Saturday, February 6, 2010

Comfortable as a geek?

Maybe this wasn't actually discomfort, but it was an odd moment. Awkward, anyway.
Yesterday someone I know asked me, in all seriousness as she was wording an email, "What's the opposite of geek?"
There's a modern-day question. What exactly is the opposite of a geek? What, in today's world, is a geek? Certainly different than the definitions and connotations the word held ten years ago.
Not being sure of the reason she was asking, I didn't know what to say because the context of the question would affect the answer.
Therefore I told her I wasn't really sure of her question. To my surprise, she looked me straight in the eye and said, "You know, the opposite of you."
I'm a geek? When did this happen?
On that note, here's my thought provoking question of the day. What is a geek, and, what is the opposite of one, and where do you fit in on the geek-graph-line?

4 comments:

  1. I think the opposite of a geek is a Luddite, at least in the definition of geek that means one who is proficient in technology. A Luddite is an opponent of technological progress.

    You know, like someone who can't see the point of having a computer.

    I just can't understand people like that!

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  2. Wow, I'm impressed. Now if only I'd known that on Friday. :)
    Gail

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  3. Haha!!! That is SOOO funny-I hope she wasn't a good friend!! Sounds more like a friend of one of our kids, what they could say without blinking an eye! I think kids use the term when referring to anyone who is not as cool as they perceive themselves to be! But, on the other hand, our local Best Buy has "The Geek Squad" and that is who my husband loves to talk to when deciding on what laptop to buy for one of the kids :)......so, take your pick, Gail-ha!

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  4. Geek according to wikipedia: The word geek is a slang term, noting individuals as "a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, etc.
    I'll leave you to say whether or not you fit that description. ROFL It would fit me. I am decidedly odd and don't take away my computer or my cell phone or my dvd player... As to the opposite, hmmm a dead person would have no use for technology. Other than that, only a crazy person. ROFL just kidding. I really don't know the answer to that.

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