Are you a nerd?

rlparker · 01-31-2009, 10:52 AM

While reading the thread about how much karma you can give (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37508), I was somehow reminded of how important social hierarchy was back in high school--hope I'm not stepping on any toes

That got me to thinking about the people who join a forum like MobileRead. I would expect this self-selected sample of the population to be above-average in intelligence, probably a little wittier than most, and most certainly more attractive in general

And, well, maybe a little nerdier than average. So I thought maybe a little research might be in order. Are you a nerd?

lilac_jive · 01-31-2009, 10:53 AM

I am completely and utterly a nerd.

Nate the great · 01-31-2009, 10:54 AM

A lot of nerds, but not so many geeks (techie nerds).

zelda_pinwheel · 01-31-2009, 10:59 AM

i'm not sure i know the difference between "nerd" and "geek" but i'm pretty sure i'm a geek.

edit : and in case that was not clear, i would like to know the difference, if somebody can explain it...

lilac_jive · 01-31-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i'm not sure i know the difference between "nerd" and "geek" but i'm pretty sure i'm a geek.

edit : and in case that was not clear, i would like to know the difference, if somebody can explain it...

There isn't really..

Nate the great · 01-31-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

There isn't really..

Yes there is. Nerds don't necessarily have any technical skill. Geeks do.

zelda_pinwheel · 01-31-2009, 11:09 AM

oh, well then definitely a geek !!!

lilac_jive · 01-31-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Yes there is. Nerds don't necessarily have any technical skill. Geeks do.

pshrynk · 01-31-2009, 11:53 AM

I have a lanyard retractor for my name badge that says "geek" so that's how I voted.

phenomshel · 01-31-2009, 11:54 AM

Well, I'm less of a geek than I thought I was when I joined here...Boy have I had an education in a short span of time! Firmware, formatting, creating ebooks, scripts...my head spins (the sinus headache probably isn't helping that...).
I've always been good with figuring out programs, it's only when it gets into scripting that my brain shuts down, sticks it's fingers in it's (my?) ears and starts singing "LALALALALA"....

vally · 01-31-2009, 11:57 AM

Well I have managed 106.
I dont think I have enough years in me to get round to them all!
Val

UncleDuke · 01-31-2009, 03:36 PM

i'm a writer, we're just weird

acidzebra · 01-31-2009, 03:58 PM

I'll be honest, I answered "I'm a geek" but that is really just a snobbish nerd.

Donnageddon · 01-31-2009, 04:11 PM

Merriam-Webster says

Quote:

Main Entry: geek
Pronunciation:
\ˈgēk\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
Date:
1914

1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake

So, except for the requirement of being a carnival performer, yeah, I'm a geek.

desertgrandma · 01-31-2009, 05:37 PM

Is this your definition of 'nerd'?

I would expect this self-selected sample of the population to be above-average in intelligence, probably a little wittier than most, and most certainly more attractive in general

Because if it isn't please define 'nerd'. I'm average. Just average. I just like books and mobileread people.

In school I was a nerd, does that count? I mean the unpopular kind. Now, what seems like a million years later, I no longer put labels on myself.

(Lord, its fun to fool with others polls!

)

So, how should I vote? Hmmm?

View Poll Results: Are you a nerd?
Yes, I'm a nerd.	29	26.85%
I'm not a nerd, I'm THE nerd.	5	4.63%
I'm not a nerd, I'm a geek.	67	62.04%
No, I'm not a nerd, but I am more attractive than average.	7	6.48%
Voters: 108. You may not vote on this poll

01-31-2009, 10:52 AM	#1
rlparker Ars longa Posts: 1,179 Karma: 17404 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: north carolina, usa Device: Kindle K1, K3 wifi	Are you a nerd? While reading the thread about how much karma you can give (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37508), I was somehow reminded of how important social hierarchy was back in high school--hope I'm not stepping on any toes That got me to thinking about the people who join a forum like MobileRead. I would expect this self-selected sample of the population to be above-average in intelligence, probably a little wittier than most, and most certainly more attractive in general And, well, maybe a little nerdier than average. So I thought maybe a little research might be in order. Are you a nerd?

01-31-2009, 05:37 PM	#15
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Is this your definition of 'nerd'? I would expect this self-selected sample of the population to be above-average in intelligence, probably a little wittier than most, and most certainly more attractive in general Because if it isn't please define 'nerd'. I'm average. Just average. I just like books and mobileread people. In school I was a nerd, does that count? I mean the unpopular kind. Now, what seems like a million years later, I no longer put labels on myself. (Lord, its fun to fool with others polls!) So, how should I vote? Hmmm?

01-31-2009, 10:53 AM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I am completely and utterly a nerd.

01-31-2009, 10:54 AM	#3
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	A lot of nerds, but not so many geeks (techie nerds).

01-31-2009, 10:59 AM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	i'm not sure i know the difference between "nerd" and "geek" but i'm pretty sure i'm a geek. edit : and in case that was not clear, i would like to know the difference, if somebody can explain it...

01-31-2009, 11:09 AM	#7
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	oh, well then definitely a geek !!!

01-31-2009, 11:53 AM	#9
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	I have a lanyard retractor for my name badge that says "geek" so that's how I voted.

01-31-2009, 11:54 AM	#10
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	Well, I'm less of a geek than I thought I was when I joined here...Boy have I had an education in a short span of time! Firmware, formatting, creating ebooks, scripts...my head spins (the sinus headache probably isn't helping that...). I've always been good with figuring out programs, it's only when it gets into scripting that my brain shuts down, sticks it's fingers in it's (my?) ears and starts singing "LALALALALA"....

01-31-2009, 11:57 AM	#11
vally Member Posts: 12 Karma: 260 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Norfolk UK Device: iPad wifi 64gb	Well I have managed 106. I dont think I have enough years in me to get round to them all! Val

01-31-2009, 03:36 PM	#12
UncleDuke books & doughnuts Posts: 882 Karma: 37857 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Device: sony reader, kindle2	i'm a writer, we're just weird

01-31-2009, 03:58 PM	#13
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	I'll be honest, I answered "I'm a geek" but that is really just a snobbish nerd.

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