I am a Nerd
"Nerfin' Nerd. Circa 2007."
What is a nerd? Merriam-Webster's website defines the term 'nerd' as "an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits".
"Herp Derp Herp!"
The definition is very broad and negative. But I am proud of being a nerd. I have been a nerd for at the very least half my life, if not more. Nerds are cultivated by their parents, the media and the times they live in. We'll get into the 90's effects on turning a smart kid into a total geek and how that differs in a moment, because I need to draw your attention to the term nerd again. All nerds are not born but, instead, usually begin as a geek.
What is a geek? Merriam-Webster's website defines the term 'geek' as
"1. a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2. a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked
3. an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity".
I believe we can eliminate the terms original definition of a "carnival performer," because it arcane, mostly out of use, and is mostly used so people can tell an anecdote about the word's origins. The second definition was the mainstream definition but, since the rise of the internet over the last decade, the third definition is more common. I define a geek as "an enthusiast or expert who is passionate about a hobby or craft." By broadening the scope of the definition we can come to the conclusion that everyone is a geek about something.
 |
| Probably a false statistic. But meh. I like it. |
It doesn't have to be Star Trek or Dune. The hobby or craft
can be anything. If you know someone passionate enough about cars to identify
their year at a glance; if you know someone who has read all the Twilight books
(shudder); if you know someone who paints their body in their team colors
before the big game; if you know someone who loves to talk about string theory;
if you know someone who can quote Shakespeare than you know a geek. If you are
passionate about at least one hobby or craft, as most people in our
culture are, than you are a geek.
 |
| This is perfect. |
So if Merriam-Webster defines geeks as enthusiasts and nerds
are "slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits" what
does that mean? My definition of a nerd is as follows, a nerd is “an extremely passionate enthusiast
or an expert who pursues intellectual pursuits, academia and hobbies." I think what separates a geek and a nerd is one factor.
Passion. Nerds are not just passionate, but extremely so. Furthermore, a nerd is more likely to pursue many interests, be proud of it, defend their views, argue with other fans, and in the end is more likely to show their dedication. For an example, we will look at the difference between a Harry Potter geek and nerd.
 |
| Boggarts 4 Lulz! |
A Harry Potter geek loves the movies and has probably read the books. A Harry Potter nerds loves the books (probably more so) and the movies, but goes out of their way to illuminate their favorite elements, put down elements they dislike, cosplay, argue over what house they would be in and will know such minutia as the passwords to Dumbledore's office are always candy (lemon drop) or that Neville Longbottom's grandmother wore a stuffed buzzard on her hat.I am proud of the fact I know these things. I know them because I love the world that J. K. Rowling created for her audience. But being a nerd isn't just about love.
Sometimes its about pure distaste and protest. For this example,
I have to use Star Wars. I love Star Wars and had the VHS as a kid. The ones where you see Luke fight the Wampa and Han shot first. When my dad bought a dvd player, he also bought a new set of Star Wars DVDs. With the digital enhancements or, as I call them, abominations. A digital dewback is unnecessary and turns the vacant landscape into a CG mess. A geek might let it go but a nerd believes the films are art. Lucas himself compared anyone who would alter or destroy art to "barbarians," and yet, the hypocrite's changes have done more damage to his own franchise than the Star Wars Christmas Special.
 |
| "Why U Change Classic?!" |
A
nerd never forgets but can forgive. Tell me you went be excited to hear about a Star Wars Episode 7 (and terrified). So maybe other people can begin to forgive
the nerd in their life and we can all learn to get along?
 |
| "NERDS!" |
Or maybe not. We nerds are inclusive
bunch. Not everyone likes us. We recognize and embrace our own, all races, religions and creeds (even
Blood Elfs). We are the postmodern man, always a step ahead intellectually and
a step behind socially. Yet, while a geek is not a nerd, a nerd is a geek.
Therefore, if geekdom can gain acceptance by the mainstream crowd then maybe
someday nerds can be seen as people who want to herald new pop culture as it
rises over the horizons, to shield classic films from blinded creators and to
fix all the ills (nerds are smart, just a little too hardcore, sometimes). I see a future
where nerds, geeks and geeks-in-denial can all live together in peace, harmony,
and mutual understanding of how wrong the other is about who is the best Batman
(it’s a tie between Michael Keaton and Kevin Conroy) or who is the best Joker
(it’s Mark Hammill).Nerds are passionate; and if passion is the fuel of life than nerds can take us to the stars.
 |
| Epic Beard RIP |
I am a Dungeon Master, a Dwarf Pope,
a Half-Elf Swashbuckler, a Hero of Cyrodill, Albion and Hyrule, an Epic Beard,
a Pokemon Master, a Jedi, a Green Lantern, a Giant Boy Detective, a ninja, a Star Trek
Captain, a Ronin, a Gryffindor, a COG, a Dhampir, a ninja in an orange
jumpsuit, a Space Viking, a half-Saiyan, a Spartan, a writer, a creator, a friend, an outcast and an Immortal.
I AM A NERD.
This
is the point of my blog.
