Is there any notable difference between a 'geek' and a 'nerd'?

<p>What about a 'freak' or a 'dork'? Where do you fall in?</p>

<p>For me, nerd has a more postivie meaning. I see a nerd as someone who is naturally brillant in an area.
Geek makes me think that the person puts themself in the situation. Like a geek is only smart because the only thing they do is read, or study the topic they're good at. </p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

<p>Geek is a non-smart Nerd according to the definition at my former high school</p>

<p>Well... in my opinion, when twenty years passes after graduation: </p>

<p>People you used to call Nerds.... you call them Dr or Sir... </p>

<p>People you used to call Geeks or Losers... you still call them Geeks and Losers.</p>

<p>Being a nerd is not a bad thing at all. I call my friends 'nerds' when they're the only ones who get 100 or something on a test. </p>

<p>I don't really hear 'geek' as much, but to me, its a mean thing to call someone. I think of a geek as someone who is so smart and so obsessed with grades that they have no life and friends. I would never call someone a geek though. Its just insulting and if I really hated a person, Id call them something else. XD</p>

<p>wow you guys dont know anything...</p>

<p>nerd= smart, not cool, dresses strangely
geek= highly into tech stuff (computers, video games) and whatever that implies (possibly smarter, anti-social maybe).</p>

<p>yeah, at my high school
nerd=smart, in multiple AP classes, good test scores, average clothes, hangs out with all the other AP students</p>

<p>geek=average students who are addicted to video games and talk about tech stuff in school.</p>

<p>zzzboy, how is a nerd 'not cool'.</p>

<p>"Geek" implies socially maladroit. Can be smart or average.</p>

<p>"Nerd" implies smart, may or may not be "cool", but is not concerned with peer perceptions of "cool".</p>

<p>This is useage at a small southern prep school.</p>

<p>Nerd=Academically oriented student, but not to be confused with an over-achiever
Geek=Someone with an obsession over something outside of what most people are interested. Examples: comic books, computers, anime.</p>

<p>My APUSH teacher calls everyone in the class nerds everyday sooo yeah I guess nerds are more academically inclined. Geeks are more like the LARPers or like video gamers/Pokemon whatever =)</p>

<p>nerds = success in life, generally
geeks = generally failure, unless they are geniuses at the same time (like bill gates!!!)</p>

<p>oh whatever.</p>

<p>Geeks and nerds are pretty much the same.</p>

<p>ppl who were jealous of smart ppl came up with the names to make themselves feel better. If you have been called one of these names, I say take it as a compliment, (just make sure you have a social life first) and let it roll off your back knowing that you have just been classified as a highly intelligent person!</p>

<p>GO nerds and geeks!</p>

<p>P.S. I'm not afraid to call myself a nerd.</p>

<p>am i seriously gonna explain why being a nerd is not "cool?"</p>

<p>they tend so be socially awkward, dress strangely, have strange interests, not groom themselves, etc etc. </p>

<p>if you are simply overwhelmed by studies or take many APs, that doesnt qualify as being nerdy. you have to reach the point where studying is what you actually do for fun.</p>

<p>i would say being nerdy is just as bad as being a party-animal. while the latter's faults are readily seen, the former's are a bit more difficult to see. humans are social animals, so while nerds may be fine and dandy now in high school or college, if they dont break out of their shell later on in life, they will be crushed in the real world.</p>

<p>im sure someone will say that there are plenty of nerds inventing/researching stuff left and right, but even so, those careers involve more than just studying. just because you study a lot does not mean youll automatically end up somewhere.</p>

<p>the WORST, though, is if you are nerdy AND stupid at the same time. if you fit this category, you are doomed.</p>

<p>^you go to UCLA! you should all be nerds! </p>

<p>At my school literally everyone is a nerd not in the way you define the term.</p>

<p>you CANT be nerdy and stupid at the same time. Its paradoxal.</p>

<p>actually, you can. ive known tons of people who love to do nothing but study all day. yet somehow they manage to do average on their tests, and its not because theyre not trying. its quite possibly the saddest thing ive ever seen in my life.</p>

<p>
[quote]
actually, you can. ive known tons of people who love to do nothing but study all day. yet somehow they manage to do average on their tests, and its not because theyre not trying. its quite possibly the saddest thing ive ever seen in my life.

[/quote]

Have you ever noticed that if a class has Regular/Honors/AP, these people are almost always in honors?</p>

<p>LOL, that is really sad. Well if theyre not smart, then theyre not nerds.</p>

<p>to OP: I think a geek is more like somebody who is really good at a particular subject or area, like a "math geek" "theatre geek". It's sort of a compliment.</p>

<p>On the other hand, nerd just connotes to me a person with a total lack of social skills who studies all the time without much intelligence.</p>