To prevent some misunderstandings:

Not all scientists are geeks, but imitating the former successfully to a gullible audience may result in the latter image, instead of the desired prestige.

Using any sort of terminology is neither a fault nor a merit by itself ("a priori"); it is the user's responsibility to assess the consequences in the given situation. Even genuine $5 usage can be perfectly justified, e.g. when clearly recognizable as irony. However, overused irony can wear off, as in "I'm afraid my financial situation is somewhat strained" (instead of "Sorry, I'm broke") - not always advisable if you hope for deferred payment.