A Study of 'Nerd Culture'

[.Rai]

The 'nerd' archetype have been around for who knows how long. 'Nerd culture' has only been a thing for as long as pop culture and online media has existed at a popular rate. The culture has...problems. At times, it can be incredibly hypocritical, and also rather hot-headed.

The internet is the battleground, and the sheer variety of fanbases are its soldiers.

Case 1: Licking Magic

Click the title for the video in question. The essence of it is that Alex Day, otherwise known as Nerimon on YouTube, a famous British vlogger and self-proclaimed 'Nerdfighter', previews a card for Magic: The Gathering, and essentially licks it, folds it and eats it.

The controversy was blown up in the local community, quite literally because of the fact that he was 'disrespecting the fanbase'. Being the only person in the world in possession of said card and getting rid of that title upset many collectors. Others said that he was insulting an opportunity that the company gave him, and they wouldn't give him another one. A few months later, he gets another preview card.

Alex Day is a casual player of Magic. Many of his critics were 'hardcore' players, collectors or people or sell cards for money. The truth behind it was that he would probably be unable to sell it in the first place, there would be thousands of cards identical to it, and it was generally i gigantic overreaction.

Case 2: 'Fake Nerd' Culture

Fake nerd culture is the progression of hipsterism, 'gamer girls' and essentially the outburst of casual gaming. The tension between 'nerds' and this new group is of aggression and complete disregard respectively.

Variety of Reading Material

http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/06/19/501834/hard-core-misogyny-and-nerd-culture/?mobile=nc
http://comicsbeat.com/enough-with-the-faux-fake-geek-girl-outrage-already/
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-changing-face-of-nerds-and-autism-in-popular-c,91151/
http://dailytrojan.com/2011/02/10/geek-culture-merges-into-the-mainstream/
http://www.heavemedia.com/2012/01/05/the-end-of-nerd-culture-is-nigh/
http://www.collegehumor.com/article/6795459/the-six-supervillains-of-nerd-culture

Your opinion on nerd culture?

[WTFauKorean]

oh god this expansive and hardcore community.

 

I don't even know where to begin, I mean am I even remotely part of it?

I mean really define how extremely diehard you have to be to be considered part of this community.

It's kind of hard to set the standard

It doesn't all revolve around card games

doesn't all revolve around video games

doesn't all revolve around comics, cartoons and animes

 

I mean really there's so many sub groups and topics of nerd pop-culture

 

then to add to it you have to do your homework to be a part of the community as well

a shit ton of the community has legitimate justification to be what they are, and in fact could be seen as the far superior in comparison to the rest of the worlds affiliations.

They're a range of smart, analytical, witty, hilarious, creative, and some of them are down right hooooot. (I love you Jessica Nigri)

 

I could understand the anger in false affiliation and mislabeling of the community to other communities, but really isn't that the spark to just another branch of the party?

[Lunar Origins]

You know, why can't we just live and let live?  Sheesh.

[Great Unclean One: VK]

We all know how I feel about this.

 

Umbra knows alone why I feel like this.

 

When you lose stuff due to bullshit like this, you'll hopefully understand one day.

[ListenToLife]

Y'know, I always called myself a Nerd, merely because I was overly intelligence/nigh on a genius. There weren't guidelines and rules to being a nerd, a Nerd was merely someone who was above average intelligence and showed it. The term geek was reserved for those with an overarching obsession for Comics and Games and the like.

 

As such, nowadays I expect to get a ton of hate from this 'true nerds'. Who, if I'm honest, I dont picture as nerds half of the time. They just aren't - they're Geeks to me. And Always will be. Unless they also belong to that 1% of people with over 130 IQ, I shall not call them a nerd, and they shall be just as bad as the 'Faux nerds' that they themselves critiscise.

 

I myself have very little interest in most comic books and card games and stuff. Pretty much the only 'nerdy' thing I've got going for me, amongst that group, is having watched tonnes of Doctor Who, including much of the classic series. And that's only because I'm british; watching Doctor Who is kind of required. It's not nerdy in britain, it's expected.

 

I guess my opinion is that they 'hardcore nerds' are pretty much as bad as the 'faux nerds'.

[Great Unclean One: VK]

Weirdguy, you actually know the difference.

 

I like you, I like you a lot now.

 

For once, someone else who knows the difference.

[ListenToLife]

I didn't think that there were people who didn't until I started going to highschool. Being called 'Geek' was rather annoying, especially before I got my glasses and there was a legitimate reason based on appearence, even if only slightly, and was based of a stereotype.

 

I dont believe in a 'nerd-culture'. It just doesn't exist in my mind. To me, it's the equivalent of these 'Faux nerds'...it's Geeks wanting to seem more intelligent.

Nerd doesn't fit a stereotype or culture. If I conform to any culture/stereotype, it's the Metal-head/Mosher one: Metallica t-shirts, long black hair, play guitar, go to gigs, etc. I still am labelled/label myself a nerd. Because I am consistently the most intelligent person around me.

[.Rai]

Nerd culture is one of those interesting internet phenomenons. The difference between a geek and a nerd is so easily interchangeable, and means nothing without a true meaning. There was an interesting diagram I found, which has become the current standard, let's call it:



Then, what do you call it? Is it simply 'geeks' mislabelling themselves as nerds and triggering a response? And, if nerd culture is simply an illusion, what do you call the cultures that are clearly visible on the internet?

I'm just provoking response here. I hardly take a view in these things. It's interesting just to take a step back and look at the internet.

[Toffee.]

Then, what do you call it? Is it simply 'geeks' mislabelling themselves as nerds and triggering a response? And, if nerd culture is simply an illusion, what do you call the cultures that are clearly visible on the internet?

Said cultures, more or less, give themselves their own titles.
An example, would be Reddit users being labeled as "Redditors".
It might be, because everyone wants to do things their own way, and not be addressed as being part of the whole.
Or something like that.

Also, with regards to your pie chart~ I could easily fit into the Dork section.

[ListenToLife]

To be honest, I disagree with the diagram. But then again, that's probably a diagram to represent the American view of it: 'Dweebs' and 'Dorks' just dont exist in Britain, they're words that pretty much do not exist. Just like 'Chav' doesn't really exist in america, it's a British word.

 

If we're going by the diagram; again, I dont fit into anything. I (now) lack the social ineptitude; I actually do have a ton of friends and have a girlfriend now, so that's ruled out. (I did have it until aged 13-14 or something, but that wasn't mere social ineptitude, that was Aspergers and minor ADD) I obsess over nothing really; the closest thing to an 'obsession' is my love for Pokémon, but even that is limited. I just know a lot about it and like it a lot, being my favourite game series. I dont totally obsess over it.

 

Also, the Diagram seems to see Geeks as people who dont have Social Ineptitude, which isn't what I'd picture the 'Geek' stereotype as, to be honest.

[Night]

Who gives a fuck.

Do what you like to do, never classify yourself or let others classify you. 

[Agro]

Because I am consistently the most intelligent person around me.

 Based on this statement, I disagree.

 

OT: There's far more to it than a simple chart can show you. Nerd really isn't as much of a thing these days as it was before.

 

I don't think obsession, intelligence, or social ineptitude is even remotely implied when saying "nerd". These days, it's more about knowing information in a certain area. There are science nerds, theatre nerds, english nerds. The term "nerd" seems to revolve more around having an area of expertise these days. And the amount you need to know has shifted dramatically as things like super heroes, video games, and technology have become the basis of popular culture.

 

All in all, I'm not even sure I understand what someone's trying to imply when they even mention the idea of a "nerd culture" anymore.

[.Rai]

Who gives a fuck.
Do what you like to do, never classify yourself or let others classify you. 

It's strange, because people who fit into the 'nerd culture' phenomenon usually protect that position and explicitly state that themselves. It's the reason why people like the Vlog Brothers are part of a 'Nerdfighter' movement. In my opinion, it's even easier on the Internet simply to fall into weird classification groups. We all would love not to, but many unconsciously do anyway.

[Tourmaline]

Based on this statement, I disagree.

OT: There's far more to it than a simple chart can show you. Nerd really isn't as much of a thing these days as it was before.

I don't think obsession, intelligence, or social ineptitude is even remotely implied when saying "nerd". These days, it's more about knowing information in a certain area. There are science nerds, theatre nerds, english nerds. The term "nerd" seems to revolve more around having an area of expertise these days. And the amount you need to know has shifted dramatically as things like super heroes, video games, and technology have become the basis of popular culture.

All in all, I'm not even sure I understand what someone's trying to imply when they even mention the idea of a "nerd culture" anymore.

I didn't give you a rep for the majority of your post, but the first sentence. It's unbelievably naive and is an obvious ignorance towards actual intelligence if one can confidently and consistently state they are the most intelligent person around themselves. If not either of those, it is arrogant.

The term itself lost a lot of meaning unless you're a tad close-minded like my stepfather or something, who gives it a negative connotation and believes it goes to intense otakus and science fiction fans, or a friend I lost a while ago who thought it was a bad quality to be "nerdy," rather than whatever the hell he was. It's alright because he told me he didn't love his father because that would make him homosexual, so I don't really mind losing him.

Honestly, all terms are to the eye of the beholder and can be as arbitrary as anything else.

[ListenToLife]

I dont say it in overconfidence or Naivety. To be honest, I dislike it a bit, for it does often make me look overconfident and such, which I dont like. I just am on a general, day to day basis. By my own experience, and by the fact that there are less than 1% of people on the planet with IQ of a similar or higher level to my own.

 

But I digress, merely that statement probably makes you oppose me, and will form some negative barrier >.>

[Dwarven King]

I find it really hard to define a "nerd". To me, a nerd is someone who isn't afraid to show his/her love for things that most people would consider odd/abnormal/different. Such as playing Yu-Gi-Oh, watching My Little Pony, etc. *shrugs*

 

@ DWG: So...what would you classify me as bro? xD

[The Hounds Of Anubis]

For all intents and purposes I see the term "nerd" used to label one as intelligent and geek being intelligence with social ineptitude. Personally, I would use them the other way around, but that's how it appears to be used.

 

I wouldn't really go as far to say anything is really a relevance to nerd culture, they're just smart people, even going off the diagram posted. Social ineptitude is a curse to some, and a blessing for others. It's rarer that it is the latter, but it's quite possible one likes being shut off from other people. I know I've met people who enjoy being an outcast, since it gives them less distractions among other reasons. Also, as a race we're very obsessive as it is, just generally on different scales. Obsession with simple "nerdy" things (Perfect example here being stuff like yugioh) should appear as natural given the way humans work.

 

I may just have miss-interpreted obsession, but going off of your diagram I guess I'd be labelled as a geek more than anything else. Frankly, I'm not one to give two shits about labels.

 

Besides, I believe no one should be shamed or even insulted by intent for being intelligent. It's a gift, and personally one I'm willing to use and show off, that puts one above the majority of a given populace.

[Agro]

I don't think nerd is as much about being intelligent as aspiring to gain more intelligence.

 

 

 

I dont say it in overconfidence or Naivety. To be honest, I dislike it a bit, for it does often make me look overconfident and such, which I dont like. I just am on a general, day to day basis. By my own experience, and by the fact that there are less than 1% of people on the planet with IQ of a similar or higher level to my own.

 

But I digress, merely that statement probably makes you oppose me, and will form some negative barrier >.>

IQ tests are unfortunately inaccurate. And more importantly, they do not say that you are more intelligent, but that you have the potential to be. The most intelligent human on the planet probably doesn't have the highest IQ, since I'm betting the person with the highest IQ doesn't apply themselves as much as one would think.

 

Also, IQ, if you know, is based on comparisons from other people your age. That means that there's a high probability that while your IQ is currently high, if you were to put your same score with, let's just say, 30 year olds, there's certainly a chance you end up with a much lower score. So I wouldn't exactly say you're more intelligent than 1% of people than you're more intelligent than 1% of your age group.

 

All that aside, there are areas of life, of which people normally ascribe to intelligence, that an IQ test doesn't cover. For example, your flaunting of an IQ score you got once is narcissistic and ignorant. I certainly wouldn't call that an intelligent thing to do. And I'm sure you wouldn't normally consider calling someone with a narcissistic personality disorder as intelligent as one without either.

 

I tend to follow Socrates when thinking about who is the most intelligent. If you don't talk on things you don't know about and don't flaunt the fact that you think you're intelligent, you're more intelligent than anyone who does.

[The Hounds Of Anubis]

I tend to follow Socrates when thinking about who is the most intelligent. If you don't talk on things you don't know about and don't flaunt the fact that you think you're intelligent, you're more intelligent than anyone who does.

 

One should be proud of their assets and achievements. If that be intelligence, then why should they be unable to flaunt it?

 

And I'm not being biased due to my own narcissism, it makes no logical sense for those who are openly proud of their intelligence to be considered less so than others.

[Agro]

One should be proud of their assets and achievements. If that be intelligence, then why should they be unable to flaunt it?

 

And I'm not being biased due to my own narcissism, it makes no logical sense for those who are openly proud of their intelligence to be considered less so than others.

Well, pride IS one of the seven deadly sins.

 

IQ doesn't take in social skills, that's more my point I was trying to make.

 

And it's possible to apply intelligence and not be a show off.

[The Hounds Of Anubis]

And the seven deadly sins are a load of bollocks.

 

Some people also try to show off their talents because it makes them feel good, or it can help them be accepted in some way. You don't go up to a comedian and tell him he should stop showing off his talent to be funny, do you? It's not exactly the same, but there's similarity to the scenario. Not to mention, it shouldn't alter one's assumptions of their intelligence, regardless. Acting judgementally in such a form is unintelligent in its own right.

[Great Unclean One: VK]

So anyone here ever went to their local game/card store and met any "fake nerds"?

 

I have.  Let's just say this.  Those fuckers gotta go.  Driving away business for a guy's store and he really needs the money.  Hell, I've been buying more GW products lately from him to show my support.  While those idiots just sit there, hog up the tables and bully anyone smaller and younger then them.  And they wonder why they're not really accepted in the store with the other "nerds". 

 

It's a sad day when a cheapskate like me can fork out more cash then a bunch of pansy white kids flaunting their expensive Ipads or whatever while making another guy broke.

 

Fuck, even the neckbeards there who hate my guts for playing Tau even put aside their hatred for me and we both jump their asses in Apoc.

[Toffee.]

Some people also try to show off their talents because it makes them feel good, or it can help them be accepted in some way.

AND THUS, CHRIS EARNS HIS CUTIE MARK- *shot several times*

Acting judgementally in such a form is unintelligent in its own right.

Not to mention, being judgmental is somewhat a form of social ineptitude, since your basically trying to pick and choose your friends/enemies, instead of actually getting to know people.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

I don't care a f*** about what the classifacation of "nerd" is, because I don't need to know what the term of nerd is to live in Japan.

But let me tell you this: A majority of the Anime/Video Game otakus I know IRL are geniuses. Geniuses as in going-to-top-level-academies geniuses. The others are losers of life. I suppose all the "otakus" are either real stupid or real smart, and that's why they're overall considered to be outside the natural community.

[Dr. Cakey]

Is this a study? I don't know if it's even long enough to count as an essay.