Nerd, Geek, Dork

~S
Ooooook.
*pops knuckles in that classic 'here we go' writer's way*
This is long overdue.

So before I get going, my view on what I was previously going to say has changed quite a bit. So this is probably going to have little to do with the original questions I asked.
*rifles through old journals*
Ah! here we are! The questions.

1) In what order do you rate the names 'geek', 'nerd', and 'dork'? (1st being average and last being hard core.)
2) What makes a 'nerd'? 'dork'? 'geek'?
3) What do you think of 'nerds'? 'dorks'? 'geeks'?

Now to anyone who remembers this and/or who answered this, thanks so much! Unfortunately, I ended up not doing the psychology thing on the questions sooooo..............

_{*whispers* sorrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy!}

Now for the rant/discussion/thingamathing!
There were only 3 things to note from everyone's answers:

1. Everyone had at least 1 name that they thought had a negative connotation (they had bad experiences with it, basically)
2. Everyone talked about their favorite with a bunch of fond memories and super acceptance to anyone who qualifies themselves as such name.
3. No one had the same order or the same name for who they hated and who they loved. (well, no one had the same name with the same reason for why they hated the name or why they loved it.)

So then I was like, "well, ok. if there isn't a pattern for how people classify these names then what makes them different?"

And guys...
There isn't a difference.

Now, HOLD ON! Don't start yelling at me in the comments just yet if you really feel like there's a huge difference between the names. Allow me to elaborate.

Look, these are the freakin definitions of each of those terms:
nerd ~ 1. a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious (this is the reason someone else used for not liking dorks)
2. a single-minded expert in a particular technical field (this was my reason for not liking geeks)
dork ~ a dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person
geek ~ an unfashionable or socially inept person

THEY'RE ALL THE SAAAAAAAME!!!

Like, seriously you get a person who's socially awkward for one reason or another in all 3 definitions.
Sooooo... I then realized the whole point of asking the questions was... well, pointless since they were asking everyone to basically define the names and since the names are all so similar, it's no wonder they are used so interchangeably.

_{btw, I'm still calling myself a dork. every dull, slow-witted, or socially inept inch of me.}


But I feel dumb leaving you guys with this so I'm going to rant a little.

See the whole reason I asked these questions in the first place was because I was looking for girl gamers on youtube.
You see, I only recently started subscribing to gamers that aren't Pewdiepie or Markiplier and I realized I wasn't subscribed to any girl gamers. I mean, I'm a girl. I like games. I'm watching gamers on youtube. I should watch at least one girl gamer.
So what do I do to try to find a girl gamer? I type in 'girl gamers' into youtube's search bar.
And the downward slope into the rage of my childhood began.

The whole first page contained rant vlogs and arguments about what makes a 'girl gamer' legit or not.
Now, in the defense of youtubers, I will say this. Most of them were having this argument because there was a girl who was stealing videos from other gamers and recording her voice over them to pass them off as her own.

freakinstupidbuttjerkidiototicdumbaldkjklajglkdajdlfjaljgkldajflkds!!!!

Why?
Why!?!
I mean, freakin why!?!?!
What do you have to gain from- you know, what. I just don't even understand.

So there's the videos' defense.
BUT!!!
Here's what ticked me off.
First off, not a single one of the videos mentioned having to prove if a guy is a real gamer or not. Nope. Only girls. Apparently all girls are untrustworthy with games but guys are completely trustworthy.
And while most of the videos were about that, there were a lot of guys who used this circumstance to trash girl gamers as a whole. I ran into at least 10 different videos of guys who were just going off about how this is why girls don't need to be in the gaming community and how this just proves that there are no REAL girl gamers and my personal favorite was a guy going off about how this was just another reason (hence the 'another' part) why girls shouldn't be in the gaming community as a whole.
THEN!
Oh, yes, this wasn't the worst part of my experience in trying to find a girl who plays games that I can relate too.
OH NO!
This same guy goes on to say that nerd girls in general are fake. That he's only met 1-5 girls who are 'real' nerds. And this guy works by going to conventions for some reason or another so supposedly he's got such a boat load of experience!

*stops*
*takes a deep breath*
*exhales the internal fire that was ignited by rage enforced by the idiots of a previous generation*

LIKE. WHAT. THE. HECK!?!?
Because I'm a GIRL that means I can't be into the same stuff as you!?
Like, what is this, kindergarten?
I mature. You mature?

Like I swear, I had a scowl on my face for at least 3 hours after that.
The best (worst in sarcastic speech) part was that he wasn't the only one that thought like that.
The whole side of suggested videos had more guys saying very similar things.

AND SO I CAME ON HERE!

I was going to rant right then and there but you know that point of anger where you just become peacefully calm?
I was at that point.  

So I asked the questions and now here we are! In the middle of my rant!

Ok! Disclaimers!
This IS a real thing so put away those comments that are like 'yeah, but this isn't everywhere.' Just no.
Yes, this IS in pretty much all types of fandoms and/or geekery.
Yes, there ARE fake girl nerds. They exist. But so do fake guy nerds.
NOOOOOO!!! I am not saying all you guy nerds are horrible and girls should start attacking you in return! Wrongwrongwrongwrongwrong!
There is actually a huge amount of guys in the nerd community who super encourage girls to get into nerd stuff. (and they don't just do it because they think a girl is cute, either. sometimes yes. but, girls, don't judge. you do the same freakin thing with guys you think are cute and you know it.)
I'm simply talking about the few extremists who ruin it for everyone.

Now that the disclaimers are there, I need to explain something.
There is this thing called gender roles.
Yup, we're going there.
Why are we going there?
Well, because I was too nervous to ask any of my friends about video games until Freshman year of high school.
AND I WASN'T EVEN THE FIRST TO TALK ABOUT IT!
Can we just talk about how wrong that is?

I mean, I've been playing PS2, gamecube, gameboy, and the DS for about as long as I can remember. I think I started in 1st grade after me and my family moved to a new town.
Boys would bring their DS's to recess in elementary school and play different games together.
Wanna know the only game I ever felt comfortable talking about, let alone bringing to school?
Tamagachi.
Now, don't get me wrong, those guys are adorable. But I also played bomberman and mario and supermonkeyball and spyro and sly and donkey kong back when it was still good. (going a little old school here, guys.)
Grant it, they weren't Call of Duty or any of the hard core games but I was like 12 at the oldest. My parents didn't want me playing those graphic games and neither did I.
And all things considered, I never actually tried to talk about this stuff so I don't know how it would've gone. Though, the fact that I was that scared for that long that people would think I'm weird just for liking video games... that just has to say something.

I'm getting off topic. (but I guess that's the point of a rant, huh?)

My point is, I know a lot of girls who were 'secret' nerds for most of their school lives. It didn't become 'accepted' for a girl to be an actual nerd until I was in high school. I don't know if that was because of the times or because of how old we were but either way it wasn't fun and it's the main reason I didn't make as close of friends with people until high school.
If I felt as comfortable then talking about all the nerdy stuff I'm into as I do now, then I would've made a heck of a lot more friends or at least acquaintances.
And I'm not complaining about the friends I've made (I mean, you all have Legend as a perfect example of how awesome they are )

But you see, I remember the first time I was doubted for even knowing about video games. Not even being able to play them but someone being shocked that I knew the name of one.
It was in geometry. I was talking about my character of choice in Super Smash with a group of girls who also played Super Smash. And one of the guys in our class walks up, (we had a chill day so everyone was lounging) listens for a second, then is like, "Woah, wait. Are you guys talking about Super Smash?"
We all stop. Stare for a second then answer dumbly, "Yessss...?"
Guy, "And you're talking about the people you like to play as?"
"Yes."
Goes back into sphele of why I like the super fast characters because they dodge a million times better than everyone else.
GO GO SOOONIC!!! (lol! though I also like Ike now sooooo... explain that.)

And ok, he wasn't as bad as some guys. Some guys would've started drilling us with questions about the game to make sure we know our stuff.
No, you read that right.
Some guys drill girls with questions about games that aren't 'girl' games (or 'casual' games) just because they could be lying.
And the thing is I've never seen a girl do this to a guy.
I have seen the same guys drill other guys who didn't 'look' nerdy before.

So this is what I really don't get. Why are these types of people so concerned about the level of nerdiness that other people are?
What's the point?
If I don't pass your test questions then you can't knight me into that fandom?
O-kay!
I mean, who died and made them king?
Last I checked, they have no control over whether or not I continue to play video games or whether or not I continue to watch anime or whatever.
So what are they gaining by making other's lives miserable? For the sake of knowing only 'real' nerds are in their fandom?

Just don't be one of those idiots. That goes for all of you! *points finger* boy or girl.
Fans, nerds, gamers, readers, artists, whatever.
They don't just come in all shapes and sizes and colors and outlooks and whatever else.
They come in all stages. From 'dude, I just found this band,' to *has been staring at artwork* 'I can't find anything wrong.'
Just leave them be. Heck, encourage them! Maybe they are fake but if you want them in the fandom then why would it matter? Eventually their faking abilities will run out and they'll have to actually watch or play or read or draw SOMETHING. And you never know. Maybe they'll absolutely love it. Maybe they'll even be great at it.

_{and now I need to go to bed because- OMG IS THAT THE TIME!?!}