Samuel Wise
Demigod
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Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 10, 2015 0:11:53 GMT
Though the exact difference between these factions are rarely discuss, they can have a huge impact on D&D as a whole. The entire roleplaying culture is built off of one of the first two options. All jokes aside, which are more like? A nerd or a geek? If you are confused about the differences: m.youtube.com/watch?v=SnGMPyvGmb0And here is a word chart, if you don't want to watch a video:  Now I know why I've always wanted to be a cellist  |
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Post by DMC on Jul 10, 2015 15:23:30 GMT
This brings up a funny poll I did a few years back. My tastes and hobbies vary quite widely. I love the military and do some re-enactments with airsoft guns. I love Star Wars. I love gaming, both console and PC. I love the fantasy genre as well. I did an amateur poll across the various forums I was on, and it was funny that each genre I belonged to, had a vastly different idea of what was "worse", if you will.
I can't recall exactly, but I think my question was "What's the Most Geeky/Dorky/Nerdy To You?" Options were Sci-Fi, Fantasy/D&D, Cosplay, Computer/Console Gaming, LARPing, Airsofters. Each section is stereotypically geeky in it of itself, but each group said things to the effect of "Oh, yah I know I like __________ but at least I'm not "those other guys.". It was quite fascinating really.
As for me, I see "nerdy" as more scientific/technical/mathmatics-based. I'd classify myself as a Geek w/Nerd Tendencies Occasionally. LOL
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 10, 2015 15:39:12 GMT
I can't recall exactly, but I think my question was "What's the Most Geeky/Dorky/Nerdy To You?" Options were Sci-Fi, Fantasy/D&D, Cosplay, Computer/Console Gaming, LARPing, Airsofters. Each section is stereotypically geeky in it of itself, but each group said things to the effect of "Oh, yah I know I like __________ but at least I'm not "those other guys.". That poll sounds incredible (and slightly hilarious). I was pretty sure I could do anything nerdy/geeky... but, In the end I don't think I could ever cosplay. I bet the results on this were fascinating. |
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 10, 2015 17:58:44 GMT
As for me, I see "nerdy" as more scientific/technical/mathmatics-based. I'd classify myself as a Geek w/Nerd Tendencies Occasionally. LOL I have to agree strongly with this assessment. I feel WAY into the geek spectrum and a little into the nerd area. i am not at all surprised by this, haha. |
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 10, 2015 19:24:07 GMT
As for me, I see "nerdy" as more scientific/technical/mathmatics-based. I'd classify myself as a Geek w/Nerd Tendencies Occasionally. LOL I have to agree strongly with this assessment. I feel WAY into the geek spectrum and a little into the nerd area. i am not at all surprised by this, haha. I, also, tend toward the geek side: comics, computers, and Star Wars are all in that domain. However, because of my immense love of math and science (which I think I've mentioned before...) I would put myself as a Nerd w/Geek tendencies.  |
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Post by friartook on Jul 10, 2015 19:35:10 GMT
I can't recall exactly, but I think my question was "What's the Most Geeky/Dorky/Nerdy To You?" Options were Sci-Fi, Fantasy/D&D, Cosplay, Computer/Console Gaming, LARPing, Airsofters. Each section is stereotypically geeky in it of itself, but each group said things to the effect of "Oh, yah I know I like __________ but at least I'm not "those other guys.". It was quite fascinating really. I've been in multiple situations, trying to explain tabletop role playing games to the non-initiated, and somehow LARP always gets brought up. The last time it happened, the person asked me, "Would you ever consider LARPing?" I started to give the "... I'm not "those other guys."" answer, but had to stop myself and question...and I discovered that yes, if I could afford the time and money, I would totally participate in a well thought-out LARP event. It would need to be a well done for me though, I'd just get disgusted if it was poorly organized (that's the Nerd in me there). As for Geek vs. Nerd, I tend to assume I'm on the Geeky end. I can run in Nerdy circles, but to my mind the true Nerd has a single-mindedness of purpose that can look like Autism at times. I don't have enough of that to call myself a Nerd. *pushes glasses up on nose* |
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DM Fulcrum
Squire
Posts: 46 
Favorite D&D Class: Paladin
Favorite D&D Race: Dragonborn
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Post by DM Fulcrum on Jul 11, 2015 5:45:03 GMT
Well if it doesnt show in my Username. I consider myself a geek with my interests in all thing Pop Culture. Doctor Who, Comics, Tabletop Gaming both RP and Board/Card Games. I think it also comes down to the fact that I dont see myself as a bookworm and more charismatic and social interactive.
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 11, 2015 6:46:41 GMT
I think it also comes down to the fact that I dont see myself as a bookworm and more charismatic and social interactive. Heh heh. I like to view myself as charismatic, outgoing, socially smart... I'm not. I just, apparently, role really good bluff checks  |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 12, 2015 0:47:09 GMT
I can't be both?
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 12, 2015 0:57:07 GMT
Which one are you more like? I am part geek, but I am a little more on the nerdy side. So I just classify myself as nerd. Unless you are equally a nerd and geek, then I suppose you could be. |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 12, 2015 15:03:29 GMT
They're both conceptual terms which only have the significance we humans choose to give them. I tend to see them as being practically synonymous but that's just by my personal interpretation. I would borrow from Wil Wheaton and say that a geek is someone who practically studies joy and a nerd is someone who finds their joy in particular contexts, conventional or unconventional (sports, tabletop, extravehicular tap dancing). The only thing is, you can swap those definitions and they still apply just as well. So I'm not so sure there really is a difference between geek and nerd, at least in their most common denotation.
Smaller communities/subcultures might create a delineation between two terms that doesn't exist in the wider community (Trekkie vs Trekker?). And that works perfectly fine when that subculture is communicating within itself but beyond that group the distinction (in a very literal way) loses all meaning.
Since this is all so loosey-goosey I figure I can define myself as pretty much whatever I want. I wouldn't say that I'm more like either. I fit both the geek and the nerd titles (by my definitions anyway) and I'm pretty happy with that.
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 12, 2015 15:53:39 GMT
Since this is all so loosey-goosey I figure I can define myself as pretty much whatever I want. I wouldn't say that I'm more like either. I fit both the geek and the nerd titles (by my definitions anyway) and I'm pretty happy with that. These words are used and thrown around pretty loosely, but I try to define them in the culture today. The question isn't the exact definition of the words, but how the culture defines them. What do people think when they hear the word geek or nerd. I base my answer off of that, pretty much. |
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Post by frohtastic on Jul 12, 2015 21:19:10 GMT
honestly this subject comes up a lot in my circle of friends.
But I guess it just ends up as geeky nerds / nerdy geeks when you think about it...
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Post by friartook on Jul 13, 2015 3:02:20 GMT
They're both conceptual terms which only have the significance we humans choose to give them. Isn't that all of human language? (No, not including the language of mathematics, Get b ack you vicious Nerds, BACK!) |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 13, 2015 20:51:21 GMT
They're both conceptual terms which only have the significance we humans choose to give them. Isn't that all of human language? (No, not including the language of mathematics, Get b ack you vicious Nerds, BACK!)For the most part. We do have words that are measurable, objective things (ounce, mile, swig, etc) but on the whole language is a construct. It's a way of trading symbols which have some shared meaning to communicate some ideas. We're not the only organism that does this (by far) but I'd wager that we have the most expansive catalog of symbols. So it makes perfect sense (at least to me) that multiple groups (or even just individuals) don't always have the same definitions (concept) for the same words (symbol). |
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