Nerdiness scale
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The scale below is a playful look at nerdiness, and notice I also have a scale for geekiness below it, to help highlight that they are indeed different. So where do you fall on each? Are you more nerd, more geek, either or both?!
My Graphical Representation of the "Nerdiness Scale" (0-10)
The fun part: Challenge your nerdiest friends to see who is highest. Send them this graphic and decide!
My Graphical Representation of the "Geekiness Scale" (0-10)
Nerd vs. Geek
People tend to use the word "nerd" and "geek" interchangably but their meanings are pretty different! I adore the woman's shirt that says "I love nerds".... because you don't really see a "I love geeks" shirt. Why?
Well I would like to say that being a nerd is associated with being intelligent and getting shit done. Practical stuff. Like building a new type of car. Geeks can't do that. If you are a geek, but not a nerd, the best you can build is a model train station or a replica Star Trek uniform that you can wear to a costume party. So let's not hate on geeks though, because being a geek often comes with being a nerd, but not always. I like to do a summary like this:
- Nerd: intelligence / science / non-fiction / practical applications.
- Nerdy: creativity / fandom / fiction / fun.
So yes, you might yield two different scores!
I think my favourite way to explain it... is what do you talk about. If you talk about fiction constantly - like Marvel cartoons or Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) - then you are geeky. If you talk about non-fiction - like quantum physics, computer specs or mechanical inventions - then you are nerdy.
Nerds and Creative Passion
One fun thing is that I feel like nerds often have their own creative outlets like getting ridiculously good at a musical instrument (which I never did) or specific events like swing dancing! If their creative passion is dressing up as a cosplay animal... well then that's nerdy, but in my experience, a lot of the smartest people I knew when I worked at Google were not hugely nerdy at all.
Nerds and Friends
People will joke that the nerds in school have no friends. And there might be some truth to that, because (a) highly academic people often have less time for hanging out with friends and (b) there is a chance that that high intelligence either alienates their classmates or maybe it takes away from their social skills. Often smart people are on the spectrum also. But what's nice of course, is that often people find their own like-minded people.... and so nerds might do well to be friends with other nerds (and geeks if they have to) because they can have more of a shared vocabulary as they talk about how to take over the world.
For nerds shall inherit the earth!
Types of Nerds
Are there types of nerds? Sure there are! Nerds are usually big on science, but it's fun to say someone is a physics nerd or maths nerd, mechanical nerd. But can you call someone a spiritual nerd? Nerd typically implies science, and the woo-woo arts mostly not rooted in arts.... so I think you'd be better off to say spiritual geek. Even for something like language or history, I think history buff or history geek feels more apt because it's an obsession someone has that delves outside of the pure sciences. This is me just rambling by the way, but I hope it makes sense and is fun to talk about with your nerdy/geeky friends.
Disclaimer
These are not a scientifically accurate scale. Don't get too nerdy about this, it's just for fun. Also, I like to ramble BS, so don't be offended by anything I said, or the wild generalisations I made. Articles are less fun if you don't make any sweeping generalisations.
Sincerely,
Andrew Noske
PS: Feedback is most encouraged! :)
See Also
- Graphic Scales - For more of these scales.
- Geekiness Scale - Same-same, but quite different.
| Acknowledgements: I'd like to thank Rob and Nathan from Corner Pocket Swing for inspiring this article. Both very nerdy and geeky in my humble opinion, but it was a discussion over dinner after I just met them that made me decide: "this will be my next silly scale"! Am I nerdy too.... yeah, just a bit... I'm not a genius, but anyone with a PhD is bound to be at least a 5 I guess. It was fascinating to realise that half the people who go to this particular swing club in Brisbane seem to have PhDs.... so I could easily have put "swing dancer" on the scale as a signal, but that's something only swing dancers might understand. |
