Q: What's the difference between a geek and a nerd?

[DerekG]

These labels are used interchangeably, but there must be a difference.

For example, I'm an English major (History minor) who loves science fiction, horror, fantasy--and I am well versed in comic books and film. But I HATE math and science, and I know next to nothing about computers.

What am I?

[Langis]

1. You are a Nerd!

I on the otherhand am a geek, becasue I know way too much about computers and spend 13+ hours a day on them.

[Skeptical Democrat]

2. You are a nerd

A geek is in to technical stuff like math, science and computers.

[EstimatedProphet]

3. You're a neo-Goth

A nerd is someone who is socially inept
A geek (Webster's dictionary) is a circus performer that bites the heads off animals.

[Langis]

4. I only do that on weekends.

[4morewars]

5. you're a nerd

i, on the other hand, having computers and chunks of computers and various other computer paraphernalia all over this room,as well as a dozen 900 page books, am a geek !!!

[Xithras]

6. The difference is simple

I'm not talking classic dictionary sense here, but how it should and is used in modern vernacular.

A "nerd" is a person who is very skilled or knowledgeable about any subject including details that might be considered "arcane and cryptic" by the average layman, but who is otherwise normal. A math nerd, for example, might be able to tell you how to solve any mathematical problem AND tell you who invented each of the equations/theorums/whatever. Skill or experience alone doesn't qualify you for the nerd title...it requires that you have a level of knowledge about the subject dramatically exceeding that required to perform the skill.

A "geek" is a nerd who has allowed his nerdiness to override the rest of his life. A math geek might technically be no more skilled at math than a math nerd, but the geek will pass up dates to study a new theory or take vacation time off work to go listen to a prominent mathemetician lecture. A math geek might have the walls of his apartment covered with posters of famous mathemeticians, and would rather work on encryption algorithms than enjoy a sunny day outdoors or watch TV.

Basically, if your life (including your social life) completely revolves around your subject of interest, you're a geek. If it doesn't, you're a nerd.

[salvorhardin]

7. Couple different meanings

Back a few years ago (circa 1997) nerd referred to old school computer hardware hackers (Steve Wozniak is a nerd in this sense) while geeks were newer software hackers (Linus Torvalds is a geek in this sense).

However, in the past few years geek has become much more generalized to refer to anyone who enjoys learning for the joy of learning and has taken the time to develop a deep understanding of one or more subjects. In this sense, Bill Clinton is a political policy geek though back in the day (1992) he was a policy wonk.

Here's Eric S. Raymond's definitions and etymology from the Jargon File... Nerd and Geek

[NightTrain]

8. Nerds have better social skills than geeks.

n/t

[starroute]

9. Gee, I always thought it was just the opposite

Nerds are those people who talk too loud and without much modulation and are completely oblivious of their effect on other people. My husband once asked someone like that, "What do you know about the Sufis?" and got the answer, "Nothing, but I know a great deal about the Bavarian Illuminati." And he wouldn't let us go until he had proceeded to tell us everything he knew about the Bavarian Illuminati. That was a nerd.

Geeks, on the other hand, are all those people who as kids weren't jocks and weren't popular but were bright and curious and imaginative and often shy and tended to get involved in hobbies in an obsessive manner.

When my older son would try to explain his overlapping circles of friends in college, he would start out: "Well, my closest friends are the gaming geeks. And we have a certain amount of overlap with the theater geeks, so we often sit together in the lunchroom. We also have connections with the computer geeks, but we're not as close to them . . ."

I have a theory about geeks being the mainspring of human evolution. Modern Homo sapiens are all geeks when compared with Neanderthals -- skinny, nervous, and given to strange flights of fancy -- and it's been survival of the geekiest ever since. All the great scientists and artists and musicians and philosophers and poets have been geeks. Geeks designed the pyramids and invented the wheel. Geeks came up with writing and calendars and mathematics. Geeks will take us to the stars.