What Is A Nerd? What Is A Geek? And How They Are Different
Duane Beckett
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What is a nerd? It’s not an age-old question. Nor is it a common query outside the confines of a select few.
In fact, it’s a “low volume question” – by Google’s own standards:
(For nerds who like data – 3,600 people ask Google this question monthly – or is that something more suitable for a geek?)
Regardless, if you are here looking for an answer, it is likely you are a borderline nerd, geek, (or collector) anyway.
(And in my opinion – one of the cool kids/adults).
CHECK OUT: The 5 Most Valuable Hot Wheels Collectibles Worth As Much As Real Cars (And Far More).
So, what is a nerd?
The simple definition of a nerd is:
“A person who engages in a technical field obsessively or with great attention to detail.”
Nerdable.com
Therefore, something ‘nerdable’ is taking a nerd-inspired action. For example, digging into the nuances of U.S. quarters…
(Which I did when writing the article linked above – and I’m proud of it).
My nerdable ways don’t stop with quarters… I’m a nerd for movie posters, records (vinyl), t-shirts, and Star Wars toys:
And it is the technical nuances under-the-surface of collecting that makes all collectors nerds at heart. For example:
- A one-sheet movie poster should be 27×41-inches.
- The majority of vinyl cloaked Jawa’s on a certain auction site aren’t originals.
- The label on a vinyl record can massively impact value.
With every collectible, there are hundreds of nuances to be aware of. And knowing, or learning about them is darn nerdy:
(So, if you’re a collector, you are a nerd – and God bless you for it).
So, how is a geek different?
What is a geek?
The simple answer:
“A person who engages in computer-related tasks obsessively or with great attention to technical detail.”
Nerdable.com
To summarize:
- A nerd is someone who collects baseball cards from the 1980s, and who knows the nuances of what to look out for.
- A geek is someone who puts their baseball card collection from the 1980s into a spreadsheet, rating their cards nuances, to gauge what to keep or sell.
(And to confirm, I’ve done both for most of the things I collect).
In terms of a Venn diagram intersecting nerds, geeks, and collectors, Nerdable is between all three – just more on the side of nerds.
Disclaimer: This site may at times veer into the realm of geek-content with “how-to” tips and data – but we promise to try and never overwhelm with jargon:
(Even if we end up writing a listicle about the most sought after vintage Apple products ever, we’ll keep it as accessible as possible).
CHECK OUT: The 5 Most Valuable Star Wars Action Figures (You Probably Never Owned).