TREKS IN SCI-FI FORUM

please vote :)

Geek!

I actually like both as descriptors for me. :) They both have their own charged appeal.

I consider myself a geekynerd.

Neither, I'm a dude with good taste in entertainment.

In a somewhat more serious note, I do think that these words can be used to cause harm. There was a recent debate on the ForceCast about the word "nerd" and whether or not it was  insulting and hurtful or something to be embraced. As a kid, I was called a nerd frequently although I didn't really fit the common stereotype. It didn't bother me too much but I know other friends who may have been more stereotypical "nerd" and they were called that to hurt their feelings. Now that I am an adult, it's meaningless and more often then not for me amusing to be referred to as such. But I really don't fit the stereotype now which makes it even funnier to me. Now, would I feel different if say I was single, living at home, out of shape, ect, ect., ect.? Very possibly.

That's a great point Bryan. You'd probably have a difficult time now believing this (if you saw me!), but in my youth I was the picture of athlete. Football, wrestling, then after highschool, semi-pro football then the Highland games. But I now, and always have, love science fiction/fantasy, tech stuff, all that which identifies one as a nerd or geek. Those words have often been bandied about by the more..."jock" like or "cool kids" as a very offensive term and one meant to belittle. Maybe that's the mission of this forum? To destroy those sterotypes and show others that geek and nerd is a COOL thing?! :)

Al, I have no doubt in High School I would have been afraid to call you anything but sir!

Quote from: Bryancd on August 29, 2011, 11:36:43 AM
Al, I have no doubt in High School I would have been afraid to call you anything but sir!

But the funny thing is, I typically prevented the other football players from picking on the smaller kids. I have always hated bullies. :)

I lean towards geek more than nerd but I don't have a problem being called either. I've been called a lot worse growing up like I'm sure many of us have. :)

Quote from: Dangelus on August 29, 2011, 11:48:08 AM
I lean towards geek more than nerd but I don't have a problem being called either. I've been called a lot worse growing up like I'm sure many of us have. :)

:) Hey, I don't care WHAT you call me...just don't call me late for dinner! :)

Yeah, I used to get called nerd and get picked on or whatever...then I grew to 6'3" 200 lbs...no one seemed to care that I was a bit geeky at that point!

I lean toward geek myself.

To me Nerd seems to be more into techy computer stuff, geek is more pop culture stuff. I'm a little nerd but a lot of geek.

And yes I was called a nerd among other things when I was a kid (an still as an adult). But I think the meaning behind both words have changed over the years.  Just because a word is used by hateful people to cause pain doesn't mean we stop using it. I take back those words and use them on myself as a sign of pride.

Preach on, brother!  :metallica:

i'd consider myself both. not quite sure why though. :)

That's a great point, Kenny. There really was a distinction between nerd and geek back in the 80's with nerd including people who got A's in math or knew how to use a computer. Nowadays computer proficiency is more ubiquitous and nerd has lost some of that connotation. I was a good student but not a nerd in that sense.

My brother calls me nerd but he does in a fun way. So I don't mind it at all. And my wife calls me a geek sometimes and she thinks I'm "all that." So if two of my favorite people in the world call me those how can I not like both!

Cool, you got your poll going turtlesrock.

I vote Geek.

Don't forget that the geek was originally the freaky guy at the travelling sideshow that used to bite the heads off of chickens.    The connotation of both words has changed over the years but even so neither term is generally considered complimentary.  Anyone can of course take it however they choose, and think of themselves however they want.  Personally I dislike labels of any sort.

In my mind, "nerd" is more about academic intelligence.  "Geek" is more about passion and fandom.  I would consider myself both.  :)

Found this picture online.. not sure I agree with it.

Yeah I don't agree with that. They are just describing two degrees of social functionality and and attributing likes and dislikes to them. We know there is much more of a crossover than that.

Very, very old stereotypes in that picture. 

...as well as the old 'can't like ST and SW at the same time' cliche.

Quote from: Feathers on September 22, 2011, 06:19:48 AM
...as well as the old 'can't like ST and SW at the same time' cliche.

Are you guys crazy? Star Trek is for nerds! Who would like that?!

NERDS!!!!

:D

I propose we create a new classification that epitomizes US, here on the forums by combining the two? How about: GERD? (no wait, that's something entirely different!), Ok, how about: NEEKS? Yeah, that's it. I'm a NEEK! :)

Neek!  I like that!  :)

Or even Gneek with a silent G?

Oooh, even better! Behold, the birth of the GNEEKS!!! :)

Treks in Sci-Fi, the home of gneeks everywhere? Sharing the gneek love? OK, maybe I'd better stop sloganising.

T-SHIRT RICO :D

Treks In Sci-Fi...Get Your Gneek On!

I like it! Gneek! Now I'm going to go tell my wife what to call me. And she will look at me like I'm crazy. Oh, well she should be used to that by now! LOL

that's a great idea! behold, the GNEEKS! wonderful! :D

:) Rico, we need to copyright that NOW! :)