What is the difference between a nerd and a geek?

I would think that a nerd is someone into books, book smarts. A geek is into computers, electronics etc…. Thats my take, and/or my version.

Geeks don’t have their own candy yet.

Nerd is a mental condition. Geek is physical.

there is even a song about geeks

A nerd is kind of a loner into electronics/technology. A geek is really into them. Different levels.

nerd has four letters, but geek… also has four letters
nerds are socially awkward and… geeks are also socially awkward
people love to make fun of nerds, but….. they love to make fun of geeks
nerds have revenge movies in which nerd chic was developed while geeks…. had revenge movies in which geek chic was developed

Gosh. I don’t know.

Wait!

Nerd backwards is dren, while geek backwards is keeg.

There you have it!

@Draconess25 but i’ve never heard of nerd candy?

@tadpole You haven’t?

@filmfann and never forget about who was right.
And here’s a relevant diagram.

In all honesty, For everyone who says that geeks have X quality and nerds have Y quality, there’s going to be a person who says that geeks have Y quality instead, and nerds have the X quality.

If I had to give my own personal sweeping generalizations, I’d say that geeks are tech-oriented. The people who are into building computers, hardcore gamers, tinkerers.
Nerds, to me, are more of the kind of people who are deeply emotionally involved in the Stars (Wars, Trek, Battle, Gate), Lord of the Rings, etc. The people who cosplay, know the backstories of all of their favorite characters, etc.
But that’s just a dumb, oversimplified generalization.

For the most part, they mean the same thing. I always feel like “nerd” has more of negative connotations. But that may be because I’m into tech, and not into Lord of the Rings.

Funny. To me, it’s the opposite of what @Sarcasm said.

To me, geeks are more tech oriented and nerds are more book smart. I tend to use them interchangeably though most of the time because I know a lot of people that fit into both.

@filmfann the song about geeks is about the original geeks—“Blassie [wrester “villian”] came up with his famous “pencil-neck geek” catchphrase early in his career to describe a fellow carnival performer known as The Geek, who bit the heads off chickens and snakes. Blassie described this geek as having a neck like a stack of dimes, and that he was a real pencil-neck geek.
Often the geek was a pin-headed, pencil-necked mental defective who wasn’t bothered by biting heads off chickens.

What I wonder is how that term became equivalent with computer guru “Geek Squad” etc

Nerds, however, were always the same sort of nerds they are today. Klutzy brainiacs who can’t get dates.

Oh a few billion dollars.Between Bill Gates & Richard Branson anyhoo.