What makes you a nerd or perhaps if you prefer, a geek?

Me, well, Could it be my glasses (only for pc)? Could it be my stunning good looks? Could it be my bitchyness, although I'm sure thats just a programmer thing? Could it be my beautiful pale skin? Perhaps what my friends, partner and family referrer to as being an unsocialable pratt? Maybe it is my collection of Iron Man comics? My James Bond collection of movies, cards, figures and cars? Could it be my obsession with World War 2 movies, games, documentries? Maybe my broadband connection... to p0rn sites? Perhaps its the rush I get when I see email in my inbox, a private msg number apart from 0 or when I hit another rank in a forum? My interest in star trek and Sci-fi? The fact I've never had a girlfriend? Maybe it's cos I know more Computer languages than I do human languages? The fact that I have no fashion sense? Could it be cos I get more excitement from creating games than playing them? Maybe its my interest in the 60's, 70's and 80's ? The fact I was bullied in High School? Perhaps it's my liking to round shiney disc objects :eek:? Or it could be the fact I think about the little things too hard and waste my time like I am now 😃

takes a deep breath

I don't know, can't put my finger on it :bemused:

    Does figuring out hexadecimal at the age of about 13 on my own make me a nerd? This was in like 1977 or so, long before they taught numbering systems in school.

    Or still remember the hex code for JSR on a 6502?

      What makes me a nerd: I wear glasses, I like computers, I'm a bandgeek, I read books, and I collect bus transfers.

        maybe its all my ladies, all the beer i drink, all the times ive woken and not known where i am, all the shoes i own, all the cars ive crashed, all the songs ive written, all the bands ive mixed, all the tattoos i have? more than likely though its just this freaking obsession i have with linux!!

          my collection of dungeons and dragons dice? the fact that I literally went to school with tape on my glasses (after they broke of course, not for the fashion statement)? The fact that I was on a bbs in the 80's? the fact that while other kids were playing football or soccer outside, my brother and I were inside playing "computer programmer" and writing programs in basic? the fact that everyone I know comes to me with any computer related question? the fact that I'd rather chat on IRC than speak on the phone? ah the list goes on...

            It's got to be due to the fact that on my voicemail. . .I tell you to email me instead. Or maybe it is the reason I prefer the history channel over MTV. Wait, wait. . I know. . it's because of the big asss chest of baseball, football and basketball cards tucked away in my basement that I guard more than my collection of Genisis cassette tapes. .. .maybe it's because I have had the same pair of shoes since December 1999 and I wear them with everything (I mean everything).

            I like being a nerd, I think its the "IN" thing right now. . . strike while the iron is hot!!!

            Lucky

              My friends say I am a geek due to the fact that I have the Apple logo tatood on my ankle. I figure more likely it makes me a nerd and frowned upon by many geeks and pc users. Although I don't frown upon pc's or pc users, as I have a pc too.

                Wow, and I thought my friend was a scifi geek for having the don't panic button tattooed on her ankle...

                  dbdummy wrote:

                  My friends say I am a geek due to the fact that I have the Apple logo tatood on my ankle. I figure more likely it makes me a nerd and frowned upon by many geeks and pc users. Although I don't frown upon pc's or pc users, as I have a pc too.

                  Can you post a picture please.

                    piersk wrote:

                    Can you post a picture please.

                    Now, be careful, dbdummy. Piersk is probably interested in seeing this so he can decide if he wants one, too....

                    As to the original question, I think what sealed it for me wasn't so much the use of the computer, though I can still find my way around a TRS-80 or an Apple ][ pretty well, as the friends I had in High School, and the fact that we'd sit in World History class and play "Star Fleet Battles" for most of the entire year --- Board, Hex dice, the works --- and never get caught. 😉

                    Also, for some additional perspective see Elizabeth's classic thread on the subject.

                      Elizabeth wrote:

                      the fact that I'd rather chat on IRC than speak on the phone?

                      Not on #phpbuilder at freenode, apparently. 😉 Care to elaborate?

                        dalecosp wrote:

                        Not on #phpbuilder at freenode, apparently. 😉 Care to elaborate?

                        Heh, every time I go in there, nobody's talking! Sometimes I sit in there waiting for someone to come in, but nobody ever does... <snif>like waiting for the phone to ring, and those kids, they never call home...</snif> 🙂

                          Well, I hear ya. Maybe we need to set a time and all get on at once?

                            I knew HTML, taught myself the alphabet in binary (dont know why), and owned around 3 computers at the age of 13, and had a server at 14!!

                              My most defining geek trait is that I understand and relate better to machinery than people. I've long beleived my box is more fun to play with and a much better conversationalist than most humans. But my loathing of physical activity and hatred for sports could also be a clue that I'm to geek for most. I don't even have a phone, if someone needs me they better send an email. maybe I'm a geek because I have a usb stick, with putty on it, around my neck...just in case.

                                10 days later

                                hmm i have a 9600 baud modem that still works, 5 computers, always taking things apart to see how they work, do nothing in my spare time but play games, i made 5 websites just to do them, then abandoned them, and of course... i'm just 23.

                                  I tend to read Email, Slashdot & Digg before I do anything of a morning. I also have a stash of garbage next to the computer, which include cans of coke my caffeine substance.

                                    Just read the wikipedia definitions of nerd and geek and I think I would agree. A nerd is someone who is of above average intelligence and has interests in something sciencey whereas a geek is someone who has an obsessive interest in something sciencey or techy.

                                    Therefore, I would say that I'm a geek.

                                      I've long beleived my box is more fun to play with and a much better conversationalist than most humans

                                      Funny... I could swear I read this same thing in a Playboy interview...