How to Tell the Difference Between a Nerd and a Geek, part II

Continued from How to Tell the Difference Between a Nerd and a Geek, Part I


#4- Engage the person in conversation- If the person fails to respond in a socially comfortable manner (i.e., they make you nervous, or vice versa), you may be talking to a nerd. If they respond in a comfortable manner but appear a little "dorky", such as speaking and/or acting silly, you might be talking to a geek.(this = me) Also, nerds may speak in layman's terms for your benefit because you may not understand the basic concepts of their area of interest. Geeks may speak in detail about their interests, possibly forgetting that the target audience may not have the same level of knowledge in that field as themselves. (I find that my particular preference positively correlates with the degree of the relationship, with nerd-speak tending to be with those I do not know very well, and geek-speak with those whom I know well:split point)

• Jokes: Geeks usually get them; nerds either don't or can't be bothered trying.^[8]

#5- Inquire about the person's interests- Academic pursuits are good indications of a nerd, while unusual hobbies are more the domain of a geek.

• Example nerd interests:  
  1. Physics (such as quantum mechanics or astronomy), chemistry, biology, engineering, advanced math, and robotics
  2. Chess, and other strategy games
  3. Reading scientific journals
  4. Calculating integrals when drinking to show intoxication levels
  5. Explaining the difference between causality and correlation**
• Example geek interests:
• Specialized forms of activities, such as LARPing*** 
• Niche activities, such as board games or replica prop construction
• Science fiction Novels and comic books
• Buying expensive specialized equipment like $200 headphones
• Odd activities, such as creating Rube-Goldberg machines

(Although I can participate in all of those example interests, I would prefer the geek interests.)

#6- Check out the partner of the person in question- Matt Blum claims that geeks have no problem falling in love with non-geeks but nerds always fall in love with other nerds. However, not all geeks/nerds want the attention of a love interest, or simply don't care whether or not they have one.^{[9]  [10]}

(This is my boyfriend, Zach, and I in one of our homecoming pictures, and we have pretty similar interests)

#7-Aim to assume nothing and to treat all fellow human beings with equal respect, whatever label they're self-applying or you're tempted to apply- While there are a number of (often geek) commentators arguing that the term "geek" has a more modern, updated and positive connotation than that of "nerd"^[10], the viewpoint is in the eye (or argument) of the beholder. The best approach to speaking and engaging with any person in your life is to be respectful, considerate and caring before all else.

• Remember that someone who calls themselves a nerd or geek may have different definition or interpretation of the term than you do. There are regional trends, but definitions should be examined on a person-by-person basis.
• Some geeks perceive themselves as having transitioned from being a nerd earlier in life to becoming a switched-on geek later in life, almost like an epiphany or a rite of passage.^[9] Whatever the case, most of us have experienced growth at various stages of life, so try not to box anybody in with past expectations.
• Be aware that your application of either the term "geek" or "nerd" to another person may be viewed as an insult, whereas if said within the group, it may be viewed as positive.^[11]

  Based on a score of 1.5 to 2.5, I am more "geek" than "nerd", however, like previously stated, "nerds" and "geeks" can be some of both.

If you only get one idea out of this two-part blog post, people, PLEASE REMEMBER #7. You have no idea how many "nerds", "geeks", "dorks", "freaks", and "losers" hate these stereotypes that others place upon them. If they generally declare them self to be one(except for the last title) it is probably OK with them, but still ask them first, and NEVER use these terms as insults. This is not something funny: people take their own lives over matters like this. Using these terms is a form of bullying and harassment if they are unwanted and used as derogatory remarks, intended to hurt. You can and will be prosecuted if you bully someone.

Footnotes and Sources:

**(correlation is "a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other"^[12]; causality is that one factor causes the other factor to vary with it. Two factors can correlate without causality: grey hair correlates positively with golden anniversaries, but neither factor causes the other. Both factors are related to age, as people who are older tend to have more grey hair and more golden anniversaries than younger people.)

***LARPing= Live Action Role Playing:  basically acting out a fantasy video game or card game in real life, with real people, costumes, props and everything. And yes, this is typically in a park, out in public, but then again, if you were LARPing, it is likely you don't particularly care what you look like in public anyway. (I know I don't; I'm the girl who proudly wears her Jedi costume, minus lightsaber due to the school's weapons policy, to school on May 4th. [ the date is a play on words of "May the Force be with you"])

• Wikipedia, Geek
• Wikipedia, Nerd
• WikiHow, Tell the Difference Between Nerds and Geeks

1. ↑ Great White Snark, Finally: The Difference between Nerd, Dork, and Geek Explained by a Venn Diagram
2. ↑ What Is?, Nerds
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Wolf Gnards, The Definitive Nerd vs. Geek
4. ↑ What Is?, Geek
5. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary, Geek
6. ↑ Urban Dictionary, Geek
7. ↑ Last Geek, Let's End this: Difference between Geek, Nerd, and Dork
8. ↑ Greg Brady, Top Ten Differences between Nerds and Geeks
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Geekdad, Great Geek Debates: “Geek” vs. “Nerd”
10. ↑ Geek Studies, Geeks vs. Nerds
11. ↑ Urban Dictionary, Geek
12. Myers, David G. "Thinking Critically With Psychological Science." Psychology. 9th ed. New York: Worth, 2001. N. pag. Print.