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What is a nerd? (pg. 3)
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| Halcyon+On+On |
I think a lot of the opinions being tossed around here are pretty conventional, which is fitting for the term at hand, but things are changing pretty rapidly in terms of the fundamental considerations for geek/nerd-dom and the like- its function as a social component.
That is to say, yeah, it's fair enough to consider people who shy away from social functions because of past humilation or whatnot, and just become engrossed in a fantasy setting; People who just live on World of Warcraft and other MMOs definitely come to mind; But there are actual slychological terms for these sorts of people, and just saying they are nerds doesn't quite seem to encompass things terribly well, if you ask me. With the advent of the internet, it's becoming increasingly popular for people with strong interests in fantasy settings and obscure kind of social fetishes to become connected with one another, and that is definitely something our generation is probably learning to take for granted quite aptly. With the massive access to information people have nowadays and also this connectedness, it's likely exponentially easier to become the same class of "nerd" these days that would have people completely outcast 2 decades ago- and all in the comfort of your own computer chair. Yet still, the social construction still exists, it is just experiencing an immense paradigm shift.
I'm certainly not saying the internet is going to ever change having a few beers with friends and then getting oiled up for a sweaty and rousing game of badminton... but what if I am?
It seems to me that everyone has their individual interests, and these prospective interests are merely engrained into them by some form of social conditioning- whether they be a habitually escapist reaction to unpleasant stimulus (System-J's nerds?) or an ease in access to social perks which traditionally facilitate survivalistic needs such as fertility and... well, , isn't being a jock all about getting laid in as many roundabout ways as possible? The distinction seems firmly rooted in the stark utility of a certain subset of various determinants- does this person's interests make them money? Does it get them friends? Does it get them girls? etc. And if these interests do not tend to lead to some sort of wet, sopping conclusion, you've been nerded. |
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| enydo |
The Big Bang Theory is really awful and not funny in the slightest.
I did see a clip of it with the laugh track removed however, and that was hilarious. It just seemed like a bunch of people with aspergers trying to have valid conversations. |
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| Blake |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Gundam. Star Wars. RPG. Gundam Wing. Star Trek. Sumo. Lord of the Rings. Gundam Apha Turbo Phonex. Starbattle Gallactica. Dune. Comics. Graphic Novels. Super Mario Gundam. Starcraft. Manga. Magic, the Gathering. Gundam, at the Comicon Gathering. Starfox, Starscream, Starsky & Hutch, Starfish. C++, Asp, Ajax, and 300. Dungeons & Dragons. Saint Seiya (but, hey, I'm a Capricorn!). Megaman. Gunman. Starman, Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Ultraman, but no atman. Gundam. Starvation. Esperanto. Klingon. And, finally, even the bloody tea ceremony. |
Gah! You pretty much just described my younger brother
What I wanna say to him sometimes is, "Cosplay? Comicon? Dude, how did this happen :conf: " but if nothing else, the EDM scene has taught me to be open about these kinds of things. I haven't seen him in a few years, but when I visit during the holidays I definitely wanna spend 1 day hanging w/him and his cosplay friends, just to see if they're somehow less nerdy than I imagine.
Idk, I think things like anime and videogames are interesting / entertaining at the very least, but going all-out is a bit much. Damn those Japanese! :whip: |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Blake
Gah! You pretty much just described my younger brother
What I wanna say to him sometimes is, "Cosplay? Comicon? Dude, how did this happen :conf: " but if nothing else, the EDM scene has taught me to be open about these kinds of things. I haven't seen him in a few years, but when I visit during the holidays I definitely wanna spend 1 day hanging w/him and his cosplay friends, just to see if they're somehow less nerdy than I imagine.
Idk, I think things like anime and videogames are interesting / entertaining at the very least, but going all-out is a bit much. Damn those Japanese! :whip: |
Actually, I've got to give it up for those zany cosplayers: at least they go out there and live passionately whatever it is that they love. I can't stand a single minute of the stuff they talk about, but at least they aren't afraid to fully embrace it and whatnot. |
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| Renzo |
| I haven't even heard the word 'nerd' since high school. |
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| -FSP- |
I consider myself a failed nerd. I want to play DND but I hang around people who don't like that at all, so I'm playing what most purist call a bastardized version of it, which is playing Neverwinter Nights 2!!
BTW 3.5 > 4.0 rules imo. I hope i get my nerd card eventually.
And yes, I have fantasies about serving for Hoar and Ilmater.
I have many stories of my failed nerdness, and this is just one of them. :( |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
you're really missing out on the BSG lira! :p
i consider myself a nerd, but i don't think im socially inept or anything. as long as i can remember i've just liked magic, spaceships and speculative fiction. it fills the gap left by religion, homeopathy and healing crystals. gotta get my pretend on somehow. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
you're really missing out on the BSG lira! :p |
Haha, I wrote that just to annoy you :p
My dad is a fan, I guess. Now that he's retired, he spends his days watching the Sci-Fi channel, and I'm quite sure there's some BSG on his schedule :) |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
I knew that would come up sooner or later :p |
I thought we'd get it out of the way. :p |
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| saluyamo |
Why would nerds like that? |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by saluyamo
Why would nerds like that? |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Read that paragraph again. Whenever I cited "Gundam", something beginning with "Star-" followed. That's why I jokingly butchered the title of "Battlestar Gallactica". |
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| Fledz |
Nerd is a segregationist American term that we could have done without, much like many other things that originated in the US of Aiiiiiii.
Celebrating 21st birthday parties
The right to bear arms
Suing people left, right and centre for no reason at all
Fat chicks
etc
Ok so I'm completely making that up but it kind of makes sense to me... |
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