[Web4lib] New Job Title Pulled from Thin Air

[LIB-Michele Mizejewski]

We can also look to Cat and Girl for guidance on this topic
http://www.catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=94

Michele Mizejewski
Electronic Services Specialist
Redwood City Public Library
Redwood City, CA 94063
mmizejewski at redwoodcity.org
  


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Frank Wales
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 4:30 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] New Job Title Pulled from Thin Air

Robert L. Balliot wrote:
> It seems to me that the time has come for the OED to step in and 
> settle on a clear definition [of 'geek'].

Well, the OED includes this definition for 'geek' (noun):

> A person who is extremely devoted to and knowledgeable about computers
or related technology.
>   In this sense, esp. when as a self-designation, not necessarily
depreciative.

And this one for nerd (noun):

> An insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person; a person who is 
> boringly conventional or studious. Now also: spec. a person who 
> pursues an unfashionable or highly technical interest with obsessive
or exclusive dedication.

I would consider both of these to be consistent with my own uses of
these terms, which is that being 'geeky' means being highly competent
and well- informed about some non-trivial field of (probably
intellectual) endeavour, while being 'nerdy' suggests to me perhaps some
degree of social ineptitude or discomfort or isolation.  So I see
'nerdy' as being independent of any geekish qualities, although it might
well be co-morbid with 'geeky'.

(Also, I wouldn't limit geekiness to just computers; I'm happy to call
OED editor John Simpson a word geek, or Evelyn Glennie a music geek, or
Stanley Kubrick a movie geek, because they're all ludicrously
knowledgeable, enthusiastic and competent.)

I've also encountered the phrase "a geek is a nerd with social skills"
on more than one occasion, although not sufficiently memorably to
provide useful citations.

The OED also has definitions for geek (verb) and 'geeked out', which are
consistent with my sense that these mean "mentally engrossed" or
"carried away with yourself" when it applies to your topic of geekosity.
I'm at a loss to think of times when I've encountered any 'nerd'
equivalents of these, which tends to confirm my sense that 'geek'
and 'nerd' don't really belong to the same class of description.

As for job titles, I'm gravitating towards 'software geezer', which is
conclusive proof that I'm not a marketing geek.
--
Frank Wales [frank at limov.com]
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