Geek vs. Nerd?

[Edge Zole]

Does anybody else think there is a distinct difference between a geek and a nerd? People have been telling me there's not, but there so is! Help me out by giving me your definition of each one so that we can all come to an educated consensus...

 

I'm categorizing this as a debate, but hopefully it won't get to be too crazy! I just need the truth! (:

[Abreo]

The truth? Linguistics is make-believe and formed by opinion so sounds and symbols can mean whatever you want them to mean. You may end up trying to communicate something other than what people think you are saying but that happens all the time anyways. Geek can mean a pile of thrown-up dog shit if you want it to. 

 

Although I think currently geek tends to describe someone with poor social skills whereas nerd tends to describe someone with unpopular interests and unpopular behaviors. Of course the people on this website like to use nerd a bit differently but that doesn't change what the word nerd tends to mean for the average person. 

[A. Julianna]

Geek tends to be more associated with the more intellectual types while nerd are generally known to be just more passionate about things that maybe are not super popular. So all in all, I agree with Abreo.

[Rockccoli]

I'd say that nerds are more associated with being intellectual along with odd habits and fandoms(although it obviously means a whole lot more here!), whereas geeks don't quite have to be intellectual and are more focused around one area of oddness.

[Edge Zole]

These all pretty much make sense... I always thought a geek was more of a person who is obviously really smart but doesn't have great social skills or ignores norms. A nerd to me is also super smart but isn't socially awkward like a geek. This is all basically what you guys were saying, but nobody besides here seems to get it haha.

[Shauna Spencer]

I would like to direct your attention to this diagram.  The diagram is just for fun of course, not to be taken seriously. In my honest opinion I always thought that the word nerd was associated more with an extreme interest in a field of academics  while the word geek was associated more with obsessive fandoms than academic interests or intellectual pursuits.

[William Newcome]

Well the word 'nerd' originated as a nonsensical word made up by Dr Seuss in one of his stories and somehow gathered meaning in colloquial language.

 

I always believed that a nerd is intelligent and interested in lesser mainstream subjects and activities while a geek is someone who is perhaps not as smart but is very passionate about specific subjects that are not mainstream.

[spiderboenz]

They're the same thing, the only difference is that "nerd" developed a nagative connotation over time.

[Molly Pendragon]

In my opinon there is a difference, but not much. A nerd is a person who likes thing that aren't very popular(steampunk google for example)  and  does things that are considered weird (happy dances being one of them, not an insult just clarifying that i do it a lot)  And is VERY enthusiastic about the things they like. Also tends to be in MANY fandoms.  

Meanwhile a geek who is equally as awesome. Has Not the best social skills, and is more intelectual and usually science or math orientated. And is more left brained. I can not say much about geeks though because i'm more of a nerd. :)