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[hikari_cyhan]

Which word do you use to describe yourself (if any): nerd, geek, dork, or something else entirely? Do you attach any particular images, meanings, or connotations to any of those words? (e.g., nerd is more extreme, geek makes you think of tech guys, etc. etc.)

Comments

[assula]

I call myself a geek and a nerd, but only in teasing. Nerd is more hardcore, geek is more socially acceptable.

[hikari_cyhan]

Do you tend to alternate based on a specific area of interest? e.g., I'd call myself a grammar nerd--but I'd say I'm an internet geek for the same reason you mentioned (geek being more socially acceptable).

[assula]

I tend to call myself a geek, but when I say I'm a nerd it's more specific - Star Wars nerd, video game nerd, etc.

[parashot]

idk i don't think that i use any to describe myself. i don't think that you can assign one term to a person because people are always changing and there are different facets to people that you just can't always define with one word.

[hikari_cyhan]

Totally acceptable. So just to clarify, in conversation, you would say (and this is just an example), "I'm really into D&D" as opposed to, "I'm a total D&D dork"?

[parashot]

i think it depends. because i feel like sometimes would say 'oh i'm a D&D dork' but then other times i would say 'i'm really into D&D.' i feel like most of the time i would go with the first option that you suggested, but it really just depends on phrasing and how i ended up wording the response at that moment in time. overall, though, i feel like i'm less inclined to categorize myself and just cover a response with a blanket statement like 'i really like reading' as opposed to 'i'm a huge (and i'm stereotyping here) nerd.'

/unhelpful

[hikari_cyhan]

Totally helpful! Words are what make people make of them. This article is what got me wondering about it, in any case. Your own personal vocabulary and speech patterns have a lot to do with your self-identity.

[haku]

Quippy.

It's a cuter way of calling oneself witty.

...yeah, big ego, I know.

[hikari_cyhan]

Do you mean like "to quip", as in, "'Blah blah blah,' he quipped"?

[haku]

Yep. 'Quippy' isn't actually a word, but I base it off of the word 'quip.'

[hikari_cyhan]

Hey, I love word derivation as much as the next linguist-wannabe.

Can you give me an example of a context or contexts where you'd use quippy?

[puffs]

I consider myself a dork. i'm not quite techy enough to be considered a geek though i am techy, i'm not smart enough to be a nerd, and i'm kind of a goof-off jackass.

So dork fits?

Is fag really not an option?

[puffs]

Oh, no. I've got it.

I'm a freak.

i don't really fit in with anyone except the people who don't fit in with anything else. sort of a mix of music snobbery and fashion snobbery, but I'm not into mullets so I'm not scene.

i don't care if this doesn't make sense anymore.

[hikari_cyhan]

Are you putting yourself down, bb? :<

Fag is an option if you want it to be. I use fag all the time.

[puffs]

it's not as much putting myself down as it's just. the truth? i don't even know.

[scuttling]

I've always thought of them as separate, but not to the point that I attributed specific definitions that would separate them. Like, I'd have to look it up to be able to say one way or another, and as a result despite being vaguely aware that they aren't interchangeable, I tend to use them that way. THOUGH I THINK I USE DORK way more than nerd or geek. For absolutely no reason at all.

/swirls away, 100% unhelpful.

[hikari_cyhan]

This isn't about what the OED or Urban Dictionary says about "nerd" vs. "dork", and others. It's about the tags that you specifically attach to such words.

[scuttling]

I know :| an opinion survey. But I don't really tag them with anything but very similar, general idea.