Poll: Is the nerd stereotype dying.

[Michael Delvey]

Okay, so we all heard the stereotype before. Is that nerds don't get the girls or boys. Or that nerds have a an awful time trying to talk to someone of the opposite sex.

What I've been seeing that is only about 30% true. I have at least one friend who fits this stereotype to a T, he has only had one successful date and he's never had a relationship. But I have countless others who are in healthy relationships or actively "dating" around. Me personally, I have a really hard time talking to girls that I have never met. By the time I get to know them and be comfortable talking to them. I am already in the friend zone. I only had one relationship in high school, I'm 22 now. The only reason I was in one, because she knew I liked her and did all the advances herself. It only lasted a couple of weeks, because it felt too one sided.

So my question is. Is the stereotype dying? I'm only asking because I go to conventions and I'm starting to see more relationships than single people. What are your opinions? What kind stories do you have with the opposite sex?

 

[triggrhappy94]

Well I guess its dying hard at my school. Despite having verry little, if not no bullies, and a thriving "nerd" population, many people at my school opted to sign a petition forcing the school to ban Dress Like (Rival School) Nerd Day during Homecoming week.
Three more spirit days, most of which had been in place for years without anyone getting made, were either protested or banned

 

[Phasmal]

I'm a nerd girl who is into nerd boys, so I've never really had a problem with getting a boyfriend.
I'd say the stereotype is probably alive and well, but so are many stereotypes that are unfounded but still floating about.

 

[FalloutJack]

How about killing the nerd stereotype in which such and so people who like (INSERT THINGY HERE) are nerds? That's a really stupid one that should go.

 

[GigaHz]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Where's "It's complicated"?

 

[The Mighty Pepper]

The common stereotype of nerd is becoming less noticable but thats probably because of the abundance of others who play games on a computer and therefore declare themselves 'nerds' watering down the whole nerd population and making them look like the minority... Or maybe thats just In Britain.

 

[Drakmeire]

It's pretty dead. I went to an anime convention this weekend and I can safely say that there were beautiful girls there, everyone was very open with each other and many friends were being made.
if going up to someone and asking for a picture and a hug with confidence isn't confidence, i don't know what is.
As for me. I don't like deep meaningful relationships very much, I turn 20 in two weeks and the only relationships I've been in a purely physical and playful. right now I sort of have an eye candy/boy-toy relationship with a girl who is several years older than me and uses me as an accessory whenever she wants to go a restaurant or hang out in a public place. nothing sexual really (Though I think she might want there to be) I've been called a pretty-boy many times and don't mind being treated as an object. so it's fine, Guys can take advantage of double standards too.

 

[Apollo45]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

My perception has always been a bit different. Nerds tend to be of the 'smarter' variety, and are the ones that (stereotypically, mind) walk around with pocket protectors and briefcases. They typically have interests in things more related to science; Science Fiction movies/games, computers, and so on, although Fantasy things tend to be related. Geeks, on the other hand, don't necessarily have to be 'smart', they just tend to focus on the few things they like, be that fantasy or technology or gaming or a combination of all of them.

And no, I don't think it's dying; nerds are still nerds, and geeks are still geeks. But I think the activities typically associated with them are becoming more accessible to the rest of the population, so you're seeing more "normal" people at conventions or gaming and whatnot. The nerd population is definitely still there though.

 

[Comando96]

I have absolutely no problem talking to girls xD I'm completely fine.

However when the topic drifts over... or there is even the slightest hint that it is going from friendly friend chat... to possibly something else... (or more), then I can't even say a word, and would rather dramatically change the subject.
Basically I only have problems talking to the opposite sex... when I think the relationship area may be accidentally wandered into.

"Single, but never had a relationship."

 

[intheweeds]

The stereotype is dead because hipster bloggers killed it.

*jumps quickly into bunker

 

[Mischa87]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

I think you've got your definitions reversed there (Geek/Nerd) Geeks are the obsessive, socially inept ones, not nerds, which is why you add a suffix to the word geek, like traingeek, gungeek, Starwarsgeek, and so on. Nerds are essentially just people with interest in some of the more intellectual pastimes really.

 

[GigaHz]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

I think you've got your definitions reversed there (Geek/Nerd) Geeks are the obsessive, socially inept ones, not nerds, which is why you add a suffix to the word geek, like traingeek, gungeek, Starwarsgeek, and so on. Nerds are essentially just people with interest in some of the more intellectual pastimes really.

You're right, now that I looked up the textbook definition. Though I can't seem to find a textbook definition for the "social nerd/geek" I'm trying to describe. Little help?

 

[Mischa87]

You're right, now that I looked up the textbook definition. Though I can't seem to find a textbook definition for the "social nerd/geek" I'm trying to describe. Little help?

I think the social aspect of it is just part of the word "geek" I think it's assumed that someone who obsesses over some particular subject is prone to lacking social skills. Some might go so far as saying that many of these people have a form of autism, which often leads to obsession, which can also lead to social issues. Hope that's helped

 

[Stealthygamer]

I would consider myself a nerd, but I've been in relationships before, and i have an easy time making friends (and enemies)

 

[Michael Delvey]

I don't think the stereotype is dying, I think people often confuse the word Geek with Nerd.

To me, a Nerd is more obsessed with their eccentric interests where a Geek has a more passive interest to similar things. Geeks also tend to be more social while Nerds only really need their interests to keep them going. So while they have enough in common to be put into a similar category, they are quite a bit different.

I also think that being a Geek has been fashionable for some time. That has helped improve the image of the Nerddome world as a whole, but is a far-cry from liberating true Nerds from themselves.

My perception has always been a bit different. Nerds tend to be of the 'smarter' variety, and are the ones that (stereotypically, mind) walk around with pocket protectors and briefcases. They typically have interests in things more related to science; Science Fiction movies/games, computers, and so on, although Fantasy things tend to be related. Geeks, on the other hand, don't necessarily have to be 'smart', they just tend to focus on the few things they like, be that fantasy or technology or gaming or a combination of all of them.

And no, I don't think it's dying; nerds are still nerds, and geeks are still geeks. But I think the activities typically associated with them are becoming more accessible to the rest of the population, so you're seeing more "normal" people at conventions or gaming and whatnot. The nerd population is definitely still there though.

I would say the nerd world is becoming more accessible to the population. It's the only reason Marvel is doing the mega movie cross-over. But I think the guy who plays Halo from time to time or the guy who wears a Scott Pilgrim t-shirt to look cool are just guys who like the material. I think those kind of people wouldn't go farther than that like message boards and conventions. In fact the only time I pseudo-nerds is at bars or public places.

 

[Viral_Lola]

I consider myself a socially inept nerd and that hasn't stopped me from getting asked out.

 

[Rawne1980]

Only 5 of us married and 1 poor sod divorced.

I don't think nerds are dying out but marriage seems to be.