Are You A Nerd Or A Geek?

[joeychitwood]

I personally don't know, even after reading these definitions:

Geek – An enthusiast of a particular topic or field. Geeks are collection oriented, gathering facts and mementos related to their subject of interest. They are obsessed with the newest, coolest, trendiest things that their subject has to offer.

Nerd – A studious intellectual, although again of a particular topic or field. Nerds are “achievement” oriented, and focus their efforts on acquiring knowledge and skill over trivia and memorabilia.

Both are dedicated to their subjects, and sometimes socially awkward. The distinction is that geeks are fans of their subjects, and nerds are practitioners of them.


Here is what I know about myself:

• The liner of my shower curtain is the periodic table. Really.
• I watched a documentary on Richard Feynman yesterday on the DVR and saved it for re-viewing someday.
• I found myself getting excited because the absolute magnitude of Venus reaches a year-long high of -4.9 this December.
• I read books on quantum mechanics before going to bed most nights.

So, what are you, if you know? A nerd or a geek? Or are you one of the cool kids?