Does “Geek” or “Nerd” Offend?

Have you heard of the latest hullaballoo in geekdom? Or maybe I should say nerdom. I just read this post over at Forever Geek, talking about how a professor is proposing to ban the words “geek” and “nerd.” Why? He says that their use merely helps in propagating the negative connotations that have always been associated with them. He says this despite the fact that more and more people are starting to get into the idea of “cool geeks” or “cool nerds.”

David Anderegg, professor of psychology from Bennington College, says that these terms are derogatory and liken them to racial slurs. His opinion is that even if we try to make these terms cool, it only highlights the fact that they are of a negative nature.

Now I am no professor, but my take on this is that there is NO NEED to ban “geek” or “nerd.” Turn your television on and what do you see? Music geeks dancing and singing on Glee. We have geeks – and nerds as well – making us laugh till we bust our seams on The Big Bang Theory. Even shows which are not mainly focused on geeks and nerds have at least one character that fits the description. Think Criminal Minds. I love Spencer Reid, don’t you? Penelope Garcia?

If our society is slowly – or maybe not even that slowly – opening itself to the idea of cool and fun geeks and nerds, why should be even consider banning the words? Do they offend you? I certainly am not offended!

Posted by noemi at 7:31 pm under Features, General, News