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

Doesn't it come down to attitude of self anyway? I'm thinking the final test of the monks of cool - being taken into a room full of every kind of clothing imaginable and the coolest thing in the room? Whatever they choose to wear

I think the people who feel the need to differentiate between geeks and nerds most definitely fit into one of those two categories.

B

Nah, they are just lawyers

"I think the people who feel the need to differentiate between geeks and nerds most definitely fit into one of those two categories."

Depends, they might just be pedants.

Yes, usually into the geek category...and if you don't know why...you're either a nerd or a civilian.

nah, he's worse, he's a teacher

You three aren't doing the geek community many favours, d'you know that?

B

We 'in the Geek' community know exactly what we are doing thank you very much.

If we're using the "herd" metaphor, I'm thinking of the kind of cool people who represent the shepherd. They appear to move with the herd, but only because they are leading and directing it.
A cool geek, on the other hand, is more like a wolf. Sometimes they will stalk the herd, but only to get what they want from it.
Both types have a certain impressiveness, although I have to admit that I prefer the latter.

I would say it's the other way round...Geeks really don't need to get stuff from people that's pretty much why they are geeks - they certainly have no wish to lead or direct.

It's the 'cool' people who do the stalking becuase they probably know they are 'cool' but have very little else about them so need to feed off others to give them substance..

The wolf doesn't need, it wants. The shepherd can't live without his livelihood, but the predator can get his food from anywhere. If he chooses to sample from the herd, it is only because it is one possible source for his satisfaction.
Hmm, this is getting a bit... detailed, I suppose. I'll just add that Kim & Aggie are not cool in any way, least of all either of the ways described.

Ah, so a wolf is a nerd...something everyone tries to avoid.

hey, don't diss wolves!
I still want to be an underwolf, if anyone remembers that short lived social category. Not that I find the category attractive, just the name

(One of the characteristics of a Geek is a lack of social understanding , although more a case of it just not featuring on the landscape rather than being actively antisocial like a nerd)

p.s. does that mean I'm 'in' the geek community?

<(One of the characteristics of a Geek is a lack of social understanding , although more a case of it just not featuring on the landscape rather than being actively antisocial like a nerd)>

Hmmm, that is not the definition of Nerd/geek.

Nerds and geeks 'know' the same stuff.

The difference is that a nerd is someone who tries to be accepted by 'normal' people. This doesn't work because they typically be a nerd and simply try to use 'what they know' to try to be accepted...this doesn't work...they want to be 'normal' but thye cannot shake of the nerd.

A geek embraces the nerd within them...they stop craving social acceptance and, ironically the social acceptance they have stopped craving or 'needing' happens due to that appear normal and become socially accepted...they use their 'nerd' knowledge sparingly, in the correct situations and most of all with a wry smile as if...yes...I'm going into geek mode...

The nerd cannot embrace the nerd within but wants to be like 'civilians'.
The geek embraces the nerd within and is at one with themselves.

I would disagree there, I would say the geek is more of a bridge between the dark rooms of nerds and the light of the real world. Its sort of a 'I'm a normal person, its just I like Firefly not football' attitude is it not? Actually I like football too so that doesn't really work, but the salient point remains I think?

My definition is some years old now and has been said to be an accurate explantion by many top-notch geeks.

I think most geeks I know would give you a good slap for being called 'a civilian'.

Civilian (noun) - non-geek/non-nerd.

First main recorded outing Jonathan Ross Show by Quetin Tarantino:

JR asks something very vaguely like: 'So, you really like the manga cartoon style of movies, what makes them so different from normal cartoons?'

QT replies in mock annoyance: 'Don't talk to me like your some civilian!'

Geeks and Civilians 'put up with' nerds.

Geeks 'put up with' nerds and civilians.

Nerds...who cares!

You know I never noticed the entry for the cool smiley ()on h2g2 (A588260) actually defines cool for us already....

"Shades. They make you cool. It's a fact. Don't fall into the trap, however, of thinking that sticking a few cool smileys in your Postings will suddenly make you the sultan of swing - being cool is genetic, and that's all there is to it."

"Hmmm, that is not the definition of Nerd/geek."

That'll be why I said 'One of the characteristics of' and not 'The definition of'.

A nerd is a geek wannabe! Think about it, you know who I mean. Geeks are clever/knowledgable. Nerds just think they are.

It's all aout social acceptability nerds grow into Geeks and thererfore know the same dumb stuff.

Quentin tarantino is the Uber-geek.