They don't. People just like to tell themselves that to feel special. There are plenty of smart people who go towards sports and there are plenty of idiots who go towards nerdy stuff.
Why do the more intelligent people gravitate towards the "nerdy" stuff?
- Thread starter Bob_McMillan
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Where the fuck do you get the idea that nerds are intelligent? The stereotype is that all nerds are smart, but that's jut a cliched idea from the 90s; nerds aren't smarter or dumber then anyother group of people.Bob_McMillan said:
As has been stated, intelligence and hobbies don't necessarily go hand in hand.
Although...there is a worrying trend of depression in folks on the higher end of the intellectual spectrum. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the supposed correlation between 'nerdy' interests and IQ has a lot more to do with escapism (being a seemingly normal response to dissatisfaction with the mundanity of life) than anything else.
Although...there is a worrying trend of depression in folks on the higher end of the intellectual spectrum. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the supposed correlation between 'nerdy' interests and IQ has a lot more to do with escapism (being a seemingly normal response to dissatisfaction with the mundanity of life) than anything else.
Well I've met enough nerds to say pretty clearly that no, they aren't all smart. In fact it seems like many people who gravitate to non-technical nerd activities do so because of somewhat weak social abilities which can also stunt academic ability.
In post graduate studies the vast majority of people I met and studied with would only be considered nerds in the sense that they were smart and they had dedicated significant portions of their lives to the pursuit of knowledge. Although some like myself played videogames, very few took it to the extent that one might consider to be the enthusiast/nerd level, and in my time there not one person I knew read comic books or played what I'm going to call "traditionally nerdy tabletop games" such as DnD.
In post graduate studies the vast majority of people I met and studied with would only be considered nerds in the sense that they were smart and they had dedicated significant portions of their lives to the pursuit of knowledge. Although some like myself played videogames, very few took it to the extent that one might consider to be the enthusiast/nerd level, and in my time there not one person I knew read comic books or played what I'm going to call "traditionally nerdy tabletop games" such as DnD.
*sigh*
Nerd=intense interest
Intelligence usually results out of intense interest and acting upon said interest.
Nerd culture has been seen as comparatively separate to the rest of popular culture some time ago.
Ergo, nerds were more secluded.
In addition, excellence at an early age was less socially desirable than athletic prowess.
Therefore, those who are less socially desirable would've aligned with cultures that are disassociated from popular culture.
This gives way to inter-culture encouragement and reinforcement, spurring that intense interest.
Therefore nerds can be intelligent people.
Perhaps it's cause I live in London, but I've met a fair share of stupid nerds. That type of culture is no longer as secular as it used to be, and with way more options to make money off of enthusiast media, nerds are less likely to go for science, so there's a more varied spread.
I don't know. In my experience, nerds get prissy a lot, including myself, about relatively petty stuff. Sometimes to an incredible degree, like PC Elitists, for no discernible reason
Nerd=intense interest
Intelligence usually results out of intense interest and acting upon said interest.
Nerd culture has been seen as comparatively separate to the rest of popular culture some time ago.
Ergo, nerds were more secluded.
In addition, excellence at an early age was less socially desirable than athletic prowess.
Therefore, those who are less socially desirable would've aligned with cultures that are disassociated from popular culture.
This gives way to inter-culture encouragement and reinforcement, spurring that intense interest.
Therefore nerds can be intelligent people.
Perhaps it's cause I live in London, but I've met a fair share of stupid nerds. That type of culture is no longer as secular as it used to be, and with way more options to make money off of enthusiast media, nerds are less likely to go for science, so there's a more varied spread.
I don't know. In my experience, nerds get prissy a lot, including myself, about relatively petty stuff. Sometimes to an incredible degree, like PC Elitists, for no discernible reason
I definitely know some pretty thick (but absolutely lovely, mind you) people that are into nerdy interests, but I'll entertain it anyway. I'm going to say neuroticism- Smart people are prone to obsessing, and nerdy stuff is very much geared that way. I mean, think about how much detail Tolkien put into Middle-Earth, there's a lot to delve into there. That said, it could well be the other way around; that nerdy interests are so detailed to satisfy the nerdy people.
It's not so much that intelligent people gravitate towards nerdy stuff as it is a lot of nerdy stuff requires intelligence to be interested in. But generally the nerdy stuff that's considered more "intellectual" is considered "geeky" instead. I'm not sure what the difference is but I think geeks are the ones that are into computers and science and art while "nerds" are into comics, superheroes, games, and so on.
But trust me, there are a lot of nerds that are dumbasses. Basically every "nice guy gentleman" type is some sort of nerd.
But trust me, there are a lot of nerds that are dumbasses. Basically every "nice guy gentleman" type is some sort of nerd.
Do they?
I know plenty of academics, past and present, and it seems like I'm still one of the few that enjoys tabletop gaming. Not to say I'm intelligent ... I'm about average ... but I have access to a lot of people who society in general would consider some of their 'best minds'. I'm still the exception more than the rule.
Ditto comics, animu, etc
I know plenty of academics, past and present, and it seems like I'm still one of the few that enjoys tabletop gaming. Not to say I'm intelligent ... I'm about average ... but I have access to a lot of people who society in general would consider some of their 'best minds'. I'm still the exception more than the rule.
Ditto comics, animu, etc
You mean the consumer revolt which only got started, and only continues to exist, because of the continued moronic actions of those within the gaming industry or trying to influence the gaming industry?San Martin said:
Anyway on topic: OP, given the past 25 years have seen "nerdy" things go mainstream (for better and worst) I'd say it's not so much a case of more intelligent people being attracted to it, so much as people with a particular type of intellect being able to once upon a time get into it.
I don't think they do. I do think people have a bias to consider people who are more like them to be more intelligent though.
You have a point, if your bar for being "intelligent" is really low. I don't observe a trend in the people I know going either way.
They don't. This is a popular misconception. Jocks are dumb, and bullied nerds are really smart. I assume this is popular with geeks, but it's not true.
Many of the stupidest people I've ever met were geeks. They loved anime, comics, games, never had a girlfriend, and were bullied. They were also rude and immature. There was also a lot of sexism and racism. Honestly, geek culture can be REALLY filthy. Most of those people are living in their parents basements, and contribute nothing.
I also knew Jocks who got straight A's, were very polite, charismatic, and popular. They started their own business out of high school and made 6 figures before reaching 25. You have to remember that there are different types of intelligence.
People don't fall into neat categories, I'm afraid. We like to think we're smarter, but we're really not, as a demographic. And some of us fall into several demographics at once. Honestly, people are just people, and most of us are just trying to get by. I don't care if a guy likes to play football or persona on Sunday, as long as their a goo person it doesn't matter.
Many of the stupidest people I've ever met were geeks. They loved anime, comics, games, never had a girlfriend, and were bullied. They were also rude and immature. There was also a lot of sexism and racism. Honestly, geek culture can be REALLY filthy. Most of those people are living in their parents basements, and contribute nothing.
I also knew Jocks who got straight A's, were very polite, charismatic, and popular. They started their own business out of high school and made 6 figures before reaching 25. You have to remember that there are different types of intelligence.
People don't fall into neat categories, I'm afraid. We like to think we're smarter, but we're really not, as a demographic. And some of us fall into several demographics at once. Honestly, people are just people, and most of us are just trying to get by. I don't care if a guy likes to play football or persona on Sunday, as long as their a goo person it doesn't matter.
Yeah... pretty much spot on. For our year group's rugby team back in school, there was a fullback. Tough as nails, stocky, squarejawed hunk. But he had a sharp mind, knew how to coordinate people, grounded, and whilst I wouldn't say 'sweet', but he was fair-minded.Fox12 said:
He alone was way more switched on than most of the geeks and nerds I knew in school. He was also a hell of a lot more adjusted and levelheaded. Didn't make fun of the effete kids. Stood up for me once when I was getting picked on by a senior when I first went into High school.
Much respects. A lot of nerds and geeks met have not been nice people when in adult life either. I've actually run into some of the jock kids who used to make fun of me, those that recognised who I was via name at a school reunion. They actually have invited me out to dinner or lunch with them, apologized for past transgressions, one time even helped me land a job. To count, I have yet to receive an apology or extension of good will from any of the 'intelligent' nerds and geeks who pushed me around by exhortation of larger bullies or to get into some clique.
You know who did treat me fairly? The jock and his friends. Never picked on me. Go figure.
Honestly, all this stuff about nerds and geeks being nice social underdogs is garbage.
(Edit) I will also note that it is a lot of these so-called 'intelligent' nerds and geeks who would pick on me if they felt they could ascend some social ladder. An attitude that some of them have taken into adult life.
If you spend enough time on the internet you'll realise that just isn't true.
Frankly, following trends over the last 8 or 9 years, I'd be more inclined to believe that nerd interests attract intellectually lazy individuals with undue superiority complexes (often masking an inferiority complex).
Frankly, following trends over the last 8 or 9 years, I'd be more inclined to believe that nerd interests attract intellectually lazy individuals with undue superiority complexes (often masking an inferiority complex).
As everybody said i don't think that's true.
I admit i don't know any gamers personally that are really really dumb, but then i go to college so most people i meet and hang out with are rather smart.
Additionally in Germany our highschools are seperated by difficulty into three "Kinds" of school and i went to the highest, which is required for college, so i didn't meet any particulary dumb people in highschool either.
I admit i don't know any gamers personally that are really really dumb, but then i go to college so most people i meet and hang out with are rather smart.
Additionally in Germany our highschools are seperated by difficulty into three "Kinds" of school and i went to the highest, which is required for college, so i didn't meet any particulary dumb people in highschool either.
"Nerd" is a word used to describe someone with in-depth knowledge of a specific field, it doesn't apply to "stuff". For some reason the American education system is ruled by superficial stereotypes and cliques, it's almost as if students deliberately adhere to a specific stereotype in order to belong to a group.Bob_McMillan said:
I don't think it is actually true unless you mean "nerdy" as in really interested in sciences in which case obviously they are going to know a lot about that. If someone knows a lot about the stuff you are interested in you're probably going to think their smarter than the person who doesn't even though they might be very knowledgeable in other things and it's easy to think someone is stupid when you don't know them. I also think people just like to think the group they belong to is smarter, especially if they feel ostracised by others which is something a many (not all and probably not so much with younger generations) of people into nerd stuff are familiar with. Armchair psychology time! I think in the back of peoples minds we expect things to be balanced, if you don't have one thing you must have something else, but things aren't balanced.
I definitely know stupid nerds and many of the top of the class students weren't nerds. More of them were sporty and social rather than spending time with games and comics. The old high-school stereotype you get in movies where you have dumb ass-hole jocks who are popular and the nice intelligent nerds who get mocked for being intelligent or not being attractive hasn't matched my own experiences at all. Also everyone seems to be into "nerdy" things these days, it just a matter of how much. Perhaps it's regional or there has been a culture shift making those stereotypes outdated.
I definitely know stupid nerds and many of the top of the class students weren't nerds. More of them were sporty and social rather than spending time with games and comics. The old high-school stereotype you get in movies where you have dumb ass-hole jocks who are popular and the nice intelligent nerds who get mocked for being intelligent or not being attractive hasn't matched my own experiences at all. Also everyone seems to be into "nerdy" things these days, it just a matter of how much. Perhaps it's regional or there has been a culture shift making those stereotypes outdated.
Wow. I'm actually surprised at all of the negative stereotyping going on in this thread. (Well, not that surprised, given what this community's become.)
And more over, I find it humorous that many are doing this stereotyping as regular posters and members of an extraordinarily nerd-centric website and forum. Doubly humorous that some are the same sorts that would claim to stand for equality, and against bigotry and stereotyping.
Yes, let's fight stereotypes with stereotypes. Please, do carry on.
Video games, comic books, and books aren't, and to one degree or another have never been, nerdy things.
Is your definition of 'nerdy' a hobby or interest that's not considered "socially acceptable"? If so, then your examples don't quite fit. Plus, that definition has always seemed pointless to me. What's considered "socially acceptable" is as subjective and biased as anything can get, so I see no point in using that definition.
But if your definition is that of a hobby - social or non-social - that someone obsesses on, as in 'nerds out' over, then 'nerdy hobbies' cover just about everything. From the gamers that obsess over the latest release, to the table-top players obsessing over their characters, to the jocks that obsess over player stats, to the gear-heads that obsess over the newest supercars, to the fashionistas that obsess over the seasons latest. All are nerdy pursuits.
I guess what I'm saying is: I can't really answer the OP without better understanding what we mean when we say 'nerdy things'.
And more over, I find it humorous that many are doing this stereotyping as regular posters and members of an extraordinarily nerd-centric website and forum. Doubly humorous that some are the same sorts that would claim to stand for equality, and against bigotry and stereotyping.
Yes, let's fight stereotypes with stereotypes. Please, do carry on.
This was my thought as well.FalloutJack said:
Video games, comic books, and books aren't, and to one degree or another have never been, nerdy things.
Is your definition of 'nerdy' a hobby or interest that's not considered "socially acceptable"? If so, then your examples don't quite fit. Plus, that definition has always seemed pointless to me. What's considered "socially acceptable" is as subjective and biased as anything can get, so I see no point in using that definition.
But if your definition is that of a hobby - social or non-social - that someone obsesses on, as in 'nerds out' over, then 'nerdy hobbies' cover just about everything. From the gamers that obsess over the latest release, to the table-top players obsessing over their characters, to the jocks that obsess over player stats, to the gear-heads that obsess over the newest supercars, to the fashionistas that obsess over the seasons latest. All are nerdy pursuits.
I guess what I'm saying is: I can't really answer the OP without better understanding what we mean when we say 'nerdy things'.
How is it sterotypeing? It should be safe to assume that the people answering are also nerds and geeks. People's answers are reflective of their lived experiences.Vigormortis said:
To the OP:
Its been a mixed bag for me. In real life I've met plenty of smart nerds, but many of them were also less social by nature. But I'd say most nerds were of average intelligence. And then there are the few that were dumb as rocks. On the internet though, and it may just be the nature of the internet, there is so much ignorance in geeky/nerdy spaces. Or worse people so sure that they are very intelligent that they don't think they have anything new to learn.