[Web4lib] New Job Title Pulled from Thin Air

[HAZEL Margaret E]

So this makes Ozzy Osborn a geek...? 

Yeah, ok, I can buy that.

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Robert Menk
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 5:57 AM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] New Job Title Pulled from Thin Air

Sorry but I can't help but keep thinking of the other (and older)
definition of  "geek" which, according to the American Heritage
Dictionary is:

"A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as
biting the head off a live chicken"

and then combining that with all the adjectives used for these job
titles.  It gives new and different shades of meaning to "marketing
geek", "public geek", "geek in chief"... ;).

Last but not least I enjoy thinking of it in the context of "I was a
geek before it was popular..."

Bobb Menk
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Library
MIT nerd (insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person)



Frank Wales wrote:
> 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.
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