Geek

Geek is a designation given to individuals who are percieved as socially inept and/or technically oriented. Such individuals are often interested in knowledge and information.

Similarly to other phrases applied in a derogatory manner to a group, the application of the term "geek" to a member of the geek community, used in the sense of a technologically competent, or knowledgable, person, has become something of an honor, and self-described geeks are now common. Geeks are often also hackers.

A community has also grown up around geekdom. One of the benefits of this is that it allows social success for many geeks, something that has been traditionally difficult for them.