This is Day 1 of 30 (in 30 days of Geek)…
Why do you consider yourself a geek?
Wikipedia says:
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from “a computer expert or enthusiast” to “a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts”, with a general pejorative meaning of “a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to be overly intellectual”
I can’t say I am much of a carnival performer, and I have not often been accused of performing sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, but I have certainly been accused of being a computer expert or enthusiast 🙂
While I certainly possess a bit of intellect, I hope I am not generally perceived as a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person!
My personal feeling is that a lot of people do not think of Geeks this way any more.
In a 2007 interview on The Colbert Report, Richard Clarke said the difference between nerds and geeks is “geeks get it done.”
Wikipedia went on to say:
Although being described as a geek tends to be an insult, the term has recently become more complimentary, or even a badge of honor, within particular fields. This is particularly evident in the technical disciplines, where the term is now often a compliment, denoting extraordinary skill.
I think this is a bit closer to the truth.
Cheers,
— Ding
