I don't think "geek" has quite the negative connotation you say it does anymore. I refer to myself as a geek from time to time, and even if I am a professional programmer, I do completely normal things like wear a Klingon costume to the grocery store, speak fluent Wookiee, make PDP-11 and quantum physics jokes in public, go to SCA outings, LARP, and dismissively compare people to Dr. Who characters and snort derisively when they don't get it.
- Jim Cameron Johnson wrote: >Here's a question that a friend of mine asked me, and I thought the CF folks >could throw in on this. > >Intellectual achievement is something that we, as a society, should want to >encourage. Sadly, the term "nerd" or "geek" has negative connotations, largely >focused around social dysfunction: > >- "Our IT guy? He's a real computer geek." >- "All she does is study. She's such a nerd." > >I am looking for a word or label that can be used to describe individuals >who seek to expand their mind and explore the world. "Renaissance Man" is a >bit outdated and also somewhat gender specific. "Scholar" tends to focus on >scholastic achievment. > >The term should have positive connotations that can be used in sentences like: > >- "He's a ranked boxer and also a X." > >- "When she isn't out snowboarding, she's programming web pages. Clearly, >she's an athlete and a X". > >- "I am a X." > >Thoughts, people? > >Cameron > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:164925 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
