What is the definition of a geek and do you think i am one?

Answer 1

In a word, its a techie.
As an almost major geek with serious overtones of nerd, I thought you'd find this interesting:
LEVELS OF GEEKDOM
We here at Geek.com take being Geeks very seriously, and that's made us realize that there are a few different levels of Geekdom. See which level you fit into:

Wanna-be / Beginner Geek
First-time computer buyers or closet computer users. Beginner Geeks don't necessarily have to own a computer of their own. Here are some signs that mean you're a Wanna-be Geek:

* Took things apart as a child to see how they worked
* Have always had some interest in electronic devices
* Were fascinated by how the television remote control worked
* Can program the family VCR
* Enjoy trying to teach yourself how to use things
* Often play with your friends' computers
* Can't get enough of the computer lab at school or work

Intermediate Geek

* Enjoy telling people about how you searched the Web for 3 hours last night to find the best deal on kangaroo burgers
* Have friends who constantly ask you questions relating to anything electronic and believe whatever answers you give them
* Have written your own computer programs
* Write some of your correspondence in Notepad or VI
* Know how to code HTML in a text editor
* Never turn off your computer

Advanced Geek

* Enjoy telling people about how you reprogrammed the remote control on your keyring to unlock your house, turn on the coffee maker, and start up the computer
* Don't believe in reading manuals for anything electronic
* Believe that ANYTHING can be fixed
* Buy expensive electronic toys and try to integrate them with other electronic gadgets, often breaking them beyond repair in the process (and being happy about it!)
* Know all about how to register a domain name and how the Internet functions
* Your monitor is bigger than your television--if you even have a TV
* Have more than one computer, and they are always on
* Have a network in your house

Super Geek

* Sit at home in your underwear playing on your computers until the wee hours of the morning, EVERY morning
* Would rather sit at your computers eating wine and cheese than go out on a date
* Would not only happily accept the prospect of being fully integrated with your computer, you'd also figure out how to hack your way to the top of the waiting list
* CAN fix anything
* Type faster than you think
* Spend more time online than around people
* Can't understand why there are some people who can't build their own computer from scratch
* Don't believe in viewing the Web with graphics--Lynx is the only Web browser you'll ever need
* Use a text editor--not a word processor--to write all correspondence
* Never, ever, ever, ever wear a suit
* Believe that only suckers pay fees--barter for free 'Net connection, use free OS, use freeware for your software, make phone-calls over the Web, and you've got a friend at the cable company, because, after all--money buys hardware

PS: If you're asking the question, chances are good you are one or at least have geek tendencies. Try the test and see. ;-)

Answer 2

I am not going to get in to the modern day nerd-geek controversy, but I did find out about the origin of the word geek.
A geek , in the American Heritage Dictionary is defined as an odd or ridiculous person, and Oxford says a geek is a fool or a simpleton.
In the 50,s in the US a geek was a freakish circus performer.
Geek came from the Low German geck, from Middle Dutch geck, and originally from High German and Scandanavian languages. It was first used in print in 1515 as geke, and Shakespeare used it in 1601 in The Twelfth Night as gecke.
It was used in various forms in the 1950's and 60's, but in the
70's it took on the meaning of a "computer geek".
An interesting offshoot is the use of geek as a verb, which began in the 1980's. To geek was to go in search of cocaine.
This does not have the same origin as the other meaning. Rather, it stems from the German word gucken, to peer at something.

Answer 3

A geek is someone who spends time being "social" on a computer. This could mean chatting on IRC or ICB, playing multi-user games, posting to alt.sex.bondage.particle.physics, or even writing shareware. Someone who just uses their computer for work, but doesn't spend their free time "on line" is not a geek. Most geeks are technically adept and have a great love of computers, but not all geeks are programming wizards. Some just know enough unix to read mail and telnet out to their favorite MUD.

Geeks are generally social outcasts from mainstream America. The ranks of geekdom are swelled with gamers, ravers, science fiction fans, punks, perverts, programmers, nerds, subgenii, and trekkies. These are people who did not go to their high school proms, and many would be offended by the suggestion that they should have even wanted to. Geeks prefer to socialize with other geeks, the self proclaimed weird. Therefore they go online to organize parties, food runs, drink runs, and movie nights, and be assured that their companions would rather talk about superheros as modern mythology than the latest football scores.

Geeks are their own society: a literate, hyperinformed underground. The community accepts people from all walks of life, assuming they have access to the net and the skill to use it. Geeks are rather openminded with regards to nonstandard lifestyles. Many geeks are queer, more practice non-monogamy, and the most common religion is neo-paganism. You can't tell if someone is a geek just by looking at them, there is no dress code. Some dress casual, some prefer silk - but few pay attention to current fashion. You are more likely to see a geek in a renaissance bodice than a dress from glamour magazine; or a tie-dye instead of suit and tie.

Answer 4

A stereotypical geek is somebody of slightly above average intelligence and probably has some obsession with something such as Star Wars.

However, Geek Sheek is quite big at the moment and it's becoming cool to have elements of geek, so get your anorak on and get out there!

Answer 5

As your question is rather poorly considered...that fact you ask us to judge you yet give no details about yourself....clearly shows you are not a geek....merely stupid...as a geek would have included a long self analysis, as geeks tend to be sinical, analysising over thoughtful and self hating, with a strong dose of pesimism mixed in with a vast intellect on subjects of no to little social interest...physicall clumsy, stereotypically spotty and pale with bad breathe.....there are varients on the theme...other examples are that tosser from American Pie Shermon (AKA the sherminator) Peewee, Cat women before she becomes cat women (In fact most super hero alter egos...hence the success of comics....the alter-ego that all geeks want) blah blah blah....man what a serious complex issue....damn...am I a geek too?

Answer 6

The original meaning of geek:
a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

Answer 7

A freak show performer that bites the heads off chickens: "The geek stood behind his cage, the crowd looking on in awe and disgust as the unfortunate fowl's blood dripped down his chin onto his chest. He smiled a red smile at them and made a horrible gutteral noise that sounded like "GHEE". The crowd ooed and aaed with approval." It's also a general term for anyone (but usually a male) considered to be foolish, ugly, or otherwise undesirable: "Oh my god, look at that ridiculous outfit! That guy is such a geek!" It may also be used as a term of endearment between friends: "LOL Gimme that, you geek!" or a term of self-effacement: "Aw jeez, I can't beleive I just did that- I'm such a geek!" In recent years it has come to mean any person who is technically savvy, particularly with computers, or otherwise adept at a field usually obsessed over by the fringe of society. It tends to be coupled with other words as in "Techno-Geek", "Star-Trek Geek", "Computer Geek" and so on. Recently the electronics and media mega-store "Best Buy" introduced their "Geek Squad", a team of individuals skilled at computer interface and repair, and for the first time Geek was actually given a positive connotation.

Answer 8

A stereotypical geek is usually someone is really smart and likes sci-fi programmes and comic books and wears glasses and knited sweaters. I do not know if you are a geek or not as I do not know you.

Answer 9

You will be if you spend too much time on Yahoo answers.

Answer 10

Try this
http://www.innergeek.us/geek.html