Nerd of tomarrow, Nerd of today

[animegirl]

Good thread. I am about as nerdy as I was in High School except now I found like-minded people. I play D&D every other weekend (I am going to be DM for the first time next weekend). I love video games, comic books, anime, Star Trek and just about any other nerdy hobby you can think of. Well, I don't write fanfics or cosplay, I do have some standards. I do have an active social life though and keep myself in pretty good shape.

[Frogacuda]

What were they geeking out about? metal?

Let me be clear here: metal is the absolute nerdiest thing ever. Its nerdier than dungeons and dragons and cosplay combined.

I never thought about it, but you're right.

Let's not get carried away here. Nerd is exclusively for nerdy activities. It doesn't matter how trivial the sports fanaticism is, how stupid you or I think it is, it is not nerdy like caring about unreleased video game systems. There are aficionados and then there are nerds (see Max Anime).

No, sports nerds are nerds. They are not jocks, they are not doing it to get pussy, they are doing it sheerly out of a dorky desire to know too much about their chosen hobby. They are not afficionados either, as memorizing stats goes beyond trying to have a finer appreciation for the game. If this knowledge had any practical application or was of use to anyone not likewise obsessed out of nerdy self-indulgence, I might take exception, but as far as I'm concerned they're no better than people that memorize Star Trek episode numbers.

[Josh]

I really really really like Star Trek.

[Hubbitron]

NERD!!

[Punky Skunk]

No, sports nerds are nerds.

Sports nerds are called "fans." They say "we won" when referring to people on a team who don't know them. That is normal.

Nerdy things:
anything brainy (science)
technology (computers)
escapist fantasy (LOTR)
things children can like, adults expected not to (toys, cartoons, video games?)

Sports does not figure in in any way, unless it is a nerdy sport like fencing.

[Hubbitron]

The nerf of tomarrow?

[frostwolf ex]

What were they geeking out about? metal?

Let me be clear here: metal is the absolute nerdiest thing ever. Its nerdier than dungeons and dragons and cosplay combined.

i have noticed a lot of european metal bands that are basicly larpers with guitars, its kind of funny. some of thema re pretty good too.

[Brisco Bold]

I have nothing to really add to this thread except kudos to IP on a good topic.

I think what's changed in all of us is that we've become more comfortable with who we are. We've learned when to shut up about things we like, when to play it up, and how and where our nerdy interests fit into our lives. Everyone goes through this. We just had a slightly tougher time acclimating.

[Giga Power]

Sports nerds are called "fans." They say "we won" when referring to people on a team who don't know them. That is normal.

Nerdy things:
anything brainy (science)
technology (computers)
escapist fantasy (LOTR)
things children can like, adults expected not to (toys, cartoons, video games?)

Sports does not figure in in any way, unless it is a nerdy sport like fencing.

I dunno, I think g0zen and the others are right. When you break it down it's really the same thing.

[Fe 26]

What were they geeking out about? metal?

Let me be clear here: metal is the absolute nerdiest thing ever. Its nerdier than dungeons and dragons and cosplay combined.

We saw history nerds, vehical nerds, music nerds, anime nerds and a few others. We saw two guys that could tell the difference between the 1945 and 1946 run of a truck baised on the lower part of it's tailgate. They found great joy in talking about it too.



Anyway, one thing I've noticed changing about "nerdom." is that the "trekie"(sp?) type of nerd is dying, at least online. I'm not talking about star treck only, but the kind of the nerd that LIVES for the hobby.

TNL itself went from being all "OMG THIS IS TEH BEST STUFF EVER OMG OMG OMG" to a place that really discourages losing your shit over something. It is kind of like a special kind of apathy is cool around here. Its ok to like it, but not to much or you will get the snot agrivated out of you by someone until you stop. The board expects everyone to be a Fonze. All laid back and cool.

NERD!!

I loled.

You shouldn't give two shits (or even one, no less) whether you're considered a loser or not. Do whatever the fuck you want and be confident about it.

This is relatively true. Everyone that matters is a nerd of some sort. The same ability to gather tons of info on something not important can get you through life.

Everyone I knew from school that didn't geek out over something, ended up being a pretty bland person with a pretty bland job. Hell, tonight was my little sisters graduation. I met one of the guys that was in the "cool" group back in middle school. He was a real jerk about me and a few other guys geeking out over Star Wars and Next Gen back in like the 6th grade. Well now he is fatter that I am, just got done with his teaching degree. He coaches and teaches history in a mississippi public school....yeah he really hit it big.