'Neek' is a word my (much) younger sister introduced me to a while back. Apparently it is used to refer to someone who is both a nerd and a geek. But what is the difference between a nerd and a geek? I had never really thought about it, or really thought there was one before hearing this word.

Having pondered the matter a little, I came up with the following:

'Nerd' is a term for someone who dresses in farmer-type shirts and ray-bans before they were cool. They were quiet ones who like to keep things in order. (Although 'Geek Chic' could be seen as evidence to the contrary, I reckon that when we use 'Nerd' we are referring to the outward-appearance of the know-all.)

'Geek', on the other hand, refers to the actual know-all. For instance, "you are such a West Wing geek" might refer to someone who dresses in a fairly safe but street-worthy Zara and H & M mix. Instead of appearance, 'Geek' refers to this person's ability to tell you the subplots of even those episodes in mid series five when Aaron Sorkin has left and it all seems to go a bit wrong.

Aside from being quite fun to think about, this distinction has a quite useful role when explaining what I have discovered so far at the graduate fresher events... most undergraduates (even at Cambridge) were Nerds; most graduates are geeks.

I shall explain: when I wandered round university, or wobbled round on my bicycle, I was quite wrapped up in the dreaming spires thing. What a wonderful thing to be at this place, the birthplace of many of the greatest ideas we have ever had. Let me wear a long scarf and my glasses more than normal. I might have even had a satchel like bag. I was, to put it simply, a nerd. And I think many of my colleagues were too.

Now, I find myself surrounded by some people who really might have some truly great ideas. But instead of dressing and talking like they are living in some dreamworld, they are unshakably normal. Of course there is a good helping of fleece wearing, dell-laptop using tee-totallers round the place (Neeks, if you will use that term). But in the main, the people are geeks: normal in almost every way, but just obsessed with one particular topic or issue.

I want to say that its has made my induction into graduate life a refreshing experience. Unfortunately, as much as I appreciate the lack of hot air and pretension in our conversations, I do miss the dreamworld a little bit. Perhaps I should get my satchel out, and try to recreate my neek persona, except this time with a London-twist. I'll let you know how it goes....