Is being now a nerd cool or not?

[Everlast]

Official thread
Nerd is a term, often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who avidly pursues intellectual activities, technical or scientific endeavors, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests, rather than engaging in more social or conventional activities. The nerd may be awkward, shy and unattractive.[1] Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people. However, the politically correct term that many people have yet to adopt in present day society is for one of high intellect to be referred to as "bad ass intellectual", which is a movement that has only recently been advocated for as of 2009. One of the many advocates for this mass movement is Michael D. Lam of the University of Washington; an active board member of the literature and higher learning committee.
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Lately i think Nerd no longer amounts to being a looser, a guy who lacks social experience or a totally uncool and boring guy. Now anime rivals comics and its in, they are seeing as intelligent and most often with some degree of jealousy to the knowledge and unique talent they hold. Pimping out cars is cool, but now pimping up your PC is ALSO cool.

I think this has a lot to do with Apple and Microsoft "techting" social stuffs like Iphones, consoles, no more videotapes or portable CD, hell having an mp3 player is so prehistoric now its Ipods, Ipads. People show their laptops as if they where showing they grand new luxurious cars.

The best games are in PC WoW, SC2, Bioware's game Final Fantasy, etc. RPG used to be nerdy and geeky now its cool. CoD's latest hit and FPS games attract non geeks to gaming and nerdy world.

If you say you are a nerd people look intimidated by your knowledge in computer and want you by your side for advices and stuffs. They hang out and now may wear fashionable clothes.

I think i am seeing Nerd as now the new model and image being promoted. And i was wondering if you guys agree with it. I still look with envy the nerds!

[coolsome]

it depends on the person your calling a nerd. someone like the tenth doctor its cool someone like martin prince its not.

[Everlast]

Sorry for quadra posting lol, i just pressed refresh and boom i got a bunch of topics! Sorry please discuss all here!

[doodo!]

Only when it's legitimate and you don't try too hard.

[Hassat Hunter]

Bioware's game Final Fantasy
Hold the phones... WHAT? :confused:

[Gman5852]

People call me a nerd all the time to the point i think of it as a compliment(hey your a tech nerd how do you due blah blah blah)

So there I guess i nerd is cool but then there's the "ha i know the stats of all the fire emblem characters nerd(aka my best friend:D)"

[patters]

The traditional definition for nerd is fairly irrelevant now, today's nerd is not the same, they are LARPers, Warhammer players, Magic players, scientists, etc. Those who play games are not nerds any more, it's a quite widely accepted medium, look at almost any gaming forum online, these people aren't nerds, they are absolutely idiotic.

I take issue with this:
Pimping out cars is cool, but now pimping up your PC is ALSO cool.

Neither of these is intrinsically cool, though they certainly are in particular circles of people. In fact nothing is intrinsically cool, it depends on the audience, the time period, even the location. Take Justin Bieber in certain demographics he is the pinnacle of cool, yet to another he is effectively the inverse of cool

People play CoD in similar ways to sport, it's a game, straight up. We live in a consumer based society, something should work out of the box: consoles, computers, phones. Why is something like CoD so popular, simple, it's easy to set up a game, which is the same reason laptops are so popular at the moment, you can use them here, you can use them there. Online gaming has become a lot easier in the past 5 years, more so than organising a local gaming event, where if you have enough people then you may as well play some football or something else.

WoW is not cool, at all.

People are lazy, they will do what is easy.

[Everlast]

Hold the phones... WHAT? :confused:

Just in case its a grammar error, i know it's activision :p

[[TTG] Yare]

Tread carefully. The Internet is basically a giant Selection Bias device.

[Rawr]

I don't think a nerd will ever be cool, just it's coverage will change over time, as in what you need to do to be classed as one.

I think gaming is considered more socially acceptable these days, however, I don't think it's fully out there yet. Although a lot of people game these days, the majority only do it casually, and only playing the popular games.

Honestly, if I was ever called a nerd I wouldn't take offence over it. I'd rather be a nerd than some other, more nasty word to describe a person.

[GuruGuru214]

I prefer the term "geek".

[Alcoremortis]

I prefer the term "geek".

You like to be known as the person who bites the heads off of live chickens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geek)?

[GuruGuru214]

Better than being known as a tiny tangy crunchy candy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerds_%28candy%29).

[tobar]

It can be cool to be a geek now, but not a nerd. Nerds lack almost any social skills and live in the world of math and academia. Geeks have some grip on regular social interactions but they're not quite competent in it. They're just fascinated with scifi and video games. Now there are nerdy geeks and geeky nerds but in their purest forms there is a difference.

[GuruGuru214]

It can be cool to be a geek now, but not a nerd. Nerds lack almost any social skills and live in the world of math and academia. Geeks have some grip on regular social interactions but they're not quite competent in it. They're just fascinated with scifi and video games. Now there are nerdy geeks and geeky nerds but in their purest forms there is a difference.

My thoughts exactly.

[Icedhope]

I was raised in the 90's and being picked on and stuff for playing video games constantly, and reading comic books and the such in highschool. I don't consider myself a nerd or a geek, I just enjoy what I do, and very supportive of what I enjoy.

[Avistew]

I think technically, a nerd isn't supposed to be cool but nowadays a geek is (although originally they weren't either).
I tend to think of both as compliment. For me a geek means a fan of something, whether they have any skills or not, and a nerd means someone with very high skills in a very specific, usually obscure subject. Because being part of a fandom results in more social contact than working on your obscure speciality, being a geek comes with better social skills than nerds, but since a lot of people are both at the same time anyways, I'd say it doesn't make that much of a difference in the end.

[roberttitus]

I'm what some would call a nerd (hell I am a member of this forum after all).... however, I am also a nerd that can kick your ass (I have more than a bit of amateur wrestling training & have just started training in BJJ).

Why do I state this you may be asking? Do I just want to sound like a tough guy? Well no actually... I say this simply because it brings home the fact that you aren't cool just because you are a nerd.... what makes you cool is the things that you do in addition to those nerdy things. Be it something as simple as hanging out with your friends or something as complex as training to become skilled at something people enjoy... The point is that you get out there into the real world to socialise & do other activities than just play games. It is really more that cool people are bringing acceptance of nerdy things than Nerds themselves being cool... I mean nobody likes a dude who sits in front of a computer all day... that is the very definition of uncool.

[Giant Tope]

I thought it was the other way around with the whole geek and nerd thing.

Also, does it really matter?

[roberttitus]

I thought it was the other way around with the whole geek and nerd thing.

Also, does it really matter?

Apparently it does considering you took the time to click on this thread, read through it & post a comment.

[Giant Tope]

Nah, i mean the meaning of nerd or geek.

[GuruGuru214]

A lot of people will say it doesn't. I think it does. These days, they're generally perceived as being nearly identical, except that one carries a social stigma and the other one...uhh...carries a much lesser but still present social stigma?

It matters, dammit!

[Giant Tope]

But the social stigma is different depending on the area. I just think its silly that we try to pin the one on the other because we don't want to be the one with the stigma. I mean, that makes sense, but still.

[StarEye]

Today, you're either cool or not. It has something to do with your personality, not with what you do. I think we've passed that line now, when what you do reflects how your accepted socially.

So, in short, it depends on wether what you do really reflects your personality and behaviour or not. Being a stereotypical character is never popular, regardless of what kind of stereotypical you are, and how fanatic you are about what you do. People will tire of you if all you do is talk about sports/computing/gaming/dancing/whatever eventually, so you will never be considered "cool" unless you show different sides of yourself.

[doodo!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUJs0LJ-LuU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_mU1VFraHY

[Friar]

This should help
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/rickmans/H7ZV3w8VuJtTtItQNgDvmI1JbJ6Z7mkvjssejHMODHSfdYLrL8 tF27mE3shx/nerd-venn-diagram-9420-1252236.jpg

I think Nerd can be offensive, but geek isn't as much. It implies intelligence (which is a good thing) and obsession (which the person will probably be happy with). I quite happily call myself geeky.

[coolsome]

Im either a nerd or a dork

[Icedhope]

Im either a nerd or a dork

What about a nork? A mixture of the both, so then when someone calls you either or you can just smile and nod.

[Rather Dashing]

What is this, high school?

...

I guess it is for some of you. Carry on, then.

[pluizig]

In the Netherlands, everyone calls geeks, nerds, and dorks simply 'nerd'. There is no difference at all. They also don't translate the word: 'That guy is such a geek' would be translated as 'Die jongen is zó'n nerd.'


(Example: They changed the title of the tv show 'The Beauty and the Geek' to 'The Beauty and the Nerd', keeping the English title but not the term unfamiliar to Dutch audiences -and the pun.)

[Mandahaya]

I think nork sounds pretty decent. Someone should create a nork group :D

I wouldn't be offended, though, if someone called me a nerd. To me, being a nerd always meant behaving like the couple of boys in Recess that TJ once had to join due to his broken leg. Huge black glasses, braces, checkered flannel shirts with rolled-up sleeves and the weird hairstyle included. But by now I guess I changed my mind. I'd declare someone a nerd that would associate every single thing to some video game or anything connected to it. You know, someone that doesn't seem to know any other interesting topic. As long as there are video games in the world, everything's fine.

[Rawr]

I have to admit, in the UK, nerd or dork isn't even used, at least not where I live, and if it is, they're used as a synonyms for geek.

[Avistew]

(Example: They changed the title of the tv show 'The Beauty and the Geek' to 'The Beauty and the Nerd', keeping the English title but not the term unfamiliar to Dutch audiences -and the pun.)

What pun? If you mean with "Beast", I'd say "nerd" is barely less close to Beast than "geek" already is.

[Hassat Hunter]

Nerd/Geek > Normal People.

Yay!
Although I guess not everyone agrees with me. It's the same with

Crazy people > Normal People.

[ZeitgeistReview]

It can be cool to be a geek now, but not a nerd. Nerds lack almost any social skills and live in the world of math and academia. Geeks have some grip on regular social interactions but they're not quite competent in it. They're just fascinated with scifi and video games. Now there are nerdy geeks and geeky nerds but in their purest forms there is a difference.

I agree with this. Though I consider myself both a geek and a nerd ;-)

[doodo!]

Does it count if people tell you you have a mathematical mind, and you're professors say you're smart but you don't do your best at school and hate math? :D

Just asking...

[Power46]

I'd declare someone a nerd that would associate every single thing to some video game or anything connected to it. You know, someone that doesn't seem to know any other interesting topic. As long as there are video games in the world, everything's fine.

I'll be honest; that sounds a lot like me. It doesn't help that a lot of the things that other people enjoy cause me pain, such as music causing me headaches and any kind of physical activity, even walking for ten minutes, causing excruciating pain.

[coolsome]

Nerd/Geek > Normal People.

Yay!
Although I guess not everyone agrees with me. It's the same with

Crazy people > Normal People.

normal people suck!

[Alcoremortis]

Normal people exist? I thought they were only a myth to scare children, like the bogeyman!

[Power46]

Normal people exist? I thought they were only a myth to scare children, like the bogeyman!

As my signature states, sanity does not exist, so thus, they are a myth.

[Alcoremortis]

As my signature states, sanity does not exist, so thus, they are a myth.

Phew! Thanks for that, I was worried for a second there.

[Power46]

Phew! Thanks for that, I was worried for a second there.

In fact, in the statement in my signature, you can substitute "normal" for "sanity" and it would be true as well.

[Everlast]

It can be cool to be a geek now, but not a nerd. Nerds lack almost any social skills and live in the world of math and academia. Geeks have some grip on regular social interactions but they're not quite competent in it. They're just fascinated with scifi and video games. Now there are nerdy geeks and geeky nerds but in their purest forms there is a difference.

I take issue with that for the sole issue the term nerd has expanded so much. What you are explaining is the stereotype of a nerd, but it's not necessarily a nerd. Nerd for me are characterized for having superior knowledge uncommon to the average joe guy who knows of computer, movies, etc. Nerds not necessarily are the ones with pants hung over the belly and holding a bunch of pens and pencils along with calculators. You don't see that often (atleast where i live) Nerd for me and according to the wikipedia definition is much more, a guywho is knowledgable of stuff uncommon but interesting. And society has grown more open and flexible to hearing about anime, gaming and stuff. Perhaps because culture now has promoted stuff like movies Harry potter, DBZ, The last airbender, WoW etc. Those types of stuffs and activities like ComiCon, E3, PAX has shown why Nerds are interested in those topics and tech stuff. To be a Nerd is to be into tech stuff AND MORE. A nerd can have bad grades though in schools is he very obssesed with those interests.

This should help
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/rickmans/H7ZV3w8VuJtTtItQNgDvmI1JbJ6Z7mkvjssejHMODHSfdYLrL8 tF27mE3shx/nerd-venn-diagram-9420-1252236.jpg

I think Nerd can be offensive, but geek isn't as much. It implies intelligence (which is a good thing) and obsession (which the person will probably be happy with). I quite happily call myself geeky.

If people label me a nerd i would feel proud. However i dont see fit if a nerd is competent in a sport. However im not 100% sure of it. I think Nerds are more socially competent than what you may believe as ever since the beginning they hang in packs and have always been open to others. Nerds are excluded because of their culturally different ideas and interest and sometimes the way they behave. But i think with the arrival of Emo's, gothic kids, hardcore rock personality, etc people in society has grown more acceptable to em. I wouldn't bet my money on that graphic being 100% but i do have some confussion with geekiness. Because geekiness for me it's uncommon knowledge in one based stuff like anime, games, or something else. Nerds are more of an overall knowledge.

Does it count if people tell you you have a mathematical mind, and you're professors say you're smart but you don't do your best at school and hate math? :D

Just asking...

It doesn't because for me thats a guy probably with superior IQ that have different intellectual needs than others at his same age. If you don't believe me i think that person should take a Psychometric tests. There was one dude who could learn things easily he was a nerd, but had total disregard toward his appearance. But people in high school respected him although he sometimes was weird. Then there was this other dude who was as nerdy as the other example but cool and open and also into girls, people where more open to befriend him than last one.

In general for me a guy with no social skills and a loner or a guy knowledgeable but with ego who doesn't hang with popular kids has some issues to deal with as a guy who is a bully to others and disregards rules and norms and always want to get some attention.

[tobar]

Nerd for me and according to the wikipedia definition is much more, a guywho is knowledgable of stuff uncommon but interesting. And society has grown more open and flexible to hearing about anime, gaming and stuff. Perhaps because culture now has promoted stuff like movies Harry potter, DBZ, The last airbender, WoW etc. Those types of stuffs and activities like ComiCon, E3, PAX has shown why Nerds are interested in those topics and tech stuff. To be a Nerd is to be into tech stuff AND MORE. A nerd can have bad grades though in schools is he very obssesed with those interests.

That's all geek right there. Nerds are the ones with good grades.

[Guinea]

Just putting this here, because I think it sums up the latter two thirds of this topic so far:
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/geeks_and_nerds.png

[Giant Tope]

yes that comic

[Chyron8472]

This should help
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/rickmans/H7ZV3w8VuJtTtItQNgDvmI1JbJ6Z7mkvjssejHMODHSfdYLrL8 tF27mE3shx/nerd-venn-diagram-9420-1252236.jpg




I literally lol every time I see this. I don't know why, I just find it hilarious.


Im either a nerd or a dork
What about a nork? A mixture of the both, so then when someone calls you either or you can just smile and nod.

Icedhope, you ought to be classified as a nerd just for suggesting the creation of that word. :)

[puzzlebox]

What about a nork?
Icedhope, you ought to be classified as a nerd just for suggesting the creation of that word. :)

It already exists actually. Given the suggestion, I'm guessing that the slang term "norks (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=norks)" hasn't reached US shores.

It means boobs. :)

[Irishmile]

who cares really .... why adhere to simple labels for something as complex as individual people.... People are hardly ever so easily definable upon close examination.

[coolsome]

It already exists actually. Given the suggestion, I'm guessing that the slang term "norks (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=norks)" hasn't reached US shores.

It means boobs. :)

so im a boob now?

[Mandahaya]

so im a boob now?

In that case, we'd be two already.

(:D)

[GaryCXJk]

I'm not sure enough if nerds are suddenly cool, but I do know that it's becoming a trend that glasses on women are hot. Or rather, women with glasses.

But that could also be just me.

[Avistew]

I'm not sure enough if nerds are suddenly cool, but I do know that it's becoming a trend that glasses on women are hot. Or rather, women with glasses.

But that could also be just me.

That's not recent.

[Giant Tope]

Yeah, I've basically been attracted to women with glasses since I was 10 or whatever.

[coolsome]

I'm not sure enough if nerds are suddenly cool, but I do know that it's becoming a trend that glasses on women are hot. Or rather, women with glasses.

But that could also be just me.

what about on men?

http://www.howefitz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/tenthglasses.jpg

[Hayden]

who cares really .... why adhere to simple labels for something as complex as individual people.... People are hardly ever so easily definable upon close examination.

This is my favourite post of the entire thread. You can't put such a large percentage of people under a single banner. No two people are the same, let-alone thousands; everyone's different and we can't bunch people up into categories.

[Avistew]

We've been over that before. Men + glasses = <3
(Glasses aren't compulsory, though. Other signs of geekiness and/or intelligence work fine.)

[puzzlebox]

We've been over that before. Men + glasses = <3

Important truths bear repeating every now and again.

[coolsome]

I stole a pair of glasses with plastic lens from a mannequin once to update my look

[Alcoremortis]

Absolutely. :D:D:D