Collegiate "geek" in the '70s (was Re: Synonymy avoidance)

[Mullins, Bill]

I've heard dork as a term for penis, but never heard geek or nerd
(although all of them can roughly be synonym to dick, as in "you're a
dick/dork/geek/etc.").

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael McKernan
> Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 4:07 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Collegiate "geek" in the '70s (was Re: Synonymy
> avoidance)
>
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Michael McKernan <mckernan at LOCALNET.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Collegiate "geek" in the '70s (was Re:
> Synonymy avoidance)
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> Jonathan Lighterwrote:
>
> >Sorry, but "dork" never means "guy who bites heads off live
> chickens"
> >and "geek" often does.
> >
>
> Often?  Historically, of course, I would agree.  But today,
> in 'natural speech', I would suppose that 'often' would be a
> gross exaggeration, and that the great majority of
> speakers/writers using geek have no idea about the chicken bit.
>
> But perhaps I'm wrong, I've been so before...
>
> And I'm still wondering why no one has chimed in with a
> positive definition or other comment on dork.  Is the word
> just too dorky?
>
> I actually don't have any personal stake in the meaning of
> geek, dork, nerd; and it may well be that the geek/nerd pair
> has a greater affinity due to a tendency to elevate them into
> positive status (which AFAIK, dork does lack).
>
> Still, I find the trio quite interesting, especially since
> I've just experienced their appearance as a duo/trio in a
> Vonage online advertisement (as partially noted in my
> original post).  My curiousity, however, need not match
> anyone else's, though I'll match my ignorance against all comers...
>
> Michael McKernan
>