Nerd and Geek

Article Concept, Construction and Crafting by Havelock

My extensive research method on the topic at hand

Even the briefest of Internet searches will raise a plethora of articles and blogs on this matter, I will admit, having read them I am now more confused than I was before I started.

I had hoped, by the magic of rational thought, to lay out the true and proper meanings and usage of the terms as currently understood by their own communities, the English speaking members of the human race and our secret alien overlords.

The best place to begin is to define the words, so there is only one place a scholar and gentleman like myself can go for such information. The Oxford Dictionary. A brief quest through the fine pages of my beloved university edition reveals that:

Nerd

a person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.

Geek

1 an unfashionable or socially inept person.

2 an obsessive enthusiast.

Well as an aspiring etymologist, I can’t just leave it so poorly investigated. I should explain the superhero origins of these two words. The earliest form of Nerd, comes from the beloved Dr Seuess apparently. While an often attributed, but as yet unconfirmed source for Geek was the animal head eating performer in the Freak shows that toured the Western World in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Proof of Google's divinity is not hard to find

Well, hum. I suppose I’lll just have to go ask god.

*Opens a new browser window*

This isn’t helping me resolve my issue much. All that the almighty Google has to say on the subject is that the term Geek is more popular than Nerd by 2:1 odds.

Now, within the massive milling metropolis that is the Internet, our community has its own meanings for the words. The most commonly source of reference is rapidly antiquated Jargon File (imagine if you will a more civilised and PG rated Urban Dictionary)

Nerd

“Pejorative applied to anyone with an above-average IQ lacking gifts at small talk and ordinary social rituals.”

Geek

“A person who has chosen concentration rather than conformity; one who pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance. Geeks usually have a strong case of neophilia. Most geeks are adept with computers.”

Even by our own admission we have ended up with the following picture:

What a tragic state of affairs. I propose we reclaim the glorious words of our genius and gifts. Let the masses have their chameleonic Geek Chic (which by the by, should come with some sort of warning label, the amount of grade A intellectual chat up lines I have wasted on Fashionistas this year is appalling). Let us organise a verbal coup, to increase the intrinsic value of the word Nerd, so it stands on par with Geek in common parlance. Let the negatives attached to our sliver second term, slide off it, down to the bottom of well to cover the corpses of Dweeb and Dork. What say you Nerd Nexus? Vive la Revolution!

-Havelock “the Mad”

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