The Nerd Label

[Phasmal]

Lastly, as for mario kart, did you ever...I don't know...make it known to other people that you played it? I mean...common sense really...if you wanted to play with those girls, might as well ask em, right? No need to keep bringing it up but a one-time mention of it couldn't hurt. Maybe bring the game manual with you and read during recess or something. Small things like that open big doors.

You see, a nerd would never think to do that, risking getting the manual dirty or damaged. Or risk getting made fun of. Or risk the terror of a basic regular social interaction.

I think you are mistaking nerdiness with a social shut-in. Different things.
Besides, it's fun to nerd out with other people. Talking about games and Doctor Who and other such things with my boyfriend is one of my favourite things to do.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Lastly, as for mario kart, did you ever...I don't know...make it known to other people that you played it? I mean...common sense really...if you wanted to play with those girls, might as well ask em, right? No need to keep bringing it up but a one-time mention of it couldn't hurt. Maybe bring the game manual with you and read during recess or something. Small things like that open big doors.

You see, a nerd would never think to do that, risking getting the manual dirty or damaged. Or risk getting made fun of. Or risk the terror of a basic regular social interaction.

I think you are mistaking nerdiness with a social shut-in. Different things.
Besides, it's fun to nerd out with other people. Talking about games and Doctor Who and other such things with my boyfriend is one of my favourite things to do.

Indeed, I mean, I'm incredibly introverted but I enjoy few things more than sharing my passion for various anime/game related things with others who could appreciate them or fostering an understanding about them in people who do not.


He seems to retreat into them and use them to replace and sublimate other stuff, than simply enhance it.

 

[Reincarnatedwolfgod]

i have nothing useful to say about this topic
but picture below is just...

what the fuck

 

[artanis_neravar]

I still think of it an an insult.

One of the higher ups asked me if I was a "geek" because I did the amazing action of using a laptop. I was less than happy with that. I mean, what a *****. That being said, she showed me her ipad for like 20 minutes as if I cared.

That's how I feel about it, mostly because it always seems like it is an insult when a non nerd/geek calls me a nerd/geek.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

I think you are mistaking nerdiness with a social shut-in. Different things.
Besides, it's fun to nerd out with other people. Talking about games and Doctor Who and other such things with my boyfriend is one of my favourite things to do.

Google says "nerd -
1. A foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious: 'one of those nerds who never asked a girl to dance.'
2. An intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession."

Having been called a nerd before in my life as an insult and having listened to the popular lexicon, I'm pretty sure I'm right on the money with my definition of nerdiness. You can't "nerd out" with your boyfriend. Nerds don't have boyfriends.

Your situation doesn't really fit the second definition either. Dr. Who and video games are widely differing and varied interests that are fairly popular. A nerd of the second classification talks about what they do for a living as though it's their entire world. Look at Jurassic Park. Dr. Grant and Dr. Sadler are boyfriend and girlfriend nerds because they are only interested in discussing and building their lives around paleontology. That's mostly it. I met a girl who majored in music theory and she really wanted to find another guy she could talk to about music theory. She eventually did find someone who was into music theory. She wasn't into much else.

So, I'm sorry to say, according to me and google, you are not, in fact, a nerd. I'm sure this must be difficult news to hear.

 

[DragonStorm247]

Nerds are generally not regarded as "socially desirable". To be a nerd, according to our social training (think high school, etc), is to be a failure in society.

And yet, despite this, we are generally the group most satisfied with ourselves on a personal level. We are passionate about our interests and we are proud of our nerddom. This new "fascination" with nerds is likely some form of jealousy, the desire to be comfortable with who we are.

 

[GartarkMusik]

Ive never felt more like a nerd than when I was explaining the difference between star trek and star wars to a girl and Im not even a big fan of either series.

Not to mention being made ostracized in school for liking pokemon and playing yugioh.

Playing videogames....

It sucks being a nerd.

Hold on, the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek? There are people that don't know??!?
D:

 

[CODE-D]

Ive never felt more like a nerd than when I was explaining the difference between star trek and star wars to a girl and Im not even a big fan of either series.

Not to mention being made ostracized in school for liking pokemon and playing yugioh.

Playing videogames....

It sucks being a nerd.

Hold on, the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek? There are people that don't know??!?
D:

She knew they were different, she just didnt know anything about either, but said her grandpa was into trek.
I mean the only reason I know anything about either is parodies and jokes over the years
and it wasnt until the star wars prequels that I cared about wars.
And it wasnt until the 2009 star trek that I felt I could delve into that universe, as both are old series and slightly outdated.

 

[Vault101]

I still think of it an an insult.

One of the higher ups asked me if I was a "geek" because I did the amazing action of using a laptop. I was less than happy with that. I mean, what a *****. That being said, she showed me her ipad for like 20 minutes as if I cared.

wait....

she called you a geek for using a laptop?...for USING A LAPTOP

I'm missing somthing here right?

 

[sethisjimmy]

Imo for the most part people who self-identify as nerds are people that like to do so because it makes them seem more interesting than they actually are.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

I still think of it an an insult.

One of the higher ups asked me if I was a "geek" because I did the amazing action of using a laptop. I was less than happy with that. I mean, what a *****. That being said, she showed me her ipad for like 20 minutes as if I cared.

wait....

she called you a geek for using a laptop?...for USING A LAPTOP

I'm missing somthing here right?

Yes, you're missing the part where she is a time traveler from the 1800s.

 

[Don Savik]

This picture sums up all that needs to be said.

Spoiler

Its people taking advantage of the popularity of games to gain popularity themselves. You will NEVER see the bottom picture hanging out and conversing with the top picture. Its just the way things are.

Its a new breed of evil.

 

[Phasmal]

So, I'm sorry to say, according to me and google, you are not, in fact, a nerd. I'm sure this must be difficult news to hear.

My rely to that is: Tough titties. I'm not gonna give up nerding out cause you and google say so.
I'm surprised you think that level of obsession is required, or that the instant you get a partner you're not a `true nerd`. (Besides, good luck getting my boyfriend to talk about anything but video games these days, it's a freaking accomplishment I tell you that- he's not into Matt Smith as the Doctor).
I don't mind if you think I'm not, because whatever hanging out with people talking games makes me - it makes me happy. =)

 

[KINGBeerZ]

because being a nerd is great, because i am a Nerd i've gotten to make good friends, gotten to see videogames for the art they are, and many other things.

Lets face it, we got it good.

 

[dementis]

I find myself offended by these people that class themselves as "nerds" because they've played a Facebook game or angry birds. Mostly due to the fact that I've gone through the majority of my life being verbally and physically abused by Neanderthals and mocked by the opposite sex during my secondary school career purely because I have a major interest in films, video games and every other aspect of the sub-culture. I thought of it as a trial by fire afterwards as I felt I was stronger because of it.

I think that the girls who wear the "I heart nerds" t-shirts do so because they feel that all nerd type boys would be so desperate and lonely, they'd do whatever they can for these girls in the hope of being with them.

 

[DazBurger]

Meh! I was a nerd before it was cool! /angst

 

[Doogan]

Geek, Nerd, Hell I'm all of them!

 

[DreamaSkylar]

I personally believe that they got tired of whoring from attention from more ?popular? social groups and had to resort to appealing to nerds (and I use the term ?appealing? generously).

This.

I especially hate girls that try to engage in "nerdy" activities when they so clearly are just doing it for attention. Being a nerd was never "cool" when I was growing up, so I kind of find this trend a double-edged sword. For example, it's great that I won't get my ass kicked, but it sucks when guys/girls pretend to be nerds for the sake of having their egos stroked...

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Well, according to this, a nerd has to be intelligent, socially inept and obsessive:
http://laughingsquid.com/nerd-venn-diagram-geek-dork-or-dweeb/

And OP, I feel your pain, fake nerds are very irritating. Although I might not be a nerd by the definition in that link, since I don't really obsess over anything. I am smart and my social skills are pretty lacking, so that apparently makes me a dweeb.

Still rather refer to myself as a nerd instead of a dweeb. Dweeb doesn't sound like anything to be proud of. I've not heard people call me a nerd, but I blame that on the fact I'm inside all the time, playing games and revising for chemistry, biology and physics exams, because I'm just that cool.

Haha! I do like that! I am considered a geek on there... Which is what people in my job tend to get called, so spot on there! I don't tend to call myself it though, as there are many other lables I get called so I tend to go with none... 'An eccentric, posh, geeky, optimistic biker' would probably be the prominent labels for myself... but that is an awfully long title whilst introducing myself...

OT: What's wrong with not having a social label? Why can we not just be ourselfs and not have to name it... I spent a lot of my childhood drifting between social groups, fitting with either all or none, and finally realising that I can be a part of anything I want, without having to put a label on it! I ride motorbikes with greasy, bearded, long-haired fat dudes, and then head back home for a game of croquet with Gin+Tonics, finally retiring to my room for the company of of my 360/3DS!

 

[zelda2fanboy]

So, I'm sorry to say, according to me and google, you are not, in fact, a nerd. I'm sure this must be difficult news to hear.

My rely to that is: Tough titties. I'm not gonna give up nerding out cause you and google say so.
I'm surprised you think that level of obsession is required, or that the instant you get a partner you're not a `true nerd`. (Besides, good luck getting my boyfriend to talk about anything but video games these days, it's a freaking accomplishment I tell you that- he's not into Matt Smith as the Doctor).
I don't mind if you think I'm not, because whatever hanging out with people talking games makes me - it makes me happy. =)

Grrrr. Nerd are rarely "happy." (I'm kidding at this point.)