Geeks and Nerds?

[Ten]

What's the difference between geeks and nerds? There's a lot of overlap, of course, but us we linguists know that no two synonyms are identical twins. There must be some sort of threshold for distinguishing between the appropriate usage of the two words. I'm wondering what y'all think, and I know questions like these have subjective answers, but I'm interested to see what our responses have in common.

Also, please don't be intimidated if you think I sound wordy. This is Ten. You know how she is.

So. After a little preliminary scouting, I'm thinking that a nerd is an intelligent introvert of the classic style, and a geek is well-versed in (and has an intense interest in) a particular field, with no specifications on personality or smarts. Geek is a less offensive word, more of a pet-name type of insult, whereas nerd is more serious. I think I've got a good grasp on the nerd stereotype (glasses, zits, lame clothes, stutter, no athletic ability, no social life, etc.) but even though I recognize what geek means, I couldn't tell you in as specific terms. Geek seems more vague, or maybe a geek is a lower level of nerd.

Thoughts?

[Draco]

UM.
I don't know. I really don't know. =/
All I know is that band people shouldn't be called "geeks". We can throw a pretty good party.

[Ten]

Geeks, I'm thinking, can't take up such a large portion of the population as band members do. Maybe I come from a place where things are different, but being in band doesn't make folks geeky. Just... accustomed to a militarized version of civilian life.

[Cloud]

I searched the interwebz and found two definitions for nerd:

1. a stupid, irritating, ineffectual, or unattractive person
2. an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.

And 3 definitions for geek:

1. a computer expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as self-reference, but often considered offensive when used by outsiders.)
2. a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp. one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.
3. a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.

...I didn't know about the last one until I looked these up. o.e It creeps me out a little.

[Ten]

I never associated geeks with biting the heads off birds.
And who is it that's going around using the word nerd to imply stupidity?
I am suspicious of these sources.

Anyway, what differences do those definitions give us? They both can apply to intellectuals and computer... enthusiasts, but the geek definition doesn't say anything about unattractiveness, whereas nerd does, and it seems geek can apply to someone "peculiar" as well.

[Gosh]

I could've sworn I replied to this thread.

Anyways, your description of nerds is pretty accurate in my opinion. I think 'geek' tends to connote being obsessive about something, maybe comic books or video games...? I definitely think that nerd is a harsher word. Honestly, I also have no problem describing myself as a geek.