First Re:Post - Who Am I

I had a very short blog going on for a while via facebook but decided to make it more public. While this repost has nothing to do with reviewing movies, music, tv or books, it is a commentary on a certain infographic venn diagram, categorizing the difference between Dweebs, Geeks, Dorks and Nerds.

I had a bone to pick with how they described each of these labels and decided to write my own definitions. I think this entry kind of explains to you who I am. Enjoy!

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Nerds & Geeks & Dorks! Oh My!
Original Posting on March 31, 3010 at 2:36pm

Recently, it was brought to my attention that a Venn Diagram exists, defining the attributes, once and for all, of the many of us who have been labeled Nerds, Geeks, Dorks, or even the classic Dweebs.

For years now, I have come to accept these labels as a truth, and embraced them. But somehow, I still felt offended at the name-calling - not the act of calling me a name, but of the confusion that arose from my accuser's choice of labels.

I have developed my own definitions of these labels which only barely agree with those descriptions in the Venn Diagram (posted at the bottom). The arguments I have against the Diagram are threefold:

1) I do not believe that the term NERD is the compilation of the GEEK, the DORK, and the DWEEB.

2) The definitions of each label should be mutually exclusive.

3) "DWEEB" is an outdated label that does not apply to anyone in modern times.

Nevertheless, here are my definitions:

NERD - A label based on the level of academic interest and understanding. i.e.: Bookworms, Scientists, Professors, Advanced Placement Students, Honor Roll Students, etc.

GEEK - A label based on the level of hobby-obsession. i.e.: Trekkers, Comic Book fans, LOTR fans, anime fans, video game fans, movies/TV fans, LARPers, etc.

DORK - A label based on the level of social ineptitude.


Now, many would argue that GEEKS are often very intelligent and usually socially inept. Or that NERDS are often obsessed with comics and fantasy. Or that DORKS are any of the above.

This is true! This is because any given person may fall under any/all/or none of these categories.

For my examples, I will use one of my favorite nerds from The Big Bang Theory:

-  Sheldon Cooper is definitely a NERD because he constantly exudes an air of academia.
-  He is also a GEEK because of his obsession with comics, computers, and Sci-Fi, among other things.
-  He is also a DORK because of his practice and perspective on social behavior (due to his NERDY need to constantly be objective).


Misconceptions:

NERDY, not DORKY or GEEKY: Exhibiting intelligence unrelated to a particular hobby in a socially acceptable way (Oscar the accountant from The Office)

GEEKY, not DORKY: Tame or Closet obsession (Seeing a midnight premier of a film, but not dressing up.)

GEEKY, not NERDY: Non-academic hobbies (Pokemon, Fantasy Sports, Marching Band)

DORKY, not GEEKY: The Chicken Dance, the YMCA, or the Macarena.

DORKY, not NERDY:
In a chatroom discussion that stumbled upon the entanglement of electronic device cords, a user cracked a joke, "Further research to be conducted on Knot Theory." This joke refers to the String Theory, a very complex branch of quantum mechanics. While this joke was very NERDY, it would not take a NERD to understand it, which makes the joke more DORKY than anything. The recipients of that joke would need a fair amount of intelligence to make the connection and see its humor, but a NERD might not see the humor due to his/her in depth understanding of the research of String Theory (which, in fact, has nothing to do with actual strings and therefore neither with knots).


*** EDIT *** It seems there is actually a theory called Knot Theory ... so I'm neither a NERD nor a DORK. I guess my interpreting that chat as a joke just makes me a DWEEB...


Now, I understand that many of these labels apply to the majority of us geeks, nerds, and dorks. But there are very specific traits about us that makes each and every one of us unique. No nerd is like any other geek. No dork is like any other dweeb.

If I'm dancing in front of my dog, please, don't call me a nerd unless I explain to you the sociological study I'm conducting on the relationship between master and pet. Most likely, I just want to see his confused face - it's adorable. Just call me a dork.

If you recognize that the shirt I'm wearing sports the molecule of Vicodin, you're as much of a chemist nerd as I am a House geek.

For your judgment, below is the Venn Diagram that inspired this blog.

There's only one question left to ask: what kinda loser are you? :)