completely don't understand your poll. What about references? What TV show? What movie? You forgot about circuses.
Have you poked around on http://geek.org ? 15-18 years ago,there was a very active geek community in Santa Cruz, that went by "b-geeks". It did lead to some amusing situations when someone would think they recognize someone from a party and ask "aren't you a geek?", and the person wasn't.
My poll is examining one facet, not the entire word. The question is: if a person makes a reference to a very popular show or movie, is the person then considered more geeky for having done so, less geeky for having done so, or neither?
Knowledge of something in popular culture is orthagonal to geekiness, knowledge of something obscure boosts your geek score.
I probably get geek points for total ignorance of any shows on TV, I have to rack my brains to come up with even the name of a current show, but if someone quotes "Lost" in conversation, that's not geeky. If they make a "6" with their fingers, look through the hole and say "be seeing you", that's geeky.
On the other hand, if someone quotes some fact that is trivial minutiae about some current popular TV show, that is geeky.
The standard discussion is to compare and contrast geek, nerd and dweeb.
geek just means a strong, perhaps excessive, interest in a particular subject: car geeks, computer geeks, theater geeks, comic geek, gaming geek .... The default is "computer geek"
It doesn't necessarily imply competence in that subject, just interest.
A nerd is someone who has stronger technical than social skills. The default is "science nerd".
To me, nerd doesn't imply anything technical. It's just with notably weak skills at social integration, that doesn't otherwise fall into obvious sociopathy or the like.
A lot of nerds are attracted to tech, because tech doesn't need to be interacted with socially, but I don't think tech's inherent to the nerd.
Geek's well-covered above.
Dweeb...well, I don't know that I have a definition for a dweeb. It, along with dork, poindexter, larry, etc., are all just general pejoratives implying nerdiness, but with no real content.
A dweeb is what you describe as a nerd. The social skills of a nerd, without the technical ability.
Dweeb...well, I don't know that I have a definition for a dweeb. It, along with dork, poindexter, larry, etc., are all just general pejoratives implying nerdiness, but with no real content.
Well Fuck you very much. Why don't you ram it up your george with a half twist. My name is Larry, and I don't consider the use of it a perjorative.
Wow. That's quite a response. Sorry for stepping on your toes; that was insensitive of me.
The term was used extensively by one crowd I was in, and it does show up on Google in a pejorative sense, so it's not something I personally made up. I think this is probably the first time I've trotted it out in years, and apparently in the worst possible context.
That's pretty much what I thought happened, I was quite amused by excellent aim with which you stepped in it with not one, but both feet. So once I did a whois on your domain, and was pretty certain that you weren't just a friend poking fun at me, I figured I'd give you the full benefit of the experience.
:)
One of my ongoing peeves is how in just about any bit of popular fiction, the character named Larry is aways a dweeb or a nebbish. People who know me, and that seems to be most of the planet, would probable define a Larry not as someone clueless about social graces, but someone with an unerring ability to always say exactly the wrong thing.
Heh. You have to admit, if I -had- been a friend intentionally slipping it in there, that would've been a pretty stylish joke!
But no, both feet. I'm glad you weren't irreparably offended. :)
George has its superficial stigmas too, though Misters Clooney and Michael removed many of the older ones, and Misters Bush added newer ones. And Geo, of course, has the cars. Always with the cars.
Do you happen to run around in an oracle crowd? As Oracle is founded and run By Larry Ellison, many people I know will loudly exclaim "Thanks Larry!" if they bump into a bug (Which happened a bit too often with OWB 10.2).
Last night on CSI:Miami the model-hot female CSI referred to herself as a geek. I was amused. In context though it made sense - she was being totally geeky about lab equipment. So, yeah.
Huh, interesting. Never having seen either one, I am intrigued by this. What makes a show geek-point-worthy? Are whole genres positive in the geek point world? Are whole genres negative?
I'd say it depends on whether the show has achieved cult standing. With Buffy, the cult viewers became entrenched in the characters lives and actually felt an emotional, personal connection with them. That is definitely geek point worthy. In the case of most reality shows like Survivor and American Idol, mere popularity doesn't translate the same level of obsession and personal involvement and hence I would call them geek point neutral (not negative).
In fact I would question whether anything can have negative geek points. In my opinion a deep interest or obsession can add to your total geek points but everything else has a neutral impact.
I would say that there are certain shows that either partake of or contribute to geek culture. Buffy, X-Files, Firefly, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, that sort of thing. I don't think all science fiction movies necessarily get the geek points, but the TV series sure seem to. (Also Monty Python, and quite a few other British comedies, come to think of it.)
I'm not sure I agree with the "cult standing" definition below. I do agree that I went a little too far with Survivor automatically being negative geek points -- I think negative points are appropriate for a water-cooler keeping-up-with-the-popular-culture sort of reference (back when it was in fact popular), but if one were deeply into a reality show for whatever twisted reason one could become a Reality Show Geek with positive-geek-point references that a casual viewer would not understand.
I don't know survivor, it didn't make it across the ocean. Any sports reference (unless it's a really obscure sport) is pretty much negative points. You might get away with fencing, archery, or something not generally shown on TV.
To me, a geek is someone who delights in geekery. Which in itself was beautifully described by a friend of mine:
"My definition of geekery is pretty much "anything that someone is really into the details of HOW it works." You could be into art, but an art geek knows about pigments and optics or the effect of fashion on art through history, and things like that."
Subcultures are mainstreamed over a period of roughly one generation; film at 11. See also counterculture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture_of_the_1960s) vs. hippies.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
I think in terms of media we now have fandoms rather than geekdom. I tend to reserve geek for the technological or scientific worlds, myself...
no subject
As do I. This may be a generational thing. (After all, I'm trying to figure out to what extent the meaning has *changed*. It sure wasn't about Hollywood when I first learned the word.) I should do another poll with age in it.
no subject
Just realized I do also use it to denote expert. When I am gaming, a have my canon geeks I go to because I can't remember canon to save my life.
no subject
no subject
Now, that said, you don't usually talk much about the tractor pull geek, or the cotillions geek, so perhaps there's something else there that's less defineable.
no subject
And, yes, I do know some cotillion geeks. Or, at least, costume and dance (at the same time) geeks. I've got a friend who's a history geek.
no subject
Have you poked around on http://geek.org ?
15-18 years ago,there was a very active geek community in Santa Cruz, that went by "b-geeks". It did lead to some amusing situations when someone would think they recognize someone from a party and ask "aren't you a geek?", and the person wasn't.
no subject
no subject
I probably get geek points for total ignorance of any shows on TV, I have to rack my brains to come up with even the name of a current show, but if someone quotes "Lost" in conversation, that's not geeky. If they make a "6" with their fingers, look through the hole and say "be seeing you", that's geeky.
On the other hand, if someone quotes some fact that is trivial minutiae about some current popular TV show, that is geeky.
As to definitions
The standard discussion is to compare and contrast geek, nerd and dweeb.
geek just means a strong, perhaps excessive, interest in a particular subject: car geeks, computer geeks, theater geeks, comic geek, gaming geek ....
The default is "computer geek"
It doesn't necessarily imply competence in that subject, just interest.
A nerd is someone who has stronger technical than social skills. The default is "science nerd".
Re: As to definitions
A lot of nerds are attracted to tech, because tech doesn't need to be interacted with socially, but I don't think tech's inherent to the nerd.
Geek's well-covered above.
Dweeb...well, I don't know that I have a definition for a dweeb. It, along with dork, poindexter, larry, etc., are all just general pejoratives implying nerdiness, but with no real content.
Re: As to definitions
Well Fuck you very much. Why don't you ram it up your george with a half twist. My name is Larry, and I don't consider the use of it a perjorative.
Re: As to definitions
The term was used extensively by one crowd I was in, and it does show up on Google in a pejorative sense, so it's not something I personally made up. I think this is probably the first time I've trotted it out in years, and apparently in the worst possible context.
So, my apologies.
Re: As to definitions
That's pretty much what I thought happened, I was quite amused by excellent aim with which you stepped in it with not one, but both feet. So once I did a whois on your domain, and was pretty certain that you weren't just a friend poking fun at me, I figured I'd give you the full benefit of the experience.
:)
One of my ongoing peeves is how in just about any bit of popular fiction, the character named Larry is aways a dweeb or a nebbish. People who know me, and that seems to be most of the planet, would probable define a Larry not as someone clueless about social graces, but someone with an unerring ability to always say exactly the wrong thing.
Sometimes, it amuses me.
Re: As to definitions
But no, both feet. I'm glad you weren't irreparably offended. :)
George has its superficial stigmas too, though Misters Clooney and Michael removed many of the older ones, and Misters Bush added newer ones. And Geo, of course, has the cars. Always with the cars.
Re: As to definitions
I've also pointed out that I've been a nerd since long before it was fashionable.
Re: As to definitions
no subject
no subject
no subject
KBZ!
Refering to popular TV
Geeks in TV
Old-school "geek" definition
Along with triple-word score and the fact that it's a Tuesday, my next stop is Mornington Crescent. I score Aleph-0.
Dang, I thought I'd do better.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
In fact I would question whether anything can have negative geek points. In my opinion a deep interest or obsession can add to your total geek points but everything else has a neutral impact.
no subject
no subject
I'm not sure I agree with the "cult standing" definition below. I do agree that I went a little too far with Survivor automatically being negative geek points -- I think negative points are appropriate for a water-cooler keeping-up-with-the-popular-culture sort of reference (back when it was in fact popular), but if one were deeply into a reality show for whatever twisted reason one could become a Reality Show Geek with positive-geek-point references that a casual viewer would not understand.
no subject
Any sports reference (unless it's a really obscure sport) is pretty much negative points. You might get away with fencing, archery, or something not generally shown on TV.
To me, a geek is someone who delights in geekery. Which in itself was beautifully described by a friend of mine:
no subject