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Although often considered as a pejorative, the term is also used self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride. Its meaning has evolved to connote "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake". Although often considered as a pejorative, the term is also used self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride. Its meaning has evolved to connote "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake".

==Definitions==
The definition of geek has changed considerably over time, and there is no longer a definitive meaning. The term ] has a similar, practically synonymous meaning as geek, but many choose to identify different connotations among these two terms, although the differences are disputed. In a 2007 interview on '']'', ] said the difference between nerds and geeks is "geeks get it done" or "ggid"<ref></ref> ] defined a geek as "a bright young man turned inward, poorly socialized, who felt so little kinship with his own planet that he routinely traveled to the ones invented by his favorite authors, who thought of that secret, dreamy place his computer took him to as cyberspace—somewhere exciting, a place more real than his own life, a land he could conquer, not a drab teenager's room in his parents' house".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reconstruction.eserver.org/061/christensen.shtml |title=Reconstruction 6.1 (Winter 2006) |publisher=Reconstruction.eserver.org |date= |accessdate=2014-06-30}}</ref>

There are many categories of geeks, such as: science geeks, math geeks (] geeks, in ]), computer geeks, history geeks, gaming geeks, etc.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
The contemporary comparison of "Geek" to other associated descriptive terms is sometimes described in the following manner:
'''Geek''': A person that utilizes new technologies to do interesting or useful things.
'''Nerd''': Someone that knows all about new technologies as well as popular culture, and collects those things associated with both (and considers them "cool").
'''Dweeb''': Someone confused about exactly what technologies really are, and has less discretion in what they think is cool.<ref>http://putative.typepad.com/putative/2009/09/geek-vs-dork-vs-dweeb-vs-nerd.html</ref>


==Impact== ==Impact==

Revision as of 22:49, 19 January 2015

For other uses, see Geek (disambiguation).
A person with an appreciation for mathematics may be called a geek. Here, an approximation of the number π (pi) extends from the logo on a car parked at University of California, Irvine (although note that the last two digits have been transposed).

The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast or a person obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit, with a general pejorative meaning of a "peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp one who is perceived to be overly intellectual".

Although often considered as a pejorative, the term is also used self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride. Its meaning has evolved to connote "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake".

Impact

Technologically oriented geeks, in particular, now exert a powerful influence over the global economy and society. Whereas previous generations of geeks tended to operate in research departments, laboratories and support functions, now they increasingly occupy senior corporate positions, and wield considerable commercial and political influence. When U.S. President Barack Obama met with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and the CEOs of the world’s largest technology firms at a private dinner in Woodside, California on 17 February 2011, New York magazine ran a story titled "The world’s most powerful man meets President Obama". At the time, Zuckerberg’s company had grown to over one billion users.

According to Mark Roeder the rise of the geek represents a new phase of human evolution. In his book, Unnatural Selection: why the geeks will inherit the earth, he suggests that "the high-tech environment of the Anthropocene favours people with geek-like traits, many of whom are on the autism spectrum, ADHD, or dyslexia. Previously, such people may have been at a disadvantage, but now their unique cognitive traits enable some of them to resonate with the new technological zeitgeist and become very successful."

The Economist magazine observed, on 2 June 2012, "Those square pegs (geeks) may not have an easy time in school. They may be mocked by jocks and ignored at parties. But these days no serious organisation can prosper without them."

Geek chic

"Geek chic", also the title of a book, refers to a minor fashion trend that arose in the mid 2000s in which young individuals adopted stereotypically "geeky" fashions, such as oversized black horn-rimmed glasses, suspenders/braces, and highwater trousers. The glasses—sometimes worn with non-prescription lenses or without lenses—quickly became the defining aspect of the trend, with the media identifying various celebrities as "trying geek" or "going geek" for wearing such glasses, such as David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, and Myleene Klass. Meanwhile, in the sports world, many NBA players wore "geek glasses" during post-game interviews, drawing comparisons to Steve Urkel.

As many of the other identifying characteristics of the trend, such as clip-on suspenders worn with short-sleeved shirts, were unsuitable for the business environment into which young adherents were entering, the trend quickly died out. However, heightened media awareness of the hipster subculture, which had simultaneously embraced thick-rimmed glasses, led to a conflation of hipster aesthetics with "geek chic." As a result, the media and social commentators continued erroneously referring to hipsters as "geek chic" after the trend had faded. The term is now nominally used in the world of retail optics, where it is similarly erroneously applied to both hipsters as well as retro style.

Self-application

In the wake of the fashion trend, the term "geek chic" was appropriated by some self-identified "geeks" to refer to a new, socially acceptable role in a technologically advanced society.

See also

Notes

References

  1. "Geek". Dictionary.com-Merriam-Webster entry. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  2. Beckett, Jamie (24 Oct 2012). "Study shows Stanford alumni create nearly $3 trillion in economic impact each year". Stanford News.
  3. The world’s most powerful man meets President Obama. Dan Amira. 18 February 2011. New York Magazine. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2011/02/the_worlds_most_powerful_man_m.html
  4. Unnatural Selection by Mark Roeder. http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Unnatural-Selection-Why-Geeks-Will-Inherit-Earth-Mark-Roeder/?isbn=9781743095683
  5. In praise of misfits. Economist. 2 June 2012. http://www.economist.com/node/21556230
  6. "Geeky Becks' specs appeal". The Sun. September 12, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  7. "Nice glasses! Justin Timberlake is bringing geek chic back at the Social Network premiere". Daily Mail. September 25, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  8. "Myleene Klass geek chic". Uk.stylelist.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  9. "Whacky NBA Playoff Fashion!". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  10. Cacciola, Scott (2012-06-14). "NBA Finals: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Other Fashion Plates of the NBA Make Specs of Themselves". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  11. Fassel, Preston. "Geek Chic Was Last Week: Understanding the Retro Craze". The Optician's Handbook. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  12. Lambert, Katie. "How Stuff works: Geek Chic". People.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.

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