h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There are subtle but extremely important differences between nerd, geek, dweeb, and dork. Nerd and geek both imply intellectual ability, but nerd is more greasy-hair bookish and geek more has to do with competance with computers, although this could be subject to debate since there also is the term computer geek. This is either simple overstatement, hyperbole, or it changes the traditional meaning of geek. I personally believe it changes the meaning of geek, or else what's the point of having modifiers? A dweeb is completely and in all ways a social disaster. He is usually bursting with information to share about star trek, star wars, X-files, or any obscure facts having to do with any form of science fiction. A nerd can also be like this, but only within his own clique of nerds. A dork can have geek-like qualities, but these must be transitory. Dorks also are a bit silly.
These opinions come from rural New York (nowhere near the city) and definitely are disputable.

otis

I defintely agree there are important differences between nerd, geek, dweeb and dork. It's an important distinction for me, b/c I happen to be a geek and and dork, but am certainly NOT a dweeb or a nerd. To me, nerd always has connotations w/ computers, rather than geeks, wheras geeks' interests lie within academic (mostly scientific) realms--AKA I'm such a physics geek! A dork is someone who is silly or imcompentent socially, but isn't a disaster--which again, is me to the core. A dweeb would be the extreme of that.


Neutrino (see! I AM a science geek!)

'Dork' has been a nickname for penis...and it typically refers to male types with more attitude than grace, common sense, intelligence, etc.
Just as an example, a significant percentage of the US population might call a certain conspicuous political figure a 'dork'.

i was going to comment on this, but otis got it exactly right.

I never knew "dork" in a freudian context...I've always seen it as a bumbler, or someone who's just quirky and strange. In that context, I wouldn't call the Chief of State a "dork." That's too nice a description of him, and an insult to dorks everywhere...there's a great Onion article about Dorkwads and Geekwads signing a Wad pact to unite...you should check it out! http://www.theonion.com just search for geekwad or whatever, it should pop up.

Neutrino

I seem to harbor a strongly negative interpretation of 'dork'...apologies to les dorks...coming from a nerdy geek.

There may be a new descriptive in this genre: 'E-tard'. Rhymes with retard. Refers to the chronic, but hopefully not permanent, condition of Ecstasy (MDMA) users. Strange folk to behold...

In the WC states you will find them slightly different again.

Nerd: Generally, one with higher intellectual ability than most others. Generally known as the suspenders-and-pocket-protector people you see on TV. May be used interchangably with Geek, but has a slightly different definition.

Geek: Generally notes one with extreme knowledge of computers, Star Trek, and other "geeky" things as such. May be used interchangably with Nerd, but has a slightly different definition.

Dork: Simply, a clumsy idiot. No social graces and such.

Dweeb: An extreme case of a dork.

Of course, I am a Nerd and Geek, but not a Dork or Dweeb.