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View Full Version : Are you all "geeks"?



DirtDawg
January 17th, 2006, 08:19 PM
I see advertisements for "Geeks4U computer repair" or whatever and there's always a group of generic "geeks" (or "nerds") coming to the rescue to repair some yuppie's computer. Seems slightly insulting.

But at the same time, I notice many computer enthusiasts referring to themselves as "geeks" with endearment.

So I just wondered what computer enthusiasts think about the term. Is it fair to be labeled a "geek" simply because you want an in depth understanding of a fundimental part of our society, or is it all in good fun?

Just curious.

christhemonkey
January 17th, 2006, 08:22 PM
i wouldnt label myself as a geek really, to be honest! Though dont really mind people calling me that.

DigitalDuality
January 17th, 2006, 08:49 PM
i get called a geek b/c of my computer b.s.

But i dunno.. i look pretty "metro sexual" nowadays.. in college i sported blue/green/red/purple hair, mohawks, and the works. I was definately a punk/raver/metal type of guy who partied his ass of and had no problems in the ladies department. I read classic lit, stay somewhat knowledge about modern art, i do watch alot of underground/cult classic films, a normal healthy social life with me is pretty on and off.

There's no glasses, pocket protecting, socially inept, pale dweeb behind this keyboard. But i agree with christhemonkey, i don't mind being called a geek.. half the time it's b/c i'm watching some sci-fi flick, listening to trance/drum n bass, or playing on the computer.. so whatever.

Though i have done some pretty geeky stuff in my life. In middle school i read something like 250+ Star Trek books.

bonzodog
January 17th, 2006, 11:37 PM
I'm a total geek and proud of it. I have so far sacrificied two marriages with 3 children for my computer...i think I might just be addicted......

majikstreet
January 18th, 2006, 12:06 AM
= geek.

I am a geek and AM DAMN PROUD OF IT!

I don't like when people use it in a derogative manner, though.

renzokuken
January 18th, 2006, 12:07 AM
i'm not at all a geek in the "stereotype" way of thinking, in fact i'd probably be more towards the jock end of the spectrum (although we dont really have the geek vs jock thing in the uk)

im a geek to all my mates though cos i'm the one who always has to sort out their pc

i guess its all just relative at the end of the day isn't it

DirtDawg
January 18th, 2006, 12:11 AM
I just realized. Here I am asking everyone about the word "geek", then use the sweeping term "yuppie" in the original post. Ironic! #-o

Anyways, thanks for the responses so far. I find this stuff fascinating.

carl13
January 18th, 2006, 12:12 AM
I am not a geek but if I would not mind being called a "geek" if I was one. I think the word has taken on a new meaning and no longer has a negative connotation to it. In fact, I prefer girls who have a little "geek" in them.

augied
January 18th, 2006, 12:32 AM
My definition of "geek" is someone who is very passionate about a particular subject. Geekdom is not restricted to technology related subjects, infact I find that sports geeks are much more unhealthily obsessed than the stereotypical geek. People may use the word geek as an insult, but I don't consider it that. I interpret it as recognizing that I love what I do.
I hate the word "nerd," it is always meant as an insult.

NiceGuy
January 18th, 2006, 01:10 AM
I concur with augied. Where as geek is a term of endearment and respect, a nerd is... well... to quote DigitalDuality "pocket protecting, socially inept, pale dweeb"

As for me, well I got a certificate at the end of sixth form proclaiming me 'geek of the year 2002'. So draw your own conclusions!

(it probably had something to do with fixing the schools 'exam computer' so we could all get our results - but who knows?!?)

Mark B-)

ember
January 18th, 2006, 01:13 AM
Well - when I moved into here (i.e. the flat share where I live), my flat mate's girlfriend said: He doesn't look like a geek. I took it as a compliment ;)

WildTangent
January 18th, 2006, 01:18 AM
I'll admit I'm a geek, and I don't mind others calling me one. When you're not insulted by it, they lose all reason to say it ;)

-Wild

curuxz
January 18th, 2006, 01:23 AM
I was tempted to post in binary saying i was but then relised i was to drunk to care and doubt anyone would bother translating it back.

Yea spose im in the geek camp since i have frequently said that watching something compile is the most cool thing i have seen....."makes me feel like im in the matrix"

Rumor
January 18th, 2006, 02:58 AM
My daughter calls me a geek, and she is a teen-ager . . . which means she knows everything. Ergo, I am a geek.

xequence
January 18th, 2006, 02:59 AM
I was tempted to post in binary saying i was but then relised i was to drunk to care and doubt anyone would bother translating it back.

I would translate it back =P

BWF89
January 18th, 2006, 03:10 AM
Is it fair to be labeled a "geek"
I'm not a carnival preformer who bites the heads off of live chickens :p .

endersshadow
January 18th, 2006, 04:05 AM
I'll proudly admit to geekdom.

What really bugs me is when I was talking to another geek buddy of mine, and I said, "Yeah, but to get wireless on it, you've got to hack the driver with ndisgtk." And this girl came from nowhere and went off on us about us being "hackers." She told us that we need a life, and to stop hurting people's computers. Little did she know that both he and I had spent our winter vacations fixing computers. The media has really distorted the meaning of the word "hacker" and gave it a very negative connotation. Such a shame, because if you've ever altered the source code of any program, you are a hacker in the original sense of the word.

Stormy Eyes
January 18th, 2006, 04:10 AM
In fact, I prefer girls who have a little "geek" in them.

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5738/owlorly5se.jpg

aysiu
January 18th, 2006, 04:15 AM
Apparently, I'm the least geeky of the bunch on these forums... (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=70389)

I'm a "computer user wannabe."

Galoot
January 18th, 2006, 04:16 AM
Yup, and proud of it. I use "geek" as I would use "aficionado." Computer geek, electronics geek, physics geek, news geek...

One doesn't need to be pale and socially awkward to be a geek, but it doesn't hurt, either.

rjwood
January 18th, 2006, 04:20 AM
i get called a geek b/c of my computer b.s.

But i dunno.. i look pretty "metro sexual" nowadays.. in college i sported blue/green/red/purple hair, mohawks, and the works. I was definately a punk/raver/metal type of guy who partied his ass of and had no problems in the ladies department. I read classic lit, stay somewhat knowledge about modern art, i do watch alot of underground/cult classic films, a normal healthy social life with me is pretty on and off.

There's no glasses, pocket protecting, socially inept, pale dweeb behind this keyboard. But i agree with christhemonkey, i don't mind being called a geek.. half the time it's b/c i'm watching some sci-fi flick, listening to trance/drum n bass, or playing on the computer.. so whatever.

Though i have done some pretty geeky stuff in my life. In middle school i read something like 250+ Star Trek books.

Take me back---take me back....oh those good ol day's when.............

rjwood
January 18th, 2006, 04:27 AM
is that avitar really you stormy.. I can't decide whether your a John Lennon type or very geeky....

Stormy Eyes
January 18th, 2006, 04:31 AM
is that avitar really you stormy.. I can't decide whether your a John Lennon type or very geeky....

No, it's my vampire-hunting guitar hero cousin, Eddie Van Helsing. Of course it's me, but John Lennon would probably make the Sign of the Cross to ward me off if our paths ever crossed.

Lovechild
January 18th, 2006, 04:33 AM
I'm so much a geek that upon seeing the picture in stormy eyes' post, my first thought was.. O'Reilly.

There's nothing wrong with being a geek, I'm a generally nice guy, I just have a passion for computers, certainly more productive and intelligent than those people whom society doesn't frown upon.. like drunk football fans (I refuse to call it soccer, get your own damn word for that uncivilized violent pointless game you brutes).

So what if my only worthwhile talent is installing 6 different versions of Linux blindfolded, a lot of people lead pointless lifes why should they feel lonely.

rjwood
January 18th, 2006, 04:35 AM
No, it's my vampire-hunting guitar hero cousin, Eddie Van Helsing. Of course it's me, but John Lennon would probably make the Sign of the Cross to ward me off if our paths ever crossed.

I doubt that---He enjoyed a healthy debate too!!!!

qferret
January 18th, 2006, 04:59 AM
In fact, I prefer girls who have a little "geek" in them.

Me too....as long as I get to be the little geek ;-)

borisattva
January 18th, 2006, 05:01 AM
nes.

rjwood
January 18th, 2006, 05:03 AM
I'm so much a geek that upon seeing the picture in stormy eyes' post, my first thought was.. O'Reilly.

There's nothing wrong with being a geek, I'm a generally nice guy, I just have a passion for computers, certainly more productive and intelligent than those people whom society doesn't frown upon.. like drunk football fans (I refuse to call it soccer, get your own damn word for that uncivilized violent pointless game you brutes).

So what if my only worthwhile talent is installing 6 different versions of Linux blindfolded, a lot of people lead pointless lifes why should they feel lonely.

Thank you for validating my existence, but I alway's took you for female..

mstlyevil
January 18th, 2006, 05:49 AM
I'm so much a geek that upon seeing the picture in stormy eyes' post, my first thought was.. O'Reilly.

There's nothing wrong with being a geek, I'm a generally nice guy, I just have a passion for computers, certainly more productive and intelligent than those people whom society doesn't frown upon.. like drunk football fans (I refuse to call it soccer, get your own damn word for that uncivilized violent pointless game you brutes).

So what if my only worthwhile talent is installing 6 different versions of Linux blindfolded, a lot of people lead pointless lifes why should they feel lonely.

American style Rugby?

Iandefor
January 18th, 2006, 05:58 AM
I have no objection to the term. I probably fall into many people's definition of geek, and I don't particularly care.

chimera
January 18th, 2006, 06:46 AM
Well...I guess I would fall in the definition of geek, although I still don't like it when people use it in a degradory way:mad:

Orunitia
January 18th, 2006, 07:06 AM
Anyone using linux (without having it setup by a family member or friend or someone like that) is a geek. Just admit it.:p

BSDFreak
January 18th, 2006, 07:12 AM
American style Rugby?


You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2008. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

:D

briancurtin
January 18th, 2006, 07:15 AM
You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2008. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.
where did you get that from? it is incredibly stupid.

benplaut
January 18th, 2006, 07:21 AM
you left out an option - i'm proud to be a geek :)

I've actually printed out, and carry around in my laptop case a definition of 'Hacker'... the term is very abused.

BSDFreak
January 18th, 2006, 07:24 AM
where did you get that from? it is incredibly stupid.

I got it in an e-mail a long time ago from a Brittish friend.

It's humor, this is the internet, lighten up.


TO: The Citizens of the United States of America

RE: Revocation of your Independence


In the light of your failure to elect a proper President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy much. Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:



1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour', skipping the letter 'U' is nothing more than laziness on your part. Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters. You will end your love affair with the letter 'Z' (pronounced 'zed' not 'zee') and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise". You will learn that the suffix 'burgh is pronounced 'burra' e.g. Edinburgh. You are welcome to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you can't cope with correct pronunciation. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed". There will be no more 'bleeps' in the Jerry Springer show. If you're not old enough to cope with bad language then you shouldn't have chat shows. When you learn to develop your vocabulary then you won't have to use bad language as often.



2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of "-ize". 3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. It really isn't that hard. English accents are not limited to Cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier). You will also have to learn how to understand regional accents? Scottish dramas such as "Taggart" will no longer be broadcast with subtitles. While we're talking about regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is "Devon". If you persist in calling it Devonshire, all American States will become "shires" e.g. Texasshire, Floridashire, Louisianashire. 4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English characters. British sit-coms such as "Men Behaving Badly? or "Red Dwarf" will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who can't cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.



5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through.



6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2008. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.



7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons if they give you any merde. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. The Russians have never been the bad guys. "Merde" is French for "****". You will no longer be allowed to own or carry guns. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous in public than a vegetable peeler. Because we don't believe you are sensible enough to handle potentially dangerous items, you will require a permit if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.



8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day".



9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.



10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips. Fries aren't even French; they are Belgian though 97.85% of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) are not aware of a country called Belgium. Those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps". Real chips are thick cut and fried in animal fat. The traditional accompaniment to chips is beer which should be served warm and flat. Waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.



11. As a sign of penance 5 grams of sea salt per cup will be added to all tea made within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this quantity to be doubled for tea made within the city of Boston itself.

12. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all, it is lager. From November 1st only proper British Bitter will be referred to as "beer", and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager". The substances formerly known as "American Beer" will henceforth be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's ****", with the exception of the product of the American Budweiser company whose product will be referred to as "Weak Near-Frozen Gnat's ****". This will allow true Budweiser (as manufactured for the last 1000 years in Pilsen, Czech Republic) to be sold without risk of confusion.



13. From December 1st the UK will harmonise petrol (or "Gasoline" as you will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2005) prices with the former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices (roughly $6/US gallon - get used to it).



14. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.



15. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy.



16. Tax collectors from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776.



Thank you for your cooperation.

AsburyPark
January 18th, 2006, 02:30 PM
where did you get that from? it is incredibly stupid.

It’s a fitting statement. The real question is why do Americans think that because they say or do something, the rest of the world should follow? That is what is incredibly stupid. :D

Stormy Eyes
January 18th, 2006, 02:37 PM
It’s a fitting statement. The real question is why do Americans think that because they say or do something, the rest of the world should follow? That is what is incredibly stupid. :D

The government does not represent the people, and has not not for at least 30 years.

AsburyPark
January 18th, 2006, 04:12 PM
I love the people in America (US). I travel to New Jersey 2 or 3 times a year, and it is always an entertaining voyage.

Anyway to keep on topic of this thread…

I am a geek, who has a hard time spelling English words;)

mike998
January 19th, 2006, 03:32 PM
I'm a geek, my girlfriend is a geek, my son will probably end up being a geek.

It's more with how you view yourself.

Mr_J_
January 19th, 2006, 07:02 PM
I am a Geek!

Minyaliel
January 19th, 2006, 07:06 PM
I don't know.... people call me a geek because I installed my own Ubuntu and use it daily for... well, any purpose whatsoever, even if it's just checking what time it is... :P lol. Myself, I call myself an opera nerd because I love singing opera, but that's about it. But I don't mind people calling me a nerd/ geek/ whatsoever, as long as it's not meant as an insult.