Geeks? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Saraphim · 06-23-2004, 01:19 PM

One day, everyone will stop using small words to describe a large amount of people. Everyone will be accepted for thier differences, and happiness will ensue.

But until that day, I remain, an Uber-Geek!

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.

Mad Baggins · 06-24-2004, 06:21 PM

I like being a geek. It enables me to make the other students in my class feel inferior.

Alda · 06-29-2004, 05:28 PM

Hmmmm.....

Let me see if im following this correctly.

I dont need to keep hiding my inhaler under my pocket protector? Socks and sandals worn together are acceptable? (comfort and ventilation)

What about different colored socks?

While standing in line at the supermarket checkout, would it be considered "nerdish" to be quoting movie lines from the Rankin Bass Hobbit?

Just wondering

06-30-2004, 02:28 PM

Kudos to who-ever said they were an uber-geek. Yes, the word does seem to be a negative sterotype, but the "geeks" define the meaning of the word. If you want to be a geek that has tape on the bridge of your glasses, so be it. I don't think anyone here is a geek that eats live animals, but we each have our own little things.. Like Star Trek, X-Files (Mulder was kinda a geek! And there was that one episode with the real geek, that ate cockroaches and stuff) Dilbert, all those shows.. We are the new-age geeks! Not a bunch of losers, but people with personalities, we aren't recluses or anti-social! I find geeks, in a sense, to be the smartest people in our school. A "geek" that also happens to like LotR and other fantasy stuff like that got a perfect 36 outta 36 on the ACT, and almost got a perfect on the SAT, or something like that. If you use your "geekiness" or "nerdiness" correctly, you could eventually be very successful. I prefer to enjoy my geekyness, and scare the uber-stoopid people away. Or at least intimidate them with my superior intelligence and humor, that hardly anyone gets...

Does anyone else have a problem with a sense of humor that nobody around you understands?? It's really annoying, you quote movies and such, and people are just like... what???. Although that is funny, I wish more people my age would get the stuff I say.. A teacher of mine said he really liked my sense of humor... That is kinda scary, considering he is about the only person who gets a majority of my jokes!!! WEll, thanks for your time, and 1 more thing, I am not THAT computer savvy, or tech-savvy. I also do not have glasses or braces... And I don't normally wear shirts with pockets, and I don't have pocket-protectors in the pockets even when I do wear pocketed shirts...

Lalaith · 07-01-2004, 05:29 AM

One of the great pleasures of the Barrowdowns: coming across new knowledge. To think I have lived this long without knowing that there was a special word for a person who bites the head off live chickens at carnivals. *claps hands with joy*

But coming back to the more common use of the word 'geek': For me, it's ok as an adjective but not as a noun. Being geeky about a specific area of interest is quite cute and is a sign of an enthusiastic, intelligent nature - quite different to actually being labelled a general, all-round geek.
And I also applaud wholeheartedly those of you who are constraining against pigeon-holing and stereotyping. Some high schools and colleges seem to operate like the Hindu caste system, you are stuck into rigid roles and have no choice but to play them out. Good for anyone who kicks against that.

Tar-ancalime, I *love* your geek-peredhil concept....

06-23-2004, 01:19 PM	#1
Saraphim Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The other side of freezing. Posts: 404	Proud Nerd One day, everyone will stop using small words to describe a large amount of people. Everyone will be accepted for thier differences, and happiness will ensue. But until that day, I remain, an Uber-Geek! __________________ I drink Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters! ~ Always remember: pillage BEFORE you burn.

06-24-2004, 06:21 PM	#3
Mad Baggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A place where after thunder golden showers come falling like a rain of flowers. Posts: 371	Geek, eh? I like being a geek. It enables me to make the other students in my class feel inferior. __________________ I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential. Last edited by Mad Baggins; 06-24-2004 at 06:23 PM. Reason: I'm gifted.

06-29-2004, 05:28 PM	#4
Alda Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 15	Hmmmm..... Let me see if im following this correctly. I dont need to keep hiding my inhaler under my pocket protector? Socks and sandals worn together are acceptable? (comfort and ventilation) What about different colored socks? While standing in line at the supermarket checkout, would it be considered "nerdish" to be quoting movie lines from the Rankin Bass Hobbit? Just wondering __________________ The wind is part of the process The rain is part of the process -- Ezra Pound, Canto 74

06-30-2004, 02:28 PM	#5
Lígligàst Guest Posts: n/a	Uber-Geek!! Kudos to who-ever said they were an uber-geek. Yes, the word does seem to be a negative sterotype, but the "geeks" define the meaning of the word. If you want to be a geek that has tape on the bridge of your glasses, so be it. I don't think anyone here is a geek that eats live animals, but we each have our own little things.. Like Star Trek, X-Files (Mulder was kinda a geek! And there was that one episode with the real geek, that ate cockroaches and stuff) Dilbert, all those shows.. We are the new-age geeks! Not a bunch of losers, but people with personalities, we aren't recluses or anti-social! I find geeks, in a sense, to be the smartest people in our school. A "geek" that also happens to like LotR and other fantasy stuff like that got a perfect 36 outta 36 on the ACT, and almost got a perfect on the SAT, or something like that. If you use your "geekiness" or "nerdiness" correctly, you could eventually be very successful. I prefer to enjoy my geekyness, and scare the uber-stoopid people away. Or at least intimidate them with my superior intelligence and humor, that hardly anyone gets... Does anyone else have a problem with a sense of humor that nobody around you understands?? It's really annoying, you quote movies and such, and people are just like... what???. Although that is funny, I wish more people my age would get the stuff I say.. A teacher of mine said he really liked my sense of humor... That is kinda scary, considering he is about the only person who gets a majority of my jokes!!! WEll, thanks for your time, and 1 more thing, I am not THAT computer savvy, or tech-savvy. I also do not have glasses or braces... And I don't normally wear shirts with pockets, and I don't have pocket-protectors in the pockets even when I do wear pocketed shirts...

06-23-2004, 03:11 PM	#2
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.

07-01-2004, 05:29 AM	#6
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	One of the great pleasures of the Barrowdowns: coming across new knowledge. To think I have lived this long without knowing that there was a special word for a person who bites the head off live chickens at carnivals. claps hands with joy But coming back to the more common use of the word 'geek': For me, it's ok as an adjective but not as a noun. Being geeky about a specific area of interest is quite cute and is a sign of an enthusiastic, intelligent nature - quite different to actually being labelled a general, all-round geek. And I also applaud wholeheartedly those of you who are constraining against pigeon-holing and stereotyping. Some high schools and colleges seem to operate like the Hindu caste system, you are stuck into rigid roles and have no choice but to play them out. Good for anyone who kicks against that. Tar-ancalime, I love your geek-peredhil concept....