Talk:Nerd

Nerd Pride

The last paragraph of nerd pride currently sounds like a particular opinion / argument, rather than an objective fact. Help? 81.159.148.42 (talk) 18:31, 23 June 2009 (UTC)

Whats the difference?

Both articles make it out that nerds and geeks are different. But really aren't they the same? How can you tell if you're a nerd or geek? --CommanderWiki35 (talk) 18:23, 15 November 2008 (UTC)

The difference is pretty obvious; the name. Kausill 06:50, 16 July 2009 (UTC) btw reuben is a nerd

*Sarcasm* Oh, like I didn't know that already. Thank you for clarifying that. --CommanderWiki35 (talk) 00:15, 8 October 2009 (UTC)

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Link title]] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.124.253.238 (talk) 23:55, 26 May 2009 (UTC)

Nerds are more focused on computers but geeks can be focused on more activities that does not include using a computer. Someone who is passionated on crafts assembling can be a geek yet never used a computer. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.69.193.158 (talk) 18:31, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

This is totally unsourced, but in my circles, geek implies a strong interest and expertise in an unpopular topic, but not necessarily with social awkwardness, while nerd always implies social awkwardness. 71.203.113.151 (talk) 23:31, 31 May 2009 (UTC)

Actually, a geek is technically a person who performs an act that usuually involves biting the heads of chickens. This act died out, and if (fortunatly) pretty much nonexistant now. If it sounds insane, then you can look it up and you will get that definition.Obamamaniac (talk) 14:15, 17 June 2009 (UTC)

I always thought of it this way: Nerds are the intellectuals who are all about school and stuff. Geeks are the people who are all about Star Wars and Star Trek and Internet gaming. Might just be my opinion, but I just wanted to contribute my say. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.184.54.104 (talk) 19:48, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Age Inappropriate

"obscure interests that are age inappropriate"

That's an absurd statement. What part of nerd in any social, connoted, or denoted use of the word has anything to do with "age inappropriate" interests? Mayhaps this is true of young children engaging in intellectual pursuits, but that involves putting a pretty strong judgment call on "age inappropriate" interests. I recommend this be removed.--AaronRosenberg (talk) 02:42, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

Definition

"Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people." First of all, "nerds" do not passionately pursue intellectual activities, they are stereotypical computer geeks, A philosopher passionately pursues intellectual activities, they are not the same! Second, esoteric knowledge is beyond what "nerds" know of, only mature philosphers, occultists etc. study the esoteric. Mr Cantrel wont let me use this page as a source for my project! I find it offensive that you would link esoteric knowledge with these internet dwelling scumbags. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Apostleofplagues (talk • contribs) 05:04, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

• Holy Hell, someone thinks too highly of the horse they're on. Oh, I mean, I am deeply humbly sorry for the transgressions in this article on behalf of all wikipedians in the world. I seek reconciliation with you, the most mature and the most wise of all occultist philosophers, whos mature, esoteric and intellectual activities are only pursued by mature persons such as yourself and those with the wisdom and enlightenment to lead us through these dark times. Tool. -- comment added by User:Kahou.

• Scumbags, you say? There would be no modern world without nerds! Nerds are people with ideas for new things, like lightbulbs and telephones. Everyone else is too busy to pursue their ideas, so that's where nerds come in. I do understand that nerds are steriotypically seen as people who spend most of their time on computers, but surely there would have been nerds before computers were invented? What did they do? Experiment. Invent. Exactly. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.206.225.77 (talk) 00:25, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

First uses of the term

This statement is found in the main article as of 16 January 2009: "It was only later, in the 1970s, that the word took on connotations of bookishness and social ineptitude."

The term nerd was commonly used at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in exactly this sense during my undergraduate days there from the Fall of 1960 through the Spring of 1964. Thus, the main article should probably be corrected. I do NOT claim that this is the only earlier occurrence, and since we learned it from those before us, I suspect its usage was common in the late 1950s as well.

The claim was based on the published reportage, rather than on first hand anecdotal accounts in an attempt to avoid original research. However, since the data I used to as the basis of my claim is gathered and published on my own site, it could readily be argued that my use of it is also "original research". As can be seen in the table at my site[[1]], the 1951, 1952 and 1957 published definitions all centered around the meaning of a "drip", "square" or "scurve", which were all terms indicative of being dull and boring, rather than specifically bookish and socially inept. By the time the American Heritage Dictionary includes the definition, it has become "Socially inept". Along the line, the definition has either been elaborated on in common use or the quality of reporting has improved. Since I'm unwilling to claim that my original research is any better than your anecdotal memories, I'm willing to leave the dates unspecified, though I feel a strong case can be made based on the published usage which is generally the criteria on Wikipedia. Brons (talk) 07:07, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

Nerds in Film

Why doesn't Revenge of the Nerds get a mention? Seems like a popular culture portrayl of the nerdlinger User:King Nerd

It does, though how much varies over time as arguments as tio the length of the article and the importance of the cultural portrayal of nerds varies. (Sigh. Previous talk entry done while I had an historical version of the page that had removed the references open. The film is cited. I should have checked better and not taken the above at face value.) Brons (talk) 07:22, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

Famous Nerds

As with many articles of a similar note, I feel that it would be prudent to include a section listing some of the most well known nerds. This would add clarity to the definition of the term. Opinions requested. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.72.132.240 (talk) 20:26, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

It sounds plausible, but it could be a challenge to determine the inclusion criteria for such a subjective (and potentially perjorative) category. Who decides whether someone qualifies as a nerd? The person themself? Commentators of a certain notability or number? If so, what notability or what number? Cosmic Latte (talk) 20:55, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

I don't think you could take real people and call them nerds but it might be fine to take characters that are specifically named nerds. --Phoenix Hacker (talk) 22:20, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Ehem...Nerdfighters?!

I think that a wikipedia page about Nerds without including anything about Nerdfighters is very worldsuck increasing. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!

I would write the article myself, but I'm not a very advanced wiki-editer.

Helpful Links:

http://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers

http//.nerdfighters.ning.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.206.225.77 (talk) 00:15, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

Origin

Could 'nard' (as in "the ointmented one") in some relation to it? Nerds are depicted bit slimy in films... 195.237.90.72 (talk) 12:10, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

Nerd girl

An AFD discussion led to Nerd girl becoming a redirect to this page. During the discussion, some suggestions for sources to research were made. That didn't translate to actual citations, but I figured it would be good to repeat mention here:

• "“Why be normal?”: Language and identity practices in a community of nerd girls", Language in Society (1999), 28 : 203-223 Cambridge University Press (doi:10.1017/S0047404599002043)
• Timothy Shary (2002). "The Nerdly Girl and Her Beautiful Sister". in Frances K. Gateward and Murray Pomerance. Sugar, spice, and everything nice: Cinemas of girlhood. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0814329187.

Perhaps a section in this article, or create a "Nerd girl" article with actual sources. Hope this helps. —DragonHawk (talk|hist) 00:33, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

Add Otaku to "See Also"

{{editsemiprotected}} Request to add a Wikipedia link to "Otaku" to the "See Also" section.

Otaku

Thegirlnerd (talk) 15:39, 17 September 2009 (UTC)

 Done ∙ AJCham^talk 16:00, 17 September 2009 (UTC)