Comments for "How Do You Define Geek" Talk at VideoSift.com

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://kronosposeidon.videosift.com) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:39:45 -0700

Look at VideoSift's Geek homepage for the operational definitions we employ here. The way I use "Geek" is basically to describe someone who is a dedicated enthusiast at almost anything that is not art or literature. Therefore you have computer geeks, comic book geeks, astronomy geeks, R/C model geeks, military hardware geeks, gadget geeks, etc. However I don't refer to art (including film) or literature enthusiasts as geeks because, well, I just don't. So that's just me.

If you have further questions maybe you should ask the geekmeister himself: Gorgonheap. He's got a PhD in Geekology. And he's also a loser who has nothing better to do with his time anyway. In fact I'm sure he would enjoy the conversation. Because nobody likes him.

By karkarlee

karkarlee (http://geek.videosift.com/member/karkarlee) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:50:26 -0700

Ooh yeah I forgot about the geek.videosift.com definition, otherwise I would've mentioned it as well. It does seem to be a general trend to not include arts and literature, and then have separate categories ( seeing as one trademark would be the dedication to one thing and mere interest in others ). But it also comes down to how those things are approached. If it's some hip gossip without the down-and-dirty awesome details, can the article still be called geeky? Not in my opinion, but it seems to be such in other's.

Thanks for sending a link to him.

By gorgonheap

gorgonheap (http://geek.videosift.com/member/gorgonheap) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:18:41 -0700

>> ^kronosposeidon: He's got a PhD in Geekology. And he's also a loser who has nothing better to do with his time anyway. In fact I'm sure he would enjoy the conversation. Because nobody likes him.

Love you too honey.

By Crosswords

Crosswords (http://geek.videosift.com/member/Crosswords) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:33:17 -0700

I think geek is a term of degrees. I often refer to myself as a geek, but there are people who'd make me looking like an abercrombie and fitch wearin jock frat boy in comparison.

Art and literature generally seem much more concerned about the aesthetics of something, while geekdom seems more concerned about concrete information, performance etc. Of course the lines blur, like all things, comic books, mac users, etc.

I think you're certainly right about its etymology changing. It used to be a lot more derogatory, now at times its almost complimentary or used more in terms of *fondness. We've taken back the word and made it ours

*see kronos/gorgon responses

EDIT: A mistype can quickly change Gorgonheap into a Goronheap.

By blankfist

blankfist (http://blankfist.videosift.com) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:44:22 -0700

^Ha! Did you just call him "goron"?

By Farhad2000

Farhad2000 (http://farhad.videosift.com) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:38:03 -0700

Geek is nouveau chic.

By MarineGunrock

MarineGunrock (http://marinegunrock.videosift.com) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:15:03 -0700

I think your true geek would be a person that enjoys items/their descriptions sold on www.thinkgeek.com

Such as a "Bag of holding" or the Nights who say Ni t shirt.

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://geek.videosift.com/member/gwiz665) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:21:31 -0700

Maybe if this comment is witty enough someone will finally love me.

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://geek.videosift.com/member/gwiz665) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:24:04 -0700

^ there you go

Geek or nerd is just someone who's really dedicated at something, usually something that's not mainstream like mathematics, physics, chess, computers, xkcd, your mother, or consoles. Also, if he distinguishes between consoles and computers == geek material. Also if he uses "==" to mean equal to, that's programming talk == geek.

By choggie

choggie (http://geek.videosift.com/member/choggie) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:43:45 -0700

"Goodfellow's Effort Eliminating Computer" from Super Friends......Prior to this, always held to the definition involving carnival performing freaks who bit the heads off chickens and bats in their act......

By ant

ant (http://geek.videosift.com/member/ant) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:14:55 -0700

Me = geek!

By karkarlee

karkarlee (http://geek.videosift.com/member/karkarlee) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:41:26 -0700

I guess another definition of geek could be the fierce, proud, no-question-about-it matter of proclaiming oneself as being one. XD

By karkarlee

karkarlee (http://geek.videosift.com/member/karkarlee) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:42:03 -0700

All the replies have been interesting, it's cool to see similarities and differences.

By Farhad2000

Farhad2000 (http://farhad.videosift.com) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:30:54 -0700

I would loath to ever be called or call myself as a geek, nerd, emo or any other lil' compartment box people dream up of.

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://kronosposeidon.videosift.com) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:22:03 -0700

^Geek.

By karkarlee

karkarlee (http://geek.videosift.com/member/karkarlee) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:43:38 -0700

Well one thing you can take from this post is that geek and nerd are dynamic to the point where they aren't a box. You define your definition. People can wave dictionaries around all they want, language is defined by the users and not some 10in thick standardized, grammar intensive book. Meaning your use of a word can mean whatever you want it to mean, so long as other people understand what you mean. You're not in a box unless you yourself put yourself in one, no one else can do that.

And whoo for not putting oneself in boxes

>> ^Farhad2000:
I would loath to ever be called or call myself as a geek, nerd, emo or any other lil' compartment box people dream up of.

By gorgonheap

gorgonheap (http://geek.videosift.com/member/gorgonheap) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:05:08 -0700

Come on Farhad, boxes are fun, you can make forts out of them, you can use markers and make it into a spaceship. They are pretty much the coolest thing ever. Why do you hate boxes so much, are you a communist?

By jonny

jonny (http://geek.videosift.com/member/jonny) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:27:11 -0700

"Holy crap!! thinkgeek.com sells bags of holding??? I'm buying three of 'em."

"Geek" is kind of like "porn". I can't give you a definition, but I know one when I see him. And if you know what a "Bag of Holding" is, you are definitely a geek.