Geek

Dealing with mathematical and scientific topics is typical for the geek : bumper stickers with the first decimal places of the number pi

Geek [ giːk ] (colloquial for "nerd", " parlor scholar ") today generally refers to a person who is characterized by a great interest in scientific or fictional topics, which are usually electronic (cf. computer freak ) or fantastic in nature. According to its origin, the term originally referred to people who were conspicuous by doing strange things (see Freak ).

Word history

In the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the English word geek (from the Middle Low German word "Geck") referred to people who bit off the head of live animals during sideshow at fairs and circuses. In this context, “geek” stood for a person who was conspicuous through strange deeds.

The German word "Dude" means a fool or gates with unsteady, flatterhaftem behavior, "compare Jeck " in Kölschen and gek in Dutch. "Geck" originally referred to a mentally handicapped person and refers to the sounds of such a person. Later, "dude" referred to the overly fashionably dressed or well- mannered man ("Modegeck", Modenarr , "Stutzer") as well as the fool.

Since the 1990s, the use of the word geek has changed . It is now associated with a person who deals intensively with a topic, especially from computer science, or who may have an extroverted urge to recognize their own way of life .

Computer science or computer geek

In the 20th century, this term was often used for people who are heavily involved with mathematics, technology or computers, often in new media . This definition of geek comes close to the classic definition of hacker (or nerd ). The interactive social behavior of geeks in their respective fields as well as the communication between geeks is usually incomprehensible to others.

“ Computer geek ” is the name given to someone with a greatly increased interest in computers and new media, often with an intense relationship with the Internet.

Further use

Another common use of the word geek is as a derogatory term for a person - often endowed with above-average intelligence - with weak social skills or someone who gives the impression of being.

Others

In the United States, Embrace Your Geekness Day has been celebrated on July 13th since 1990 .

literature

Neil Feineman: Geek Chic. The Ultimate Guide to Geek Culture. Ginko Press, Corte Madera 2005, ISBN 1-58423-205-6 .

Web links

Wiktionary: Geek - Explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

The Hacker / Nerd Connection , best known definition of the terms "geek", "hacker" etc. (in the jargon file )
Lars Konzack: Geek Culture - The 3rd Counter Culture (English; PDF; 99 kB) ( Memento from August 20, 2014 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

↑ Douglas Harper: Online Etymology Dictionary ( English ) Retrieved on June 21, 2011th
↑ geek. In: Encarta Online . Microsoft Corporation, archived from the original on April 17, 2009 ; accessed on December 12, 2011 (English): “2. obsessive computer user: somebody who is a proud or enthusiastic user of computers or other technology, sometimes to an excessive degree (informal) "
↑ Timo Lokoschat : It's getting tight on the calendar. 365 strange commemorative and public holidays. Sanssouci in Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-8363-0218-0 , p. 114.

[1] Douglas Harper: Online Etymology Dictionary ( English ) Retrieved on June 21, 2011th

[2] geek. In: Encarta Online . Microsoft Corporation, archived from the original on April 17, 2009 ; accessed on December 12, 2011 (English): “2. obsessive computer user: somebody who is a proud or enthusiastic user of computers or other technology, sometimes to an excessive degree (informal) "

[3] Timo Lokoschat : It's getting tight on the calendar. 365 strange commemorative and public holidays. Sanssouci in Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-8363-0218-0 , p. 114.