Opinion corner: Tell us what you think of the term geek. Is it derogatory or harmless slang?

The word “geek” doesn’t mean what it used to. With the success of Silicon Valley superstars and “supergeeks” like Bill Gates, the word has earned a new aura of pride and respect.
We at Engineering News often hear engineering students refer to themselves, each other, or people they like or respect as geeks. The term is always applied with a smile.

Now that being geeky is also equated with scary intelligence and unparalleled power and success, has the word lost its negative connotation within certain communities? Is being a geek the key to an elite club of brainiacs and overachievers?
Have Berkeley engineers repossessed the word “geek”?

We want to know your opinion. Is being called a geek still hurtful or has it lost it power to demoralize? Do some engineers wear the label with pride?

Share your thoughts with us by taking our short online geek quiz.

We will publish the results in an upcoming issue of Engineering News.

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