Geeks? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Fordim Hedgethistle · 06-23-2004, 03:11 PM

In the spirit of Prof Tolkien, I have gone to the Oxford English Dictionary to find out what, precisely, a "geek" is (I would humbly suggest that we all strive for definition number 3 (and do our best to avoid number 2)):

I. Simple uses.

1. slang (chiefly U.S.). a. orig. Eng. regional (north.). A person, a fellow, esp. one who is regarded as foolish, offensive, worthless, etc.

b. Freq. depreciative. An overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit (usually specified in a preceding attrib. noun). Cf. NERD n.

c. spec. A person who is extremely devoted to and knowledgeable about computers or related technology. In this sense, esp. when as a self-designation, not necessarily depreciative.

2. U.S. slang. A performer at a carnival or circus whose show consists of bizarre or grotesque acts, such as biting the head off a live animal.

II. Compounds.

3. geek chic, a glamorization of the culture and appearance of geeks; the style associated with geeks.

06-23-2004, 03:11 PM	#11
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	In the spirit of Prof Tolkien, I have gone to the Oxford English Dictionary to find out what, precisely, a "geek" is (I would humbly suggest that we all strive for definition number 3 (and do our best to avoid number 2)): I. Simple uses. 1. slang (chiefly U.S.). a. orig. Eng. regional (north.). A person, a fellow, esp. one who is regarded as foolish, offensive, worthless, etc. b. Freq. depreciative. An overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit (usually specified in a preceding attrib. noun). Cf. NERD n. c. spec. A person who is extremely devoted to and knowledgeable about computers or related technology. In this sense, esp. when as a self-designation, not necessarily depreciative. 2. U.S. slang. A performer at a carnival or circus whose show consists of bizarre or grotesque acts, such as biting the head off a live animal. II. Compounds. 3. geek chic, a glamorization of the culture and appearance of geeks; the style associated with geeks.