The Geek Test
May 29, 2004 2:19 PM   Subscribe

I stumbled on The Geek Test today. Very comprehensive (measures more than just technical geekiness). What's your score?
posted by tbc (95 comments total)
 
32%. Seems like a variation of a purity test. (And that should increase my score, eh?)
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 2:56 PM on May 29, 2004


As my wife had already theorized, I am a Geek God - approx. 68%

I'm both elated and depressed.
posted by FormlessOne at 3:11 PM on May 29, 2004


24.85207% - Geek

Huzzah!
posted by robzster1977 at 3:30 PM on May 29, 2004


30.76923% - Total Geek
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 3:34 PM on May 29, 2004


18.54043%.
Barely anything to compete against.
posted by GirlFriday at 3:41 PM on May 29, 2004


27% and change - Total Geek. I've lost my edge.
posted by bashos_frog at 3:43 PM on May 29, 2004


3.90335 - Poser. Go, me!

(I'm ashamed that I took this test, which hopefully makes my score even lower)
posted by iconomy at 3:49 PM on May 29, 2004


25.44379%.

How the hell do you count to 31 on one hand?
posted by emelenjr at 4:00 PM on May 29, 2004


also mentioned in this thread.
my results (33.72781%) indicate I'm a huge nerd, and a total geek. does that make me a dork?
posted by obloquy at 4:02 PM on May 29, 2004


How the hell do you count to 31 on one hand?

Binary.
posted by chrismear at 4:09 PM on May 29, 2004


31%

could be worse.
posted by Krrrlson at 4:12 PM on May 29, 2004


28.+ % - I also scored 46/71 on this test - http://www.tricklefan.com/southern/test.html whch was good enough to be ranked as a Southern sympathizer.

Not bad for a Yankee total geek.
posted by pyramid termite at 4:24 PM on May 29, 2004


How the hell do you count to 31 on one hand?

thanks. that cracked me up. reminds me of the shirt that says: there are 10 kinds of people. those who understand binary, and those who don't. so does it make me more of a geek that i find this stuff funny? probably.
posted by chrisroberts at 4:32 PM on May 29, 2004


54.04339% - Super Geek
I can't decide if this means my youth was well spent or misspent.
posted by TungstenChef at 4:35 PM on May 29, 2004


35%... and how pathetic is it that I'm disappointed with that score?!
posted by JollyWanker at 4:47 PM on May 29, 2004


30.76923% - Total Geek

I'm very disappointed. I mainly fall down on my sci-fi and roleplaying duties.

Actually, I'm not that disappointed. The test was obviously flawed.
posted by chrismear at 4:50 PM on May 29, 2004


43.78698% - Major Geek

reminds me of the shirt that says: there are 10 kinds of people. those who understand binary, and those who don't.

There's also the Binary Finger t-shirt, which never fails to make me laugh.
posted by sailoreagle at 4:53 PM on May 29, 2004


29% - being sane and not being a D&D whore really, really, really hurts your score.
posted by Veritron at 4:55 PM on May 29, 2004


9.07298% - Geekish Tendencies

I am so not a geek.
posted by Juicylicious at 5:04 PM on May 29, 2004


Apparently geeks have a lot of patience. I couldn't get past the third section. :(
posted by ODiV at 5:06 PM on May 29, 2004


43.19527% - Major Geek

I understand the torn feelings.

I am both relieved and disappointed at my score.

Also, I delayed dinner to finish the test, which should easily push me over 50%.
posted by Ynoxas at 5:21 PM on May 29, 2004


No kidding. what a freaking bore.
posted by RustyBrooks at 5:29 PM on May 29, 2004


29%.

Of course, some of the questions are dodgy. Eg, you know who created MSDOS? Really? And why would you group CGI and Lisp together? Anyone who knows Lisp should get major geek points just for that.

Not that I wanted a higher score or anything.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 5:36 PM on May 29, 2004


Hm.

While it is true that I don't own 2+ calculators, it is also true that I refuse to buy even one, preferring to hone my ability to do all relevant calculations in my head. (How many times a day do YOU use polynomial identities to do multiplaction?)

That said,
44.18146% - Major Geek.
posted by kaibutsu at 5:56 PM on May 29, 2004


14.39842% - Geekish Tendencies

I am surprised to get so a high score.
posted by y2karl at 5:57 PM on May 29, 2004


I guess I'm not a geek at all: I can't be bothered to find out if I'm a geek...
posted by five fresh fish at 6:35 PM on May 29, 2004


19.341%
posted by Keyser Soze at 6:53 PM on May 29, 2004


It only asks up to "3+" computers; meh, I have 10 within about 6ft of me, and I think I deserve extra points for having 15 CPU's among them. I guess I lose out because I don't actually use most of them though.. bah!

I scored 36.29%, but I think this test needs more "I can think of other things" boxes ;)
posted by Freaky at 6:57 PM on May 29, 2004


I qualified as a Major Geek, which was suprising.

Just the other day, I had a conversation with my husband about a lama who was coming to town to speak. He could not remember the lama's name, and I postulated it was "Dorje Rinpoche" something or another, to which my husband added that there had to be a "Tenzin" in there somewhere. We laughed heartily, and then quieted suddenly at the absolute geeky-ness of our little bon mot.
posted by oflinkey at 7:05 PM on May 29, 2004


24.26036% - Geek that's more or less what I expected
posted by elpapacito at 7:17 PM on May 29, 2004


Oh should have been On Append

if (Percentile > 9) {Descriptor = '% - Geekish Tendencies'};
if (Percentile > 15) {Descriptor = '% - Geek'};
if (Percentile > 25) {Descriptor = '% - Total Geek'};
if (Percentile > 35) {Descriptor = '% - Major Geek'};
if (Percentile > 45) {Descriptor = '% - Super Geek'};
if (Percentile > 55) {Descriptor = '% - Extreme Geek'};
if (Percentile > 65) {Descriptor = '% - Geek God'};
if (Percentile > 75) {Descriptor = '% - Dysfunctional Geek'};
if (Percentile == 100) {Descriptor = '% - Liar!'};
posted by elpapacito at 7:21 PM on May 29, 2004


Don't be too ashamed of low scores, guys. I propose that anyone who takes the time to complete a several-hundred question geekness quiz online is already plenty geek.
posted by ChasFile at 7:27 PM on May 29, 2004


32.74162% - Total Geek

Meh. I dunno. I think it's a little low, viz.:

I work with robots all day. My leisure time coding project got best paper at a Unix systems administration conference two years ago. I've got a vanity license plate with my custom amateur radio callsign on it. The callsign spells out a phrase in l33t speak. Homeric Greek l33t speak.

I guess I don't watch enough TV or play enough RPGs. Really, what more do I have to do?
posted by tss at 7:43 PM on May 29, 2004


37% - Major Geek
Anyone else want to get the raw data and run some stats on it?
posted by fluffycreature at 7:50 PM on May 29, 2004


48.52071% - Super geek
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 7:55 PM on May 29, 2004


geekish tendencies - ha! my wife is wrong!
posted by photoslob at 8:09 PM on May 29, 2004


39.05325% - Major Geek.
posted by spazzm at 8:35 PM on May 29, 2004


28.99408% - Total Geek
posted by Shane at 8:56 PM on May 29, 2004


I was just a ceil() away from Dysfunctional.
posted by sequential at 9:03 PM on May 29, 2004


14 point something. Add 5 points if you listed your score to 5 decimal places.
posted by Devils Slide at 9:05 PM on May 29, 2004


12.67xxxx%
posted by Gyan at 9:15 PM on May 29, 2004


34.xxxx total geek. Most of my geek movies are still on VHS and I don't have a DVD recorder, nor watch television anymore. But I am a librarian!
posted by Lynsey at 9:21 PM on May 29, 2004


38.65878% - Major Geek

I'm proud and yet sad it wasn't higher.
posted by Dantien at 9:39 PM on May 29, 2004


37.4% - Major Geek.
posted by phyrewerx at 9:42 PM on May 29, 2004


36.88363%

This is without being able to truthfully say yes to many of the computer questions. If I wasn't so inept with these damned logic boxes I would, I am sure, be way geekier than any of you.
posted by Hildago at 9:53 PM on May 29, 2004


56.6075 % - Extreme Geek

how to count to 31 on one hand

People don't understand that scoring high on this test, despite zero coverage in the D&D / fantasy categories, made me smile.
posted by Space Coyote at 10:07 PM on May 29, 2004


50.29586 - super geek

:D
posted by y0bhgu0d at 10:10 PM on May 29, 2004


33.xx % total geek
posted by Slagman at 10:15 PM on May 29, 2004


32.54438% - Total Geek

Odd...I didn't really think that I was that much of a geek.

And I wonder if adding "Reads MetaFilter" should count as geek-cred on the test...?
posted by davidmsc at 10:21 PM on May 29, 2004


What a waste of time.... I think only true geeks would take that stupid test.

As an aside, I'm offering free wedges to any geeks in Chicago who score %40 or better.
posted by wfrgms at 10:24 PM on May 29, 2004


49.11243% - Super Geek

Felt there should have been an option for "uses a laptop without a case" :)

Also, no Harry Harrison? No William Gibson? No Neal Stephenson? For shame Geek Test!
posted by quin at 10:38 PM on May 29, 2004


28.79684% - Total Geek

At last, my lifelong aversion to RPGs and computer games has paid off.

Or not.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:11 PM on May 29, 2004


I've gotta say, us biology geeks were seriously underrepresented in this test.

/still wishing he made it to the 55% extreme geek category
posted by TungstenChef at 11:42 PM on May 29, 2004


36.09467% - Major Geek (With absolutely no RPG points, and none for being alone at home . . . married and happy about it.)

I agree with Devil's Slide: those of us compelled to report the exact percentage should be given extra credit. I just couldn't help myself!
posted by jeremy at 12:03 AM on May 30, 2004


9.27022%. And here I was worried I'd score high...
posted by mrbula at 12:12 AM on May 30, 2004


58.97436% What do I win?
posted by addyct at 12:37 AM on May 30, 2004


32.1499% - Total Geek

O frabjous day! (Callooh! Callay!)
posted by Guy Smiley at 1:01 AM on May 30, 2004


i think it proves that you're a geek if you have enough time on your hands to sit in front a monitor reading through and checking off all of these questions.
posted by suprfli at 1:38 AM on May 30, 2004


You are all sub-geeks. An alpha geek would've instructed his/her robot to take the test. I have so instructed mine, and she is, as always, most eager to please me. I'll let you know how she does, but first I've got to adjust her left breast - things got a little rough last night...
posted by Opus Dark at 2:38 AM on May 30, 2004


41.22288% - Major Geek

But I don't think the more female-averse members of the local Linux users group will like me any better.
posted by halonine at 2:55 AM on May 30, 2004


Based on this output, all i can say is, hey tss, i've read your brochure, and i'm intrigued. Where can i get a job working with you? i'd like to learn more.
:D
posted by quin at 3:27 AM on May 30, 2004


For the record, every robot i've built has, unfortunately, followed the Bender rule of 'kill all humans' and none of the Asimov rules that i tried to encourage it to follow.

i tried, failed, and moved on. my apologies to those of you who will suffer from my damned creation, but you know, science moves on... and all that.
posted by quin at 3:36 AM on May 30, 2004


What highly appropriate Google Text Ads. Autism and Geekdom. What a winning combination!

(As for the test, just a plain old vanilla Geek).
posted by chronic sublime at 3:42 AM on May 30, 2004


reminds me of the shirt that says: there are 10 kinds of people. those who understand binary, and those who don't.

I own that shirt..

31.36095% -Total Geek
posted by Orange Goblin at 3:45 AM on May 30, 2004


6%. Does that mean I'm no longer wanted round here? I can name 2 characters out of Star Trek you know...
posted by meech at 4:52 AM on May 30, 2004


38.85602% - major geek.
confused about the MSdos question too - did they mean QDOS and Tim Paterson, or Gary Kildall and CP/M?
And no Neal Stephenson, for shame!
posted by dabitch at 5:29 AM on May 30, 2004


I think they meant Paterson, and I answered "yes" although I couldn't remember his name, I do remember the story. (What I remember is that they sold it to IBM before they had even negotiated with Seattle Computers for it.) Personally, I think that not only is the CP/M answer less correct, it's easier.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:57 AM on May 30, 2004


I got 42% geek (42.2 to be precise) and laughed out loud. That's got to be worth some points, no?
posted by twine42 at 7:33 AM on May 30, 2004


I only have "geekish tendencies." (12.288%)

*kicks everyone's ass, takes their lunch*
posted by jonmc at 8:47 AM on May 30, 2004


7.29783% - Poser
posted by JakeEXTREME at 10:46 AM on May 30, 2004


about 200 questions in, i got bored and started playing Neverwinter Nights.
posted by NationalKato at 11:15 AM on May 30, 2004


geeeeek!
posted by dabitch at 11:16 AM on May 30, 2004


55.6213% - Extreme Geek
posted by phoebus at 12:36 PM on May 30, 2004


62.1308% - Extreme Geek. I am not surprised in the least. However, I think I should've received more points for my comic book geekiness. I have comic book characters tattooed on me, for chrissakes.
posted by bedhead at 1:11 PM on May 30, 2004


just 16%
sigh of relief
posted by mr.marx at 1:28 PM on May 30, 2004


41.22288% .. I wonder if I get extra points for taking this test in a coffee joint using their free wireless, while upgrading debian on my laptop, and sshing to a sshd listening on port 443 to irc around their lame firewall?

Also, the reason i'm upgrading debian here is because I refuse to get high speed net access at home, because I know it'd be .. bad for me.
posted by duckstab at 2:15 PM on May 30, 2004


67.8501% sigh....
posted by Kip at 4:55 PM on May 30, 2004


I wonder if I get extra points for taking this test in a coffee joint using their free wireless, while upgrading debian on my laptop, and sshing to a sshd listening on port 443 to irc around their lame firewall?

I'm interested in upgrading my twenty eight point eight kilo baud Internet connection to a one point five megabit fiber-optic T-1 line. Will you be able to provide an IP router that's compatible with my token ring Ethernet LAN configuration?
posted by mr.marx at 5:57 PM on May 30, 2004


I'm interested in upgrading my twenty eight point eight kilo baud Internet connection to a one point five megabit fiber-optic T-1 line. Will you be able to provide an IP router that's compatible with my token ring Ethernet LAN configuration?

...
can i have some money now?
posted by duckstab at 6:45 PM on May 30, 2004


Major Geek. According to this test geekiness seems to have quite a bit to do with RPG.
posted by rudyfink at 7:41 PM on May 30, 2004


43% - Major Geek.
posted by botono9 at 9:10 PM on May 30, 2004


36.88363% - Major Geek. (And I've never played a role-playing game.)
posted by boredomjockey at 1:00 AM on May 31, 2004


26.23274% - Total Geek. I gave myself a point for Metafilter, and another point for having gone to three meetups. Really, I should have added one for going to them in two different cities.

mr. marx: Show me a token ring Ethernet anything, or a fiber-optic T1 line, and you've got yourself a deal.
posted by bingo at 2:19 AM on May 31, 2004


28.79684% - Total Geek
posted by jaden at 4:22 AM on May 31, 2004


14 percent something something. Geekish tendencies. I'm not surprised, but all my coworkers are. I guess they can't call me a geek anymore!
By the way, don't be disappointed with a low geek score - the highest recorded score is 69%. That's a clear indication of how this test has been structured.
posted by mojo80 at 5:34 AM on May 31, 2004


I think you get a point for figuring that out.

Maybe the idea is to suggest that "69" is as far as a geek should hope to get.
posted by bingo at 8:42 AM on May 31, 2004


43.58974%. Wow.
posted by Songdog at 11:28 AM on May 31, 2004


I was avoiding the comments in here because I thought there'd be another fight about it being old news, but I guess I was thinking of the nerd test (the discussion includes the link to the innergeek site, though).

Anyway. What I think is funny is the variety of different types of people who all fall under the title "geek" - I got a medium high score because I'm an science / theatre / philosophy kind of geek, but not a star trek / role playing / programmer type of geek. The five boxes for being female should probably not count unless you're the latter sort. It's not just a literary v math thing, though. I love numbers - symbols of any sort - I know pi to at least 20 digits (once knew it to 100); on my b'day invite last year one of the clues I gave about which birthday it was, was that in base 7 it's the answer to life the universe & everything... believing in faeries and collecting stamps don't seem even mildly relevant to me though.

Although, for the collecting section, I nearly gave myself a box for having a fair number of rubber stamps, and where it said "spoons" I stood back in shock, amazed that other people found spoons interesting. I use them a lot in artwork - the shape is interesting, and the sound of the word, and maybe there's something kind of distinctly human about an ancient and yet really rather unnecessary instrument. And also something intriguing about a metal tool that is so harmless. I looked up "spoon collecting" after taking the test, and discovered how widespread sterling silver souvenir spoon collecting is... and it's not, as I wondered at first, those home shopping channel "collectible" type things - some of the engraved spoons really look historically interesting and beautifully crafted.

But somehow, I'm automatically turned off when something is a well-established "thing", when people subscribe to newsletters about it and have their own little "clubs". I don't like even like it in professional life... it's like when a good turn of phrase becomes a cliche as it's used. I like the idea in itself, but not in its established form. Everything interesting has to be a reestablishment, a new form - which goes against a lot of the geek test - starting or joining clubs etc got points... hmm. yep. definitely rambling.
posted by mdn at 3:42 PM on May 31, 2004


29ish. Real geek, which is a pleasant surprise. I'd halfway hoped to exceed my age.
posted by allaboutgeorge at 3:52 PM on May 31, 2004


53% Super Geek. As if I didn't know that already. The additional points for being female didn't hurt, I guess.
posted by onhazier at 5:41 PM on May 31, 2004


so what was your score, mdn?
posted by bingo at 8:24 PM on May 31, 2004


Apparently, I am a super-geek...coming in with a score of 48.71795%. Apparently, school administrators were right, and my misspent youth playing d&d did go on my permanent record and did indeed come back to haunt me.

Who knew?
posted by dejah420 at 10:10 PM on May 31, 2004


Also, no Harry Harrison? No William Gibson? No Neal Stephenson? For shame Geek Test!

No Rudy Rucker? No Kim Stanley Robinson? No Charles Sheffield?

I was between one-fifth and one-fourth geek. I'd like to see the scores of the people I consider to be much geekier and those who think the same of me. Actually, I don't care at all, I just don't want to do my job (which isn't geeky at all).
posted by codger at 7:52 AM on June 1, 2004


oh, it wasn't particularly high - around 30, in the "total geek" sector. I was just struck by how some boxes made me feel seriously connected and others made me feel completely alienated from this so-called category of "geek".

Perhaps I'm just more of a "nerd" or a "dork" (not according to the nerd test, but onomatopoetically, nerd feels more intellectual and less star trekkish to me. Dork just sounds socially clumsy in a cute sort of way.)
posted by mdn at 8:01 AM on June 1, 2004


13.6 - only "geekish tendencies."

whew!



(and since when does Russian literature, Monty Python and going to museums make you geeky?)
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:04 PM on June 2, 2004


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