Geeks, Twits, and Nerds

Hangout Humor (Rated G)
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There are many people who think “Geek”, “Twit” and “Nerd” mean the same thing, but they are actually very different.

So here’s the Definition - Once and For All:

Geeks

  • The bottom of the chain. Geeks can sometimes become Twits or Nerds.
  • Obey rules because “those are the rules”, often without any thought as to why rules are in place. (eg. They would not jaywalk, just because that’s the rules.)
  • Often get some isolated desk job so they never have to interact with anyone.
  • Very naïve. Often unaware that they are different.
  • May be Shy. Often deliberately avoid interaction with others
  • Usually lack knowledge, wisdom, logical thought, and common sense.
  • Have a variety of self-images.
  • Varying levels of patience and foresight.
  • Have varying opinions of others’ work.
  • Dwell on mistakes, or completely ignore them.
  • Often back up their opinions with more opinions and “old wives’ tales”, or don’t back them up at all. Usually the result of ignorance, not stupidity.
  • Often swayed by peer pressure in order to avoid standing out. Or, sometimes they totally ignore to all peer pressure.
  • Hate being called names. True Geeks wish they were “normal”, like “everybody else”. (Note that Geeks who try to become Nerds are not True Geeks, but Apprentice Nerds.)

Twits

  • Basically, they don’t really qualify as Nerds, although they can sometimes be very Nerd-like. Twits can occasionally graduate to Nerd status.
  • Can be legalistic, demanding compliance to all rules, despite the actual purpose of those rules. Or, they can think they are smart enough to “beat the system” and get away with anything. (eg. Would either never jaywalk because that’s the law, or would jaywalk all the time, saying the cars would stop anyway.)
  • Often become lawyers, drug dealers, crackers (the true name for what the movies call “hackers”), managers of porn web sites, Microsoft employees. These are the loudmouths who are always complaining and filing lawsuits. Unfortunately, they can also become ITs, programmers, and CEOs of businesses.
  • Very narrow-minded. Try to use their little knowledge of others for personal gain.
  • Often loud and obnoxious.
  • Have knowledge, but lack wisdom, logical thought, and common sense.
  • Think they are really smart
  • Impatient. Want everything done NOW. Will sacrifice quality for speed. Twits also lack a lot of foresight.
  • Think other people’s work isn’t good enough (but never actually give suggestions on how to make it better), but their own work is perfect. Often redo others’ work themselves.
  • Twits are NEVER wrong; They rarely admit errors. Instead, they make excuses, and they get offended when others point out their mistakes.
  • Often back up their opinions with more opinions, rumours and falsehoods. (Like Geeks but worse)
  • Immune to all peer pressure. Twits think they are islands, totally without need of others and their opinions
  • Don’t associate with Geeks, sometimes not even with Nerds (they’re too cool for that). “Normal” people don’t want anything to do with them either, so Twits end up being an annoyance that won’t go away.
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Nerds

  • Top of the chain, almost never change back to Twits or Geeks.
  • Aware of the purpose of rules and obey them accordingly. (eg. They wouldn't jaywalk across a busy street, but if there is no traffic and the street is narrow, they would do the practical thing.)
  • Often become ITs, hackers (the real meaning, like at the MIT AI lab, and Linux programmers, NOT people who do illegal stuff that hurts others), founders of large businesses, open-source programmers, or really anything they enjoy.
  • Aware of the world around them (global and local). Also self-aware, constantly trying to improve themselves
  • May or may not be outgoing, but never deliberately avoid people (like Geeks do).
  • Think logically and practically. Nerds use their knowledge, wisdom and common sense.
  • Aware that their knowledge, although more than some, is actually very little on the grand scale of things. Always striving to learn more.
  • Have enough foresight to know approximately how long something will take, have the patience to wait, and the willingness to help. Nerds rationally balance quality and speed for the application.
  • Never think their work is good enough; Nerds always look for improvements to be made. Nerds make helpful suggestions on improving others' work. They often help others learn from their own experience. Nerds are always open to new ideas.
  • Admit mistakes and go about fixing them quickly. Never get offended when others point out their mistakes; often are grateful for the criticism.
  • Back up their opinions with facts.
  • Usually immune to negative peer pressure, but very receptive to positive pressure to improve. Nerds are also able to clearly tell the difference.
  • Agree with those who call them nerds (not Nerds, as in this Definition, but just nerds), and acknowledge it as a fact of life.

The bottom line: Geeks are just plain weird, Twits are obnoxious critics who think they know everything about everything, and Nerds are intelligent people who know who they are and where they are going.

What are you? Well, here's a way to tell:

  • If you think you qualify as a Nerd, you're probably a Twit.
  • If you think you're too much of a Twit to be a Nerd, you probably are a Nerd.
  • If you think being a Geek is far worse than being a Twit, you're probably a Twit.
  • If you think you're a Geek, you are. But take comfort: You've acknowledged it - That's the first step in becoming a Nerd!
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im sure i can relate these defs. to someone...........