GeekDad or NerdDad - "Is There a Difference?" Asks Bre Pettis

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We are fans of the fine hacking stylings of Bre Pettis here at GeekDad. So, when he poses the question via Twitter, "What is the difference between a nerd and a geek?" our ears prick up.
Bre has since blogged on the topic and provided some interesting facts about the origin of the terms "geek" and "nerd".

"Here are a few interesting facts about the term nerd:

1. It was first used in a Doctor Seuss book.

2. It is rumored to have roots in the word drunk spelled backwards as knurd meaning someone who studied rather than partied.

3. Stereotypically it is someone who is awkward.

4. It is a type of candy produced by Wonka

5. Slashdot references nerds in it’s tagline: “news for nerds, stuff that matters.

The word geek, on the other hand, also has its own interesting facts about it:

1. Geeks are obsessives who get into things and focus on them.

2. Sometimes defined by being outside of the mainstream.

3. The definition has roots in carnival and circus culture."

I love the fact geek has its roots in circus culture, as during my university days I paid the rent by juggling and unicycling at kids birthday parties and the odd festival. But, my fellow GeekDad's what is it about the word "geek", do we preference it over "nerd"? Would you happily be called a NerdDad, or not?

Please, leave your comments below - I'm sure we can pass them onto Bre, for research purposes, of course.

via I Make Things