Nerd of tomarrow, Nerd of today

[Fe 26]

TNL is full of nerds. Yes, every last one of you is a nerd. Even burg with his fancy law degree, is a fucking nerd. But we aren't the nerds we used to be. There is a very big difference between today and 5 or even 10 years ago. We refer to the old nerd ways, as the gamego days, back when the board was full fagchannery.

But gamego didn't start the fagchanery. Everyone was a fagchan before there every was a gamego or even a GameFan. Those two sites were just magnets for the kind of nerdery.

But we aren't those kinds of nerds anymore. Some would say that most of us have just grown up, that we have put away childish things. I think in part that is true, but I think a big part of it is because of the internet. In real life I know kids that are still "fagchans." These kids typically don't use chat rooms and message baords for whatever reason.

There is something about getting a bunch of nerds together in one place that changes them, makes them a little bit more mature, if not jaded. And that is what I want this thread to be about; how/why boards like TNL change nerds.

This is just a theory but I think that every town has a small # of nerds. They are social rejects typically and grow their little special brand of being a dork. After a while they think they are special and pride themselves on their intrest. However, with message boards and online chatting they find that they really aren't special. They find people that are bigger dorks than they are and it sort of disqust them. Then you get a backlash.

Also it might just all be biological. Perhaps groups of people feel a need to have "cool" people and "nerdy" people. Maybe we put ourselves into those roles with out consciencely thinking about it.


I'm interested in everyone's opinion. I fully admit that I may be full of complete shit and this topic may be silly, so there really is no need to try to be clever and "own" me. Oh and yes, my spelling sucks, long hair, bad grammar, neck hair, I'm a dumb dumb head, the south sucks and eats turds, etc.

EDIT: I take one thing back. I am not interested in the opinions of SpoDaddy or Compass. You'll just say something that diff and g0zan will rape you in the ass over and as much fun as that is for the two of them to do, I really don't enjoy reading that mess.

[Jester]

Either that or peoples taste change as they grow older. i don't like Ghost Busters and Ninja turtles as much as I did when I was younger, and I find myself enjoying video games less now.

As for the death of FChannery I blame over saturation. When most of the board were Fchans at game go etc. there were fewer anime and video game titles coming across the sea, and for the most part the ones that made it across were good. Now that everything makes it across and there are a million import shops for the 2 that don't the homogeny has made what was once special just another Japanese game.

Also I disagree with the assessment of everyone being a nerd because they have a hobby. I think everyone despite their social standing has a hobby. I do agree that being a nerd today isn't what it was portrayed as in Revenge of the Nerds or other such cinematic masterworks on the subject.

[frostwolf ex]

f-channing(not to be confused with carol channing) was a lot more "special" when wal mart and basic cable didnt carry anime and sony wasnt bringing over all the weird, japanese games. it depended heavily on the idea that what we were seeing was just the tip of the iceberg,and all the weird, indecipherable japanese names you saw in the gamefan ads were these hidden, forbidden jewels to hunt down. now we get most of them and we find out that they werent very good. its like seeing jessica alba naked and finding out she has bad cellulite and cankles.

[Calliander]

I love Tolkein, Asimov and Dungeons & Dragons.

[ChaoofNee]

Also it might just all be biological. Perhaps groups of people feel a need to have "cool" people and "nerdy" people. Maybe we put ourselves into those roles with out consciencely thinking about it.

One thing I do notice is the overwhelming amount of nerdiness in the world today. Nobody tries to "hide it" anymore because even some jocks are into nerdy shit. Back in my fucking day, though, I was ridiculed. These whippersnappers today have it easy, dadgummit.

As for the death of FChannery I blame over saturation. When most of the board were Fchans at game go etc. there were fewer anime and video game titles coming across the sea, and for the most part the ones that made it across were good. Now that everything makes it across and there are a million import shops for the 2 that don't the homogeny has made what was once special just another Japanese game.

I agree and would also like to add two points:
1) The quality of the average Japanese game isn't as good as it used to be.
2) Anime and Japaniness is just as prevalent as overall nerdiness today. To a degree, I'm sick of seeing people jumping onto shit I've been into on a moderate level all my life like a bat out of hell and loving in obsessively because it just became popular.
3) (I lied) Fuck G4 for everything besides XPlay.

[Diff-chan]

Most of us have good jobs, are in a relationship, exercise and try to keep our body fit, and even like "non-nerdy" things like sports and beer. Just because we like to play games and chat about them with like-minded individuals it's a big deal? I don't get it. You can find forums for any interest online.

[ChaoofNee]

Most of us have good jobs, are in a relationship, exercise and try to keep our body fit, and even like "non-nerdy" things like sports and beer. Just because we like to play games and chat about them with like-minded individuals it's a big deal? I don't get it. You can find forums for any interest online.

Ooh! I have that second one!

...but that's about it.

[D_N_G]

its like seeing jessica alba naked and finding out she has bad cellulite and cankles.

BLASPHEMY!

[Frogacuda]

Really, I think most people are nerdy about something. There's some hobbies we associate as less nerdy than others, but it's really pretty arbitrary. If you know sports statistics from 20 years ago, you're every bit as much a nerd as someone who imported all the Sakura Taisens. If you collect antique furniture and know everything about it, you're a nerd. We all have our interests and indulgences that we know too much about.

[NeoZeedeater]

TNL has changed but I don't feel that I have changed much as a gamer. In the GameGO!/early TNL days I felt like the rare person trying to get people to play various Western-made/PC games, to appreciate both sides. I didn't expect or want TNL to invert itself and go on a Japan bashing spree/witchhunt.

The term "faggot chan" was awesome and hilarious when it first appeared. It was perfect when it only referred to people like Recap. Now people will call you an f-chan for liking a domestic Nintendo game. The meaning has been lost.