A consistant and constant (albeit friendly) argument between my girlfriend: the definition of those names. Angela says they're all the same, whereas, I believe they're all different. Maybe others here can shed some light onto this?
My definitions are as follows:
NERD: sits in front of a computer, isn't active, and doesn't have a social life
GEEK: a normal person who is totally into tech stuff, video games, and the like
DORK: someone who says stuff that's inappropriate, or just plain lame.
DWEEB: Well, I can't say I really know what that is.
So, what do those words mean to everyone here?
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.
NERD: Physically and socially awkward; intelligent and into "using" their "intelligence" in whatever pursuits they have.
GEEK: Someone with a deep and focused obsession; doesn't have to be techy (but that's common) -- for instance, wrestling geeks or music geeks. The more that obsession dominates their social life, the more of a geek that person is.
DORK: Your definition seem fine if somehow not fully adequate. I dunno. Maybe like a geek without an overriding obsession?
DWEEB: Like a nerd but without the "intelligence" part.
--K
Last 5 movies seen: Wife Versus Secretary - Charlie Chan in Egypt - Down Argentine Way - 16 Blocks - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Want the anwsers? Just watch the somewhat funny sketch of the Geek, Dweeb, or Nerd game show from SNL about 10 years ago. I saw it at least twice during the past month on reruns.
Originally posted by OliverSo, what do those words mean to everyone here?
Absolutely nothing as they are normally used in a perjorative sense.
I would say that "geek" and "nerd" have been sort of self-adopted by a lot of people to describe themselves in an obsessive sort of way. I know I have called myself a wrestling geek or a baseball geek on more than one occasion. The other two terms I would argue carry far more perjorative connotations than the first two.
Originally posted by OliverSo, what do those words mean to everyone here?
Absolutely nothing as they are normally used in a perjorative sense.
I would say that "geek" and "nerd" have been sort of self-adopted by a lot of people to describe themselves in an obsessive sort of way. I know I have called myself a wrestling geek or a baseball geek on more than one occasion. The other two terms I would argue carry far more perjorative connotations than the first two.
As I think about it, I would agree with your assessment. At my advanced age, they were all quite negative.
Nerd: Highly intelligent, socially inept. Examples from pop culture: Arvid Engen from "The Head of the Class", Steve Urkel from "Family Matters", and Prof. Frink from "The Simpsons". Glaven.
Geek: Pretty much what Karlos said. Someone who is obsessed with one (or more) interest(s) that dominate their life. The Geeks on "Beat the Geeks" were pretty good examples. I'm sure some of us here know a wrestling geek or two.
Dork: Someone who is just weird, quirky, and/or socially inept. At this hour, the only person comes to mind is Napoleon Dynamite. Maybe even Bobby Boucher from "The Waterboy" to a lesser extent.
Dweeb: Loser. To me, it's more of an old 80s insult than a stereotype. Back in the day I was told that it was an acronym for Dim Witted Eastern Educated Bore, or something like that. A put down for Ivy leaguers. It's probably an urban legend, like how dork is supposed to be a word for a whale's penis. I haven't heard dweeb used in conversation in a long time. It makes you sound just as dated as using "Radical!" or "Gnarly (to the max)!"
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