What is the difference between a geek and a nerd?

Answer 1

A geek specializes in one or two things, as in areas of study. For example, if you know every answer in your super-high science and math classes, but are nowhere near as smart in anything else, you are a geek. When you think of a geek, think of Bill Gates and computers. Or think of the short lived show "beat the geek", where a geek specialized in something. If you are obsessed with sports, and can recite scores from any given team for the last year or more, you can consider yourself a geek.

A nerd is like smushing two or three geeks together. I classify myself as a nerd, as I am really good at nearly all areas of study. Nerds often have more of a social life than geeks do, as geeks stick to people in their one area of study, whereas nerds branch out, and will try new things, as they know they will succeed. I, as a nerd, am in 4 clubs and 2 teams at my school, and therefore have a huge network of friends. If I stuck to science and math(my extreme specialty, I could easily call myself a geek if I wished, but I am more of a nerd at heart), I would have a much smaller social circle, and would never have met my first, only, and current boyfriend.

Dorks (I know you didn't ask) are like Napolean Dynamite... they are a social misfit...... but have no circle to go to. There only friends are other dorks, and the occasional nerd, who may get them to branch out, and become a geek. It is possible to go between the three, but for the most part, a dork cannot become a geek, and nerds are usually not able to become the other two.

The common thread is that all of these people do not respect the preps and jocks, but do not see them as competition. Dorks occasionally do, but for the most part are content with just being an outcast. A geek isn't quite sure how to fit into the social norm, but knows that he(or she) doesn't want to. A nerd however, is able to tell exactly what society wants from them, but they don't want to conform. Often, nerds will go out of their way to not be in style, and not be cool.

All in all, you are who you are, and everyone has a little bit of geek, nerd or dork in them, and typically knows which one they are, even without help. I hope that this helps, I enjoyed being able to tell someone finally.

Answer 2

originally, a geek was a person who bit the heads off chickens at carnivals, and then let the chicken run around, well, like a chicken with his head cut off. I don't think they had carnival nerds. Maybe they glued the heads back on, but since this never worked well, they didn't rate a spot in the records.

But addressing the words in the modern "vernacular of the tribe" so to speak, it seems to me that both are so inspecific as to be pretty much interchangeable.

Answer 3

I'm a geek and your a nerd. See what I mean?

Answer 4

My interpretation of Geek and Nerd is: Geek=socially inept, more goofy kind of dude...Nerd=high intelligence quotient, mature beyond their age

...However, in the future you will refer to both of these individuals as "BOSS"

Answer 5

Geeks get it done. Nerds don't.

A geek will become an engineer and help design a space ship.

A nerd will do live action role play as a stormtrooper and pretend he's on a space ship.

Answer 6

I read somewhere that a geek is someone who is knowledgeable in one specific thing.. like computers or video games. Those are geeks. Nerds are more like dilettantes, they know a little about a lot of things, or bookworms, or they are just simply brainy people.

Answer 7

I think geeks are super smart or super into their studies and nerds are just not hip or cool?
Don't know for sure, I was both in school.

Answer 8

A geek bites off live chicken heads. A nerd is socially inept.

Answer 9

a geek is someone who obsesses over a game or technology (e.g. that dude who sits behind you in english chatting non-stop about star wars)
a nerd is a smarty-pants (e.g. the person who sits across from you who is a teacher's pet and answers every question right)

Answer 10

geeks are rats and nerds are smart