Alternate girls

[María José]

I was watching Smallvile with my daughter the other day and they were talking about the typical groupings in a high school: the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders... but then they went on to include one I had never heard before: alternate girls.
Help anybody?

[chileno]

Probably the girls with lesser attributes?

[Rusty]

The cheerleaders have alternates (girls who didn't make "first string," but practice with the cheerleaders and know the routines). These girls could be termed as 'alternate girls', or just 'alternates'. I would also call them "stand-ins" or "back-ups." They could replace a cheerleader who is injured or sick at a moment's notice.

Without more context, though, I'm not sure if this is what was meant.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

what the hell are the nerds and the jocks?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

what the hell are the nerds and the jocks?

creo que la cosa va así:

nerds = mateos
jocks = atletas

[laepelba]

Robin - it might just be me, but I find your choice of expletive a bit strong for this forum. "What the heck..." might be less offensive.

I would say that nerds could be defined in a couple of ways: students who are completely unaware of social norms, dress strange, don't really identify with a particular group, often boringly studious. My colleagues and I joke about all of us being "math nerds". We love to sit around having (boring) conversations about mathematics. But we're much happier being math nerds than our science colleagues who are truly nerds.

Jocks are the athletes. I have never been one, so I don't have any comments on this group.

Maria - are you sure it was "alternate" and not "alternative" or something similar? I haven't heard of this classification of kids, but I would guess that they might be the kinds of kids who listen to alternative music (rock) styles, maybe like punk-rockers or kids who are into the "gothic" style.

Does any of that make sense? Do other estadounidenses agree?

[Rusty]

jocks = atlétas
nerds = frikis (freaks) - personas que tienen las gafas espesas, tragan los libros, les encantan los ordenadores hasta la exageración, carecen de comportamiento social, etc.

[poli]

Originally Posted by María José

I was watching Smallvile with my daughter the other day and they were talking about the typical groupings in a high school: the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders... but then they went on to include one I had never heard before: alternate girls.
Help anybody?

I can only guess María, but I think aternate girls are those who attempt to be non-conforming. They are usually creative kids less likely to go to the game, but somewhat more likely use black lipstick or dress like Lady Gaga, and by doing so--conforming without even knowing it.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

De dónde viene la palabra Jocks? Never heard before.

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

De dónde viene la palabra Jocks? Never heard before.

Creo que viene de "jockstrap", un suspensorio.

[pjt33]

En en-gb "Jock" es el nombre estereotípico de un escocés. No sé si existe una relación etimológica.

[María José]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The cheerleaders have alternates (girls who didn't make "first string," but practice with the cheerleaders and know the routines). These girls could be termed as 'alternate girls', or just 'alternates'. I would also call them "stand-ins" or "back-ups." They could replace a cheerleader who is injured or sick at a moment's notice.

Without more context, though, I'm not sure if this is what was meant.

Thanks, Rusty. Fits perfectly.

Originally Posted by laepelba

Robin - it might just be me, but I find your choice of expletive a bit strong for this forum. "What the heck..." might be less offensive.

I would say that nerds could be defined in a couple of ways: students who are completely unaware of social norms, dress strange, don't really identify with a particular group, often boringly studious. My colleagues and I joke about all of us being "math nerds". We love to sit around having (boring) conversations about mathematics. But we're much happier being math nerds than our science colleagues who are truly nerds.

Jocks are the athletes. I have never been one, so I don't have any comments on this group.

Maria - are you sure it was "alternate" and not "alternative" or something similar? I haven't heard of this classification of kids, but I would guess that they might be the kinds of kids who listen to alternative music (rock) styles, maybe like punk-rockers or kids who are into the "gothic" style.

Does any of that make sense? Do other estadounidenses agree?

I'm sure it was alternate,Laepelba, and Rusty's explanation above makes sense.
I heard it in Smalville, and there are not many gothics around (it's supposedly a provincial town in Kansas where nothing exciting ever happens... apart from the occasional vampire, alien, meteor freak...) But you've maybe watched it ...so I could have spared you the boring summary. Farm boys and plaid, ok ... urban tribes, I'm not so sure...

Originally Posted by poli

I can only guess María, but I think aternate girls are those who attempt to be non-conforming. They are usually creative kids less likely to go to the game, but somewhat more likely use black lipstick or dress like Lady Gaga, and by doing so--conforming without even knowing it.

Thanks, Poli.
Now I'm not so sure, with Rusty you and Laepelba offering me two different possibilities.

And how would you explain the difference between a geek and a nerd?
Do you agree with the following article?
The terms 'nerd' and 'geek' are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
A 'nerd' is someone with an extremely intense interest or fascination in an academic field of study (often an obscure field). Being a nerd is typically associated with intellect, as they often enjoy specialising in complicated fields of study. Nerds may also have difficulties socialising with others, as many tend towards being introverted. This may cover a broad range of interests, from movies to games (video and table-top), to more practical skills such as computer science. Nerds often have gained a strong and diverse skill set from their studies and experiences, which may at times, be unorthodox or impractical.
A 'geek' is someone with an interest or lifestyle having to do with very niche activities. It is not uncommon for a geek to be capable of reciting large amounts of knowledge that are unintuitive, intriguing and at times, just plain disturbing. Geeks can vary in their interests, from fun and sometimes even frivolous things, to heavily technological interests. Geeks often have gained vast amounts of knowledge and are capable of reciting them in a very succinct (or long-winded) manner. The knowledge could be anywhere from the mundane to 'living encyclopedia' status.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by María José

I'm sure it was alternate,Laepelba, and Rusty's explanation above makes sense.
I heard it in Smalville, and there are not many gothics around (it's supposedly a provincial town in Kansas where nothing exciting ever happens... apart from the occasional vampire, alien, meteor freak...) But you've maybe watched it ...so I could have spared you the boring summary. Farm boys and plaid, ok ... urban tribes, I'm not so sure...

Nope, I've never watched it. I work in a high school - have worked with teens in the US for 20 years, and I've never heard that term.....

[María José]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Nope, I've never watched it. I work in a high school - have worked with teens in the US for 20 years, and I've never heard that term.....

So, of course, you must know better than me. Sorry about that... unless you are like me, but the other way around. My students make fun of me because I don't know lots of the words they use. Must be getting old.

[pjt33]

La versión que conozco yo es "A geek is a nerd with a social life."

[María José]

Originally Posted by pjt33

La versión que conozco yo es "A geek is a nerd with a social life."

That's cool!

[poli]

Geeks were origninally carneval (not in the European/Brazilian sense) entertainers. Their specialty was biting heads off live chickens in carneval freak shows. The term geek has extremely negative roots. Today the term geek and nerd are used interchangably in the United States. Computer nerd=computer geek. Maybe someone with aspbergers syndrome.
Personally I prefer nerd.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by María José

So, of course, you must know better than me. Sorry about that... unless you are like me, but the other way around. My students make fun of me because I don't know lots of the words they use. Must be getting old.

Oh no, Maria, take a look at my facebook status right now. My students teach me all sorts of jargon on a regular basis. Just because I haven't heard it doesn't mean it's wrong. I personally don't like the shows that are popular with the teens for all sorts of reasons, so I don't pick up the vernacular.

[María José]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Oh no, Maria, take a look at my facebook status right now. My students teach me all sorts of jargon on a regular basis. Just because I haven't heard it doesn't mean it's wrong. I personally don't like the shows that are popular with the teens for all sorts of reasons, so I don't pick up the vernacular.

Thanks, girl . Me on the other hand,...well, I'm like a teenager all over again. I watch all kinds of American teen shows with my daughter, and it helps me to be able to talk about certain topics with her: things that we would probably not discuss otherwise. She opens up to me because she doesn't see it as a direct invasion of her privacy.
We have shared lots of these, from Seventh Heaven to Gossip Girl, What I like about you,Charmed..., some more 'grown-up' ones (Friends, Shark) and even old ones like Bewitched.
I also watch more serious things, like ABC news, 60 minutes...
All this allows me to take a peep into a country that paradoxically feels like home, even if I have never visited it.

Originally Posted by Rusty

The cheerleaders have alternates (girls who didn't make "first string," but practice with the cheerleaders and know the routines). These girls could be termed as 'alternate girls', or just 'alternates'. I would also call them "stand-ins" or "back-ups." They could replace a cheerleader who is injured or sick at a moment's notice.

Without more context, though, I'm not sure if this is what was meant.

Spot on, as usual.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by María José

Thanks, girl . Me on the other hand,...well, I'm like a teenager all over again. I watch all kinds of American teen shows with my daughter, and it helps me to be able to talk about certain topics with her: things that we would probably not discuss otherwise. She opens up to me because she doesn't see it as a direct invasion of her privacy.
We have shared lots of these, from Seventh Heaven to Gossip Girl, What I like about you,Charmed..., some more 'grown-up' ones (Friends, Shark) and even old ones like Bewitched.
I also watch more serious things, like ABC news, 60 minutes...
All this allows me to take a peep into a country that paradoxically feels like home, even if I have never visited it.


Spot on, as usual.

Wish I had a daughter to watch those shows with.... I DID always watch Seventh Heaven ... loved that show!!!