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> There always has been a culture around STEM in the US. Maybe the social background you grew up with wasn't part of that. If so, I'll be happy that I was wron

> There always has been a culture around STEM in the US. Maybe the social background you grew up with wasn't part of that. If so, I'll be happy that I was wrong. I truly wish that the US had a vibrant culture of encouraging STEM. I'm not so sure for two reasons: all kinds of shows and movies, with a few exceptions, make fun of geeks. Paul Graham wrote this: http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html, and my geek friends and coworkers all confirmed similar experience. Quoting https://thegeekanthropologist.com/2014/10/17/freaks-geeks-a-cultural-history-of-the-term-geek/ https://thegeekanthropologist.com/2014/10/17/freaks-geeks-a-...: "For many years, geeks were ridiculed for their supposed lack of social graces and interest in obscure, weird or unusual forms of cultural and digital media. Once again, geeks were typified by their marginality and their difference. The representation of geeks in pop culture have replicated and almost cemented the validity of geek stereotypes. " I mean, why, why the interests of STEM subjects are "obscure, weird or unusual forms"?

alephnerd 3y ago
I'm much younger than you (in my 20s) and in my experience STEM has been normalized and heavily evangelized in American culture now. Lots of younger SWEs, PMs, and SEs have entered the industry thanks to their experience playing around with mods in games like Minecraft, and even the stereotypical chad/jock is into gaming and technology now. And I say this as a former HS wrestler. Also, STEM has been heavily evangelized since I was growing up in the 2000s. > all kinds of shows and movies, with a few exceptions, make fun of geeks. Not anymore, especially with the media people my age (12-30) watch. For example, Anime, KDramas, and Youtube+TikTok+IG Influencers are much more popular than American shows now in my age demographic and all treat STEM with deference. > I mean, why, why the interests of STEM subjects are "obscure, weird or unusual forms"? Even your stereotypical "jocks" and "Barbies" major in STEM now and work in STEM. For example, most of my classmates when I studied CS were Fratbois (as am I) and Sorority Chicks, and STEM is viewed as a degree that will get you a white collar job with less grind and more money.
- hintymad 3y ago
  I can’t be happier to learn this :-)

alephnerd 3y ago

I'm much younger than you (in my 20s) and in my experience STEM has been normalized and heavily evangelized in American culture now. Lots of younger SWEs, PMs, and SEs have entered the industry thanks to their experience playing around with mods in games like Minecraft, and even the stereotypical chad/jock is into gaming and technology now. And I say this as a former HS wrestler. Also, STEM has been heavily evangelized since I was growing up in the 2000s. > all kinds of shows and movies, with a few exceptions, make fun of geeks. Not anymore, especially with the media people my age (12-30) watch. For example, Anime, KDramas, and Youtube+TikTok+IG Influencers are much more popular than American shows now in my age demographic and all treat STEM with deference. > I mean, why, why the interests of STEM subjects are "obscure, weird or unusual forms"? Even your stereotypical "jocks" and "Barbies" major in STEM now and work in STEM. For example, most of my classmates when I studied CS were Fratbois (as am I) and Sorority Chicks, and STEM is viewed as a degree that will get you a white collar job with less grind and more money.

hintymad 3y ago
I can’t be happier to learn this :-)