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What is the difference? As a self-proclaimed nerd and proud to be so, I have asked myself this question time and time again. My common law partner, who is a fellow nerd (even more nerdy than I am at the current moment) theorized that nerds are more fact-finding intellectuals and geeks tend to be big fans of a certain thing. Think Trekkies and Star Wars.
My nerd traits:I’m socially awkward. I love reading. I love going to the library. I love learning and taking general interest courses. I love random facts and often quote them. I like crossword puzzles and Sudoku, but not as much as my colleagues at work.
His nerd traits: Very knowledgeable in computers. Is my personal IT guy. Can fix and build computers. Likes to know how things work. Watched some Star Trek, but is more of a Star Wars fan.
Enough said.
Once a Nerd, Always a Nerd
I was considered “smart” and quickly earned nicknames like “brainer” and “brainiac” in school. I often got the comment, “You’re such a brainer.” Which at the time, didn’t seem very cool in grade school. In the third grade I got invited to take an aptitude test for entry into a gifted program that was being run by the school. All I remember from it was listening to Barenaked Ladies on the radio and doing a lot of matrix logic puzzles (Does anyone remember those? I really enjoyed doing them). I’m sure we must have had interesting conversations and debates too, but only the matrix logic puzzles seem to stand out in my mind.
It’s funny how when you are in high school, at least when I was in high school, nerds weren’t very cool. My high school was more known for our sport teams, rather than the academics. Athletes were cool, nerds were not. If you were one of those hybrids, meaning you were smart AND athletic, you were even cooler.
I didn’t consider myself a super nerd. I definitely wasn’t a super athlete. However, I managed to make friends from both hemispheres. I took more of the so-called nerdy classes such as Physics, Calculus and Chemistry. In my first year of high school, I got invited to join the math club. I went to one session and that’s about it. I joined random clubs and sport teams, trying to be an all-around student. I rolled my eyes at the cheerleaders (but after watching my sister as a cheerleader, I have the utmost respect for them. It’s a dangerous sport!) and football players.
Nerdiness is Cool in University
(I was more of the ‘nerd’. In fact I kind of looked like him, since I studied science in university).
How is it that when it comes to higher learning, nerdiness and geekiness all of sudden loses the stigma and becomes very cool? Is it because the nerd and geek population increases in university?I went to what many may consider the nerdiest school in the country. It had a reputation for bringing in nerds and having a lot of nerdy programs. Translation: it was an excellent school, perhaps almost equivalent to the American Ivy League schools, hard to get into a lot of their programs, and employers actively sought out their graduates.
I’m not trying to brag. I’m just trying to emphasize how nerdy I am.
I Think I’m A Little Bit Geeky Too
I’m not a fan of Star Wars and I only like the new Star Trek episodes. I guess that doesn’t make me a true Trekkie, but I can do that “Klingon” Vulcan “V” sign with my left hand and only my left hand. It’s probably because I am left-handed. I read all of the Harry Potter books and watched all the movies. Ditto with the Lord of the Rings.
The Great Debate Defined
The following article entitled “On Geek Versus Nerd” goes into great detail about the differences. It also includes this amazing scatterplot of words relating to geeks and nerds. I definitely lean over more to nerdy side. (One of my dreams was to be on Jeopardy- I loved playing along with the contestants on television and would get mad at them if they got the wrong answer).
NERD ALERT! 🙂 I’m not book smart but more street smart, so I’m not a nerd at anything, but I do think I’m a geek! I’m a blog geek, personal finance geek, and TV and movie geek! And proud of it!
Haha. I know. Now the secret is out. I think I’m a blog geek and pf geek too. We should form a club. 🙂
I am a huge nerd!! In my final career I would like to work on the God Particle at CERN in Switzerland-really!
Wow you are a HUGE nerd. Haha. 🙂
The difference didn’t occur to me until I stumbled upon this post. To begin with, I didn’t know there was any difference. Now I wonder, since I am a fan of applying practical approach to almost anything that involves money, meaning, I am a fan of savings, that makes me a geek too? Not bad, I think.
Not at all! Before I had encountered the post I had linked to and before the discussion I had with my partner, I had always thought the two terms were synonymous with each other. I didn’t realize there were any differences between the two. There really should be more savings geeks.