Are 'geek' and 'nerd' now positive terms?

[Dos_Box]

I always thought so anyway!

Campaigners in Sweden are trying to force a dictionary to change its definition of "nerd". But after two decades of "reappropriation" has "nerd" - and its sister word "geek" - now completely lost its derogatory connotations?In the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds the rousing final speech of one of the protagonists starts with the statement: "I'm a nerd."
Its plot may be cartoonish but the film reveals a certain cultural backdrop - to be a nerd was to be socially awkward, even socially inferior. Jocks, those who were good at sport, or other socially successful groups, usually ended up winning. To turn that on its head could form the basis for comedy.
Things have changed.

BBC News - Are 'geek' and 'nerd' now positive terms?

[plexer]

I'm a geek and proud!!!!

Ben

[mrbios]

Another geek and proud, though i must admit i tell my mates off if they call me a nerd instead of a geek. To me the two have very different meanings.

[SteveT]

A geek is just a nerd with social skills!!!

[SpuffMonkey]

A geek is just a nerd with social skills!!!

Nah - a geek is a nerd with computer skills!

[DaveP]

In my experience the word 'Nerd' was used in a derogatory/abusive sense. Can't say that it bothered me that much though.

[bossman]

@all:

It's now defined as it's "Sheik to be a Geek!!" and it's "Not absurd to be a Nerd" which I thought was the case anyway....................you get a much better class of person if they are either one or the other in my opinion.


Better than being a "Towie" or "Made in Chelsea" or a "Chav" etc etc!!

I love being called a geek or a nerd!

[localzuk]

I think geek is much like 'queer' - it has been re-appropriated, however any word can have negative connotations if it is used in a negative manner.

I proudly call myself a geek.

[bossman]

I think geek is much like 'queer' - it has been re-appropriated, however any word can have negative connotations if it is used in a negative manner.

I proudly call myself a geek.

So you are therefore labelling yourself as "Queer!" hehe! ..........................................Only twisting your melons @localzuk,

Have a good weekend and remember I'm looking for unified storage for next to nowt if you getting shut of equipment

[localzuk]

So you are therefore labelling yourself as "Queer!" hehe! ..........................................Only twisting your melons @localzuk,

Trust you!

Have a good weekend and remember I'm looking for unified storage for next to nowt if you getting shut of equipment

Not getting rid of any storage here. Although I will say that Hyper-V + SMB3 + Server 2012 and Failover Clustering is AWESOME. And easy to set up.

[LosOjos]

I call myself a geek but not a nerd.

My personal definitions of the two:
- a geek is one who knows their craft like the back of their hand, going out of their way to keep up with the latest developments and even enjoying it; to a geek, it's never just a job. They can appear socially awkward, although this trait often vanishes once conversation veers towards their chosen area(s) of geek-like knowledge.
- a nerd is one who claims to know their craft like the back of their hand, masquerading themselves as a geek and often scoffing at others lack of knowledge in their claimed area of expertise, but in reality they dread confronting a true geek who will reveal their severe lack of knowledge, proving that they are in fact simply socially awkward.

So yeah, geek is cool, nerd is not (IMO)

EDIT: note I do not mention IT at any point, I believe you can be a geek or nerd in practically any field you are interested in.

EDIT2: Also, I'm not implying you have to know everything to be a geek, you simply have to want to know everything. A geek is always happy to learn something knew!

[CyberNerd]

I've been a cyber nerd for a long time now. If it has now become cool then I'm changing my name.

[tmcd35]

So you are therefore labelling yourself as "Queer!" hehe! ..........................................Only twisting your melons @localzuk,

Ha Ha, My first though when a saw this thread...

A "Geek Pride" event. We can march through London in our Star Trek uniforms or Think Geek T-Shirts...

[Little-Miss]

You didnt use that word @localzuk!

I am a geek and proud!

[localzuk]

You didnt use that work @localzuk!

I am a geek and proud!

Which word? Perjorative? Couldn't think of a way to include it.