By: Macy Dennon

News Editor

The terms “geek” and “nerd” are often used interchangeably, but they actually have some subtle differences that my friend and I argue about all the time. To my understanding, a geek is someone who is passionate about a particular subject, often one that is considered to be outside the mainstream. This passion often manifests itself into knowledge and expertise on the subject. Geeks are seen as very smart and highly skilled in their area of interest. 

On the other hand, a nerd is someone who is highly intellectual and studious. They are depicted as bookish and academically inclined, as they may have a deep interest in science, technology, engineering, and other fields that require a lot of study and dedication. Nerds are seen as more introverted and solitary than geeks, who are usually more outgoing and sociable.

Personally, I identify as a geek. This is solely based on the three Star Wars posters in my room, the single Heath Ledger Joker poster and my affinity to rewatch Avatar for a third time this week alone. Honestly, I believe that movie changed something in me. Have you ever heard of Post Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS)? Yea well, I promise I am not a hypochondriac, but I definitely have that. Ultimately, my geekiness extends beyond that into the realm of initiating heated discussions with my dad about Star Wars characters and rewatching a movie for the twentieth time just to see a different pixel in the background. One might say I am obsessed with all things sci-fi. 

The nerd, on the other hand, is the less cool version of the geek. Opinions can be wrong, but this one is not. I do concur that the nerds of the world may be a tad more successful than the geeks because the geeks are stuck in fiction. The nerds are out there solving the Collatz Conjecture or finding out how the Mermaid Syndrome works. In other words, they are geniuses that will save the world and we geeks are watching other worlds, aspiring to be in them. 

The difference between a geek and a nerd is that a geek may have a collection of action figures or comic books, while a nerd may have a collection of textbooks or research papers. A geek may be excited about attending a comic convention, like Leonard Hofstadter, while a nerd may be excited about attending a scientific conference, like Ross Geller. Oh and also Leonard Haofstadter. So maybe Lenard was a bad example, but you get the point. I will always hate on the nerds because I feel like it is my job, but truth be told, the couch-potatoes of the world would not have the television without the nerds, so you got to love them.