Poll: Is the nerd stereotype dying.

[I.N.producer]

I've always been a single geek. Partly because of bullies in middle school giving me some confidence issues, partly because I'm just a quiet person.

I guess I'm a slightly antisocial and I'm usually not very conversational. People always say I'm shy, but really I just don't care to talk much.

The difference between geeks and nerd that I've always heard was "geeks get shit done, nerds don't." I think it gets flipped around depending on where you're from.

 

[johnboy424]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

My perception has always been a bit different. Nerds tend to be of the 'smarter' variety, and are the ones that (stereotypically, mind) walk around with pocket protectors and briefcases. They typically have interests in things more related to science; Science Fiction movies/games, computers, and so on, although Fantasy things tend to be related. Geeks, on the other hand, don't necessarily have to be 'smart', they just tend to focus on the few things they like, be that fantasy or technology or gaming or a combination of all of them.

And no, I don't think it's dying; nerds are still nerds, and geeks are still geeks. But I think the activities typically associated with them are becoming more accessible to the rest of the population, so you're seeing more "normal" people at conventions or gaming and whatnot. The nerd population is definitely still there though.

My idea of what a nerd is is pretty much consistent with Apollo45's. They're the sort of stereotypes that you see in movies like Revenge of the Nerds, but not so often in real life. Almost all of my friends have stereo-typically nerdy interests, but they don't go around with pocket protectors wearing big nerdy glasses with their collared shirts tucked in to their khakis. Most nerds are pretty much just normal people who happen be into nerdy things. Like Apollo45 says, nerdy stuff is becoming more accessible to the mainstream.

As for myself, I've never personally had a girlfriend, but I've liked girls that didn't like me back and had girls like me who I didn't like back. I'm also socially awkward, and kind of a band geek, but among my circles of friends I'm perfectly comfortable. I'm interested in a lot of nerdy things, and am definitely considered one of the "smart" kids at school, but people don't call me a nerd or a geek.

 

[Spambot 3000]

The stereotypes dying but relationships still mean nothing to me.

 

[Zyntoxic]

technically I've had 2 relationships, kind of lapsing ontop of each other (no not cheating, more of a complicated time in my life) both have been "nerd" or "geek" guys, and I know that I could have had several more if I wanted to, since many of my friends and classmates (I studied game design, plenty of "geeks" there) told me of their feelings... always made me feel like a cold hearted ***** to turn all dose guys down since the majority of them never had the courage to do anything similar before, oh well, they knew I wasn't single, so it was their gamble I suppose.

actually a week ago I met with my programming teacher, after a few steins of mead (it was a medieval pirate bar) he confessed he'd also had a crush on me, and kind of hinting that doors aren't closed yet either, which was kind of awkward since he minutes earlier had congratulated me on my engagement.

anw, since I haven't been single for these past 5 years and doubt I would have to stay single for long if I did break it up with my current partner, as a nerd I'd say I do not fit into that particular stereotype, and I've had friends that both fit into the stereotype and those who don't, so I'd suppose it is as with most stereotypes, there are always people who are gonna fit into the catagory, doesn't mean we are all the same though

 

[Hagi]

I've always been a single geek. Partly because of bullies in middle school giving me some confidence issues, partly because I'm just a quiet person.

I guess I'm a slightly antisocial and I'm usually not very conversational. People always say I'm shy, but really I just don't care to talk much.

The difference between geeks and nerd that I've always heard was "geeks get shit done, nerds don't." I think it gets flipped around depending on where you're from.

Definitely flipped around where I'm from. Nerds are the ones working on crazy computer projects in their garages and then suddenly become millionaires.

Geeks live in basements and pretend to be space marines, knights, wizards or post-apocalyptic cowboys.

OT: To be honest I don't think the nerd stereotype was ever really true, at least not for those reasons.

I don't think nerds have trouble talking to girls. Nerds have trouble talking to anyone without serious technical interests, it just happens that almost all girls are in that category. I mean how often do you see nerds having great conversations with 'jocks' or other vastly different stereotypes (in so far as stereotypes actually exist).

And when there finally does come a girl along with technical interests the nerd is quite shy and awkward because that's how most people are with their first real interest, just happens at a lot younger age so it's not noticed or remarked upon.

And it's slowly dying because everyone's growing up around computers, games and fantasy now. So everyone has a bit of knowledge on those subjects and this makes it easier for 'nerds' to strike up conversations.

 

[Hagi]

actually a week ago I met with my programming teacher, after a few steins of mead (it was a medieval pirate bar) he confessed he'd also had a crush on me, and kind of hinting that doors aren't closed yet either, which was kind of awkward since he minutes earlier had congratulated me on my engagement.

Seriously? He's your teacher and you're engaged and he still hints at that?

Could you do me a favor? Give him a good hard kick in the balls for that.

That's not being socially awkward and shy, that's being a freaking asshole.

 

[Gwarr]

finished high school like 3 Months ago. I finished 3rd in my school by grade , was admitted to the best university in the country and was the football team captain.( that's soccer for you yanks) .Hybrid geek-jock here?

 

[Zyntoxic]

actually a week ago I met with my programming teacher, after a few steins of mead (it was a medieval pirate bar) he confessed he'd also had a crush on me, and kind of hinting that doors aren't closed yet either, which was kind of awkward since he minutes earlier had congratulated me on my engagement.

Seriously? He's your teacher and you're engaged and he still hints at that?

Could you do me a favor? Give him a good hard kick in the balls for that.

That's not being socially awkward and shy, that's being a freaking asshole.

he was my teacher 3 years ago, but he was a fun guy to hang around with so most of us who attended his class stayed friends with him after he left the school

 

[Hagi]

he was my teacher 3 years ago, but he was a fun guy to hang around with so most of us who attended his class stayed friends with him after he left the school

Bit less of an asshole then, but still... hinting at someone who's engaged that you want something romantic? Pretty sure there's some serious negative karma points attached to that.

Maybe a slap in the face then?

 

[Zyntoxic]

he was my teacher 3 years ago, but he was a fun guy to hang around with so most of us who attended his class stayed friends with him after he left the school

Bit less of an asshole then, but still... hinting at someone who's engaged that you want something romantic? Pretty sure there's some serious negative karma points attached to that.

Maybe a slap in the face then?

meh, I don't think much of it since he has a mild case of asperger syndrome, hence the social-stupidity, and in any case I think he recently lost his job so karma seems to have done it's own work then.

 

[JoJo]

Only 5 of us married and 1 poor sod divorced.

I don't think nerds are dying out but marriage seems to be.

That's probably mainly down to age demograph of this site, mainly under 25 and mostly teens, which is also probably the reason there's such a high number of "never had a relationship" in the poll.

 

[funguy2121]

Follow the link, and...be disappointed. I thought this was about the evolution of how nerds/geeks/dweebs are perceived. Boo! Hiss!

No, no, s'cool, I'll participate. There are nerd girls. "Nerd" can imply a lot of things. Not every woman out there, believe it or not, is a gold-digging opportunistic "harpy" or whatever the misogynists on here are calling them now. Because of these factors and others that I've not thought of, the idea of nerds never getting any is inaccurate.

 

[Avistew]

I can't really vote... I have a husband who I am separated from, a fiancé, and a FWB if that's included in relationship status (which I guess it isn't? It's not part of the options).
Would you mind adding a "in more than one relationship" option? I realise it probably wouldn't get that many votes but it would at least get mine.

 

[Vault101]

well there will always be the negative geek/nerd steryotype...because there will be people who fit the mould

however I think you can play games and do certaint things without people treating you like a leper (especially since games are more common)

 

[Vault101]

Yes, the stereotype is changing - unfortunately. This makes me even more of an outlier when it comes to romance, especially considering the fact that it is literally impossible for me to get a girlfriend.

its only impossible because you have made up your mind that its impossible