3 ms·

No, we're not, at last not in the original meaning. Nerd used to mean someone obsessed and therefore knowledgeable about something (book nerd, comic nerd, or...

No, we're not, at last not in the original meaning. Nerd used to mean someone obsessed and therefore knowledgeable about something (book nerd, comic nerd, or... The War Nerd[1]). Later geek took over that meaning and nerd moved towards someone socially awkward but smart. Owning a smartwatch, reading a best seller novel, or watching a blockbuster doesn't make anyone a nerd. Not any more than wearing aviator sunglasses makes me a pilot. Which is actually what nerd tends to mean now, a style, a fashion fad inspired by the original. Ironically, yet also completely predictably when you think of it, the original demographic is starting to look down on the nerd interests of yesteryear. You can read very dismissive (and downright insulting but that's a given) comments about anime and computer gaming on 4chan of all places. [1] http://exiledonline.com/cat/war-nerd/ http://exiledonline.com/cat/war-nerd/

andyidsinga 12y ago
cant agree with you more. what the op calls nerds are much more fashion/pop culture and fit more into dork category in this: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/fd/05/b3fd0514de238efc2f205af3b091b1ea.jpg http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/fd/05/b3fd051... ( ill admit im venturing into generalizing a little too much ) portlandia "nerd psa" skit highlights the issue too.
riffraff 12y ago
I always thought the original meaning of "nerd" was "not cool, not popular in the high school sense". IIRC in "revenge of the nerds"[0] (1984) a few of the nerds were just the "not frat & football guys", rather than "expert in a intellectual field". The "knowledgeable about something" bit came much later, as did the "techie" sense, AFAICT (wikipedia appears to agree[1]). [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Nerds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Nerds [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd#Etymology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd#Etymology
rglullis 12y ago
Maddox said it best in "You're not a nerd, geeks aren't sexy and you don't "fucking love" science."[1] People love science in the same way they love classical music or art. Science and "geeky" subjects are perceived as being hip, cool and intellectual. So people take a passing interest just long enough to glom onto these labels and call themselves "geeks" or "nerds" every chance they get. I feel a sharp pang in my head every time some moron on Twitter or Facebook says something like "i'm doing my homework i'm such a nerd LOL!!!" Wrong, fuck belch. You're not a nerd for doing your assigned homework; you're doing it because you have to, not because you want to. That'd be like saying, "I'm eating food, I'm such a foodie, LOL!!!" Since when did it become cool to label yourself a "nerd" anyway? (...) If you have to tell people you're a nerd, chances are you're not. Nerds don't have to advertise their status. We know. Being a nerd is a byproduct of losing yourself in what you do, often at the expense of friends, family and hygiene. Until or unless you've paid your dues, you haven't earned the right—or reason—to call yourself a nerd. Being a nerd isn't graceful or glorious. It's a life born out of obsessive dedication to a craft, discipline or collecting some stupid shit that only you care about. [1]: http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=youre_not_a_nerd http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=youre_not_a_nerd

andyidsinga 12y ago

cant agree with you more. what the op calls nerds are much more fashion/pop culture and fit more into dork category in this: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/fd/05/b3fd0514de238efc2f205af3b091b1ea.jpg http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/b3/fd/05/b3fd051... ( ill admit im venturing into generalizing a little too much ) portlandia "nerd psa" skit highlights the issue too.

riffraff 12y ago

I always thought the original meaning of "nerd" was "not cool, not popular in the high school sense". IIRC in "revenge of the nerds"[0] (1984) a few of the nerds were just the "not frat & football guys", rather than "expert in a intellectual field". The "knowledgeable about something" bit came much later, as did the "techie" sense, AFAICT (wikipedia appears to agree[1]). [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Nerds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Nerds [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd#Etymology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd#Etymology

rglullis 12y ago

Maddox said it best in "You're not a nerd, geeks aren't sexy and you don't "fucking love" science."[1] People love science in the same way they love classical music or art. Science and "geeky" subjects are perceived as being hip, cool and intellectual. So people take a passing interest just long enough to glom onto these labels and call themselves "geeks" or "nerds" every chance they get. I feel a sharp pang in my head every time some moron on Twitter or Facebook says something like "i'm doing my homework i'm such a nerd LOL!!!" Wrong, fuck belch. You're not a nerd for doing your assigned homework; you're doing it because you have to, not because you want to. That'd be like saying, "I'm eating food, I'm such a foodie, LOL!!!" Since when did it become cool to label yourself a "nerd" anyway? (...) If you have to tell people you're a nerd, chances are you're not. Nerds don't have to advertise their status. We know. Being a nerd is a byproduct of losing yourself in what you do, often at the expense of friends, family and hygiene. Until or unless you've paid your dues, you haven't earned the right—or reason—to call yourself a nerd. Being a nerd isn't graceful or glorious. It's a life born out of obsessive dedication to a craft, discipline or collecting some stupid shit that only you care about. [1]: http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=youre_not_a_nerd http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=youre_not_a_nerd