geek Although in Australia a "geek" is a "peek," as in a quick look at something, most of the rest of us know geeks as a special breed of socially awkward people with a passion for technology. The first "geeks" preceded computers by a century or so, however. They were 19th century carnival tricksters who performed bizarre acts such as biting the heads off live chickens or snakes. The special draw of these sideshow routines was the chance to see man in his wild state--all the more raw and exciting if the performer had deformities to display. (Check out Katherine Dunn's 1989 novel "Geek Love," about a traveling freak show family bioengineering their own mutations to keep the business going.) In the 20th century, the head-biter geek morphed into the bookish geek--just as hard to talk to and just as much on the margins of polite society. Geeks (and "nerds") were people with pocket protectors and other hyper-practical accessories who spent their time on math or science problems and showed little interest in other people (or their own appearance). For Classy Freddy Blassie, a WWF wrestling manager in the 1980s, the ultimate insult was: "You pencil-necked geek!" Then came the internet revolution--and suddenly being a geek was not such a bad thing. In some circles, geek is now simply a synonym for "hacker" or even "Silicon Valley engineer." The revenge of the geeks is fully underway! Lately, calling someone a "geek" is just as likely to be a compliment as a putdown.

Comments

[Cheska]

I am a geek and a nerd. I am smart and I am proud. If someone tries to insult me by calling me a geek I either say. "Can you say would you like fries with that?" or "Someday you'll be working for me,". Geek run the world and make life happy and possible.

[celly]

I am a geek. I think there's nothing wrong with that. To people at my school, a geek is pretty much anyone who is fairly responsible in school and works hard in class. That's not such a bad thing, is it?

[Predacon]

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Take that. ^^

[kira]

I come from Australia and I have never heard the word "geek" used as "peek". Get the facts right.

Btw, I know heaps of nerd people, and they're awesome.

And I consider myself a geek :D

[CUTIE]

WATCH THE BIG BANG THEORY AT CBS MONDAYS AT 9:30

[Sha'Kedria]

I agree with M! Geeks ARE really cool and who DOESNT want a smart person? They can be sexy too. Im a nerd and im VERY popular. And i know you're wondering how can i be popular and a nerd at the same time. Well im the type of girl that is funloving and i get into trouble at school(not ALOT of trouble. Just talking), but i get my work out and i get serious. But anyways, nobody ever insulted me by callin me a geek or nerd, i call myself that.

[M]

geeks are real cool I mean ,Who likes a dumbass?

[RachaelThegeekqueen]

Im called a geek and tbh I like it. it shows we have some sort of superior intelligence, but it does annoy me with the whole stereotype thing with the glasses and braces and ginger hair. I have all of those, but it shouldnt be put down as a negative insult.

CLEVER IS COOL, PPLS!

[Nixy]

You go Angie!Thats really true.

[angie]

Everyone's a geek, everyone's smart not stupid!. everyone has a little bit of nerdy sides in them!. i play the flute i used to ahte but now i love it, i'm smart, jsut cause i wear glaases people are like oh she's smart! lol i dance i sing,draw, loves music,i wanna learn how to play guitar and piano so i guess i'm not that much of a nerd!

[DeeDee]

Im a geek and proud of it.I have awsome friends and yes I have once or twice envyd the really cool kids at my school but Im really happy im not the.Im clever,whats wrong with that?

[Awesome McAwesome]

I am a geek. I am proud to be a geek. Were this 1986, I'd be on the Ethernet with all my little geek friends talking about geek stuff.

Yeah.

[Amanda]

Hooray for Geeks :D

Proud geek, right here. I get a kick out of being called a "geek", most people would probably take offense to it but I love it!

Popular misconception: Geeks are often thought to be out-of-the-loop with what's cool and what's not, but the truth is we just don't care if it's cool or not - if we like it we'll have it!

High 5's all round to my fellow proud geeks :)

[xxxnooneno'sxxx]

hey dude im proud to admit it im a band geek i play clarinet !!!! and love it im also emo so who cares were all geeks in a way and you dont have to hide it i chose not to b cuz thats the way i am lol <333

[Krissy]

Geek Pride!!!
(I am only the smart type, not the socially awkward part.)

[Amy]

Geeks r Fiiiiiiiine!
check out this 'geek'>>

http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/short-temper/?action=view&current=u-1.jpg

well,of course kurt cobain is not a geek but he just looks greeeaaaat in those glasses..!

[jessica]

WHOOT WHOOT! GO GEEKS! i love being a geek and getting good grades, its gonna get me to university! and after im done paying off all my student loans, im gonna be friggin rich! so all you jocks can put that in ur juice box and suck it!

[G]

Geek is a good thing
just keep those chickens away from me ^ ^

[Jeanette]

i'm more socially oblivious than awkward...but i'm also socially awkward. I get really excited about every one of my school subjects including history science math and art although less so with computers i get irritated when i don't get good grades. i have my own fashion sense that has little or nothing to do with what is actually in style. most people would call me a geek nerd and dork but they are stopped by one thing... i'm hot. glasses and big words and all . this seems to puzzle me and those around me. can i be geeky dorky and nerdy but also hot?

[NRK]

geeks are passinate about just about anything, but usually passinate about technology, and does have friends and social skills. nerds are the same but without the social skills and much fewer friends. I am a nerd, i wish i was a geek. geeks are cool!

[Catilan]

They do call me a geek at school only becuase I have glasses and I get good grades,but..I'm the only one that GETS good grades in my hmeroom.You may think i'm a geek but I have A bunch of friends and even thought I talk to geek that may look like geeks they are normal people. They only thing is that they may look like geeks but there're jst smart ..smart little peoplewho just happen to be extreamly smart if you BELIVE what I say click up to my myspace just look for neko_blah thanks!

[Amz]

Loads of people call me a geek, expecting to insult me but i admit, I am a geek. there is nothing wrong with being a geek. it means your clever. thats all. and I now openly admit that i am a bit of a Geek or a Nerd.

[Rynika]

At school, ppl call me a geek because I do my assignments, my homework, and I try to stay out of trouble. I don't mind them calling me a geek. I kind of like it! Although, I would consider myself sort of a Jockish kind of Geek because I'm pretty popular.

[J]

The term "geek" or "nerd can be particularly ofeensive because the meanings of the words have been exaggerated by the media.

[Tsuki]

I get called a geek almost every day...and I don't really care. Sure, it's a hit on my self esteem sometimes, but my self esteem is basically nonexistent now, so that's not really saying much. Besides, if I'm being called a geek because of a fact or a good quality...isn't that more of a statement or a compliment? (Okay, maybe a backhanded compliment, but still...) I like anime and manga, and the people at school deem me a geek. I know HTML and can make a blog layout in four seconds? Geek. I actually have a blog in the first place? Geek. I'm flat? G-E-E-K. I'm an otaku and I cosplay, I'm on the honor roll, I'm literate, I listen to indie music, I obsess over pop culture, I read Chuck Klosterman books, and I'm a geek! It's a fact, something that'll be true for as long as I'm me and people are people.