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Heroes Community > Tavern of the Rising Sun > Thread: I don't understand nerd pride
Thread: I don't understand nerd pride
zamfir
zamfir


Promising
Supreme Hero
Allez allez allez
posted January 11, 2014 09:17 PM
Edited by zamfir at 19:22, 12 Jan 2014.

I don't understand nerd pride

I don't understand nerd culture.

I study Computer Science, and I dislike most of my colleagues. Most of them are not very friendly or open. They don't leave their seats during breaks, and usually continue to play or program on the laptop during them. I even had a group mate who has kept his laptop in hands and typed all the way when walking between two courses. I have met embodiments of the negative nerd stereotype.

I have known other academically smart people, and they are just as social and easy going as it goes. They enjoy a drink, play football, party etc.

So I don't understand something. You can be 'smart' (do good in school, have interest in maths etc.) without being nerdy. However, most nerds I aren't very friendly and don't seem to be very happy.

My question(s):

1. Why do some people strive to achieve nerd status?

2. Can you give me notable example of 'nerd stuff' that is worthy of attention (unlike weird computer accessories I have seen)?

I am sure there are many aspects of nerd culture I am not aware of, and that there are many well-adjusted people than can be qualified as nerds (unlike some of my colleagues).

I really want to appreciate the positive aspects of 'computer people'.

NOTE: I have edited most of the original post, which was more aggressive, and full of unrepresentative examples of nerd culture.


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OhforfSake
OhforfSake


Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
posted January 11, 2014 09:30 PM

It's difficult to say. When I got glasses, which coincided in me becoming the best at math in our class, I got called a nerd and picked on. I was an easy target and as a result of many years of bullying, plus that I wasn't very social to begin with, I've a hard time being social.

I think it's somewhat unfair to blame me for these traits. I think people do what they like to do, and because some of us are socially inept does not mean we deserve neither praise nor envy, but if people find together over having had a hard time, I think that's a good sign.

To be honest, when I read your post I felt your frustration, but I also felt I identified with the crowd you were frustrated at having been called a nerd for 2/3 of my life.

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blizzardboy
blizzardboy


Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
posted January 11, 2014 09:31 PM

Why is it that high schoolers usually seem more intelligent to me than college students?
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JoonasTo
JoonasTo


Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
posted January 11, 2014 09:31 PM

Yo! Zamfir!
Outside of football discussion!

Wait, you went into compscience and are complaining about geeks and nerds?

That said, stop hanging around with dem geeks yo!
There are much better nerds around, now let's talk about cars...
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mvassilev
mvassilev


Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
posted January 11, 2014 09:42 PM

Nerd culture is fun. It appeals to more analytical people who find normal social interaction boring and/or difficult, and/or don't like popular culture. Also, I don't think you picked the best examples of nerd culture. 9gag is a cesspoool. For good examples of nerd culture, look at webcomics - xkcd, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Cyanide and Happiness, etc. Look at the fun of a good campaign of Dungeons and Dragons. Look at HoMM - it's a turn-based strategy game, the epitome of nerdy. Above all, look at internet communities, from HC to reddit. Outsiders see us sitting at a computer and talking about boring things with strangers, but we're really sitting at a computer and talking about interesting things with strangers. You have to be at least a little nerdy to belong at HC - such a place could not be built by non-nerds.

I identify as a nerd. It's not for everyone, but nerd culture is fun for a lot of people. You just have to find the right activities. It's not about trying to be nerdy - people shouldn't try to be nerdy if they aren't, but if they are, they should enjoy it.

BTW, Big Bang Theory isn't nerd culture. It's blackface for nerds. It's not aimed at nerds, nor is it celebrating them - it's making fun of them for the benefit of general audiences. Things like "nerdgasm" are similar, except it's aimed at self-deprecating nerds. We're used to being treated as low-status, and some have internalized it - and those who haven't are still used to this kind of language. It was originally derisive, but was later sort-of appropriated by nerds themselves, but it's still self-deprecating. I'm not a fan of it.

Regarding girls - unfortunately, gamers are disproportionately male. There are several reasons for this that I won't go into for now, but because most men (most gamers) are interested in women, and common interests are attractive, so girls who are interested in games get a lot of interest. Also, "gamer guys drooling over gamer girls" has become a trope, and it's made fun of in a self-deprecating way, similar to "nerdgasm". (Nerds are used to being self-deprecating because many of them were treated poorly by their peers at school.)
Quote:
I don't require girls to be into some of my other hobbies, because I have my friends for that. I am interesting enough to attract women in other ways than talking about Assassin's Creed.
So much problematic content in just two sentences! Let's see.
- Don't you want the girls you're interested in to be your friends? A stable, fulfilling relationship requires the partners to be friends. This perpetuates a harmful dichotomy between "girls" and "friends".
- It's nearly always good when a partner shares a commonality with you in something you enjoy, such as a hobby. I'm not saying that they have to share an interest in video games, but common hobbies help.
- You insult nerds, implying that they're not interesting. Yes, gaming can be a shared interest, and if it's someone's major hobby, it makes sense for them to talk about it. There's no need to be so derisive. Some people talk about sports, some about drinking - and those who like gaming talk about games. People want to find others with whom they share interests. Is something wrong with sharing an interest in gaming? Does it imply that a gamer is lacking in something if they want to talk about it? Of course not.
- Assassin's Creed is a game series popular with non-nerds. It's unlikely that a nerd would be talking about it. Something like DotA 2 or Civilization is more likely.
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artu
artu


Promising
Undefeatable Hero
My BS sensor is tingling again
posted January 11, 2014 09:45 PM

I think this is more of an American or maybe even Hollywood thing, you know, in youth comedies there are the "cool" bullies who are into sports and they get the cheerleaders but then the nerds have their revenge and we have all that ugly duck outsmarting the swan formula. If you look at any sub-culture, you will see anti-heroes and stories glorifying them. What's specific in US oriented nerdism, it's partly a reaction to the anti-intellectualism and the exhausting aspect of their culture that is obsessed with becoming a winner or a loser.

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fred79
fred79


Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
posted January 11, 2014 10:20 PM

zamfir said:

For example, The Big Band Theory. A bunch of high-pitched, virgin, timid, unadapted, basementrented apartment-living doctors. I don't find Sheldon funny or cute. He's depressing.


i think he's hilarious, and i can relate to him. he finds many things ridiculous, that are commonplace in society, just like i do.

zamfir said:

Or gaming. I like games. 9GAG has an entire series of memes in which males drool over girls who posses even the shallowest interest in gaming. Then there is the hardcore department, who criticize 'poser' girls that hold controllers seductively and incorrectly. As if interest in gaming is a sought-after feminine trait.


as if that isn't a sought-after feminine trait. and, **** 9-gag. 4chan, ftw!

to summarize my thoughts on the nerd "phenomenon", or any other trend...

**** trends and the people who follow them. i have nothing but intense hatred for herd mentality. that goes for ****ing hipsters too, as they are a trend as well. burn. just... burn.

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smithey
smithey


Promising
Supreme Hero
Yes im red, choke on it !!!
posted January 11, 2014 10:41 PM

I am awesome (and humble), and I'm not a nerd hence the logical deduction is that its not awesome to be a nerd, matter of fact this is the first time I've heard of this nerd pride.

I would assume it has something to do with "feeling special", like there is a gay pride (its called that right ?), a national pride etc - You associate yourself with a certain "group" (nerds, homosexuals, christians, Argentinians, Homm players, etc) and are proud to be a member of that group as opposed to be ashamed of it. Which is perfectly cool btw, one should be cool with whoever he is and proud of it, so nerd pride is cool !!
However it doesnt make you awesome, just like being a homosexual, christian, Argentinian, homm player (ok excluding this one) doesnt make you awesome - You get a stamp of awesomeness only if you are awesome as a person and not based on the "team you're on"...

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OhforfSake
OhforfSake


Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
posted January 11, 2014 10:48 PM

Hello smithey, if that is your real name
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Living time backwards

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smithey
smithey


Promising
Supreme Hero
Yes im red, choke on it !!!
posted January 11, 2014 10:54 PM

OhforfSake said:
Hello smithey, if that is your real name


I go by many names,

Virgin Mary who sticks to her story
Luke's pervy father
Meroe
Forfy
Ghost
Elodin
Obama's white half
Bush's only working brain cell
The one who couldnt dance with the wolves
Munch's screaming portrait
The one whos name you say three times and nothing happens

Call me whatever you want

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OhforfSake
OhforfSake


Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
posted January 11, 2014 11:03 PM

Do I have to?
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Living time backwards

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kipshasz
kipshasz


Undefeatable Hero
Elvin's Darkside
posted January 11, 2014 11:10 PM

Quote:
Bush's only working brain cell


Well, this explains a lot.
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"Kip is the Gavin McInnes of HC" - Salamandre
"Ashan to the Trashcan", "I got PTSD from H7. " - LizardWarrior

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The_Polyglot
The_Polyglot


Promising
Supreme Hero
Nuttier than squirrel poo
posted January 11, 2014 11:46 PM

Where I come from, being called a nerd was (probably still is) meant to be a stigma, a negative thing. Because of a combination of my personality and hobbies, I was heavily bullied, ridiculed, and called many names, the tamest of which was nerd. What they didn't expect that I'm proud of the things what make me who I am.I embraced it, made it my own, and neutralized the insult it was meant as in the process. Kinda like the French cockerel: that symbol began as mockery too, and now it's one of the bona fide national symbols. For me, this is what nerd pride means: Being a nerd and proud to be one. Yes, I'm into fringe things, yes, I'm into computer stuff, yes, I'm smart, yes, I'm socially awkward. So what? Call me a nerd and I'll simply agree with you.
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OhforfSake
OhforfSake


Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
posted January 11, 2014 11:48 PM

No. I will call you polyglot, but mostly poly

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