Brace Yourself — New Survey Reveals You Are Probably a Geek

The term “geek” used to be a derogatory one, meant to describe socially-awkward types with horn-rimmed glasses and pocket-protectors.

The definition has certainly changed, though, and a new survey finds that while less than a fifth of us would describe ourselves as geeks, a full 70 percent actually fit the revamped criteria.

Since Friday, May 25 marks Geek Pride Day (the date isn’t random — it’s when the original ‘Star Wars’ movie premiered in 1977), IT recruiting firm Modis decided to mark the occasion by surveying over 1,000 US adults about their geek attitudes.

Modis defines “geek” as someone who’s a go-to person for tech advice or a technology addict — and it’s into the latter category that so many of us fall these days. Almost three-quarters of the survey participants admitted they’d have a hard time going for a whole day without things like their smartphones, computers or MP3 players.

So why do so many people resist being called a geek?

“When you hear the term … the [reaction] immediately is defensive,” said Jack Cullen, the president of Modis. “But as people look into the definition and think more on it … they take a sense of pride in it.”

[LiveScience]