Are you actually a geek?

[utopian]

If not, then go back to fark. If so, prove it. Justify to me what it is about you that makes you a geek.

Valid answers include: I do differential calculus in my spare time.

Invalid answers include: LOL I LOEV TO PLAY SIMS ON THE COMPUTER MECHAINE AND TORK 2 PPLZ ON MSN MESSAGER!!!!1`

I'd be interested to know just how many people here have a geeky background.

Geggle, Spingo, druid, Movius and Weatherman need not apply.

NB. This is not a "You don't belong here" thread. This is for people to show me what it is about themselves that make them a geek. If you're not a geek, you have no proof that you are one, and hence have no need to post.

NB2. This thread was re-opened in "Discussions" as an attempt to stop the trolling.

Originally posted by no_dice
Well on one hand, I have a freeBSD server at home with 387 days of uptime, running as an email server, web server, DNS server, and FTP. The rest of my network consists of 3PC's, 1 powerbook and 1 iMac (I have 3 roommates, 2 of which don't know a computer from their ass).

On the other hand, I have a hot girlfriend, I'm a snowboard instructor, used to be a sponsored skateboarder (shoes only) and have a good sense of style (I work in a clothing store part time).

So I think I'm on the fence:P

How much of it did you build yourself? Is the kernel one that you've customised to suit your own needs? I take it the powerbook and iMac are owned by the inept housemates

Girlfriends don't really count as far as determination of geekiness goes. Druid seems to have a fairly attractive girlfriend.

Originally posted by SmaSheD_CoW
I have been known to wake up at 3am, go take a piss, and then decide to do 20mins work on a java project before I go back to bed.

'nuff said?

Originally posted Paul Erdös
A mathematician is a machine that turns coffee into thereoms.

I think we can adapt this to apply to you, SmaSheD_CoW.

Originally posted by no_dice
The server was all built from scratch by me, as was the kernel:P

I own the powerbook....I was looking to get a laptop and could think of nothing better than a OS based on BSD and and that has a DVD burner:P

Sounds like a good reason to buy one. Does it fulfill its purpose?

[no_dice]

To be quite honest, I was really skeptical about OS X in the beginning, I wasn't quite sure whether or not I could handle the candy interface. Now that I've used it for a few months, I'm quite sure that I will never use Windows as a primary os ever again. It's a very stable OS...and very easy to use (i.e. to uninstall a program, you click the executable and drag it to the trask).

I also have it dual booted with Gentoo for the PPC :)

The laptop itself is quite fast and quiet....I've always heard good things about the quality of apple hardware. I want a G5 really badly now....since they seem to kick all 7 flavors of ass (i.e. 1GHz bus, FireWire800)

[Nandragon]

Dice,

I have mac OS 9.5 and still am not sure of it's potential. However I have not made myself sit down and learn it potential.

I do however love it's eye candy. And the "cross breeding" of Word and photoshop.

Would love to have someone to help when I get back on it.

Macboy is the Mac god here by the way!

[the fisherman]

At first I shook " this is like handing a knife to a serial killer in a virgin conference". Then I said no, behave, remember what he told you.

I have been pulling apart electrical equipment since I was six. I was programming in basic, FORTRAN, cobalt, Pascal etc before I left school. When I was at Uni doing computer science the best thing on the market was the apple IIe and those with IBM's had dos. Life goes on and now far removed from that scenario I still maintain an interest in computers and am generally techno funky.

While most of my classmates were considered Nerds/Geeks (I am not even sure geek was a word back then) I was fortunate enough to be graced with a sporting body. In short I mixed with all sorts of people and consider my self more rounded as a result.
I was aware that some of my footy buddies hated some of my academic buddies for no other reason than that they were different but at that age at least they were not picking on me. The thing I will point out is not all of them (the nerds) were computer literate.

I guess what I am asking is a geek, a nerd, or is it a new term directed at only those who are up to date with the latest in computers? Those that can program, hack and build, or does it also include those smart enough to utilise what has become available? Does your computer have to be more important to you, than any personal relationship you might have, to qualify?

Or, rather than an elitist term should it qualify all of us who dare to think differently, those of us who don't belong on catwalks or the big screen. Those of us who are not likely to appear on the society page. Those of us who at one time or another feels inadequate or unimportant. Those of us who feel we have more to say about our world than our 1 vote every 3 or 4 years gives us.

I think you will find that the more you attempt to restrict the world to those who are just like you will find yourself even more lonely and misunderstood than you do now. Acceptance leads to acceptance.

U R A FDH

P.S. While not a hobby, differential calculus is not a problem

[beowulf437]

Reasons I am a geek.

My two favorite reading materials are technical manuals and history books.

I built my first computer in 1981 from a kit, then I figured out how to boost the RAM.

I have writen programs in machine code for practicle jokes.

I play pen and paper RPG's and I have been a game master.

I do bolean algebra equations and truth charts in my head and can troubleshoot logic circuits with a DMM.

I collect old test equipment.

I like 50's science fiction and Japanese samuri films.

[void*]

I am currently building a 6 DOF robot arm with an OOPic microcontroller for the express purpose of installing it at work.

The reason I want it at work is so I can put voice recognition with it, and, when someone enters my office that I don't like, it can write abuse on my whiteboard and throw things at them.

[Diva]

what is your definition of geek?

I can't program or do differential calculus, but I've been playing Dungeons & Dragons (and many other rpgs) regularly since I was 10.


does that count? if not, what does? or is it *only* maths or programming as far as you are concerned? :rolleyes:

[oracle]

My Geek Resumé
I've been interested in computers, and have been using them for 15 years... but I'm only 21
The nickname oracle actually came from a friend who called me that because I seemed to know som much about computers
I used to be into Games Workshop minatures (no longer due to more pressing matters)
I am subscribed to Dictionary.com 'Word of the Day' (and I also used to peruse the dictionary in school)
I like Beck, Cibo Matto, and Weezer
I do end-user tech support for an ISP
a. have been doing it for over 3 years
b. once did 172 calls in one day
c. prefer customers to provide me with the error number (eg. Error 678, 0X800CCC0D, etc) rather than the error message
I have dabbled in programming (BASIC, VB, HTML)
I love 3D/CG and am teaching myself polygon modelling > Latest Model (http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~joshua.y/forumpic/simba.jpg)
I am half-way through my Cisco Certification (CCNA)
I am interested in (and have read numerous books on) esotericism
I love consoles. I own (in order of purchase) Super Nintendo, MegaDrive, Playstation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, XBOX, GameCube, GBA, GBA SP
I have a few PC's, and one Mac... All networked... by me.
On the subject of networking, I also networked a friends Optus cable from his parent house, to the house he's renting next door.
I know how to, and always, make my own network cable. I have a 100m roll sitting in my room.
There are 10 USB2 (no serial, and no parallel) ports on the back of my PC... They're all used, save for 1.
I use apps that do the job right, not because everyone uses them, or a big company makes it: IE isn't my browser; OE isn't my e-mail client; WinZip isn't my compression util; Nero or EZCD are not my CD burning app; CuteFTP is not my FTP client; WMP does not play my MP3's
I format my computer (on average) about every 3-4 months. I usually have it back up to full working capacity within a few hours.

Uhh, that's all I can think of right now... Post will be edited to add more if I think of anything to improve my geek-cred (kind of like street-cred, but much less desirable :D)

Edit: Added more stuff, removed yuppie list of peripherals

[r0p3 g1rl]

so are YOU really a geek Mr Utop? :p

[utopian]

Nan: Using a computer does not make you a geek. Using photoshop does not make you a geek.

Diva: My sister uses photoshop on the computer, can write VBA scripts inside MSOffice programs, takes physics and maths at high school, but is not a geek. I'd probably class you as a fantasy gamer, though.

If you really want my "definition" of a geek, it's someone who is passionate about The Sciences. I'd class the following things as belonging to that category: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computing, Geology (and all its subdisciplines), Forensics and Electronics.

What makes me a geek? I'm enrolled in Engineering (Computer and Electrical) but attempting to get into Applied Science to do Maths and Physics. I do mathematics in my spare time to keep my brain active. I go out of my way in bookstores to find maths and physics books, and if the price is right and the context is good, I'll buy them. Two weekends ago, I spent $100 on books, including a biography on Richard Feynman (already finished it) and "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" which contains the greatest works in Physics and Astronomy.

[DJos]

Umm yeah, Im definately a geek *submits following evidence*:

1/ when first introduced to computers (Amstrad CPC6128) in year 6 by my school teacher, our class was told to go home and design a game for home work andwe would then be taught basic so we could make it. I went to the library on the way home borrowed every book on basic I could and wrote my entire (text based adventure) game out in an A4 notebook.

The best part was that it required very little debugging and all the other saps (I mean students) had all these stupid idea's for graphical games which they didn't have a clue how to create :D

2/ my 4 Bedroom double garage house has 4 fully functional computers (1xXP2500+, 2x1Ghz Duron, 1xK6-III 500Mhz) connected together via aprox. 500meters of Belden Cat5e Cable (all rooms inc garage have 4 points). I also have all my phone extensions patched via the Cat5e to whatever rooms I want them in. All up I have a total of 40 network points in my house. :cool:

3/ I work for a large blue company as an IT Specialist supporting M$ based Servers etc.

Hmm I think thats enuf evidence for now :D

[oracle]

Originally posted by DJos
... I went to the library on the way home borrowed every book on basic I could... Wow, you borrowed! That is geeky. I just stole the only two books on BASIC game programming my school library had :D

[utopian]

I renewed a borrowed library book from primary school so much that they offered to sell it to me. It was a book on Chess, and I was the only person in the previous 5 years to my starting school to borrow it out.

[DJos]

Originally posted by oracle
Wow, you borrowed! That is geeky. I just stole the only two books on BASIC game programming my school library had :D

he he, unfortunately the local library had just installed a new security system (like in shops) and I hadn't figured out how to beat it at that particular moment in time. :cool:

[BlueBoy]

Originally posted by utopian

If you really want my "definition" of a geek, it's someone who is passionate about The Sciences.

It's actually someone who is passionate about anything. :)
You can have Beethoven geeks!

Me? I know more than my fair share about games and movies.

[utopian]

I said my definition. I'd class "Beethoven geeks" as "musos" or "Classical Era Historians". ;)

[r0p3 g1rl]

I wouldn't say I'm a typical/stereotype geek, but I'm not the typical businesswomen, or typical 20yo or the typical teenage mum, or the typical implant bimbo I think I fit into quite a few different categories.

However, I would class myself as a geek. At high school I did physical sciences, physics, chemistry, biology, pure math's stage 3 and still enjoy filling my spare time reading about such subjects. But I was also head prefect and the popular girl next-door type, so in a way that makes me not a geek.

I'm still very socially active and enjoy time away from a computer screen. I'm over the going out every weekend to night clubs just to get trashed so I can spend the next two days feeling sick and throwing up. I prefer going out to dinner with a few close friends and have a few bottles of a nice red. So I wouldn't call myself the typical 19/20yo.

I don't work 9 to 5, yet I own my own business, I invest, buy other businesses and so on, but I do most of my work after 5pm or on the weekends, so not the typical businesswomen either.

On being a teenage mum, well I know quite a few mothers my own age and I can say I'm a lot more responsible and a much better parent. My son is number one and comes first, not smokes, not drugs, not getting trashed and not my friends. I used to drink a lot more before I was pregnant. I didn't smoke though and when I found out I was pregnant, I put my child first from the beginning. I didn't drink, I ate well, got plenty of rest and distanced myself from people who were smoking.

I'm sure many would say I'm the typical implant bimbo and everyone is entitled to an opinion and their own interpretation of the facts. However I got them for me, I like tit's I wanted to look down and like what I saw, I never got them done for a guy and never would, I'm open about it because I don't see any reason to hide it. As for being a bimbo I know my IQ and I know I'm not dumb, so I guess that kind of rules that out.

But back to whether or not I'm a geek. I would say yes I am, I know my way around computers, yes I can build one, I've been known to do a few naughty things on a few websites and so on, but once again I don't see a need to justify myself, intelligent people choose what they will believe in instead of replying on "honestly", I am who I am and I love being me, believe what you will.

[Colonel Kurtz]

Hmmm, I own nearly a thousand books, nearly 2 hundred PC Games, Have riced up my computer (specs on application :D ), umm, my first computer was an Atari (no not the game console, my first bit of code on it was:

10 PRINT FUCK YOU
20 GOTO 10

Gotta love basic. Can program in VB and HTML. Ditto Ladder Logic, Function Blocks and SFCs for assorted industrial PLCs, and associated SCADAs and HMIs, as well as various communications ranging from PSTN, FSK, Optical and others

I am the IT manager at my work.

Ummmm, I still like and collect comics.

Can't think of anything else, except that I don't wear black

Am I a Geek?

[beer_cAN]

I am in a downward spiral. Firstly I said 'sif' in real life (now a habit), and then I told someone to 'FOYC'.

As if that isn't sad enough, I just privated someone with the nick "Lexx" on IRC asking if they were Stanley Tweedle. *hangs head in shame*

Edit: First it was lame chat gimp, now it's poindexter

[thuvia]

Geeky qualifications:

1. last year of high school was filled with physics, bio, chem, trig, calc. Spent half a day at h/s and the rest at the local university getting advance credit

2. Who's Who in American High Schools my graduating year

3. Full scholarship based on academic merit

4. Only girl on the debate team ( it was the 70's)

5. I still like RPGs, paper as well as computer

6. I can build my own comp....dont know too much about computer language, yet

7. Married a guy geek

8. Raising a bunch of geeklings

[BlueBoy]

Originally posted by utopian
I said my definition. I'd class "Beethoven geeks" as "musos" or "Classical Era Historians". ;)

Ok, I'll play.

I've being reading SciFi ever since I could read.

I can name every object in the solar system from the Sun out to the Oort Cloud. (I'm a bit rusty now).

Half my Amazon wish list is books on Fluid Dynamics, the rest is Quantum Physics. (I'm too poor!)

I can build a computer from parts. Both hardware and software.

I took over tech support for my immediate area because our hired support guys are too slow.

I think RPGs are the best game type ever.

I giggle whenever someone says '42'! :D

[rascuache]

I am a geek, i feel no compunction to prove myself

couple of things for people to note from what i've read so far (please dont take them as attacks, cause they aren't)

Nan, there is no such thing as OS 9.5
they stopped at OS 9.2.2

Oracle, I use other programs than the norm too, but thats cause i use a Mac, and am different because of that anyway....

First time i touched a computer was when i was 7, and it was a microbee and i've been hooked since then. I'm now 22.

I skipped year 11 computer studies and started the HSC for 3 unit computers while in year 10, I was doing it with year 12's and i ended up with better marks at the end of the HSC

I've been to Computer/Science Conventions/Summer Schools all through High School,

My IT degree doesnt mean shit, but I have experience in about 5 different prog languages

But i dont know if i'm THAT much of a geek (in utopians definition), cause i've always leant towards the creative side more than the scientific side. I failed physics in high school

[hazza]

i dont need to prove anything to you


but eh.. postcount...


2 comps in my room, i stole a switch from sambo its a leet swith.

one comp has a window (omg) the other has a purple led.


nuff said :)

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Rascuache, heres geek for you:

- Started on Commodore 64 and Tandy systems that used to use a cassette tape as storage when I was about 6, and used the "pong" game with 2 paddles and a ball (was built into one of my mates 70's televisions)
- Remember and played the first Atari
- Became official school computer monitor/instructor (including for my teachers) with my Apple 2e skills, Year 2, 1986.
- Used Amiga till I got my first PC, 1989 (an Olivetti PCS86)
- Scored lowest in the grade for computers in 1994, because I thought that I knew everything that needed to be known about computers. Subject involved using Logo in Mac.
- Topped the state in 2 Unit Computing....collected highest available school award.
- Did B. Science in Computing Science at UTS for 5 gruelling, painful years.
- Have used over 10 programming languages.
- Now cant find a job/work in retail, im now 2 months away from 25 years of age.

LOL I failed physics too! Then again so did Einstein :D

Hazza.....my post count is inaccurate. I was with Zgeek a long long time ago under another name, and took a 2 year hiatus. Had clocked up about 1000 posts back then. and the most computers I have ever owned at one time was 7, the most computers that ever ran seti@home was about 120 (4 labs at UTS...thats when they killed my access for a month lol, still made the top 30 people in Australia for units processed ;)

[MisterBishi]

My g33k dick=(Your g33k dick)^n-1

[hazza]

Originally posted by Mr Bigglesworth

Hazza.....my post count is inaccurate. I was with Zgeek a long long time ago under another name, and took a 2 year hiatus. Had clocked up about 1000 posts back then. and the most computers I have ever owned at one time was 7, the most computers that ever ran seti@home was about 120 (4 labs at UTS...thats when they killed my access for a month lol, still made the top 30 people in Australia for units processed ;)


i ment this shitty thread can boost my post count


was a joke..

[Bifrost]

I have a SuSE linux box which runs as my file/web/DB/firewall server and yet I did not build the kernel, nor did I build the machine itself...

I have a nice little XP box which serves as the games bitch (which I did build myself) and I have a clunky old HP 9000 server sitting in the corner waiting for me to be bothered installing an OS on it...

I can code VB, perl, shell, Pascal (heh), Basic (heheh) and C++ (badly)...My fav shell is bash, I administer HP and Solaris boxes for a living and I'm in the middle of configuring my first mySQL database...

I never took Chemistry in highschool, though I did get excellent marks in atomic physics (despite my physics teacher hating me utterly)...I prefer english to maths and did an english-related arts degree...

I use Photoshop (:p Utop!) and it makes things pretty!!

My geek kung fu is weak.

[oracle]

I agree entirely with what your saying rascuache. I also have a Mac, and I'm also more into the creative side of computers... Hence why I have a graphics tablet, digital camera, and am into 3D modelling, and I also dabble in music composition.

EDIT: My Geek-Fu is also weak, as I've never played an RPG, I don't use linux because I currently don't need to (but I do know how to pronounce it properly) and I don't like Star Trek.

... but I do use photoshop! http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~joshua.y/smiley/arteest.gif





BTW. My 1st post edited to include more crap.

[utopian]

Having a mac and the fact that you make artwork (or using photoshop) on it doesn't mean you're not a geek, neither does failing physics in high school (I nearly did).

The fact that you're doing an IT course and are "fluent" in five programming languages is testament to rascuache being a geek.

Hazza's definition of a geek is essentially "computers = geek, smart = nerd". If you want to debate that, go and look for his post. So in hazza's mind, he's a geek. I'd be interested to know exactly how talented hazza is with computers (remotely installing an XDCC bot can be done by just about anyone who can read instructions). A purple LED doesn't really mean all that much. Did you actually do the window yourself or buyz0r 4z0r l33tz0r c4s3z0r?

I also use photoshop and have done a few images from time to time. The animated .gif's I do are created as individual images in photoshop and then imported into MS gif animator. I only realised I should be using ImageReady the other day.

Anyone out there playing sports? It'd better be Badminton, Croquet or Lawn Bowls.

[no_dice]

I use my mac for programming (anyone who has never heard of JEdit.....GET IT (http://www.jedit.org) ....it's available for most OSes...collapsable code....mmmf)

OS X also has apache built in, and has many other |33+ features:)

As for sports....as I said I'm a avid snowboarder (I instruct in the wintertime) and used to be a sponsored skateboarder (not really sponsored.....got free shoes). But if it's any consolation, I used to think of mathematics a lot when I skated (if I'm going this fast, I will jump that far, etc....)

[SmaSheD_CoW]

I think there are 2 very different types of geeks involved here.

1) the hardcore physics/maths/etc type of geek, and

2) the IT geek, who spends hours coding programs, building computers, etc.

i'd class utop as a member of category 1, whereas i'm more a member of category 2. naturally there's gonna be some overlap, but you can generally tell the difference between the two types.

[H4Inf]

Since the age of 5, i've been messing around with electronics, very interested, until sometime in the early 90's I got my first computer, an XT. Knowing absolutely nothing about computers, I spent hours in front of it working out how it worked. No manuals..

These days I do the same. Computers. Software. OS's. I sit down in front of them and do everything I possibly can, until I've figured it all out.

H4Inf = Hungry For Information

Mastered the windows operating system, and really detest having to deal with its stupid problems.

Around 2000 I was introduced to linux by a geek on the internet. For months I had no idea what it was, my understanding was mediocre. I scoured ICQ, until one day I came across a very helpful guy who actually worked as a unix admin. I had a lot to learn, and he stuck by me and answered my questions. Not too much further into the future I learned that the only way to learn linux, is for yourself. Read the docs, read everything before you ask any questions!

When I was at school, the thing that kept me going was the fact that I was looking forward to getting home and onto the computer. Only in the last 6 months of my schooling did I begin losing interest in computers. Started living in the real world ;)

Since the beginning of uni, I spend most of my time with people now, but whenever i'm not, I guarantee 80% of the time i'd be in front of the computer, or in bed.

My longest project was that of a linux-router/server box. For the past 1.5 years I have refined the configuration, service-operation and written web-based administration interfaces. It's an ongoing project, however everything runs absolutely perfectly currently. The box deals with itself. Updates itself, anti virus etc. spam filtering, ad filtering... the works. If there's a problem, it emails me, when things are smooth I don't even think about it. Lots of work has gone into it and it's all been worth it.

Now I sit back and relax as it purrs away, doing the many tasks its programmed to. Now I have time for people :P Yet I am still a geek... Developing websites at 3am seems to be more efficient than any other time of day.

Anyone that made it this far/actually bothered to read this, Thanks :P

Paul.

[oracle]

Originally posted by utopian
Having a mac and the fact that you make artwork (or using photoshop) on it doesn't mean you're not a geekIt was sarcasm. Photoshop=Geek has been a joke since you brought it up the first time Utop.

[utopian]

Sorry, too geeky to understand humour. Oh, I get jokes XA XA XA XA.

[gingermeatboy]

I don't know wheter I'd class myself as a geek or not, in my mind a geek is a person who knows shit-loads on a particular topic.

Myself, I'm just about to start my fourth year of a degree in Honours Computing Science at University of Glasgow, have so far had programming experience in BASIC, VB, Ada, C, Haskell, SQL, Assembly, Java (including JDBC, RMI and using Java 2D) have also studdied algorithmics, networks, graphics, compiler design, operating systems, UML blah blah blah

However when it comes to hardware and building up PCs I only know the most very basic aspects.

in my first and second year I was also studying pure maths, but by seond year I couldn't see any point what so ever in what we were being taught! I think i lost intrest when they started making things up, imaginary numbers indeed! and also did a year of physics

[Wolfette13]

I'm a geekling by birth (who never paid attention). My Mother started out as a data input operator, she retired in December as a computer programmer analyst without one bit of "book training" she learned it all on the job. Besides, I hang out with actual geeks so .........maybe I'm a geek by osmosis?

[utopian]

Originally posted by gingermeatboy
I don't know wheter I'd class myself as a geek or not, in my mind a geek is a person who knows shit-loads on a particular topic.
I think that's just someone who's knowledgeable on a particular subject. Would you call someone who can recite the results of every Rugby World Cup match from 1970 onwards a "Rugby Geek"? It just doesn't fit.

I still stand by my statement about it being to do with "The Sciences".

[Nandragon]

ok, to prove to Utop that i'm not just a sex starved photoshop wench...

1978...keypunch
...basic and cobal language (I hated it)
..programed 1st graphic banner program for school
Drafting, cam cad, printing, pharmacology, trig, Who's Who in American High Schools 4 years running, National Honor Society 4 yrs running, Graphic Arts Society Chapter President, Newspaper (Editor, printer, layout artist and comic artist, 4 yrs running) Sci-fi/fiction writer and avid reader, Top %5 of my graduating class., 4.0 average in high school and college. Photoshop, word, windows, microsoft office, adobe illustrator, speedrazor, adobe premier, linear & non linear editing, I can hook up ur vcr, dvd, mp3, wide screen tv, stereo and beta decks to work interactively or seperately. I run fiber optic, bnc, rca or xlr anywhere u want them. Videography, hand held or remote, camera work from shooting to pan developing ur film. I can rebuild a carberator, change a tire, turn rotors, and some other engine repairs. I gave birth to a intelligent child as well. Now, I can suture you head after you've fallen down in a druken stuptor or I can remove those damn braces u didn't pay the dentist for, set that broken arm so that it can mend properly and give the best damn massage u've ever had. I can insert a foley cateter in ur bladder or give you a damn enema to clean ur shit out. There's, more, much more believe me.

Does that qualify me as a geek, maybe not. But experienced yes.

[gingermeatboy]

Originally posted by utopian

I still stand by my statement about it being to do with "The Sciences".

Here's dictionary.com's view

1a. A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
1b. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.


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

[utopian]

Computer Science is a Science. Ozzy Osbourne is NOT a geek. (He exercises too much).

[gingermeatboy]

I ain't arguing with you :) just giving the apparent definition, it supposedly comes from travelling carnivals where people with acts such as biting the heads of chickens were called geeks.

[rosamund]

There were definitely geeks before there were computers or advanced mathematics. I'd say it's a commitment thing... at the expense of other interests or past times.

NEWAYZ....

Not much of a back-end computerator, so my main geekism is probably collating lists of my dvds and vids by genre, format, country, extras, personal rating, personal rating within genre, etc...

Oh, that and desperately coveting titles for months, and once i've bought them filing and forgetting about them without watching them.

But at least the voices will have been silenced, albeit temporarily.

[utopian]

If you want to argue the origins of geeks, maybe those cavemen that were busy looking at the moon, sun and stars instead of going on hunts. I suspect they didn't last long in the tribe. *Sigh* Persecuted since the dawn of thought, and the Jews thought they had it tough.

[Kyle]

I speak in binary....ok maybe I don't, the most i got is an incredibly large collection of video games....I really don't know what classifies me as a geek, and if i'm not...well....i feel comfortable in this community....and i'm not leaving dammit!! Oh and I had a C64 when i was like 5....i've been on computers since...I can troubleshoot most stuff that happens with computers and i can pick up on programs...but i dunno

[Bostonmess]

I'm not a geek in the sense that you mean, however, I appear to be growing an extra elbow :eek:

[DJos]

I remembered some more evidence:

I've wired up/setup my HT system with so many alternate AV paths that Im the only person I know of that can figure out how to use it. even one of my previous very technically literate Housemates couldn't figure it out :D

I spent several hours remebering/checking it and had to draw a detailed diagram just so I could put it back together the last time I moved house.

for those wondering It consists of a TV, VCR, HT Amp, Switch Box, Sat Box, FTA Digital TV PVR, HT PC, PS2 & DVD Player all connected via Component, S-Video, Composite, analogue Audio & Digital toslink/spdif Audio.

[Cassa]

I'm not a geek I just work here.

[LauraleeBug]

I am actually more of a Geek "groupie" at this point in my life....

... but alas, if just by age alone I believe I'm the geekiest chick here, as indicated by my old track record ....

BTW, Anybody else ever programmed in assembler? LOL :p

[rascuache]

Originally posted by LauraleeBug
BTW, Anybody else ever programmed in assembler?

Its a subject in computer science at university of sydney, one of my mates did it and actually prefered it to other types....He should come on this site, he is one of the geekiest people i have ever met....god i look up to him!

OMG, someone with the same avatarr, i though i had posted without me knowing it!

now for an ungeeky statement, for which i am ashamed of, someone tell me how to do a new one

[DJos]

Originally posted by LauraleeBug

BTW, Anybody else ever programmed in assembler? LOL :p

Yeah, I learnt it at Uni of Western Sydney and then promptly forgot it! I really couldnt see much point to it as Im not much of a programmer and never wanted to be one.

[lego72]

I am a geek. I refer to myself as a geek. In my world a geek is someone who is so passionate about something that they make it part of their lifestyle, their identity. I dream about computers, games, fantasy, sci-fi........................

And this is not just computers - you can be a movie geek, a book geek, a comic geek, an accounting geek.

When I hire people (in IT) I always ask them - Are you a Geek? There is no right or wrong answer but if yes then I know that they love computers and technology and thus its not just a job for them.

my $100 worth :D

[edeity]

Originally posted by LauraleeBug
I am actually more of a Geek "groupie" at this point in my life....

... but alas, if just by age alone I believe I'm the geekiest chick here, as indicated by my old track record ....

BTW, Anybody else ever programmed in assembler? LOL :p

I can program 6502 and 68000 assembler. Never bothered with the 808x range.

[Fuzzy Dice]

God i hope so. I build my own systems and format whenever the urge strikes me. Usually when the comp starts feeling messy. I'm at least geeky enough to get dragged into doing tech support for all my non-comp inclined friends (mostly the girls.......*sorry, sorry* )
QUESTION: how can someone take a comp sci degree and not know anything about hardware when they're done? (i know two people like this. blows my mind)

I'm also a biochemist. biochem = Massive science geek. I went into it because it was the only thing that would let me play with mutagens, neurotoxins, radioactive compounds and NARCOTIC solvents all in the same labs. Plus, when you run a gel, you have at least an hour until it finishes, and usually, when you're at the gel running stage, you don't have any other procedures on the go, so i get an hour to go to the campus bar with my other biochem lab geek chronies.:p

[BlueBoy]

Originally posted by lego72
I am a geek. I refer to myself as a geek. In my world a geek is someone who is so passionate about something that they make it part of their lifestyle, their identity. I dream about computers, games, fantasy, sci-fi........................

And this is not just computers - you can be a movie geek, a book geek, a comic geek, an accounting geek.

When I hire people (in IT) I always ask them - Are you a Geek? There is no right or wrong answer but if yes then I know that they love computers and technology and thus its not just a job for them.

my $100 worth :D

:werd: :cool:

[lego72]

Originally posted by BlueBoy
:werd: :cool:

indeed........................

[geggle]

Originally posted by LauraleeBug
BTW, Anybody else ever programmed in assembler? LOL :p Yes. On a PDP-11 too :)

[utopian]

Get out of my thread, you jock.

[Drakin]

The True Definition of a "Geek"
There was this male engineer, on a cruise ship in the Caribbean for the first time. It was wonderful, the experience of his life. He was being waited on hand an foot. But, it did not last. A hurricane came up unexpectedly. The ship went down almost instantly.

The man found himself, he knew not how, swept up on the shore of an island. There was nothing else anywhere to be seen. No person, no supplies, nothing. The man looked around. There were some bananas and coconuts, but that was it. He was desperate, and forlorn, but decided to make the best of it. So for the next four months he ate bananas, drank coconut juice and mostly looked to the sea mightily for a ship to come to his rescue.

One day, as he was lying on the beech stroking his beard and looking for a ship, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. Could it be true, was it a ship? No, from around the corner of the island came this rowboat. In it was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen, or at least seen in 4 months. She was tall, tanned, and her blond hair flowing in the sea breeze gave her an almost ethereal quality. She spotted him also as he was waving and yelling and screaming to get her attention. She rowed her boat towards him.

In disbelief, he asked, "Where did you come from? How did you get here"?

She said, "I rowed from the other side of the island. I landed on this island when my cruise ship sank."

"Amazing," he said, "I didn't know anyone else had survived. How many of you are there? Where did you get the rowboat? You must have been really lucky to have a rowboat wash up with you!"

"It is only me," she said, "and the rowboat didn't wash up, nothing else did."

"Well then," said the man, "how did you get the rowboat?"

"I made the rowboat out of raw material that I found on the island," replied the woman. "The oars were whittled from gum tree branches, I wove the bottom from Palm branches, and the sides and stern came from a eucalyptus tree."

"But, but," asked the man, "what about tools and hardware, how did you do that?"

"Oh, no problem," replied the woman, "on the south side of the island there is a very unusual strata of alluvial rock exposed. I found that if I fired it to a certain temperature in my kiln, it melted into forgeable ductile iron. I used that for tools, and used the tools to make the hardware. But, enough of that," she said. "Where do you live?"

At last the man was forced to confess that he had been sleeping on the beach.

"Well, let's row over to my place," she said. So they both got into the rowboat and left for her side of island.

The woman easily rowed them around to a wharf that led to the approach to her place. She tied up the rowboat with a beautifully woven hemp rope. They walked up a stone walk and around a Palm tree; there stood an exquisite bungalow painted in blue and white.

"It's not much," she said, "but I call it home. Sit down please, would you like to have a drink?"

"No," said the man, "one more coconut juice and I will puke."

"It won't be coconut juice," the woman replied. "I have a still; how about a Pina Colada?" Trying to hide his continued amazement, the man accepted, and they sat down on her couch to talk.

After a while, and they had exchanged their stories, the woman asked, "Tell me, have you always had a beard?"

"No," the man replied, "I was clean shaven all of my life, and even on the cruise ship."

"Well if you would like to shave, there is a man's razor upstairs in the cabinet in the bathroom." So, the man, no longer questioning anything, went upstairs to the bathroom. There in the cabinet was a razor made from a bone handle, two shells honed to a hollow ground edge were fastened on to its end inside of a swivel mechanism. The man shaved, showered and went back downstairs.

"You look great," said the woman. "I think I will go up and slip into something more comfortable." So she did.

And, the man continued to sip his Pina Colada. After a short time, the woman returned wearing fig leafs strategically positioned and smelling faintly of gardenia.

"Tell me," she asked, "we have both been out here for a very long time with no companionship. You know what I mean. Have you been lonely, is there anything that you really miss? Something that all men and woman need. Something that it would be really nice to have right now."

"Yes there is," the man replied, as he moved closer to the woman while fixing a winsome gaze upon her, "Tell me ... Do you happen to have an Internet connection?"



According to a few webpages it would appear that anyone who socializes on the net is a geek. So anyone posting on this thread is a geek.

[utopian]

Originally posted by Drakin
So anyone posting on this thread is a geek.
LIES!!

[hazza]

Originally posted by utopian


Hazza's definition of a geek is essentially "computers = geek, smart = nerd". If you want to debate that, go and look for his post. So in hazza's mind, he's a geek. I'd be interested to know exactly how talented hazza is with computers (remotely installing an XDCC bot can be done by just about anyone who can read instructions). A purple LED doesn't really mean all that much. Did you actually do the window yourself or buyz0r 4z0r l33tz0r c4s3z0r?

Why does there have to be a level of geek. someone who likes to use computers and uses them all of the time is generally called a geek.



i installed the window myself with sambo :D


Remotley installing an xdcc bot? yeah thats it... :rolleyes:

[Colonel Kurtz]

Originally posted by utopian
LIES!!

truth

U is the Uber Nerd masquerading as a Geek :D

[utopian]

http://members.optushome.com.au/utopienne/lol.gif

[pleed]

I suppose I am a geek, I can build computers from scratch, I can program in Basic, Turbo Pascal, C++, HTML, CSS and Visual Basic. I can also do VB scripting when creating macros. I don't though because programming bores the shit out of me.
I don't have any sort of super home network because
a) I don't have the money
b) I don't have the time
I don't play games (PC games or outdoor games) because I am too crap. I am Mr Fragged when it comes to FPS' and Mr Fall over when it comes to sport.
My wasn't super in school (espically in maths), but I am a great practical problem solver.
If you don't consider me a geek then, get over it.

[imp]

I have always loved computers. If that makes me a geek then i guess I am.

I remember the first time i got electricuted from sticking my hand too close to that copper coil in my Amiga 1000 monitor.

I loved my Amiga. It had no HDD but the games were so very sweet. I had about 600 of them. My collection doubled ofcourse as soon as I got my second floppy drive. (and were'nt all my other friends jealous. No more swapping floppy for floppy during copying.)

My Amiga Died in the ass when i was about 14. Bummer that. Seeing as I spent most of my time on BBSs. God those things rocked. Except that whole credit buying thing on Adventure Realm. That kinda sucked. I'm drunk. I'm rambling

Anyways. To cut a long story short I've done quite a few IT jobs over the past 5 yrs ranging from Alcatel PABX engineer to my current role of Tehcnical Co-ordinator (i.e. fixing copiers, printers, PCs, Laptops including hardware support and image builds for consultants *shudder* ). I like my job. Makes me feel like i"m doing something I enjoy. Or something.

I play CS as well but tend to get booted for dodgy Half Life keys ;)

I enjoy being geeky and i think there's nothing wrong with being a four eyes.
:D

[Lina]

Originally posted by no_dice
To be quite honest, I was really skeptical about OS X in the beginning, I wasn't quite sure whether or not I could handle the candy interface. Now that I've used it for a few months, I'm quite sure that I will never use Windows as a primary os ever again. It's a very stable OS...and very easy to use (i.e. to uninstall a program, you click the executable and drag it to the trask).

I also have it dual booted with Gentoo for the PPC :)

The laptop itself is quite fast and quiet....I've always heard good things about the quality of apple hardware. I want a G5 really badly now....since they seem to kick all 7 flavors of ass (i.e. 1GHz bus, FireWire800)

<- Is going to sell her soul and most likely the dog for a G5. I think I want to have your children, no_dice :D

[wolfpac181]

ME:

Plus part:

Grew up with a C-64 as a kid (mostly for games)
Big Gamer, RPG's comp, console.
Work for an ISP where my positions are Webserver, Help-desk (no manual style), Virus Repair, network consultant, and security Tech.
Build computers (both home PC's and Servers)
Can Configure Apache, including add-on modules.
Can use *nix systems (not the best but I can get a job done)
Above average H.S. and College courses outside of Major. (Calc 3, Inorganic Chem, Adv Japanese) Just for the fun of it.

Minus part:

Can't program anything worth a shit. I don't program.
No knowledge on Macs, maybe one day......



That's it, I am who I am. I don't care who thinks I'm a geek or not. We all have parts of us that make use different in the classification of "geek-dom".

[LauraleeBug]

Originally posted by geggle
Yes. On a PDP-11 too :)

Holy shit!!! Me too!!! That's the machine I learned on!!!!

/me is dated

[roo_rah]

hahaha who honestly gives a toss if you fall into one person or anothers definition of a 'geek'

i'd say part of being one, is not really caring either way.... because only tosspots care what other people think of them

my final word on the matter

BRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:P

[IML337]

I had a poem (http://iml337.com/about/geek.html) written about me...

[RaZ]

Originally posted by SmaSheD_CoW
I think there are 2 very different types of geeks involved here.

1) the hardcore physics/maths/etc type of geek, and

2) the IT geek, who spends hours coding programs, building computers, etc.

i'd class utop as a member of category 1, whereas i'm more a member of category 2. naturally there's gonna be some overlap, but you can generally tell the difference between the two types.

I would agree with this, even in putting Utop in cat 1 and myself in cat 2.

Probly for diffrent reasons.

Personaly I feel its more what your in to will give you the tag of being a "geek"
Like this, I was never really good at school on a whole, things like Science, Computers, cooking & Geography however I rocked at, English and Math I sux hard at, I understand how to use the math, I just can't work it out in my head even nearly as quick as most ppl.

So I left school @ around the ripe age of 14.
From there I took my thrist for computers and turned it in to a good paying job, sure I have been ripped off on my wage and I have worked some fucked roles in IT, but on the other hand I have worked for some of the best companys and had some of the best roles.
My thrist for computers is what classed me as a "geek" by my friends. But I have never been a "geek" in the true sence of the word. I now work on my car and bike and don't mind getting dirty, I was a bit of a jock and played footy and ice hocky as well for a bit.

But being good at the subjects I was good @ in school and having a great intrest in computers and electronics got me the tag of being a geek.
Personaly I just find big arse computers and networks intresting :)

[Bostonmess]

Geek is actually a very old word. It is a variant of geck, a term of Low German/Dutch origin that dates in English to 1511. It means a fool, simpleton, or dupe. Geck is even used by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night, V.i.:

I'm category three.

[RaBiD MuNki3]

i am a geek, I do differential calculus in my spare time.

[The Avatar]

I got beat up a school therefore I am geek!!!!!1 LOL!

[SmaSheD_CoW]

I turned up to a zgeek pub meet in Brisbane wearing a zgeek t-shirt. Surely that makes me an uber geek?

[Sodapop]

I disagree that all you need to do is be into computers to be a geek. This term is outdated, as computers are becoming more commonplace. Shit, a friend of mine who works on cars is a now a 'geek' then cos he needs to work out fuel ratios and performance chips on his laptop...

I love my electronics, the smell of flux in the morning....ahhhh. Also photography is my new bent. Love that shit. Gimme the most esoteric and rare cameras to mod. Yeah baby.

Cartoon watching and comic book love (especially adult comics such as ZERO ZERO)...horror movies. Heavy metal. This is what I grew up with, and what made me ostracised at school. Computers were just handy because they didnt give dead arms, and were INTERESTING like a rubix cube.

I think geek is about having a slightly odd bent on things, as well as having more inteligence than a room temperature egg-plant that loves football.

[nerdboy]

I am the guy most of my mates call when their computers break, even my mates who are system admins. Given that has a vague semblance to my job title I guess it makes sense. Mostly my geekdom extends to PABX's these days though. It is kinda cool having a job where most other people look at what you have on the screen and their eyes just kinda glaze over.

[s3raph]

I am the guy most of my mates call when their computers break, even my mates who are system admins. Given that has a vague semblance to my job title I guess it makes sense. Mostly my geekdom extends to PABX's these days though. It is kinda cool having a job where most other people look at what you have on the screen and their eyes just kinda glaze over.

And once their eyes glaze over they are ready for microship implantation and induction into your zombie army.

[abelgold]

My favourite make of calculator is Casio.

I prefer analytical chemistry to organic chemistry.

I much rather use laplace transforms than do calculus.

My favourite section of the periodic table is the noble gas section.

The last book I purchased (which I am reading) is a non-fiction book about Roman Warfare.

[minorproblem]

Im studying engineering and i go out of my way to propose ideas to my physics teachers at uni doing research etc, though alot of the time what i propose is either a) very difficult to build or b violates some law i did not know about. I still have alot of fun. I can also write code in c/c++ and assembler, but my main focus is electrical because its the awesome side of computers. I want to get into specialy electronics, i had my try at building guitar pedals for some of my mates at uni. Electrically they where reasonable but construction wise (eg cheap button below the pedal) they sucked gigantic squid testicals. erm....

[AVataRR]

I wanna be a starship captain.

:}

[hooptieride]

No I am not actually a geek.

What are you gonna do about it? Punk!

[Lord_Phat]

I am the guy most of my mates call when their computers break, even my mates who are system admins. Given that has a vague semblance to my job title I guess it makes sense. Mostly my geekdom extends to PABX's these days though. It is kinda cool having a job where most other people look at what you have on the screen and their eyes just kinda glaze over.

i keep tcpdump running for these purposes... you're legally obliged to stab anyone who attempts a matrix joke if they look at your screen whilst tcpdump is running :fag:

[nerdboy]

I wonder if I can use that defence in court.
"I pleed not guilty on the grounds he made a lame joke your honour".

[Lord_Phat]

I wonder if I can use that defence in court.
"I pleed not guilty on the grounds he made a lame joke your honour".

there will be no charges, you're legally obliged to kill them... you will be charged if you do not butcher them

[ezer]

i AM a starship captain!

[chip256]

I know the following languages (some more fluently than others):

VB (and about 5 various dialects)
C
PHP
Perl
Javascript

Also, i do binary calculations in my spare clock cycles (usually when in 'sleep' mode). 'nuff said.

[TheJackal001]

Humm... i think im a geek, i get offeneded when im called a nerd, my reasons:
1. I program in VB & C++

2. Pull things apart just for the hell of it, and to see how they work

3. Always try and make things work better

4. Write my own programs to do things that freeware and shareware already exists to do

5. Mess around with computer hardware

6. Help friends and others with their computer problems

7. Have other geeks ask me how to do things

8. Have many debates on the difference between geeks and nerds

I think thats all, i shall post any more that i can think of tmrw, or today, dam this midnight thing

[SOC]

This thread's starter no longer posts here, so he is no longer a geek. ;)

I consider myself a Film Geek... :D

[Foxfire]

I'd call myself a geek but I'm more diversified, rather than diving full stop into one thing (plus the fact that I'm not overly intelligent ) I spread myself around the geeky interests.

I play a lot of Magic the Gathering, this is really my main geeky qualification these days, I was a lot geekier when I was younger, dungeons and dragons, video games spending obnoxious amounts of time on the net, y'know the typical. I haven't done any programming since first year uni since I'm not counting director as programming I did however build my second computer.

I do enjoy riding my bike and I've nothing against sports, I actually enjoy them, I just never seem to have anyone to play with as joining a club doesn't excite me too much. I do also own about half a dozen swords, a few daggers and a pair of sai. I also plan on getting some nunchuk's (spelling?) in the next few weeks. Maybe a few ninja stars and some other various weaponry. Depending on price of course This I would qualify as a geeky past time as I just collect them for kicks rather than actual use. Although fruit is starting to fear my katana

Oh I also read an awful lot, if it interests me I can go through a 400-600 page book in a day. I tend to not sleep much and work sucks with no sleep, but I just can't seem to put a good book down until it's done.

[Something Fast]

What'd be the difference between a geek and a nerd?

Ok, these are either geek or nerd credentials.

I've been playing video/pc games on average 4 hours a day since the age of 5.
The first novel I read was a science fiction novel.
I used to read fantasy and sci fi exclusively.
I used to be in the chess club at school
I used to be in the creative writing club at school.
I used to read/play those Fighting Fantasy book things. Without cheating. Ever.
From 1997 - 2001 I was a complete Warhammer 40,000 fanboy.
H P Lovecraft fanboy.
Douglas Adams fanboy.
Terry Pratchett fanboy.
I own about 2000+ books.
I did 6 units of science in year 12, I'm doing a BSc at USyd majoring in Biology (I think).
When I'm online I spend most of it on a video game message board, and I've been known to use fads in real life.
I've been known to say "Y hallo thar" and "suicide is your only option" to people.
I've always been the worst person at sports in any given group.
I'm obsessed with cryptozoology and the occult.

[ajcrowley]

i'll look up the tv guide on the net even if i have a paper copy on the table, WAP and GPRS allows me to go out now without loosing my connection to the web, i refuse to go camping unless i am allowed to take a sat phone with me

[darns]

Reading all these, I humbly bows down and worships all you real geeks. I'm always a geek at heart, but you guys... you guys are the legends.

[landmachine]

I'm a geek because i get off on watching other geeks have geek-attribute dick size wars on internet forums.

edit: oh, and once i built an alarm system. using linux. and a serial port. and some cables. and speakers.

yeah. i was young and stupid.

[Thyrd]

I am a geek because I hang out on zgeek in my spare time. nuff said.

[pissedoffpolski]

And here I thought you were a geek because you have a grand total of about three friends, cant get laid if you paid for it and are about as likeable as the Golgothan from Dogma, or that could just be some of the reasons I think you suck. Either way you lose.

[AntZ]

Oh, and if you are such a geek, then HOW THE HELL did you manage to fail your Linux exam when you CHEATED ON THE TEST? Or we could bring up you not being able to keep your computer actually working, to the point that whenever you plug it into the network you either screw up your computer, your network, or both in one hit? I will give you a small hint - it isn't the server that buggers things up, because the server can handle any number of connections until you decide to plug your spyware infested, virus-ridden pile of scrap metal in, and your junkbox infests everything else on the network. To call you a geek is like calling me a nice person or Mark technology savvy, the term just doesn't fit the person.

[Something Fast]

Two words for you, AntZ my friend:
Luddite Geek

[dozer]

i dragon punched someone in the face and said "stoomkin!" when i did it