Nerdishness in Public

[Realitycrash]

Are you sure you get branded as a "hipster"? To my awareness, hipsters just wear old-fashion clothing (Or, as I describe it, "Something you find in your mom's closet that even she hasn't worn for 30 years"), but maybe there is more to it than that?
Sure, you can still be called a "Nerd", but the "Nerd"-term has somehow lost its meaning. Before, it meant social outcast (more or less), now it is just "Something that social outcasts used to like, but now has become cult and is thus socially acceptable".
I don't know the literal, dictionary translation, but I think it says something about "overly interested in certain things", like "Computer-nerd" or "Gaming-nerd". But if such is the case, then there would be fotball-nerds or wrestling-nerds.
It just bugs me out a bit that people now, when it is socially acceptable, seem to almost jump on the wagon and proudly say "Hey, I'm a Nerd, I play video-games and have gaming-references on my clothing".
Once again, not aimed at you per se, just a general observation.

Oh no, I've never been called a hipster. Ever.
But this is just what I've noticed, having total pride in something not well known is more seen as doing it to be 'original' and 'ironic' rather than just for the sheer purpose of liking something and having pride in liking it. Thus the clothing that looks like it should've been buried in the 60s and left there.

Spoiler: Here's the definition in the dictionary, but it's definitely changed over time.

nerd |nərd|
noun informal
a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious : one of those nerds who never asked a girl to dance.
? an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession : he single-handedly changed the Zero image of the computer nerd into one of savvy Hero.

I guess nerdiness is more of a pride in the culture of gaming/ internet/ comics/ anime/ etc, now. Hell, people who aren't even to the 'less socially accepted hobbies' call themselves nerds for the hell of it. Truly strange.

Here is my point summed up; Either a Nerd is someone who is socially awkward, no matter what hobbies he has, and thus this topic is moot (or should be changed to "Are you socially awkward?)"
or a Nerd is someone who obsesses with a hobby, making this topic moot as it clearly isn't what the OP aimed for.

People, don't confuse "Nerd" with "Gamer". Yes, "Gamers" is actually a word now, and "Gamer culture/lifestyle" exists. And as a rule of thumb, most people won't pick on you because of it in public (or not to my experience).

 

[RandallJohn]

I used to hide my nerdiness, but I cut that out when I realized how much I was hating life. I say be as nerdy as you want, and anyone who has a problem with it can go play irl frogger.

 

[Mister Benoit]

I've worked for game companies since the age of 19 so I'm used to being surrounded by nerdy people. Where I currently work we have Beer Friday where the company buys a fair amount of wine and ~8 24 cases of beer and everyone plays games on our consoles, pc's or board games, it's a great environment to say the least. We also have some folks who take over a meeting room every day after work to play DnD. Mind you everyone I work with is ~25-45.

Although while in high school I was kind of alone bar a few people. Never had anyone who loved Diablo II or Warcraft III as much as I did so I just made a bunch of friends online.

I've got an absurd amount of gaming shirts, everything is subtle though.

I absolutely love finding new people to talk to in regards to stuff I enjoy. I don't really talk much but when I do it's because i'm passionate. My GF loves watching me "nerd-out" because she always complains I don't talk or express myself enough.

 

[larysalove]

I think its perfectly okay to show off your nerdishness in public. That way when you meet someone equal minded, its all the better when the recognize whatever you're wearing/carrying.

I've worked for game companies since the age of 19 so I'm used to being surrounded by nerdy people. Where I currently work we have Beer Friday where the company buys a fair amount of wine and ~8 24 cases of beer and everyone plays games on our consoles, pc's or board games, it's a great environment to say the least. We also have some folks who take over a meeting room every day after work to play DnD. Mind you everyone I work with is ~25-45.

Although while in high school I was kind of alone bar a few people. Never had anyone who loved Diablo II or Warcraft III as much as I did so I just made a bunch of friends online.

I've got an absurd amount of gaming shirts, everything is subtle though.

I absolutely love finding new people to talk to in regards to stuff I enjoy. I don't really talk much but when I do it's because i'm passionate. My GF loves watching me "nerd-out" because she always complains I don't talk or express myself enough.

in other news i want to work where you do.

 

[SadakoMoose]

No, no. No need to edit, I was just asking a question. My point is a broad one.."What makes a Nerd", so to speak. I just can't fathom why your gaming-gear and wear makes you a "nerd", since it has since long been socially acceptable to play videogames, and there are even a "gamer-culture/lifestyle".
The old archetype of the "lone nerd that plays videogames and watches Star Trek/Star Wars, anike" doesn't exist any more. Sure, these people still exist, but the atributes (Games, sci-fi, anime, etc) have become cult or pop-classics. If enough people know about it, and enjoy it, it ceases to be "Nerdy".
You want to be a nerd, I say? Very well, go pick up a hobby like birdwatching and wear t-shirts with a picture of a rare bird and it's latin name. Atleast that hobby is far from cult and mainstream.

This is, of course, just IMO and in no way meant to be rude.

Oh damn! I'm sorry, I just thought I'd completely got the wrong end of the stick there and I didn't wanna come off as something I didn't mean to put out. Well, I suppose it depends where you go. Here it's socially acceptable sure, but you're still outright called a nerd. But you hold a perfect point there, that really does seem more nerdy but the problem is, when you pick up an less known hobby and you're proud of it, you get branded a bloody hipster and only doing it to be 'Ironic'.
So, it's like catch-22, you can stay mainstream and be called a nerd, or try more nerdy, independent hobbies and get branded a hipster.

I don't know the literal, dictionary translation, but I think it says something about "overly interested in certain things", like "Computer-nerd" or "Gaming-nerd". But if such is the case, then there would be fotball-nerds or WRESTLING NERDS.
.

boards.420chan.org/wooo/
Hello!

 

[ZeroMachine]

"need to find a better way to socialize" and "find a more productive use of my time".

Proper response: "Says the man who spends his time fruitlessly trying to convince people he doesn't know that their hobby is a waste of time."

 

[smearyllama]

Well, I was wearing my Child's Play shirt (charity, not film), and reading a Star Wars novel, so I guess I do tend to act nerdy in public.

 

[Brandon237]

Being in what is essentially the nerdy class of my grade, hiding is not something I try to do.
Although it is only noticeable if someone starts me off on maths, science or pc games. I have one good friend who is pretty similar in these interests to me, although the only people who judge us openly are people everyone already recognises as idiots
Besides, being bigger than most guys in my grade with a black belt in two styles of karate, I have "Sure I'm a nerd, but I can still beat the hell outta you" line. And a sharp wit (with no sense of smug self-pride what-so-ever) can also come in handy

 

[KaiRai]

Me and my friend were talking about algorythms and logarythms the other day by Sainsburys. Everyone was looking at us like "NEEEEEEEEEERDS" :')

Nerd and proud

 

[Strain42]

I wear pretty nerdy t-shirts here and there, I play my DS or my iPod in the mall when I'm bored and waiting for someone.

I don't care if people are nerdy in public, people can talk about whatever they want (I do get annoyed when people are loud about it and not showing any courtesy to those around them)

However (I'm not accusing anyone here of this, speaking broadly) I do find there is a huge difference between just talking about whatever and people who are intentionally trying to be obnoxious about it. The latter is incredibly irritating.

 

[Emilox The Great]

well i don't have any nerdy clothes at all. and when i am outside i look more creepy than i look nerdy. but i am planning on buying some nerdy clothes, screw society and their silly opinions!

but if anyone should ever come up to me and say stuff like "you should find a more productive way to use you free time." or shit like that. i would just reply " well, at least i am not the guy/gal who uses HIS/HER free time bothering random people on the street, good day to you, sir/madam!