Aaron over at Dad’s Garage came up with what upon reflection I believe to be a very accurate distinction:
In my opinion, nerds are people full of random information that has no bearing on the real world (think Batman vs Superman).
Geeks are people full of random information that has a real bearing on the real world (think cooling fried raviolis off by cutting crossways vs diagonal).
[in short,] Geeks are full of random, yet useful, information. Nerds are full of random and useless information.
Me Likey.
But can one be both? ‘Cause I think I may be.
It’s all trivia until you need it.
Does that make you a “Neek” or a “Gerd” ?
….. Mr. C.
My definition (and my wife agrees) of a “geek” is: A nerd with social skills.
So us geeks are still nerds, we have unusual interests and knowledge, but you can talk to us and carry on a (mostly) normal conversation. We also have friends and maybe even go on dates 🙂
A geek could fit in and pass for “normal” if he or she wanted to (but they wouldn’t like it one bit). A nerd doesn’t have a choice.
Another stipulation that I think applies: geeks not only have random information that has real bearing on the real world, but they can also apply that information and make it work (from trivial to not-so-trivial). Nerds can only argue about it.
Or as a terrible Earthlink commercial put it recently: “Geeks can get it done, Nerds can’t. We’re geeks.”
-R.S.