Nerdiness in your daily life. Are you "out"?

[Grey Fox]

I'm out. Well I think I'm out. I work with 50 or so, other Software & hardware engineers, it's nerd club around here.

[Caliga]

At work, I am 'out' to some people, namely people who I know by their profession are the same as me.  Examples: DBAs, software developers, etc.

I am not out to all of the accounting and finance people, though.  As far as they know my only hobbies are gardening and other sundry yardwork, boating, fishing, and shooting.

[HVC]

I have noticed my tolerance declining rapidly as I get older.

You're becoming less tolerant? Jesus. when you gonna start sending letter bombs?

[DGuller]

Is there a difference between being a nerd and being a geek?  I'm unambiguously geeky, but I've never done stereotypically nerdy things, like watching Star Wars intentionally or reading a comic.

Is Vin Diesel a nerd? Because according to Larch's definition, he certainly would since he is a D&D addict and even wrote D&D fanfics. Ask any chick whether Vin Diesel is a geek, though.

I object to a definition of "nerd" tied to a trade. A nerd is a socially inept dweeb acting like an inferior in presence of others, whether he plays chess or is a master karateka. The activities or pursuits associated to it is due to correlation, not causation.

To me, there is nothing to be proud to be labeled a nerd, period. It's by definition derogatory; if you are labeled a nerd, you are doing something wrong and should get your shit together. Geek is just an attempt to put a positive spin to it to make it easier to live with, but they remain nerds by any other name.

If Dr. Phil were a drill sergeant, he would be like Drakken.

[Grey Fox]

Is there a difference between being a nerd and being a geek?  I'm unambiguously geeky, but I've never done stereotypically nerdy things, like watching Star Wars intentionally or reading a comic.

Is Vin Diesel a nerd? Because according to Larch's definition, he certainly would since he is a D&D addict and even wrote D&D fanfics. Ask any chick whether Vin Diesel is a geek, though.

I object to a definition of "nerd" tied to a trade. A nerd is a socially inept dweeb acting like an inferior and treated as such by others, whether he plays chess or is a master karateka. The activities or pursuits associated to it is due to correlation, not causation.

To me, there is nothing to be proud to be labeled a nerd, period. It's by definition derogatory; if you are labeled a nerd, you are doing something wrong and should get your shit together. Geek is just an attempt to put a positive spin to it to make it easier to live with, but they remain nerds by any other name.

Just like gay is a derogatory term, right?

[Drakken]

Just like gay is a derogatory term, right?

Strawman. Are you really equating social awkwardness and/or ineptitude with sexual identity, as if it was something people were born with?

Gays are born gay, nerds remain nerds because they choose to. There is something linked to sexual behavior in nerdiness, though: the longer you remain one, your chances of dying alone, virgin and childless increase exponentially.

This "nerd pride" bullshit is getting on my nerves. What's so attractive in remaining social outcasts debating on comics or Star Wars all day long, what's the mystique in it?

[dps]

Gays are born gay, nerds remain nerds because they choose to.

I'm not sure that either of those can be considered proven.  Note that I'm not saying that being gay is a choice, just that simply because something isn't a choice doesn't mean you are necessarily born that way.

[LaCroix]

social awkwardness [sic] as if it was something people were born with?

uh..?

[Drakken]

I'm not sure that either of those can be considered proven.  Note that I'm not saying that being gay is a choice, just that simply because something isn't a choice doesn't mean you are necessarily born that way.

I am conscious that development of homosexuality can be a highly complex mixture of nature and nurture anchored from childhood, but still by all intents and purposes being gay is not a matter of personal choice. Wishing not to be gay and remaining in the closet won't stop from being gay, it's a sexual identity.

[Josquius]

With most people.
If I just meet a new 'cool' person then I keep it quiet at first and steadily let it trickle out but with family I'm 'flaming' (hey, they've seen my warhammer) and with friends they generally know I'm a geek. I don't reveal the full depths of it of course. That would be social suicide.

[LaCroix]

@drakken- example: the autistic have only themselves to blame ?

[Grey Fox]

Just like gay is a derogatory term, right?

Strawman. Are you really equating social awkwardness and/or ineptitude with sexual identity, as if it was something people were born with?

Gays are born gay, nerds remain nerds because they choose to. There is something linked to sexual behavior in nerdiness, though: the longer you remain one, your chances of dying alone, virgin and childless increase exponentially.

This "nerd pride" bullshit is getting on my nerves. What's so attractive in remaining social outcasts debating on comics or Star Wars all day long, what's the mystique in it?

Of course it's getting on your nerves. Nerds always get on Jocks nerves. I'm sorry that all my social activity aren't trying to get laid with as many girls as possible.

[Caliga]

I'm not sure that either of those can be considered proven.  Note that I'm not saying that being gay is a choice, just that simply because something isn't a choice doesn't mean you are necessarily born that way.

FWIW I've never met a gay person who didn't claim to be born gay.  I suppose it's possible that some or all of them are lying, but seems pretty unlikely as I'm not sure why one would choose an orientation that would bring them ridicule, discrimination, and in some cases physical harm.

[DGuller]

Am I the only one getting a feeling that whenever Drakken goes uber-macho on us, he's seriously over-compensating for something?

[Drakken]

@drakken- example: the autistic have only themselves to blame ?

Again, strawman. Are you equating nerdiness to an illness or a status based on defaults in development, either physical or mental?