I'm a sociology student and I'm conducting a study for my coursework. Basically I'm researching the meaning of the term geek and what it means to be one, particularly on the Net.

I was wondering if some of you could be wonderful and fill out this questionnaire for me?

I realise you will be taking time out of your lives to do it, and although it's only ten questions some of them require a longer answer than merely ticking a box; but I really would be grateful and you'd be helping a poor needy student!

Well, that said, if you fill this out please email me the answers, they will be completely confidential I assure you. You can also post them here if that's easier - though of course then I can't assure you that they'll be kept confidential as they'll be on a public forum.

Here is the questionnaire:

1. Male__
Female__ [please 'tick']

2. Under 13__
13 - 18__
19 - 30__
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes__
No__ [please 'tick']

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No__ [please 'tick']

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

Thank you very much for your time,
Sincerely,
Rebecca Bryant.

I was wondering if some of you could be wonderful and fill out this questionnaire for me?

I think I can manage that. You may also want to check out some of the other topics in this forum and the others (perhaps just search the archives?), as the definition of "geek" has been hashed & bashed a bit in these parts.

1. Male_X_
Female__ [please 'tick']

2. Under 13__
13 - 18__
19 - 30_X_ (30)
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

In general, someone who can be so involved with something that it actually affects their way of thinking (when I was working on my thesis, my wife once was in the room when I was talking with another student, and she remarked that the only word she understood was "the"). A side effect is that they often generally don't think like mainstream society, and this can cause behaviors and attitudes that seem abnormal (but don't dare imply that being different from mainstream is bad!). Geeks are not only aware they are different, they often revel in their difference.

Today, many people seem to consider "geek" and "computer geek" to be the same set, rather than having a superset/subset relationship, though this is not true. For example, as an electrical engineering undergrad, the box we used to carry around components for our labs were called "geek boxes" -- so, clearly, "geek" must be a sufficiently broad term to include other technical fields. Many geeks assert that there are non-technical geeks, but I have no personal experience with this.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes_X_
No__ [please 'tick']

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

I am what I am. See, for example, the first sentence in my above paragraph on the breadth of the term "geek" -- it reflects my mathematical leanings.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No_X_ [please 'tick']

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.

As I described it above, "geek" is not derrogatory. It can become such in two sitations:
- A geek who cannot project his/her self-worth is more likely to consider the label harmful, and he/she is also more likely to be called a geek in one of the negative senses, described in the next bullets
- When someone is called "geeky", it may be intended to be a slur referring to behaving awkwardly -- this awkwardness is generally in dealing with an uncomfortable situation, especially social situations, and very especially with members of the opposite sex
- When "geek" is used negatively, it would be an implication that their non-mainstream attitudes & behavior make them inferior to those who do fit in the mainstream. I have not seen this usage beyond high school. An interesting twist is that many geeks consider those who do appear to fit well in the mainstream to be inferior because they're blindly following the unthinking masses. This can be just as disingenous as the mainstreamers thinking ill of geeks. I'm certainly not denying there are those who go about life without thinking (I've certainly dealt with enough of them up-close to recognize them), but there are others who can think for themselves but happen to fit in the mainstream.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

Not sure -- in both realms, I associate with those who consider geeks to be a beneficial part of society.

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

Pre-college, I was treated differently only occasionally because I was different. But since I projected my self-worth and acted as though I wasn't bothered by the taunts, those who harrassed me decided it wasn't fun and moved on. Until a couple years ago, there was no noticable difference between how people treated me and how people treated others. In the last couple years, when people find out I'm a computer engineer, I can see in their eyes a couple extra notches of respect.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

No, not at this time.

------------------
cb
Oooh! What does this button do!?

That's okay, I'm at work and getting paid by the hour to do this (well, I have to talk on the phone with customers too, but they're easy to ignore).

1.
Male

[please 'tick']

2.
32

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.
Yikes... not gonna retype that. Go look in this thread.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek?
Yes

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.
I like chicken! That's not why, though. I install, repair and upgrade computers and train people on their use for a living, then go home and play video games. My last significant love interest, who recently dumped me incidentally, was a girl I was teaching to be at ethernet cable laying goddess^*. Put simply, my whole life revolves around the use of technology.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Go look in that thread (same one as before) for my long drawn out answer, but the short answer is 'not any more'.

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.
Wasn't the link elaborate enough?

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]
The internet doesn't have a consciousness, much less an understanding of the term 'geek'. It simply allows communcation between the people who have access and people, being people, tend to have unique defintions for everything until they're exposed to a good definition/idea/leader, at which point the majority gather like lemmings and follow along like mindless little drones. Yep, I'm a people person...

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?
Everyone bloody well keeps asking me to fix their computers and to advise them on what parts to buy to upgrade, for one thing, so yeah. Fortunately I don't mind that too much. It's kinda fun sometimes.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?
Whatever programmer on the team for Crimson Skies decided to have wingmen continually screaming out enemy locations should be shot. If he/she was the one who decided to add the "Enemy at 12 o'clock. He's right in front of you" message (duh! if I were blind I wouldn't be playing this game), he/she should be flayed first, then shot if still alive.

Steen, who prolly needs to take a break from that game...

^*She used me for my brain... I don't know whether I should be pissed or ecstatic

quote:

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Originally posted by Rebecca Bryant:
1. Male__
Female__ [please 'tick']
Buchanan_X_

2. Under 13__
13 - 18__
19 - 30_X_
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

First, I want to say that on that earlier question I meant to say Male. I think it's only fair if you don't count Steen's ballot because of the inherently unfair design.

Geeks can't be defined any more than any culture can be defined--they share a knowledge of that culture, and a willingness to aid others of their culture. There are similarities in knowledge, diction, and habits, but there are no hard rules. Basically, it's a group that have banded together to satisfy common needs of community. Just as people who move to Canada start watching hockey and in this way culturally become Canadians, people who hang out with geeks start watching Red Dwarf, and become geeks. It isn't watching Red Dwarf that makes one geeky, it's the act of participation in activities that other geeks do.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes__
No__ [please 'tick']
Buchanan_X_

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

The ballot design was unconstitutional. ok, ok, I'll stop doing that. It's probably not funny anymore.

Basically, I consider myself a geek because I fit the parameters I described above.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No__ [please 'tick']
Buchanan_X_

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.
Hehe... ok, I still find it funny.
It depends on who says it, and it what context. 95% of the time, I take it as a factual statement. 'That guy is such a geek.' 'Oh, maybe he can help me with this JavaScript, then.'
Basically, I second EngrBohn's response.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

Yes--geeks in traditional society are a group that occassionally gets 'outed', though the general density of geeks in the world is increasing to the point that this is becoming less and less true. I think the high-school-aged geeks on here will attest that it does still exist. Because of the inherent 'one-person-one-node' nature of the internet, there is no central social niche to get 'outed' from. I think that geeks are more comfortable being individuals than most, because we've been forced to be individuals through most of our lives.

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

nah--most people in my social circles don't really care one way or the other.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

This ballot is unconstitutional.

[/b]

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1. Male tick
   Female__ [please 'tick']
   
2. Under 13__
   13 - 18tick
   19 - 30__
   31 - 40__
   41 - 50__
   51 - 65__
   Over 65__ [please 'tick']
   
3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.
   Someone obsessed (or even mildly interested) in various unorthodox pursuits, such as math, science, or technology, as opposed to sex, drugs, or rock 'n' roll.
   
4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yestick
   No__ [please 'tick']
   
5. Please explain your answer to question 4.
   I'm a technophile. I have no social skills. I'm proud to be a geek. "I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam."
   
6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derogatory term?
   Yes__
   Notick [please 'tick']
   
7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.
   If I consider myself a geek, why would I be ashamed of it?
   
8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]
   Only to different people. To geeks, it is the same online and off. To mundanes (normal people), that holds true.
   
9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?
   Only by certain rather closed-minded buffoons who think picking on geeks is a worthy use of their time. Being singled out is part of what made me determined to be as geeky as possible.
   
10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?
    I like ham.
    

http://www.crosscircuit.com/html/Camp2000/ballot.html

2. Under 13__
13 - 18_X
19 - 30__
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.
hmmmm, tough one.... i'd say it boils down to someone who loves to fool with technical things (electronics/ mechanics/ computers/ etc.) particularly someone who's good at what they do and knowledgable (sp? dammit, i need a coffee... my brain is shutting down)
its becoming synonymous with the word "hacker" (in the traditional sense that is, refer to the jargon file if you're not sure what i'm talking about) but maybe not quite as "in-depth" as hackers tend to be (another way of putting it would be that all hackers are geeks in some way or another, but not all geeks are hackers)

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes_X
No__ [please 'tick']

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.
i love my computer... i spend 99% of my time with my computer, tweaking it, poking it, toying with it, seeing how far i can push it, trying to understand more and more about it... on the rare occaisions that i get away from the monitor, i normally try and do theatre technical work, or anything involving hands-on work that requires me to use my brain

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No_X [please 'tick']

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.
some people might argue this, but personally i take it as a compliment to be called a geek... most geeks tend to be fairly smart, and even the mainstream image of geeks reflects that, ergo, being called a geek may be a hack-down of my social-skills (which, i'm the first to admit, are lacking) but at the same time, is complimenting me on my mental capacity...

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]
umm.. other than the obvious, not really, "real-world" connotations tend to refer to any kind of geek (science geeks, lit. geeks, etc. etc. ) whereas almost any time you hear people talking about geeks on the net, they are referring to computer geeks...

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

well... each different social class is treated "in a special way" by society... so yes, geeks are treated in a special way, but so are students, corporate business-men, janitors, emergency workers... you see where i'm going with this eh ?

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

umm.. not really, good luck with your course-work :P~ if this study results in a final paper being written (which i'm assuming it will) it would be nice to see if posted here, if thats possible...

2. Under 13__
13 - 18_X_
19 - 30__
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

Hmm .. I'd have to say, a geek is one who has a strong interest in a particular subject or idea, wishes to learn as much as possible about it, and puts a lot of themselves into it, making it a large part of their life. Sadly, geeks also seem to earn a lot of criticism, regardless of category. It's just another label, such as 'prep' or 'jock' which no one can truly pin to you by anything but appearance.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes_X_
No__ [please 'tick']

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

First of all, I've had enough people tell me this. It made me think, and I'd have to agree, particularly going by my own definition, and many of the ones submitted by the others who filled out this survey. Besides, it's the only way I can categorize myself when needed, since I really don't fit into any other category.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No_X_ [please 'tick']

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.

I do not feel offended when called a geek .. however, it can be used in an offensive or derogatory manner, which *could* make it a derogatory term. As it can be used in either way, the only real way to determine whether or not it is derogatory would be to analyze your own reaction to it. I think generally, most people see it as derogatory, but I have no idea why .. It just depends who you're talking to.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

Not really, since it's all people using it .. Kind of hard to explain. It's not really the Internet itself giving it a different connotation, it's the particular people using it who give it a connotation. The Internet really doesn't have much to do with it, since these same people most likely use the same connotation offline.

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

That, too, depends. Geeks are treated differently when their help is needed. In school, from my experience, many of the geeks get good grades, and get treated differently for that [e.g. given privileges other students do not have - being able to sleep during class, etc]. The person giving the treatment is the deciding factor, though. If they look down upon geeks, then yes, they will be treated differently in a negative manner. Then there are the people who treat everyone alike, which I personally don't think is a very good course of action, as people are so different that sometimes you need to make exceptions.

Oh yeah, personal experience .. Sure, I get away with a whole lot more than I would if I wasn't a geek. Especially around geeky teachers/adults - they realize the common labeling & work harder at getting along with me.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

Nah, I'm done. I just finished my finals & I've got a headache, so I apologize if any of my responses don't make a whole lot of sense. :P Okay, *now* I'm done.

quote:

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Originally posted by Rebecca Bryant:
I was wondering if some of you could be wonderful and fill out this questionnaire for me?

---

Actually, I can be wonderful even if I don't fill out your questionaire, but I will anyway.

1. Male_x_
Female__ [please 'tick']

2. Under 13__
13 - 18__
19 - 30__
31 - 40__
41 - 50_x_
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

Someone rejected by the general society for being too high far to the left on the intelligence distribution.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes__
No_x_ [please 'tick']

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

I grew up with it, as an adult I still don't fit in, so why try to deny the obvious?

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes_x_
No_x_ [please 'tick']

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.

It was intended to be, but now that so many of us have embraced our differences from the norm and come to love ourselves, not to mention making better money after college than those has been athletes that mocked us as kids, it's a badge of honor.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

Depends on what you mean by the real world.

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

Yes, of course. We are treated like shit when we're young.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

Yes. Your joke about the information not staying confidential if we post our replies is quite geeky. YOU'RE OUTED, BECKY!

Welcome aboard. Where you studying, and how long till you graduate?

------------------
Saintonge

"She just left me. *sniff* She didn't even care enough to cut me head off or set me on fire. *sniff*"

1. Male

2. 13 - 18

3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.
I haven't anything to add to this one. Just take what EngrBohn said and case it and paste it.

4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes

5. Please explain your answer to question 4.
I show all the usual symptoms, but I can't really be sure outside of a diagnosis by a qualified doctor. It usually only takes me a day or so at any place that has computers before I assume or am forced to assume the title of High Lord Fixer, and I probably crank out more program code every day than most programmers who are out of school and making money to do it. Anyhow, I *want* to be geek.

6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
I used to, but I don't anymore. I think it's great that we geeks have taken a term that was once derogatory, and made it a compliment by using it on each other as a term of respect. Society in general may still be under the delusion that it's a derogatory term, but an insult is only an insult if the person that's being insulted feels that it is. It doesn't matter what the insulter thinks the word does to someone.

7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.
Oh, I was supposed to elaborate on it for the *next* question, I see. Well, I never was real good filling out forms.

8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]
I think that, just as in the real world, connations of any word depends on what group you're talking about.

9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?
Well, everyone get's treated differently from others for some reason or another. If you mean, more than average differences, oh, hell yes, for an elementary/junior high/high school student. It's a hard childhood. Period. Things get better as a geek gets older and more sure of himself, but as a child the geek gets his self esteem beaten down to nothing over and over by ridicule and rejection by others. In some schools, the teachers even encourage it. And, if there are no other geeks your age around, it can get very lonely. (For instance, I live in a small town in a sparsely populated area. There just isn't anyone I can hang around with in person and talk about programming.) In the end, the hard growing up may make you a stronger person--but that's like saying hitting yourself with a hammer is a good exercise because it increases your ability to handle pain. All in all, I would not trade my life for a non-geek life, I just wish there were some geeks in my area that I could hang with.

10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?

MrMachineCode
(...)pretend to be some college student, and post a request for a program that seems trivial but has some subtle design flaw that makes it impossible to implement.

Upon initiation, must print "Hello World!" and terminate. "Hello World!" must be printed in the user's native language.

quote:

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Originally posted by EngrBohn:
Upon initiation, must print "Hello World!" and terminate. "Hello World!" must be printed in the user's native language.

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(edit) RPM - Read Programmer's Mind

Lol, yeah, okay, so it was a kinda geeky thing to say, sue me, at least I'm in good company . Though I gotta admit I'm more a geek by choice of company, personality and my ability to become strangely obsessed with things than by being a computer genius. (soo...I use a computer better than a lot of people I know, but...well...it's not saying much *grin*).

Anyways, thanks again for your help, and to whomever asked, I'm a sophmore, I think you Americans call it. (I'm Welsh). Second year in college. But we're only there for three years, not four like you guys. So next year would be my last.

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1. Male__
Female_X_ [please 'tick']

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2. Under 13__
13 - 18__
19 - 30_X_
31 - 40__
41 - 50__
51 - 65__
Over 65__ [please 'tick']

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3. In your own words please define the term 'geek'.

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4. Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Yes_X_
No__ [please 'tick']

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5. Please explain your answer to question 4.

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6. Do you consider the term 'geek' to be a derrogatory term?
Yes__
No_X_ [please 'tick']

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7. Please elaborate on your answer to question 6.

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8. Do you believe the term 'geek' has different connotations on the internet as opposed to the real world? [please elaborate]

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9. Do you believe that Geeks are treated in a special way by society? Do you have experience of either being treated differently because you are a Geek, or of treating a Geek differently?

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10. Are there any further comments you wish to make?
nope, c'est tout.

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