shopping cart
Yesterday, the Washington Post ran a cover story entitled “Geek Pride Blooms Into a Real-World Subculture.” The terms “geek” and “nerd” are used interchangeably throughout (not to mention at least one reference of “dork).
But astute viewers of the Post’s “On Being” series know that nerds and geeks are not necessarily one and the same. “I’m not actually a nerd though. I’m a geek. Nerds are a bit smarter.” Thus spoke Sherin Nicole.
Is the Washington Post sending mixed messages? And where do the freaks fit in all this mess?
nerd = handsome
geek = cute
freak = sexy!
Comment by Katy Chang — July 17, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
nerd = smart / you can barely keep up mentally
geek = silly / dresses up in bear costumes
freak = strong / can kill things with bare hands
Official Comment by merchan — July 18, 2007 @ 1:14 am
Well, I don’t have a bear costume…so my geek definition is a bit different from yours Mer-Chan. Here’s my breakdown:
nerd = supra-intelligent, erudite, often socially awkward
geek = technophile, lover of: sci-fi, anime, comics and literature in general; socializes in specific groups
freak = strange, socially or physically aberrant, given to fetishes
I’ll also add Katy’s assessment to that mix!
Comment by Sherin Nicole — August 3, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
You nailed it, Sherin Nicole! It’s about some kind of social outcast or having social specifism.
Official Comment by merchan — August 6, 2007 @ 11:00 am