Did you know that there actually is a difference between geeks and nerds? There is, and it’s a big difference. My husband, the geek king-pin that he is, has made it his mission to school me on this tangible difference.
Heaven help me if I mess up and call him a nerd, because he is SO not a nerd.
I was reminded of this distinction when we watched the new Star Trek movie last night. I enjoyed the movie, it was a lot of fun, but it was definitely a lot different than the Star Trek series I used to watch with my Dad. This movie was a lot flashier, with more action and less of an emphasis on technical/scientific jargon.
It used to confuse the heck out me when I was younger, because I grew up a fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek, and couldn’t understand why people chose one with such fervor. If you ask Wes if he was a Trekkie he will look down his nose at you and scoff.
The reason? Geeks like Star Wars and nerds like Star Trek, and never the twain shall meet. I’m sure there are exceptions (like me), but this has turned out to be true among the people I know. So now, I’m curious:
**Edited to add: I added a third option because, as I said above and Delisa reminded me in the comments, sometimes people like both!**
So, out with it! Are you a geek or a nerd?
- BOTH! I love them both, so I am clearly the best of both worlds. (35%, 7 Votes)
- NERD! Star Trek is clearly superior. (15%, 3 Votes)
- GEEK! Star Wars all the way, man. (50%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 20
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5 comments
Comment by Blanche on November 24, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Star Wars, but only the original 3 because who really needs to see two generations worth of whiny Skywalker men?
But Jean Luc Picard also had his merits.
Comment by Delisa on November 24, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Um….I LOVE both, and I do not understand people that don’t….but I call myself a nerd. I was always under the impression that nerds were into supposedly “not cool” things, but can still function social situations, while geeks have horrible social skills.
Comment by Erika on November 24, 2009 at 10:28 pm
-Blanche, Ha! The dialogue in the new Star Wars movies is so awful I can barely sit through them and don’t even get me STARTED on Jar-Jar Binks. Blech. I agree, however, that Jean Luc has his merits.
-Delisa, I love both too! You see, I have the exact opposite understand of geek vs. nerd. Wes assures me that geeks are the ones with good social skills.
Comment by Megan (from OBB) on November 25, 2009 at 11:21 am
I thought NERDS liked Star Wars and GEEKS like Star Treck! hmmm… this changes my entire worldview. :)
Comment by Erika on November 25, 2009 at 11:31 am
-Megan, Ha! It appears there is a lot of that same confusion going around! My husband is resolute in his conviction that geeks = Star Wars and nerds = Star Trek. I guess paradigms are getting flipped left and right!