"Not to be a nerd, but..."

[kementari]

I've been seeing this phrase and variations of it all over the Escapist lately. Whether commenting on an article or just discussing what books we're reading, there are always a few of us that want to preface our (usually not very nerdy at all, actually) opinions with an acknowledgment that we just might come off as nerds.

Frankly, I don't get it. This is The Escapist, people. By virtue of being here, we're pretty much assumed to be nerds.

So my question to all users is this: Do you, in fact, feel that you are not a nerd? If so, what about yourself leads you to this conclusion?

Edit to add second question:

Not to be a nerd but videogames are quite an accepted social meidum, being on a site about them doesent qualify you as a nerd.

I was wondering if someone was going to take this angle, so thanks for being my guinea pig.

You realize that this is an extremely new viewpoint, and not one shared by everyone in or out of the gaming community, right? What would you say changed gaming into a "non-nerdy" pastime? Halo? World of Warcraft? Madden?

Or, do you think it still is?

 

[Jedoro]

...pretty sure I'm a nerd.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Well, I feel that nerdness is something to take pride in, especially on a site like this. So if you can out-nerd someone on a site with lots of nerds, you are an awesome nerd.

That still won't get you laid though..

 

[clairedelune]

I'm a closet nerd.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Meh, does it really matter? I'm a nerd at heart, but hell it doesn't really take it's toll on me in the outside world (beyond my bedroom door).

 

[lasherman]

I know that I am a nerd by society's standards; I play video games, I'm taking video game design classes, I spend alot of time on the computer/internet, and I used to be a top student in high school.

What I don't think, however, is that being a nerd is a bad thing. I accept that I am considered a nerd, but the way I see it is that the people who generally hate on nerds are just assholes, and people who won't amount to anything special, because they don't want to study and risk being called a "Nerd".

Also, as Professor Frink puts it, nerd stands for "Not Even Remotely Dorky".

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I play D&D, so yeah Imma nerd

 

[Xanadu84]

I usually prefer Geek myself, but Nerd is hardly a complete departure from the truth.

 

[DazZ.]

I haven't read that before, I'd have pointed out quite a few people they are posting on a forum if I had.
Not that I'm a nerd or anything...

 

[RatRace123]

Nerd, no other way to put it.

 

[Low Key]

I am multifaceted, so by virtue, yes.

 

[DND Judgement]

my warhammer armies and magic the gathering collection say i'm a nerd....

 

[BonsaiK]

I've been seeing this phrase and variations of it all over the Escapist lately. Whether commenting on an article or just discussing what books we're reading, there are always a few of us that want to preface our (usually not very nerdy at all, actually) opinions with an acknowledgment that we just might come off as nerds.

Frankly, I don't get it. This is The Escapist, people. By virtue of being here, we're pretty much assumed to be nerds.

So my question to all users is this: Do you, in fact, feel that you are not a nerd? If so, what about yourself leads you to this conclusion?

People who are hardcore nerds tend to either shun me a little or treat me as an oddity because I only have a semi-superficial understanding of computers and do a lot of stuff that nerds find a bit too "cool" for their taste such as play in bands, go on tour occasionally, run a record label, socialise with a lot of women etc.

On the other hand, people who are in the music scene or the social scenes where I hang out definitely feel like I'm nerdy, because I openly admit to liking computer games, wasting time on internet forums and have a fairly full understanding of nerd culture and memes. So I get shunned a bit there too. I guess I don't fit in anywhere but then that's fine, I'm quite comfortable with that.

 

[wizzerd229]

im a nerd and proud of it

 

[Thaius]

I am a nerd, and proud of it. Not a geek: they're two different things. While both share characteristics of the other, they are in fact two very different things, and I am most definitely a nerd, not a geek.

 

[kementari]

Not to be a nerd but videogames are quite an accepted social meidum, being on a site about them doesent qualify you as a nerd.

I was wondering if someone was going to take this angle, so thanks for being my guinea pig.

You realize that this is an extremely new viewpoint, and not one shared by everyone in or out of the gaming community, right? What would you say changed gaming into a "non-nerdy" pastime? Halo? World of Warcraft? Madden?

Or, do you think it still is?

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

The only "nerdy" thing about me is that I like videogames and the internet. I don't like sci fi, I don't like anime, I've never gotten strait As, I don't play DnD or WoW, I'm in good shape, have a lot of friends, play heavy music on guitar, don't wear glasses, don't have acne, and I've never read a comic book in my life. So I would say no.