are nerds a dying breed?

[Kevin1211]

as i come to the closing weeks of my highschool career, i have come to a conclusion: there aren't many nerds anymore. Ive been taking AP classes ever since freshman year, so i am only speaking from my experience. My classes are basically filled with the top 25 students in the school. And ive noticed that although they are extremely smart, they are also gifted in many areas. Many of them are in the football, lacrosse and/or other sports team. Yet, they are also gifted musicians and do participate in the stereotypical "nerd" things, such as research club, chess club, etc.

So my question is, is the stereotypical nerd dying? I hardly see those pale, antisocial kids anymore.

 

[pontifex]

the nerd is definitely not dead...a quick glance will prove that.

 

[Uhtrinity]

They are quickly being replace by their (more) socially skilled counterpart, The Geek.

 

[hdeck]

my upper-level/AP classes were always filled with a big variety of students. if you want to find the real "nerds", look at the advanced level computer classes (comp sci, cisco, etc)

 

[Tremulant]

I think that computers becoming more 'newbie-friendly' has also begun to kill off the stigma of being a 'nerd' or 'geek.'

 

[SparkyJJO]

I'm a nerd, this must make me part of a dying breed... which makes me sad

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
They are quickly being replace by their (more) socially skilled counterpart, The Geek.

Yes, us Geeks are putting the hit out on the Nerds...they are nearly worthless

 

[Analog]

Nope, Conan went to a big source of nerds in this video: http://wongns57.multiply.com/video/item/38

 

[Alphathree33]

I think it's quite the opposite -- there has been a complete and total explosion of nerds and now we're becoming cool in the mainstream.

This is a result of two forces.

1) Nerds themselves are adapting and becoming cooler.
2) Society is recognizing that nerdy is cool; "Talk nerdy to me" t-shirts, for example =)

I've certainly made the transition.

I used to be the pale-skinned dude with the parted hair. I've adapted and become more social, learned to pick up girls, etc.

Now I look at popular culture and see that nerdy is becoming cool, and I'm tempted to take a few steps backward and revive some of my nerdiness -- ironically, I would do that to maximize my overall coolness. =)

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: Kevin1211

So my question is, is the stereotypical nerd dying? I hardly see those pale, antisocial kids anymore.

that species has evolved into 2 distinct creatures -- the hip nerd (taking with him the smarts but none of the dorkiness) and the emo (might be smart, might not be, but definitely pale).

 

[sdifox]

Most have upgraded to Geek 2.1 The rest will rot with CICS and APL.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

What's happened is that being smart and tech savvy is no longer uncool. Everyone got cell phones, everyone got PCs, laptops became common, complicated cell phones are "hot". What used to be the realm of the nerds is now mainstream.

 

[Rapidskies]

I think you failed to realize the first rule for detecting nerds. If you look around your class and don't see any nerds, you're the nerd.

 

[SampSon]

If you go to any major hardcore technical school, it's full of nerds. Nerds are not a dying breed, they just don't stick out as much anymore.

 

[Kev]

it's nothing new. actually, in my high school a lot of the nerds were in the lower tracks

 

[slpaulson]

Originally posted by: Kev
it's nothing new. actually, in my high school a lot of the nerds were in the lower tracks

They would probably be considered dorks then.

 

[Phokus]

I prefer the term geek chic

 

[Kaido]

Today's nerds are yesterday's jocks.

 

[Rage187]

pfft, we run sh!t

 

[Miramonti]

As long as there are geeks, there will be nerds, by the simple nature that geeks need someone to pick on.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Look in the mirror

 

[irishScott]

Lol I evolved from a nerd to a geek during HS.

As a nerd, I was in the Chess club, played Magic the Gathering at lunch with fellow nerds, knew more then practically anyone in my class about computers, and generally had no friends. Then junior year I basically said "fvck this" and continued to do all of the above, only I also changed my hair, joined sports, became social, etc. I still had insecurity issues that prevented me from doing well (ie: I didn't go to senior prom, and had only a small circle of friends), but those died last semester (currently a 2nd semester college freshman). I also play the piano and sing (have done so since elementary school), and row 5 days a week.

In short, I am a musician, an athlete, a confident social guy, and I also know more about science and computers then most people outside of the Engineering Department

I believe I embody the future geek.

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
They are quickly being replace by their (more) socially skilled counterpart, The Geek.

Tis true

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
They are quickly being replace by their (more) socially skilled counterpart, The Geek.

Tis true

"the Geek" isn't replacing them, they're simply the front line. True nerds hide in their basements hacking away still, subtlely running the world

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: pontifex
the nerd is definitely not dead...a quick glance will prove that.

QFT

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