Computer geek vs. Computer nerd

[Floppies_only]

wait a minute... something doesn't add up here. you can't be a computer nerd and have conquests of women at the same time. especially a vintage computer nerd. computer nerds can definitely be into women, but they're too big of losers to actually have conquests.







aw.... no fun

We don't have to be computer nerds anymore. You see, back in the 1970's when you could make a decent living as a laborer, women were often attracted to buff construction workers. Their strength was a sign of vitality and thus attractive to lots of women. The out group was computer nerds: ninty-eight pound weaklings who spent so much time mastering technology that their social skills were neglected and undeveloped. They weren't attractive. I took a ton of shit in high school because people thought that I was very intelligent. But at least they didn't call me a nerd. As I remember, I was an honorary member of "the asian perseussion" - a group of intellectuals who were going places (my high school had a large asian-american population and damn were they smart). I was chief engineer of my high school's radio station, but I also d.j.ed and could tell which songs in our library sounded good.

But then the technology revolution came along and eventually, the signs of success included being tech-savvey. So, I think, without anybody really thinking about it, technical ability became sexy. The term "nerd" was replaced with "geek", meaning a person who knows a lot about something, named along with the word: computer geek, python (language) geek, biology geek, litigation geek.

In today's economy, women, who are programmed by evolution to select successful individuals, embraced technical ability as being sexy. When was the last time somebody complained to one of us that we were "too smart". It's been...decades for me.

We don't have to be nerds anymore. We can be socially aware, sophisticated, successful with the ladies, and, oh yes, we also like proving that we know how to make vintage computers work for us.

That's my take on it. Comments?

Sean

[TroyW]

Meh, I've got a 2 year old son, so obviously I'm not totally hopeless with women, haha, or else there's no way my son could have been conceived. ;)

[NathanAllan]

In today's economy, women, who are programmed by evolution to select successful individuals, embraced technical ability as being sexy. When was the last time somebody complained to one of us that we were "too smart". It's been...decades for me.
Sean

My wife subscribes to this notion, so no problem there. Though it may be not the successful at something part, but the slight crazy obsessive look I tend to get when I'm on a project.

It's also about a sense of security. The burly guy may be able to protect/secure in an unstable environment, but for the long term someone who has it upstairs can provide that sense of stability and security.

Nathan

[whansen02]

just the title along brought me into this thread.
'computer geek vs computer nerd'.
I love it!!!!!
and Floppies_only, you nailed it with regards to women. They have responded alot better the the geeks of the world vs the laborer's and buff construction workers.
Good times, Good times
Will

[barythrin]

There was some news article saying that the money has started to flip there. Instead of the sports millionaires there are lots of technical folks now who are there so that leads towards recognition of success.

Unfortunately as my .. "friend" (a woman I'd like to be more) pointed me to an article from yahoo yesterday pointing out why the nice guy always comes in last. This was highly discouraging and I dunno even though it's fluff and the author looks like she should have a made in china stamp on her butt somewhere ("..little work done?").

So while I'm in no way upset that someone like her wouldn't want a nice guy I'm in the crappy same boat as the failed friend watching good women get wasted on bad men. They tell me not to ever change and how I'm not like anyone they've met and all this but don't have an interest.

I know they say size matters, but I swear my collection is one of the largest around. What gives?

[Druid6900]

Well, as MikeS can attest, I hardly look the part of a nerd, geek, whatever and, although superior to 97% of the world's population, I am humble about it :)

Always was the "bad boy" of the crowd, but with smarts and the unique ability to make women laugh.

The class clown, then the 3-piece suit with hair down to the shoulder blades, now that "old cool dude down the street". I've done OK, but, I have, for the last 30 some-odd years (yeah, I know how many years and the anniversary date, I told you I'm smart LOL) I've been with the same lady and she suits me well.

You younguns take heart though, because it's always darkest right before it goes completely black LMAO

[barythrin]

for the last 30 some-odd years (yeah, I know how many years and the anniversary date, I told you I'm smart LOL) I've been with the same lady and she suits me well.


congrats


You younguns take heart though, because it's always darkest right before it goes completely black LMAO

wtf is that supposed to mean? I was reading and expecting something about the sun or greatest things and then "goes completely black"? lol

[Trixter]

In today's economy, women, who are programmed by evolution to select successful individuals, embraced technical ability as being sexy.

My wife and I were just talking about this. Unfortunately, this has also contributed to the rise in Autism cases (that, and better diagnoses). Only "smart" parents have autistic children (by "smart" I mean good in math, logic, computers, or music). Previously, when being "buff" was what women were attracted to, this didn't crop up as much. Now that being a geek is sexy and a sign of success, we are starting to see Autism rise.

I know this sounds idiotic to people who aren't familiar with Autism, but seriously -- look it up.

[TroyW]

My wife and I were just talking about this. Unfortunately, this has also contributed to the rise in Autism cases (that, and better diagnoses). Only "smart" parents have autistic children (by "smart" I mean good in math, logic, computers, or music). Previously, when being "buff" was what women were attracted to, this didn't crop up as much. Now that being a geek is sexy and a sign of success, we are starting to see Autism rise.

I know this sounds idiotic to people who aren't familiar with Autism, but seriously -- look it up.

Doesn't sound idiotic to me, my son is autistic, and I strongly suspect I have asperger syndrome.

Although the missus blames something they use in the vaccinations.

[Trixter]

Doesn't sound idiotic to me, my son is autistic, and I strongly suspect I have asperger syndrome.

Although the missus blames something they use in the vaccinations.

My eldest is autisic, and I have also wondered about myself the same way :)

Your wife, please don't take this the wrong way, is ignorant. It is not the vaccinations. Thimerasol (mercury) was removed from MMR vaccines in the late 1990s specifically for this concern, and guess what? The number of autism diagnoses have actually risen, not fallen. If it was the vaccinations, there would have been a massive wholesale drop in newly-reported autism cases across the country. Obviously, there hasn't been.

Some people just don't want to accept it's genetic, I guess.

[TroyW]

My eldest is autisic, and I have also wondered about myself the same way :)

Your wife, please don't take this the wrong way, is ignorant. It is not the vaccinations. Thimerasol (mercury) was removed from MMR vaccines in the late 1990s specifically for this concern, and guess what? The number of autism diagnoses have actually risen, not fallen. If it was the vaccinations, there would have been a massive wholesale drop in newly-reported autism cases across the country. Obviously, there hasn't been.

Some people just don't want to accept it's genetic, I guess.

Don't worry, no offense taken, I'm of the same opinion, she just refuses to accept that it could possibly be a coincidence that he started to regress (stopped talking amongst other things) after an immunisation.

I had no idea about myself showing signs of aspergers until I started looking into Autism after it was first suggested to us that our son might have it, and then it because as obvious as the nose on my face - it just explained so much. Which in a funny way gives me more hope for the little one - if I was able to function for 30 years blisfully unaware that I have a mild form of Autism, then it shows he's got a good chance of doing the same. At least, thats my perspective, and it also mens I have a better understanding of the challenges he faces in the future, because they'll be very much like the challenges I've had to face myself.

Anyway, sorry about my little rants, back to the geek/nerd talk, lol

[Druid6900]

wtf is that supposed to mean? I was reading and expecting something about the sun or greatest things and then "goes completely black"? lol

Most sayings (other than those in the Murphy's Law group) fail to take reality into consideration.

However, don't dispair, there is a light at the end of the tunnel (from a train heading YOUR way) :)

[Trixter]

Don't worry, no offense taken, I'm of the same opinion, she just refuses to accept that it could possibly be a coincidence that he started to regress (stopped talking amongst other things) after an immunisation.

I had no idea about myself showing signs of aspergers until I started looking into Autism after it was first suggested to us that our son might have it, and then it because as obvious as the nose on my face - it just explained so much. Which in a funny way gives me more hope for the little one - if I was able to function for 30 years blisfully unaware that I have a mild form of Autism, then it shows he's got a good chance of doing the same. At least, thats my perspective, and it also mens I have a better understanding of the challenges he faces in the future, because they'll be very much like the challenges I've had to face myself.

Anyway, sorry about my little rants, back to the geek/nerd talk, lol

No, it's been educational -- you and I have nearly identical histories on this, which I find fascinating :-) It certainly explains why I start catalogging websites (see mobygames.com) and have 20+ computers in my crawlspace...

For the record, our son started to regress a few weeks BEFORE the vaccination so that's how I always knew it was a crap argument. It's all parents who don't want to accept that it is, essentially, a congenital birth defect (of the brain).

[tezza]

Interestingly I came across an academic research paper once in 1988 or so titled "The pros and cons of computer addiction". By addiction the researchers meant computer addiction NOT Internet addiction of course.

Anyway it was an interesting read. It studied people that were self confessed "computer addicts". From what I remember (and it's a long time ago so don't trust my memory completely..I don't!) it found that these people tended to fit a stereotype. They tended to be interested in things technical kind of hobbies like astronomy, ham radio and photography. They also tended in the main to be loners. However, the way computing moved from a fringe hobby in the late 70s to totally mainstream in the 1980s, means these people were in demand for their advice! Hence they became very popular among at the workplace and among their peers. In this way, being a computer addict actually enriched their lives, especially if they were the type that enjoyed helping people.

There was also a downside in that if these people had a partner, the partner often became jealous of "the computer" and regarded it as a competitor. Computer addiction was often a cause of relationship breakdowns.

Tez

[barythrin]

That's an interesting argument. I get jealous easy when my girlfriend is paying attention to other guys instead of myself (I know it's my own paranoia, etc) but never thought about them getting jealous if all your time goes to an inanimate object the same way.

Yeah I think a lot of us computer geeks were already closed off and computers give you a connection to the world in a wider perspective than most people realize. The new articles of computer addiction (which now are turning into and I've seen phone addiction) are based on removing your access to the internet and so much information that you've become acustom to having available seems to depress people and make you feel weak or powerless.

It's been brought up in a few "hacker" cases where removing a computer from that environment can cause everything up to withdrawls. I go through withdrawls myself if I'm without a computer for a few days.. or if one of my systems doesn't work I'm all pissy and sad in the duration.

- John

[Terry Yager]

congrats



wtf is that supposed to mean? I was reading and expecting something about the sun or greatest things and then "goes completely black"? lol

It's called a non-sequitur, a comedic device of which I am also a master (well, a journeyman with aspirations anyways). Just one more thing I have in common with D, along with good looks, brains, and most important of all, attitude. I never had many geek-related problems when young, as I was able to hide my over-intelligence by under-achieving (and proud of it).

As for Autism, I've also been accused of having Asperger's, by some of the leading members of the Asperger's association (what was that acronym again?), but I think they're mistaking it for my severe Passive-Aggressive Syndrome. (I'm not in de Nile, I just don't believe in Mental Illness).

--T

[Terry Yager]

That's an interesting argument. I get jealous easy when my girlfriend is paying attention to other guys instead of myself (I know it's my own paranoia, etc) but never thought about them getting jealous if all your time goes to an inanimate object the same way.

- John

Ex-wife: "You never talk to me anymore!"

Me: "Turn on your computer and IM me...we'll chat..."

Could this explain why she's the ex-wife?

--T

[Trixter]

(I'm not in de Nile, I just don't believe in Mental Illness).

What's your definition of "mental illness" then?

[Terry Yager]

The essence of MI is to believe what you know to be false or impossible, or not believe something you know to be true. An example would be Moore's Paradox: "It's raining but I don't believe it is." Or in my case, I'm MI, so I don't believe in MI...and neither do any of my voices. (They tell me it's a symptom). BTW, none of my alters believe in MPD either.

--T

[Mike Chambers]

that is an interesting take on it... perhaps you are right. i was more or less joking around though, as i have had (a small number) of satisfying conquests myself. ;)

i drive around in my mustang and i'm all like "hey baby, check out my QB code" and i show her my print outs and they swoon and then i get to have a fun night; but then i'm gone in the morning, as the call of the vintage computer brings me back to whats really important in life.

[Terry Yager]

MI people don't think they are MI. We think we're normal, and everyone else has sum'n wrong with them.

--T

[Yzzerdd]

What's the difference between computer geek and computer nerd anyway? I always thought that both of them are the same. Anyone care to elaborate clearly?

Here is the difference to me:

A nerd is good at math, enjoys school, and obsessively studies.

A geek is good with computers, knowledgable, and yet cool in their own fashion. Like the kind of cool where they know valuable information, but dont put it in confusing algebraic terms and such.

--Jack

[Ole Juul]

Both these words, being rather slangy are in rapid transition. It's not that long ago you could hear either of them being used for something more like "twit"!

One thing I notice now is that "nurd" gets uses more and more for people who don't have a tchnical bone in their body - wouldn't rebuild a carburettor, fix the plumbing, or own a soldering iron. I think that many of the people on this list are unusual in that they think "technical" means more than swapping cards in a computer.

[Terry Yager]

"Wonk" has pretty much gone out of use, but geek seems to replaced it to some extent. A wonk, IIRC, was someone knowledgeable in a certain area, and almost always used with a qualifier, i.e., economics wonk, etc.

--T

[amouse]

Just to get the conversation back to my level.

As a proud computer geek I always thought the difference was that as a (male) computer geek I had some chance of getting the hot girl. If I was a computer nerd then there would be just no chance.

Finally I invite readers to visit Richards site .. there has been an interesting discussion about human evolution (and its demise)

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3219,Leading-geneticist-Steve-Jones-says-human-evolution-is-over,Times-Online

[DoctorPepper]

I've been a proud computer geek since early 1982, when I first laid hands on a computer keyboard (well, terminal actually). My wife calls me her "personal computer geek", and my proudest moment was one day in Best Buy, my wife bought some piece of software (can't remember what), and the kind sales person asked her if she'd like to schedule to have the Geek Squad come by and install it for her. My wife, bless her heart, replied "no thanks, I'm married to my own Geek Squad". :D

[Mad-Mike]

Geek life is not an easy one for me, as I don't fit the "mainstream" accepted version of a geek looks-wise, but on the other hand, I hold the nerd-like traits of having had some terrible social skills only a few years back at 22, and always having a near Asperger-like tendancy to catalog things and keep things organized. I've never filled any one category, because I'm sort of a mix of a bunch.

However, to me, being a nerd or a geek is dead. It's been "mainstream'd" to death. The stereotype of the 98 LB nerd with 4000 pages of code and a home-brew computer is long gone, as are the big beige boxes he plays with (except here of course), and the stereotype right now of the average geeks is a pudgy guy with glasses and spikey hair that talks about halo and world of warcraft when he's not talking about the awesome new NVIDIA 9900 GTX video card and it's amazing 200 Watt power consumption. Many geeks around now, or those who claim to be, spend most of their time listing off benchmarks and specs created in a laboratory, to me that's lame, nothing replaces real "out in the field" experience with technology. They have more trouble than me, the guy who's spent 6 months diagnosing cooling problems with his main computer, and making incremental improvements here and there.

As far as gals go, I get my admirers, but I don't think I put myself out there enough, paritially because I don't have the time, and the other part is because I'm just tired of being used in a way I'd rather not be used. You'd be amazed at the sexual bullshit girls will pull to lure you in to replace a fried hard disk....without even touching yours if you get my drift. Then there's the gals that assume you are "rich" because you work in computers, sorry, that stereotype died out in the 90's, we are all now average joes, unless we start a business, which is something I plan to do eventually once I get a grasp on how to do it RIGHT, and manage risk the hard way.

I get more gals off my rocker thing than I do my geek thing anyway. 1 girlfriend met while geekin' on the web one night versus many girlfriends, dates, and one night stands from gigging/being in bands....hmm, I do better being the long haired grunting oaf with a guitar than I do being the laid back long-haired computer techie, though I admit the geeky gal lasted longer than the rocker gals, but after seeing how women around my age tend to be these days (COUHGselfentitledCOUGH). Very few are BOTH like I am.

Asperger's has been considered, but I'm too capable of functioning normal to have it, like as of late I have not been on an organizational kick or cataloging or collecting, but sometimes I am. I truly wonder if it's something diet related, because I'm always experimenting with my diet, and I think I may have traced it to a shift in diet inadvertently.

[Terry Yager]

M-M,

Asperger's is defined as 'High Functioning', so even if you function at a 'normal' or higher level most of the time, it can't be ruled out.

Changes in diet can certainly contribute to changes in brain chemistry, etc, which can cause behavior changes, in those with AS as well as those without (including people with other disorders, either physiological or psychological), so the possibility of AS and/or other disorders still cannot be eliminated. You really should discuss the matter with a professional though, but don't worry, it could be sum'n as simple as an allergy.

Just remember that 50% of all opinions, from both professionals and the laity, are 100% full of sh!t, 75% of the time.

(Did that sound Autistic enough for y'all?)

--T

[Yzzerdd]

You really should discuss the matter with a professional though, but don't worry, it could be sum'n as simple as an allergy.

--T

Help, doctor! I sneeze trigonometric equations!

--Jack

[Sandy Cagle]

I being a woman find you neither nerdy or geekish. I would use the words "Real Men", because you are not ashamed to share your knowledge so freely. Unlike so many "techies" who feel they are so above everyone they will not share even one layer of the OSI model.

I'm truly honored to read your threads, you are far, far, far above the rest. It is a little strange that one get's the impression that a woman will never read some of your threads, there's a little hint of MI there, but that's what makes life exciting.

I hope I don't get censored, honest I mean it as a compliment, it's a fun place to be.

I'm all verklempt, speak amongst yourselves...

[Terry Yager]

I being a woman find you neither nerdy or geekish. I would use the words "Real Men", because you are not ashamed to share your knowledge so freely. Unlike so many "techies" who feel they are so above everyone they will not share even one layer of the OSI model.

I'm truly honored to read your threads, you are far, far, far above the rest. It is a little strange that one get's the impression that a woman will never read some of your threads, there's a little hint of MI there, but that's what makes life exciting.

I hope I don't get censored, honest I mean it as a compliment, it's a fun place to be.

I'm all verklempt, speak amongst yourselves...

Who, me? Gee...

--T

[Druid6900]

Damn, and after all the trouble I went to developing schizophrenia so I could be a geek AND a nerd LMAO

[StickByDos]

the stereotype right now of the average geeks is a pudgy guy with glasses and spikey hair that talks about halo and world of warcraft when he's not talking about the awesome new NVIDIA 9900 GTX video card and it's amazing 200 Watt power consumption. Many geeks around now, or those who claim to be, spend most of their time listing off benchmarks and specs created in a laboratory, to me that's lameI agree with this, I never say I'm a geek / nerd, I just say I have great knowledge on hardware for longtime
But I know some people who keep asking: "You know so much on computer, you're a geek, I need help, I'd like a new computer; which is better intel or AMD, NVidia or ATI ? Somebody told me he's just heard there will be a new [...] what do you think of it ?"

You'd be amazed at the sexual bullshit girls will pull to lure you in to replace a fried hard disk....:D