'Geek' - what a strange word. I read a history of it over the weekend in the Sunday paper. Amazingly it first appeared, in a novel, back in the 30's but it meant something different then. Why am I interested? Well, I've been been described as geeky now and then over the past couple of decades! It seems to be something to do with that peculiar [but completely normal] combination of wearing glasses, a T-shirt, jeans and an unhealthy interest in comics, sci fi, monsters and space![maybe I've missed something?]. Back in 70's UK the word for such leanings was 'wierd' or 'wierdo' but I personally prefered 'hippy' [but not 'hip'] before it became totally extinct with the onslaught of Punkdom.
My favourite geeky 'label', an actual nickname no less, was 'Beatnik', which a free-spirited motorbike-ridin' eelcatcher, called John the Eelman, gave me whilst living on a bird reserve in the Fens [geeky?]. I can still hear him now rudely waking me up one morning shouting 'Beatnik, Beatnik, they've dropped the f******n bomb!' Late seventies cold-war humour. which just wouldn't work now!
Fortunately I avoided my daughter's 90's generation's particular moniker for such tendencies, 'Freak'. Although not unknown to me [the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers were 'freakin' around in comics back in the 70's] I always thought it more offensive than earlier efforts.
Which finally brings me to 'nerd', a person who invariably lives in 'nerdsville' here in the UK. I'm just not sure about 'nerd', although I think it may have something to do with computers? Or Chess? Is the brainy guy in Bing Bang Theory a nerd? Are his mates geeks? Can a nerd live in geeksville or vice versa? I suppose it's a bit nerdy [or geeky?] to even think about stuff like that!
Ah well, it's all geek to me!
YOURE LUCKY - I JUST GET "YOU SAD B@STARD!" by my loving wife!
ReplyDeleteI think you may find the word NERD is also from the US. May or may not have been created for it but certainly first heard over here in England in an episode of HAPPY DAYS in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteJim Lewis
Computer Games, you left out computer games! You can't be a true Geek if you don't 'do' CGI shoot'em-ups!...I do Tetris, does that count!!
ReplyDelete'Preezes'...F2's a tetris block when they're getting a bit fast, to see how to lock-it down!
oh god yes - computer games - ive still got my 3 Amigas, a spectrum Zx, gameboy colour, ps2,psp,xbox 360 and Wii. Some of the best games emerged from the 16 bit era and some beautiful artwork too!
ReplyDeleteStaying in to make Airfix models and dioramas instead of going out to play keepy uppy could get a chap some serious stick back in my day, often related to one's sexual preferences!
ReplyDeleteI'd call it a healthy interest in comics, sci fi monsters and space myself woodsy! A friend of mine once mentiond she had seen two badges at the world SF covention she had attended one said 'Nerd Pride' and the other 'Glad to be Sad' which I think celebrates who we are & what we love no?. by the by I'm married to a Star Trek fan who Loves SF,comics & toys as much as I do!
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