"I've never related to the work geek at all-it sounds much more horrible than nerd. Like a freak biting a chicken's head off in a sideshow"

This quote by Jonathan Lethem speaks with the unfavorable undertones associated with the term "work geek". The expression "work geek" implies someone who is overly consumed with their task, to the point of being socially awkward and disconnected from the world around them. Lethem's contrast to a "freak biting a chicken's avoid in a sideshow" even more highlights the negative undertones of the phrase, suggesting that someone who is a "work geek" is viewed as weird and out of location. On the other hand, Lethem recommends that he does not relate to the term "work geek" and rather prefers the term "geek", which he indicates is less negative. This quote speaks with the importance of language and how the words we use can have an effective effect on how we perceive and engage with others.