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

[Lucky Grim]

I'm personally very proud of my nerd cultural heritage, tracing it back to the greats: Hawking, Gates and Gygax.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

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.

You sound like a very fun person. I didn't know you go on tour and run a record label. Sounds like you live quite the life.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

I am a nerd but only when I am in my home. In public you wouldn't think I was a nerd but I am. And I don't give a damn.

 

[Disaster Button]

I think im a pretty big nerd, and I'm damn proud of it.

NERDS UNITE!

 

[Low Key]

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.

It's interesting that you associate liking sci-fi, anime, comic books, MMORPGs or tabletop games, and (especially) getting good grades with being friendless, fat, myopic and acne-ridden.

There are positive, neutral, and negative qualities that define a nerd. They don't always necessarily correlate to or accompany each other.

According to your list I am not a nerd, but alas, I still am. I fail to see why being a nerd is bad. The richest person in the world happens to be one.

 

[Wakefield]

Yes I'm a nerd, and yes I'm proud of it, and yes I have friends, and yes I play sports.

And yes I am still a massive massive nerd.

 

[Vrex360]

I have an alter ego which is a member of a reptilian warrior race and I spend my days writing Sci Fi short stories and watching movies all day.... so yeah I think I fit the criteria.

 

[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.

It's interesting that you associate liking sci-fi, anime, comic books, MMORPGs or tabletop games, and (especially) getting good grades with being friendless, fat, myopic and acne-ridden.

There are positive, neutral, and negative qualities that define a nerd. They don't always necessarily correlate to or accompany each other.

According to your list I am not a nerd, but alas, I still am. I fail to see why being a nerd is bad. The richest person in the world happens to be one.

I never said it was...

 

[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.

You sound like a very fun person. I didn't know you go on tour and run a record label. Sounds like you live quite the life.

Actually I'm a bit of an asshole. But that's okay, I'm at peace with it.

 

[Low Key]

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.

It's interesting that you associate liking sci-fi, anime, comic books, MMORPGs or tabletop games, and (especially) getting good grades with being friendless, fat, myopic and acne-ridden.

There are positive, neutral, and negative qualities that define a nerd. They don't always necessarily correlate to or accompany each other.

According to your list I am not a nerd, but alas, I still am. I fail to see why being a nerd is bad. The richest person in the world happens to be one.

I never said it was...

Sure seemed like it.

 

[Dogstile]

Nerd? Hell no, i'm a certified geek though. FOR SPARTA!

 

[Vault boy Eddie]

Nerds rule the world, why not take pride in it.

 

[Kiju]

I'd rather be a nerd than a dork...but that's just my personal preference.

If I remember correctly, the term 'nerd' just means that you're really enthusiastic about something...so sports jocks are, in reality, sports nerds.

 

[powell86]

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..

love your quote. best i've ever seen. cookie for you sir

 

[Arkhangelsk]

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.

You sound like a very fun person. I didn't know you go on tour and run a record label. Sounds like you live quite the life.

Actually I'm a bit of an asshole. But that's okay, I'm at peace with it.

Like, to everyone?... I'm actually okay with that.

 

[Puzzles]

I like nerdy things, have nerdy thoughts and so on. If it looks like a nerd, smells like a nerd and feels like a nerd... It's probably a nerd.

I'm pretty comfortable with that. I don't really find the term that offensive, to be honest. I would have at 15, though.

Sadly, I don't really fit in at the Escapist, but I still like to spew words out into the vast internet wasteland. I like nerdy things, but maybe not to the extent of most people here, or different nerdy things anyway. None of my friends are nerds, and I'm fairly comfortable in a crowd of non-nerds most of the time. I hate metal, and anime, don't get nerd humour relying on references to games etc etc.

 

[Boxinatorizore]

Hell ya I'm a nerd. I accept it! I embrace it! I make love to it! ...ya...

 

[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.

It's interesting that you associate liking sci-fi, anime, comic books, MMORPGs or tabletop games, and (especially) getting good grades with being friendless, fat, myopic and acne-ridden.

There are positive, neutral, and negative qualities that define a nerd. They don't always necessarily correlate to or accompany each other.

According to your list I am not a nerd, but alas, I still am. I fail to see why being a nerd is bad. The richest person in the world happens to be one.

I never said it was...

Sure seemed like it.

The term "nerd" in itself is a social steriotype. So any stereotypical connotations, good or bad, have to be true qualities of a "nerd" otherwise the word would have no meaning.