Geek: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit}}

A '''geek''' is a person who is fascinated, perhaps obsessively, by [[technology]] and [[imagination]]. Geek may not always have the same meaning as the term ''nerd'' (''see'' [[nerd]] for a discussion of the disputed relation between the terms).

{{other uses}}

[[File:Geek Picnic (Moscow; 2014-01-26) 28.JPG|thumb|A [[geek girl]] at the [[Geek Picnic]] ([[Moscow]]) wearing a Geek shirt and a [[VR headset]]]]

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}

The definition of ''geek'' has changed considerably over the years. Below are some definitions of the word "geek", in order from newer to oldest. All but the last are still in use.

The word '''''geek''''' is a [[slang]] term originally used to describe [[Eccentricity (behavior)|eccentric]] or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or [[enthusiast]] obsessed with a hobby or [[intellectual]] pursuit. In the past, it had a generally [[pejorative]] meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward".<ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/geek|title=Geek|access-date=January 2, 2016 |work=Dictionary.com-Merriam-Webster entry}}</ref> In the 21st century, it was [[reappropriation|reclaimed]] and used by many people, especially members of some [[fandom]]s, as a positive term.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20325517 Are 'geek' and 'nerd' now positive terms?] - BBC News</ref><ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/12/16/geek-is-now-a-praiseword-not-an-insult-apparently/?sh=5ed3f6d013c2 Geek Is Now A Praiseword, Not An Insult Apparently] - Forbes</ref><ref>[https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/geek.php The transformation of the word geek] - Columbia Journalism Review</ref>

*A person who is interested in [[technology]], especially [[computing]] and [[new media]]. Comparable with the classic definition of [[hacker]]. ''Late [[20th century]] and early [[21st century]]''

Some use the term self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAzJoAEACAAJ&q=geek+art|title=Geek-Art: An Anthology: Art, Design, Illustration & Pop Culture|first=Thomas|last=Olivri|date=4 November 2014|publisher=Chronicle Books|page=4|isbn=9781452140483|via=Google Books}}</ref> often referring simply to "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake".

*A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. This definition is very broad, and allows for [[band geeks]], [[computer]] geeks, [[politics]] geeks, [[geography]] geeks, geeks of the [[natural science]]s, [[music]] geeks, [[history]] geeks, [[linguistics]] geeks, [[sports]] geeks, [[Society_for_Creative_Anachronism|SCA]] geeks, [[gaming]] geeks, [[ham radio]] geeks, [[public transit]] geeks ([[metrophile]]s), [[anime]] and [[manga]] geeks ([[otaku]]), [[Star Trek]] geeks ([[trekkie]]), [[Tolkien]] or [[fantasy]] geeks ([[Tolkienite]]), geeks of many colours, genders, and styles. ''Late 20th Century and early 21st century''

==Etymology==

::''Note:'' When ''geek'' is used in this way, ''[[nerd]]'' and ''[[dork]]'' may be used to denote subcatagories of geek. In this light, nerd typically refers to someone who has a devotion to modern-science-based subject matter (science fiction, computers, the internet, etc.), whereas a dork's knowledge would fall in the realm of the social sciences.

The word comes from [[English dialect]] ''geek'' or ''geck'' (meaning a "fool" or "[[freak]]"; from [[Middle Low German]] ''Geck''). ''Geck'' is a standard term in modern German and means "fool" or "fop".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Geck |title=Duden &#124; Geck &#124; Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition, Synonyme, Herkunft |language=de |publisher=Duden.de |date=October 30, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> The root also survives in the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[Afrikaans]] [[adjective]] ''gek'' ("crazy"), as well as some [[German dialects]], like the [[Alsatian language|Alsatian]] word ''Gickeleshut'' ("[[jester]]'s hat"; used during carnival).<ref name="merriam-webster"/> In 18th century [[Austria]], ''Gecken'' were freaks on display in some [[circus]]es. In 19th century North America, the term ''geek'' referred to a performer in a [[geek show]] in a circus, [[traveling carnival]] or [[travelling funfair]] [[sideshow]]s (see also [[freak show]]).<ref name="Online-Etymology-Dictionary">{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=geek|title=Geek|access-date=May 3, 2013 |work=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref> The 1976 edition of the ''[[American Heritage Dictionary]]'' included only the definition regarding geek shows.{{Clarify|date=December 2017}} This is the sense of "geek" in [[William Lindsay Gresham]]'s 1946 novel ''[[Nightmare Alley (novel)|Nightmare Alley]],'' twice adapted for the screen in 1947 and 2021.

==Definitions==

*A derogatory term for one with low [[social skills]], often with average intelligence, as opposed to [[nerd]]s, who are generally viewed as having low social skills but high intelligence. It is theorised that many of these people have [[Asperger's syndrome]]. ''Late [[20th century]]''

The 1975 edition of the American Heritage Dictionary, published a decade before the [[Digital Revolution]], gave only one definition: "Geek [noun, slang]. A carnival performer whose act usually consists of biting the head off a live chicken or snake." The tech revolution found new uses for this word, but it still often conveys a derogatory sting. In 2017, Dictionary.com gave five definitions, the fourth of which is "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/geek |title=Dictionary.com: Geek |language=en |access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>

The term [[nerd]] has a similar, practically synonymous meaning as geek, but many choose to identify different connotations among these two terms, although the differences are disputed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaestle |first1=Thomas |title=The story of Traceroute, about a Leitnerd's quest |url=https://boingboing.net/2016/04/14/the-story-of-traceroute-about.html |website=Boing Boing |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> In a 2007 interview on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', [[Richard A. Clarke|Richard Clarke]] said the difference between nerds and geeks is "geeks get it done" or "ggid".<ref>[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/80961/january-17-2007/richard-clarke The Colbert Report 17th of January video interview Richard Clarke]</ref> [[Julie Smith (novelist)|Julie Smith]] defined a geek as "a bright young man turned inward, poorly socialized, who felt so little kinship with his own planet that he routinely traveled to the ones invented by his favorite authors, who thought of that secret, dreamy place his computer took him to as [[cyberspace]]—somewhere exciting, a place more real than his own life, a land he could conquer, not a drab teenager's room in his parents' house."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reconstruction.eserver.org/061/christensen.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210529/http://reconstruction.eserver.org/061/christensen.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |title=Reconstruction 6.1 (Winter 2006) |publisher=Reconstruction.eserver.org |access-date=June 30, 2014 }}</ref>

*A person who swallows live animals, bugs, etc., as a form of entertainment at fairs etc. This often included biting the heads off of chickens. The Geek would usually perform in a "geek pit." This probably comes from the Scottish ''geck'', meaning 'fool', in turn from [[Low German]]. ''[[19th century]]''

==Impact==

What does it mean to be a ''geek''? What would people think if you walked around with GEEK stamped on you in bold letters? In an exhibitionist social experiment, Dr. Simon Ronald, a computer ''geek'' from [[Adelaide]], [[Australia]] set out to discover these answers. He arranged white teeshirts with GEEK printed on one and CODER1 printed on another. These are observations from lunchtime walks through the busy streets of Adelaide over a six month period. "CODER1 raises a few eyebrows, but GEEK is a reliable headturner. Pedestrians breaking out into smiles as well as spontaneous sniggering and finger pointing. Strongest reaction is pity from the [[blue collar]] [[demographic profile|demographic]] where perhaps the word ''geek'' is associated more with [[vulgar]] social connotations. When quizzed about ''geek'', people quipped: 'awkward', 'nerdy', 'space cadet', 'dickhead', and 'socially incompetent'. Some have said, 'Hey I like your t-shirt', but those tend to be tech types as well.'"

Technologically oriented geeks, in particular, now exert a powerful influence over the global economy and society.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/october/innovation-economic-impact-102412.html|title=Study shows Stanford alumni create nearly $3 trillion in economic impact each year|work=Stanford News|first=Jamie|last=Beckett|date=October 24, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921025708/https://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/october/innovation-economic-impact-102412.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Whereas previous generations of geeks tended to operate in research departments, laboratories and support functions, now they increasingly occupy senior corporate positions, and wield considerable commercial and political influence. When U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] met with Facebook's [[Mark Zuckerberg]] and the CEOs of the world's largest technology firms at a private dinner in Woodside, California on February 17, 2011, ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine ran a story titled "The world's most powerful man meets President Obama".<ref>{{cite news |title=The world's most powerful man meets President Obama |first1=Dan |last1=Amira |date=February 18, 2011 |newspaper=[[New York Magazine]] |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2011/02/the_worlds_most_powerful_man_m.html}}</ref> At the time, Zuckerberg's company had grown to over one billion users.

According to [[Mark Roeder]] the rise of the geek represents a new phase of human evolution. In his book, ''[[Unnatural Selection: Why The Geeks Will Inherit The Earth]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Unnatural-Selection-Why-Geeks-Will-Inherit-Earth-Mark-Roeder/?isbn=9781743095683 |title=Unnatural Selection by Mark Roeder |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312203756/http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Unnatural-Selection-Why-Geeks-Will-Inherit-Earth-Mark-Roeder/?isbn=9781743095683 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he suggests that "the high-tech environment of the [[Anthropocene]] favours people with geek-like traits, many of whom are on the [[autism spectrum]], [[ADHD]], or [[dyslexia]]. Previously, such people may have been at a disadvantage, but now their unique cognitive traits enable some of them to resonate with the new technological [[zeitgeist]] and become very successful."

''Geek'' has always had negative connotations within society at large, where being described as a geek tends to be an insult. The term has recently become less condescending, or even a badge of honor, within particular fields and subcultures; this is particularly evident in the technical disciplines, where the term is now more of a compliment denoting extraordinary skill. This may have in part been caused by the popularity of the [[Dilbert]] comic strip, though in the larger society, the geek classification is still a negative one.

''[[The Economist]]'' magazine observed, on June 2, 2012, "Those square pegs (geeks) may not have an easy time in school. They may be mocked by jocks and ignored at parties. But these days no serious organisation can prosper without them."<ref>{{cite news|title=In praise of misfits|newspaper= The Economist|date= June 2, 2012|url= https://www.economist.com/business/2012/06/02/in-praise-of-misfits}}</ref>

A ''geek'' can be so absorbed in their imagination that they exhibit the ''geeky'' 'lost in space' gaze, and may appear to be unresponsive due to their absorption in other worlds. The level of concentration and focus may feature at the expense of cultural plumage. Geeks are technological monks - often too busy working within their intellectual ___domain to do menial chores like shopping for fashion.

==Fashion==

Modern geeks run the gamut of society, with every shape, size, color, political stance, athletic ability, music taste and age accounted for. Most people would not recognize a modern geek by looking at them, as many do not fit into the old stereotypes of the pocket-protector and black-rimmed glasses with tape in the middle. Modern geeks are granted a certain amount of respect, as the technology they create helps run the world faster and better.

{{anchor|Geek chic}}

"'''Geek chic'''" refers to a minor fashion trend that arose in the mid 2000s (decade), in which young people adopted "geeky" fashions, such as oversized black [[horn-rimmed glasses]] or [[browline glasses]], [[suspenders]]/[[Braces (clothing)|braces]], and [[capri pants]]. The glasses quickly became the defining aspect of the trend, with the media identifying various celebrities as "trying geek" or "going geek" for wearing such glasses, such as [[David Beckham]] and [[Justin Timberlake]]. Meanwhile, in the sports world, many [[NBA]] players wore "geek glasses" during [[Post-game show|post-game interviews]], drawing comparisons to [[Steve Urkel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V0330Drfkk | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/2V0330Drfkk| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|title=Whacky NBA Playoff Fashion! | date=May 29, 2012|publisher=YouTube |access-date=June 26, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="wsj-nba">{{cite web|last=Cacciola |first=Scott |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303822204577466402604980564 |title=NBA Finals: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Other Fashion Plates of the NBA Make Specs of Themselves |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2012}}</ref>

The term "geek chic" was appropriated by some self-identified "geeks" to refer to a new, socially acceptable role in a technologically advanced society.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lambert |first=Katie |url=http://people.howstuffworks.com/geek-chic.htm |title=How Stuff works: Geek Chic |date=July 15, 2007 |publisher=People.howstuffworks.com |access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>

== In the Circus==

Previous to the dawn of the computer age, a "geek" was one of the sideshow attractions in the circus. The geek's stock in trade was bizarre acts, including biting the heads off live chickens.

==See also==

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical ♦♦♦--->

* [[nerd]]

*[[Akiba-kei]] and [[Otaku]], Japanese slang

* [[hacker]]

*[[Anorak (slang)|Anorak]] and [[boffin]], British slang

* [[otaku]]

*[[Battleboarding]]

* [[anorak (slang)|anorak]]

* [[leetwikt:dweeb|Dweeb]]

* [[GeekFurry canonfandom|Furry]]

* [[Geek CodeGamer]]

* [[Revenge of theGamer Nerdsgirl]]

* [[Freaks andGeek GeeksCode]]

* [[GeekcorpsGeek girl]]

*[[Geek Pride Day]]

*[[de:Geek rock]]

*[[Geekcorps]]

*[[Girl Geek Dinners]]

*[[Greaser (subculture)|Greaser]]

* [[nerdGrok]]

*[[Internet culture]]

*[[Jock (stereotype)|Jock]]

* [[anorakNeckbeard (slang)|anorak]]

* [[hackerNerd]]

* [[otakuPreppy]]

*[[Reappropriation]]

*[[Trekkie]]

*[[Video game culture]]

{{div col end}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite journal|author=Reagle, Joseph|author-link=Joseph M. Reagle Jr.|url=https://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/7879/6629|title=Nerd vs. bro: Geek privilege, idiosyncrasy, and triumphalism|journal=[[First Monday (journal)|First Monday]]|volume=23|issue=1|date=2018-01-01|doi=10.5210/fm.v23i1.7879|issn=1396-0466 |doi-access= free|url-access=subscription}}

== External links ==

{{Wiktionary}}

* [http://www.geekscene.com Technical Geek News]

{{Wikiquote}}

* [http://www.innergeek.us/ The Geek Test]

{{commonscat|Geeks}}

* [http://www.lebgeeks.com Lebanese] Geek community

* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/270364/Geek-Culture-The-3rd-CounterCulture Geek Culture: The Third Counter-Culture], an article discussing geek culture as a new kind of counter-culture.

* [http://www.slashdot.org SlashDot News for Nerds]

* [https://www.academia.edu/9835255/The_Origins_of_Geek_Culture_Perspectives_on_a_Parallel_Intellectual_Milieu The Origins of Geek Culture: Perspectives on a Parallel Intellectual Milieu], an article about geek culture seen in a cultural historical perspective.

* [http://www.brunching.com/geekhierarchy.html The Geek Hierarchy]

* Hoevel, Ann. "[http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/12/02/nerd.or.geek/index.html Are you a nerd or a geek?]" [[CNN]]. December 2, 2010.

* [http://fucking-geeks.com The Political Geeks Group]

* [httphttps://www.rediffusatoday.com/searchlife/2001/apr/23geek2003-10-22-geek-chic_x.htm Sexiest "Geek AliveChic"], ''[[USA Today]]'', October 22, 2003

* [http://wwwpeople.geekculturehowstuffworks.com geekculture/geek-chic.comhtm/printable "How Geek Chic Works"]

* [http://www.thinkgeek.com Think Geek]

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