>the difference between nerd, dweeb, geek, dufus, et al

NB: dufus is a variant of doofus; the latter out-googles the former three-to-one.

The Jargon File (link) has one perspective on two of these terms: (geek, and nerd). Probably because dweeb and doofus don't have positive connotations, they have been excluded the hacker's dictionary. Doofus might have something to do with German doof 'dumb, stupid', and, in fact, there is a great song, Computer sind doof by Spliff (band and lyrics).

M-W and AHD relate doofus to goof; AHD has this:

Perhaps blend of doof, fool (from Scots) goofus, fool (from goof)

Ah, yes. I've made that spelling mistake here before. Sorry.

What is the difference between "nerd" and "geek," do you think? The other words have some differences, but I tend to think those two are almost identical in meaning. I do remember someone at our Gathering, though, thinking there is a difference.

I don't think it' a spelling mistake; just the use of an alternative (less-used) spelling. Often slang words, or words that originated as slang, will have more than one spelling.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kalleh:
What is the difference between "nerd" and "geek," do you think?

I think geek has morphed from someone REALLY weird (live-chicken-head-biting) into someone who is very technologically skilled and absorbed by the use of some aspect of it.
My Non-Trivial Other is an Alpha Geek, for example. Other Geeks bow down before him. <G>

Nerd I think is someone who is challenged in social skills. Maybe thinks he is technologically skilled, but not as good as others in application.

Both suffer from lack of social skills, but it's more forgivable in the Geek, because he has a real talent, and that makes up for his shortcomings.

My Two Cents here.

Linda

I meant to mention that I know of at least two cognates of English geek: Rhenish German Jeck and Danish gak, both meaning 'fool'.