Is being called a nerd a good thing?
 

I'm talking high school.

I advanced to the state level in UIL academics and there was an article in the school newspaper title 'UIL nerds advance to state'

and it was written by another student who is involved in UIL and she made it sound good to be a nerd.

it listed the names of people going to state and i was there.

anyway, this is NOT bothering me, but i was just wondering.


our school's UIL team is not a bunch of dorks, (there are some), but some of us are pretty cool people.


anyway, i was wondering..


Would you want to be called a nerd in high school?

As weird and strange as it my sound, I take great pride in considering myself I nerd since I'm a big fan of anime and gaming.

hell, look at most of the powerful people in the technology world nowadays, they were all nerds and most of them still consider themselves nerds.

The definition and connotation of "nerd" and"geek" has definitely changed in the past 10 or so years. When I was in high school, and that was only 6-7 years ago, being a nerd was a social stigma. Now it's almost cool to be a nerd or geek. Although I'd say "dork" holds the same weight it did when I was younger.

Nerd is okey, but geek is generaly thought of as a more deragatory term. Like someone who is akward is a geek, nerds are stabler in their nerdom.

It's a big cycle. I was a "nerd" in high school in the late 70's, we all laughed about it in a "wild and crazy guys" SNL kinda way.

Being a nerd is a bad thing, but being a geek is cool!

I prefer to be called a geek. To me, a geek is a nerd with social skills.

Nerd, Geek what difference does it make. I read a great article a while back in the New York Times called "what's in a name?" I think you just define what it means. Meaning if you think nerd is a bad label, it will be. It doesn't have to be though. I was labeled a so called nerd in high school, and it never hurt my social status. At times it's even enhanced it. Just realize this, "nerds" run big business, and ultimately the economy. Those who despise nerds are probably just jealous they've got the iq of a fetal pig.

Call it whatever you want. Geek, nerd, whatever. Its all about how YOU percieve it. You should be proud of your geekdom, nerdiness or whatever you want to call it.

Actually forseti said it well enough.

Bill Gates is a nerd and current Master Of The Universe.

You figure it out.

I was called a nerd on a daily basis in high school.

I loved it. The kids with the best grades had all the say at my school. I was King back then too.

im not a nerd! i just know a lot... j/k

im proud of being called a nerd. its better than being called a dumbass or an idiot :P

I tell everyone, nerd = Money!

Good ?,

Wasn't a nerd, but knew a few. They is makin' the $$$ now. For us in the dayz it was the nerds who did comp classes an the like. I now keep in touch with several of them who are like workin' for major corp. and earnin' bling.
Don't know if its a stigma nowadays (bit old) but I do know my corp. and a few others are still lookin' for rocket scientists (who were the nerds) and basically askin' 'em to name their price.
They put the work in they deserve the credits.

yeah, i'm feeling good being called a nerd now.

Exactly! This is one of the terms. Gaming and Anime. And usually also Computers. From that i'm a Gaming Geek... I'm Nerd.. although I associate Nerd with math... and so I say i USED to be a nerd, but something went wrong. :D Even if people tried to make fun of us, they realize we're the ones who do well in life. And personally I'd rather have a weird name in highschool compared to the rest of my life.

Geek doesn't equal no social life or boring. Just means you're intelligent and usually like gaming and anime.

often, if a non-nerd calls you a nerd, it is meant to be negative... although as some people describe above... "nerd/geek" could describe a very broad culture. still, outsiders might not see that.

and as proud and happy as nerds may be with themselves, there is some truth to many of them lacking some social skills.

Nerd is an insult in my book

I am a geek and proud of it - a nerd is someone less social and more closed in on himself

I couldn't have said that better myself.

Be nice to nerds, they'll be your boss someday. :D

I'm a geek, but who really gives a shit what anyone calls you?

exactly spec, who gives a shit what someone calls you, really?
its up to you.

i am a nerd in probably every definition of the word. i read science magazines, i'm interested in quantum physics, i get almost excited when i encounter new concepts and theories in mathematics.

the way i see it, i have something called curiosity, and if being curious means having the social label of nerd or geek attached to your backside, then so be it.

i want to start using my pocket protector again and the wife isn't having it...IMHO it's a convenient way to change stuff that goes into your pockets to other shirts...

geek/nerd.... intellecutal type... doesn't matter...

As was said before, being called anerd/geek in high school doesn't have the same impact now than 10 years ago. I was called a nerd because of my grades and complete disinterest toward varsity activities. As I as started college, being a nerd/geek suddenly opened up a lot of doors, and I'm not just talking academically. It seems that girls change their taste in guys at some point, so the HS jock gets the shaft, while yours truly gets dates.

I love that.

nerds may not rule the world but they make more money than the average person

It totally depends on your definition of the words geek, nerd and dork. Geek, as it was defined by my friends and I, means you have a great love for something that is not exactly embraced by society: i.e. band geek, choir geek, drama geek, art geek. Usually associated with creative hobbies/occupations/activities. Nerd is someone who is preoccupied with things of an academic nature, books, computers, studying, the like. For instance, I am a nerd because I enjoy reading books such as Thomas More's Utopia. Nerds might also be preoccupied by Star Trek, but that can also fall into geekiness. Dork, however, is derogatory. Usually used in the sense that someone is an idiot or has committed a social gaffe.

So, for instance, I was a choir geek in high school, but now that I'm in college I'm a complete nerd who spends all her time at the library. My friends say I'm a dork though because I'm an incredible klutz.

So, by these definitions--being a nerd is definitely a good thing!

The New Hacker's Dictionary says:
<quote>
nerd n. 1. [mainstream slang] Pejorative applied to anyone with an above-average IQ and few gifts at small talk and ordinary social rituals.
</quote>
Just about sums it up, no?

It all depends...

A girl I know used to call me a dork, but it was in a very friendly manner, and usually was said after one of my lame jokes/comments.

I didn't mind this at all, and knew it was just a way of her to say "something" in response to a joke. It wasn't intended to be hurtful and I didn't take it as so.

Even when intended to be hurtful, the person calling you a nerd is at least acknowledging that they think you are smarter than they are. :)

For some reason, at my HS, the 'nerds' and 'geeks' more or less merged into the 'goths'. I mean, there were 'band geeks' and that definition, but the "smart but social outcast" group was the goths. Looking back, I realize just how cliquey sp? my HS was... in college it doesn't really matter, as long as you're not an ass. Although there are still some jocks in denial... they still seem to think they're hot shit, but its pretty funny watching them, cause they don't "own the school" anymore. Actually, the artsy people outnumber the jocks. I guess they could be considered the nerds and geeks in high school, only older, and they are the ones who will probably succeed in life.

Being a nerd, pays cash.
Being a nerd, brings insight.

Being called a nerd in High School is usually done by those
who are intimidated by intelligence
and care about face-values only.

Be yourself, and try to improve yourself for you own value.
Sooner or later, you and the world will come in sync.

From my experience..

Nerds - those who study all the time, get straight As, have no social life or common sense, are very boring, have a hard time getting laid.

Geeks - Like onesnowyowl said, those who have a great love for something that is not exactly embraced by society, a little more social than nerds but not much, have a higher chance of getting laid.

What if i fit the first criterion, but not the the other two?

Then you're just a dork :p

Being a called a NERd is kewl, but being called "SIR" is better!

sure "geek" and "nerd" usually means they lack social skills.. but thats the OLD meaning. it no longer means that. Besides i know some people that dont' fit any either category and lack the social Skills. Geeks are always gaming with each other.. thus the social skills are actually raised... as they are.... WITH PEOPLE.. ;)

I play RPGS.. and i'll admit there are some people that still carry, "The LooK" which is that physical attire that people see and give everyone else a bad name. I don't look like that, and i bet many do not. We're cool, we have social skills. Heck i'm a Geek, yet i spend tons of time talking to friends online all the time. If I didn't have social skills.. then i wouldn't well.. be able to talk to so many people daily.

here's my understanding now


nerd : an overall smart person, in almost all aspects well above average.

geek: judged mainly on looks, and the stuff they say. i cant exactly describe it though.

I couldn't care less to be honest.

aarchaon, what's the deal with digging up old threads for no reason what so ever?

I was a proud nerd in high school. I don't look like one, but I definitely had the other attributes :)

Roger that, I was a nerd in high school, but not because of appearance or anything like that, but I did enough computer-related shit to be called a nerd. And I carry much pride in that title.

HOMER: Marge, try to understand. There are two kinds of college students - jocks and nerds. As a jock, it is my duty to give nerds a hard time. Hey, did you get a load of the nerd?

MUSCULAR COLLEGE STUDENT: Pardon me?

or

WOLFCASTLE: My son returns from a fancy east-coast college, and I'm horrified to find, he's a nerd.

BROCKMAN: I'm laughing already!

WOLFCASTLE: It's not a comedy..

Nerd is a derogatory term and I don't know why anyone would want to be called a nerd. It means you have anti-social tendancies which isn't generally desirable. Being smart doesn't make you a nerd. Being a nerd makes you a nerd.

I too was a nerd in high school. I was also called weird by some. It was a social stigma in my particular high school, but I did pretty well with women that didn't go to my high school. I think it really depends on the where and when as to how important it is. My wife calls me a nerd now but in a good way.

It's kind of like a dog digging up and draging in The_Dude's decomposed body after the family buried it in the backyard.

*embraces rotten corpse and crys out to the heavens*

Rest in peace, The_Dude,
-GH

When I was in gradeschool it was

N ever
E nding
R adicle
D ude

We were very witty

if i was a nerd then yeah. it's just the same as being called a jock, or a prep, or ghetto, or punk. it's just a label, it's up to you whether you find it offensive or not.

What happened to "the dude"? I noticed he hasnt been around lately.

He jetted.

But I mos def think being called a nerd or classifying yourself as a nerd is not a good thing. It's an insult. But you can be a geek or a phreak or a hacker or just a jackass!!! Who cares, it's all what you make of it. I can be really geeky but I realize this so it's all good. :)

Why do you care what other people think??? Rhetorical question. Knowledge is power. Be as nerdy as you wanna be, bro!! Or be a geek, or a good guy, or a dumbass, or an asshole. It all seems so silly in the long run

I appreciate it when people call me a nerd and always have. We'll be the people making all the money because we actually have the drive to do something with ourselves.

i'd like to think i was a geek, not a nerd. i could have participated, and i wasn't unliked, i just liked videogames and the internet more.

No


Mr Mephisto

One nerd to another...it beats being called UNEMPLOYED ;)

I am a huge fan of nerds, by any name: nerd, dork, geek, whatever... It's more fun to be a nerd, not having to worry about what anyone things, being happy in your own skin.
That's one of the things that attracted me to my boyfriend: he's a giant nerd, and he knows it, and I love it. I'm a nerd too, and proud of it. It's all about how you wear the "label".

I LOVE Being a nerdy geeky dorky person! Who wouldnt with a girlfriend like that ;)

Its impossible to insult someone who doesnt give a rats ass what the majority of people think of you. I sure haven't for a loooong time, so Im all fine with whichever of those three you'd like to call me.

To me, they all just mean "Damn good looking smart person" :p

At least, thats my opinion

I prefer GEEK!


*Far off, he hears Homer going "NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD"*

Don't know why it is, but I don't like being called a geek/nerd by non-geeks/non-nerds.
I think people who are slightly geek understand and apprecaites what it means to be a geek. But I found people who are completely non-geeky would use terms such as "geek" & "nerd" in a degradotory way.

LMAO too funny, man.

Geek seems to be cool now.

When i was in high school, 5 years ago, it was just becoming alomst-cool.

One day i remember, a friend casually and in fun called me a nerd in front of these other guys, who laughed AT me, rather that WITH us. I just smiled and said, "yeah well, i can leave campus whenever I want, have lunch wherever i want, and if I don't feel like going to my ONE academic class during the day, I can excuse myself at will."

I had the power of God at my school. Never seen a couple of people shut up so quick in your life.

haha we had the "Fifth Freedom" at our school too. Just earn the trust and respect from your teachers (by acing the tests and having good attendance) and all of a sudden the teachers don't care when you skip or leave school or leave the class room

I personaly prefer being called a geek. Nerds don't have social skills. No, i'm not saying that I've got great social skills, but I can have conversations about non-geeky things.

While I was at school, I developed a contempt and disgust for what I considered 'normal' humanity and society. I now realise that this was quite hypocritical, but I still get violent urges when I hear people say things like

'Fashion is very important to me'

or

'C'mon, when did anyone ever use Pythagoras' theorem in the real world?'

So I think I would have taken it as a compliment to be distinguished from the rest of humanity in any way at all.

Wow. This is bizarre. From where I'm from, it's completely the opposite! HAhaha. Oh well.