Talk:Nerd/Archive 3

Nerds being unattractive?

The line about nerds being unattractive is definitely opinion as attractiveness is a personal perspective. Perhaps that phrase should be removed? 173.12.175.13 (talk) 00:07, 16 February 2012 (UTC)

No can do mate, it's got a verified source. If it's got a verified source that none of the rules go against then it's there to stay at least until the source is a dead link. Meva / CHCSPrefect - (Spare a Potato Chip?) 09:22, 23 October 2012 (UTC)

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)

• • It should probably say 'by some definitions'. ('s protected so I didn't change it...)Dranorter (talk) 19:18, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Another problem with that section; I think J. Coulton should be mentioned as relevant to Nerdcore though first off, he is a self-styled geek (maybe there is a difference), and secondly, Nerdcore currently redirects to Nerdcore Hip-Hop, which he has nothing to do with.Dranorter (talk) 19:18, 26 December 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)

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

---

Dude, I was basically just saying that there is practically no difference, but I guess the meanings can be used in whatever way they like, usually within a country or area or school or something they will have a pretty definite meaning, but you can't have like a, definite meaning. So I think the articles should be adapted to that, kinda. Kausill (Talk) (Contribs) 12:10, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

Link title]] 76.124.253.238 (talk) 23:55, 26 May 2009 (UTC)

There's a hell of a lot of difference between geeks and nerds. Unless perhaps you think male and female sports fans have the same genitalia just because they both like sports? Really, that's a stupid thing to say. "Both articles say that nerds and geeks are different." If that's the case, then they are obviously not the same...                     ~Rayvn  18:39, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

please avoid using profanity 98.170.239.56 (talk) 23:55, 19 August 2010 (UTC)random ethical person

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)

That's the truth.                      ~Rayvn  18:39, 15 February 2010 (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. 65.184.54.104 (talk) 19:48, 8 August 2009 (UTC)

Well that's one definition that makes sense to people who already know what they mean, but it's not a great way to explain it, especially since any individual nerd is more likely to like Star Wars or especially Star Trek then any individual geek.                     ~Rayvn  18:39, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

Just throwing this out there: I think that the definitions overlap in many places, and are switched in some dialects. Furthermore, the meanings, even if in the 90s meant different things, they seem to have been generalize so much that in modern use, the meanings are so general that they have all but converged.71.234.123.137 (talk) 23:11, 9 July 2010 (UTC)

This difference has been subject to numerous discussions and debates recently with my friends and we came close to a conclusion. On the internet, yes, there are many contradicting definitions on "nerd" and "geek" making it very difficult to differentiate. In our collaboration, we managed to came to an agreement on a definition. Nerds are a group of individuals who have extreme interests in academics, literature, books, politics, etc. They are on more of the english/ history side of the spectrum. Geeks are a group of individuals who are interested in gaming, sci-fi, movies, computers, technology, fantasy books, etc. Both groups tend to have a degree of social ineptness as they are to involved in their own world of their obsessions. They are differentiated by their interests. Where people tend to believe that a higher intelligence is associated with nerd, it is untrue. Nerds and geeks are soley different in their field of intelligence. Nerds are just usually recognized more often for their intelligence as it is found in everyday activities of work and school that expose them to the rest of society. Geeks just live in their basements and hide behind their user name amongst thousands on the interenet/ video games or are creating a gadjet or reading/watching sci-fi. Hope that helps. Asyuli4211 (talk Asyuli4211 (talk) 03:35, 24 December 2010 (UTC) asyuli411• Asyuli4211 (talk) 03:33, 24 December 2010 (UTC)asyuli4211[Special:Contributions/Asyuli4211|contribs]]) 03:28, 24 December 2010 (UTC)

With this definition most nerds are also geeks and most geeks are also nerds. In fact everything on the geek article is things that I associate with "nerd" and I checked with others that feel the same. That is with the exception that a geeky interest could be something other then an intellectual pursuit, may it be fact or fiction. There are definitively no sport nerds, even if most nerds do sports it is not something that define them.

If we are going to define geek and nerd we need to ask nerds and geeks what defines them. However I think you will find that what is a nerd to some is a geek to others and vice versa. 188.126.90.240 (talk) 13:28, 18 April 2011 (UTC)

Really now, there's still a debate?! Sheesh! The definition about "geeks" being carnival acts that involve biting the heads off of small living animals is correct! Such carnival and circus geeks are not to be confused with "freaks", who are people with physical deformaties. Also don't let the defunct "DC Comics" title, "The GEEK", a comic about a mannequin/dummy come to life, confuse you. I beleive this debate stems from people of all ages, using words they don't the meaning of, just because their peers are doing so. For example, the cartoonist that used to write and draw, "The Far Side", had a cartoon rejected by the publisher and or editor, because he used the word "dork" in it, and they objected to him using another word for "penis" in the cartoon. He was stumped and mystified until he looked up the word "dork" and realized that fro all of his life he had been using the same as one does "nerd". Lucky for him that he didn't know that "penis" is Latin for "tail" or he may have been evne more confused! (I always wonder why Romans used "phallus" and "penis" both, but now I know some one else later began using "penis" in the wrong context, I guess.) A "dork", because of how some people use it in such a way that people think it means the same as "nerd", I guess is the male term for "virgin", as it may relate to a non-erect male organ. As "nerds" seem to have trouble getting the attention of girls/women to allievate their sexual needs, perhaps that is how "nerd" and "dork" became confused as meaning the same. But as for "geek" and "nerd"! Shame on everyone who has linked the two together and used "geek" in the wrong context! As an animal rights person, I don't appreciate ever being labeled as a "geek" rather than a "nerd". Call me a "geek" in person and you'll get a fat lip if not more damage. I write that to emphazise just how strongly opposed I am to people whou should know better lumping "geeks" together with "nerds"! By the way, until I read this article and the talk page, the only definition of "nerd" that I knew of for certain, was that "Willy Wonka" trademarked the word as name for one of their candies. So there! Leo Star Dragon 1. 70.129.174.55 (talk) 02:53, 7 May 2011 (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)

A kid who likes grown-up books is a nerd. An adult that reads children's books is a nerd. This makes sense. 71.234.123.137 (talk) 23:12, 9 July 2010 (UTC)

Adults building things with lego, or playing with train sets for example. 83.100.194.98 (talk) 12:56, 21 January 2012 (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. Apostleofplagues (talk • contribs) 05:04, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

• 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. 90.206.225.77 (talk) 00:25, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

Watch any movie. Nerds are extremely enthusiastic about everything nerdy that they do. That's "passion" if anything is. Being a "stereotypical computer geek" (which makes no sense at all for you to say, by the way) is not at all relevant to whether or not they are passionate about their pursuits.

The guy is right about "esoteric" however; I've never met a Pagan nerd (plenty of Pagan geeks, but never a Pagan nerd), and I doubt you have, either. Esoteric knowledge isn't related at all.                     ~Rayvn  18:39, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

The reference to esoterics is still in the text! Nerds have nothing to do with esoterics, there are no esoteric nerds and as far as I understood the definition of a nerd (and I think I did quite well since I would consider myself one of them), they are the other way round: pro science, against esoterics. 188.22.169.247 (talk) 00:06, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

• Ahem. Two flaws here. One, esoteric does not necessarily mean occult. Esoteric in this case refers to concepts that are highly theoretical and without obvious practical application. Many higher level sciences are referred to as esoteric by those who don't understand them, and it is in that the area of knowledge where the nerd most often dwells. Secondly, I am a practicing Wiccan and a self-professed nerd. We do exist... -- RoninBK _{T C} 12:07, 17 August 2010 (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)

(Additionally, MIT use of "gnurd" is without citation. Doesn't seem logical for the term to be used as such in the 70s, with GNU not even announced until '83.) ~anon 71.180.59.107 (talk) 17:24, 11 March 2010 (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)

Defining a nerd as somebody passionately pursuing a non-socially motivated interest (as apposed to pursuing a predispositioned social rule, the sole preoccupation of non-nerds), a list would be rather easy to find (going backwards in time): Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Dmitri Shostakovich, Albert Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, Jesus, Archimedes, Plato. When a nerd becomes succesfull he does not suddenly stop pursuing deep passions, he just gets socially accepted (which he should have been all the way, by the way). What do you think Albert was before he became Einstein? How was Dmitri's social life before he became Shostakovich? How cool was Jesus as a teenager?

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 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)

N.E.R.& D.

In the sentence that reads,

"or the Northern Electric Research and Development labs in Ontario"

It would be clearer if we edited it to,

"or the Northern Electric Research and Development (N.E.R.& D.) labs in Ontario"

Also, if we can find some references, it would be good to mention that the acronym was printed on the pocket protectors Northern Electric produced for their employees, which probably cemented, if not created, the connection between nerds and pocket protectors. 131.118.85.55 (talk) 16:51, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Sadly, there is no evidence that such pocket protectors ever existed, nor even that Northern Electric's labs were even referred to as "Northern Electric Research and Development" that early. They had R&D then, and labs that did it, but the phrase itself.... Not so much Brons (talk) 23:13, 11 August 2011 (UTC)

So perhaps it's time to scrub this bit of folk etymology from the article?--NapoliRoma (talk) 02:16, 3 November 2012 (UTC)

So far as I am aware, the only source for the N.E.R.& D. etymology is my web site where I reported it as speculation that I received by email. It is pure speculation and folk etymology, and I did not add it to this article, nor am I willing to add a citation to my own page, as asserting that my own work is a reputable source would seem to stretch policy and practice. I will note that I and my page have been cited in national magazines such as Entertainment Weekly and local papers such as the Boston Globe as authorities on this subject, but that still doesn't warrant me deciding that I'm reputable, nor justify my adding speculation from my site to this article. Others may do so, but not I.

I will leave it up to others to either cite me or decide that this folk etymology should be removed. I happily support either course of action. I will only ask, or more correctly suggest, that the "Mortimer Snerd" etymology is equally speculative, and if we are to remove speculative folk etymology, we remove both. Consistency is important. Brons (talk) 22:10, 1 December 2012 (UTC)

Self-glorification much?

Seriously, I just stumbled upon this article and read the introduction... It overtly suggests that all nerds are extremely intelligent, and that all extremely intelligent people are nerds. Everyone knows that this really couldn't be any farther from the truth. The vast majority of people traditionally classified as 'nerds' are, in my experience, unfriendly and up themselves, and stick tightly together in little groups to play Magic cards, listen to obscure sub-genres of metal and level up their characters on World of Warcraft. Sarcasm and callousness should not be mistaken for wit, and liking D&D does not make a person intelligent. It makes a person 'nerdy.' 99.234.182.107 (talk) 19:33, 24 January 2010 (UTC)

Dude Thats a load of bulls**t! I consider myself as a nerd, and I DO have an active social life, NOBODY considers me as up myself, I DON'T play Magic Cards because I don't know what that is, I listen to the main branch of HEAVY METAL, not stupid little s**t metal, not aluminium, but steel, STEEL! STEEL/TITANIUM ALLOY BI**H! Plus WoW sucks monkeyballs. OOOHH now I know why you started this thread, my people talk about themselves too much. Sorry mate, I'm new to editing wikipedia. Anyway enough about me, What's you're problem that you wanna talk about? I leave you with this recent-ish edit. p.s aluminium was used to display what weak metal I don't listen to, but aluminium serves a great deal in modern day society. more info about aluminium here. DJinator (talk • contribs) 07:01, 26 March 2011 (UTC)

There is extensive scientific evidence for the link between "obscure sub-genres of metal" and Intelligence. There are also extensive evidence for the correlation between the pedagogic method of playing games. What games you play of taste, but of course there is difference between them. Puzzle and role-playing games have a stronger correlation to intelligence then Role-playing. I agree that liking D&D does not make a person intelligent. Playing it however do make a person more intelligent. Just like playing football makes a person stronger and faster.

Also the idea that nerds are not social are entirely wrong. They do not "stick tightly together in little groups", However they do form smaller groups when playing games. What an observer then in error identifies as "groups" in pluralis is in fact actually ONE group in singularis. As neards do not engage in useless activity like competing for attention, they tend to form large groups.

Sarcasm should not be mistaken for wit, it is wit. And the suggestion that sarcasm or nerdendom has anything to do with callousness is plain stupidity. Also there is no evidence for nerds being unfriendly. However nerds generally have low tolerance for shallow faked "friendliness", aproach them with that and they will dislike you. And as they have low tolerance for shallowness, they will not hide it.

One thing is clear, your total failure to see below the surface of the stereotype and your own delusions of what a nerd is does not make you intelligent. It makes you a shallow prick and that’s why nerds are unfriendly to you. 188.126.90.240 (talk) 12:53, 18 April 2011 (UTC)

Well, now I understand my self-uppiness and akwardness, yet I just have a strong oppinion about this and wikipedia is no place to outlet that anger, but could somebody please tell me WHAT THE HELL MAGIC CARDS ARE?! 124.197.46.214 (talk) 08:38, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

Late to the party here but I can only assume they mean something like the Magic The Gathering cards. 151.170.240.10 (talk) 02:18, 16 May 2013 (UTC) Gibbo

Nerdfighters!

Shocked to see no mention of Nerdfighters under "nerd pride". Can someone fix this?

Helpful links:

www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers

www.nerdfighters.com

www.effyeahnerdfighters.tumblr.com

www.sparkflyup.com

www.ecogeek.org 86.40.127.92 (talk) 17:19, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

This quote is incorrect.

“ ...what they lack in physical strength they make up in brain power. Who writes all the best selling books? Nerds. Who directs the top grossing Hollywood movies? Nerds. Who creates the highly advanced technology that only they can understand? ...Nerds. And who are the people who run for the high office of the Presidency? No one but nerds.[citation needed]

This quote does not belong in this article. Nerds do not write "all" best selling books. George W. Bush ran for the high office of the presidency and is not a nerd under any circumstances....etc. Dylandlima (talk • contribs) 20:41, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

'Happy Days' and Fonzie's use of "nerd" deserves mention

In the 1970s, Happy Days was a hugely popular show, with the character Fonzie, uttering such lines as "Cardigans are for NERDS!" This was the first instance of the word most of us kids heard and repeated. Surely, this show deserves mention for exposing the "nerd" word to the masses. Theaternearyou (talk)

Nerd comes from the "Brainerd Institute" a school built in 1866 for gifted children of Afrikan descent.

This institute grew out of an 1866 school for freedman. It became Brainerd Institute in 1868 when the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in New York appointed Rev. Samuel Loomis to help establish churches and schools among blacks near Chester. At first an elementary school, Brainerd grew to ten grades by 1913 and was a four-year high school by the 1930s. Renamed Brainerd Junior College about 1935, it emphasized teacher training until it closed in 1939. Kulmer Hall is the only remaining building on the site. In the late 1990s a local group generated national interest in preserving the school. Actress Phylicia Rashad and her sister, dancer Debbie Allen answered the call for support. Rashad purchased the property in honor of her mother, Vivian Ayers Allen, who was a 1939 graduate of the institution. Both Rashad and Allen continue to assist programming and fundraising for the site. vap (talk) 09:02, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

The two problems with this folk etymology are that it is first, unattested, and second, not really in keeping with the early usage. The earliest articles in which the term is defined, from 1951 and 1952 give it as a synonym of "drip", "square" or "scurve", a dull and boring person. There is little reason to believe that the students or teachers of Brainerd were so regarded. Brons (talk) 23:58, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from 173.77.158.24, 19 October 2010

{{edit semi-protected}} First use of word. At 27:14 in the 1944 documentary "The Fighting Lady" they seem to say "a few photographs taken by some NERDY Marines" 173.77.158.24 (talk) 18:48, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

 Not done, you would need to provide a citation from a reliable source that says this was the first use of the word. Without a citation it is only a use of the word, not the first use. ~~ GB fan ~~ 18:56, 19 October 2010 (UTC)

For what it's worth I think that what the announcer is saying is "some nervy marines", which fits the context far better given the references to "dry mouths" and other signs of fear or trepidation. Given the early meanings of "square" and "boring", marines who would take the risks involved in taking such photographs are far more likely to be regarded as "nervy" than "nerdy". As with a couple of references to "nerts" in recordings and movies, this request illustrates the dangers of relying on aural rather than written records. Brons (talk) 23:52, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Pic

The website notation in the illustration needs to be removed as it is advertising. I'm going to remove it until it is fixed. --DanielCD (talk) 16:30, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

Offense taken to definition

I would like to point out a 'nerd' is not a bad thing. I am a nerd, and proud to be one. My friends are all nerds, and proud to be as well. I find it extremely offensive at how negative you were in your definition. I would like to add positive definitions as well.

Sign your comment, and remember WP:NPOV.Jasper Deng (talk) 18:35, 16 February 2011 (UTC)

I think I speak for all the nerds living in the pacific ring of fire, mainly New Zealand, that we all salute you(The sign of respect, not the middle finger). Shot Mate! *Thumbs Up*. You're AWSM bro! DJinator (talk • contribs) 07:12, 26 March 2011 (UTC)

The majority of the main cast from The Big Bang Theory are consider modern examples of nerds.

Slight edit for grammar: The majority of the main cast from The Big Bang Theory are considered modern examples of nerds. 125.109.239.94 (talk) 09:52, 19 March 2011 (UTC)

By "the main cast" I assume you mean "the characters". We don't know (or care) whether the cast are nerds privately. Besides, the characters exhibit both Nerd and Geek characteristics. When they're playing dungeons and dragons, talking about Star Trek/Wars, reading comic books, and generally obsessing over fantasy and fiction then they're exhibiting their Nerd side. You don't need a high level of intelligence to be a Nerd, just an obsession over something that could be as simple as liking trains. The characters in BBT are all of course highly intelligent and have reached a Geek level of knowledge about a particular field of study/research in that most of them are scientists/engineers (apart from poor Penny). They're Math Geeks, Physics Geeks and maybe computer and space Geeks. You go to a geek when you need to get it done. You go to a nerd when you want to play or share your passion/obsession of something (often fictional/fantasy but not always). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.217.180.103 (talk) 20:14, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

Typo

the image's caption at the top of the page contains a typo, it should be considered instead of consider 76.66.190.210 (talk) 00:08, 25 March 2011 (UTC)

Erm... What's up with the introduction?

I personally thought it was hilarious, but it wasn't in the slightest bit professional and should probably be changed. The below is a copy of the introduction to the article.

"Nerd is an unfair, stereotypical term targeted at intellectuals. Most of the below is actually false, so please ignore it, it is only for reference. Most of what is thought about nerds is actually false, believe it or not, almost all nerds are physically active, don't wear glasses, don't wear sweater vests, etc. If you have anything against nerds, please throw out your computer, phone, cell phone, T.V. and almost anything else electric in your home. Don't forget to ruin the structural makeup of your home. It's only fair. Nerds are more capable of things than many people think. Everybody who uses nerd as a stereotype are only jerks. Brain beats brawn, and that's because intellectuals are capable of the following things: [1] -Becoming rich. -Debate -Self Defense, using logic, strategy, arithmetic, and human analogy. It's actually more effective than raw strength if used correctly. -Advancements in medicine. -Advancements in technology. -Military uses (better weapons, better strategies, etc.). Many "Nerds" are actually strategic planners for the military, especially in other countries. Napoleon, a french general of the 18th Century, was a "nerd". He was one of the most powerful war generals in the world, despite his size. -Decision Making -Overall success in life by using every aspect in knowledge to his or her advantage, a skill many should know about. [2] Please ignore the below text." 72.208.219.201 (talk) 18:26, 13 July 2011 (UTC)

Edit request - additions to the Nerd Pride section.

Two things that warrant adding to the "pride" section. One is Microsoft's New England Research & Development center, (http://microsoftcambridge.com which is simply referred to as Microsoft NERD on announcements for talks, etc.)

The other is the first US team to appear on the engineering competition TV series Junkyard Wars/Scrapheap Challenge. The New England Rubbish Deconstruction Society can be found at http://the-nerds.org

Rjnerd (talk) 01:46, 5 September 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from , 5 November 2011

On the "nerd" page, the following text should be deleted:

The first documented appearance of the word "nerd" is as the name of a creature in Dr. Seuss's book If I Ran the Zoo (1950), in which the narrator Gerald McGrew claims that he would collect "a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too" for his imaginary zoo.[3][4] The slang meaning of the term dates back to 1951, when Newsweek magazine reported on its popular use as a synonym for "drip" or "square" in Detroit, Michigan.[5]

A suggested substitution:

The origin of the word is unknown but "nerds" is used at the beginning of the Mills Brothers version of "Bugle Call Rag," which reached #2 on the 1932 U.S. charts. See Mills Brothers discography. In response to reveille and an enthusiastic soldiers chorus of "Get up, get up, get up!," a tired soldier responds, "Ah, nerds." In this context, a nerd was a person who conformed to the rules. This is consistent with the 1951 Newsweek magazine report that nerd was a synonym for "drip" or "square" in Detroit, Michigan.

You can listen to the song on YouTube.

Thank you.

Xlgj (talk) 21:11, 5 November 2011 (UTC)

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Do you have any specific sources that we can look at to verify your claim? I should advise you that anything coming from YouTube would need to be clearly free of copyright violations. Ella Plantagenet (talk) 16:03, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

I believe that what you are hearing there is the explicative "Ah, nerts!", not the pejorative "nerds". "Nerts" was a jazz-age exclamation sometimes used in replace of "Nuts!" which was considered a bit to risque. The cited passage is in fact the first known written appearance of the word, and the passage should be kept. Brons (talk) 23:42, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Either fix or delete, this article is uncyclopedic

There is no point in having an opinionated article on such a silly thing as a high school stereotype. Maybe you should make it more of an etymology-type thing. There is also no fixed definition of a nerd, and the article is told from multiple POV (none of which are neutral). You can write the basic def of a nerd, and state the etymology, but the characteristics and pride parts sound uncyclopedic. Ticklewickleukulele (talk) 04:28, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

nerds

the question is about being socially awkward. 69.117.95.146 (talk) 04:20, 10 August 2012 (UTC)

Nugent links

In the further reading section I would suggest that links be added to the Benjamin Nugent page and American Nerd. Tahnok (talk) 04:41, 29 November 2012 (UTC)

Use of the word "nerdy" occurred in 1943

Use of the word "nerdy", as in "nerdy guys" occurred in a song in the 1943 musical movie "This is the Army" which pre-dates the Wikipedia reference to the earliest use of "nerd" as 1950. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.115.129.153 (talk) 16:59, 2 February 2013 (UTC)

I have to disagree. I just listened to that segment of "This is the Army" five times, and to me, the word in question clearly sounds like "dirty," not "nerdy." ("We're here to romance with, to sing and to dance with, a bunch of dirty guys like these.") It makes more sense, as the "guys" in question are Army soldiers who are not likely to be called "nerdy." Maybe someone with access to Irving Berlin's original score could confirm this. WaxTadpole (talk) 23:07, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 13 June 2013

Spelling correction -- "adittion" should be replaced by "addition". 2.97.213.165 (talk) 23:25, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

Done Thank you. Begoon ^talk 10:48, 14 June 2013 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 22 January 2014

I WANT TO EDIT THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUT THAT NERDS ARE SOCIALLY INEPT, WHERE AS I KNOW THAT TO BE WRONG FOR I AM ON MYSELF AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS. I WANTED TO ADD THAT NERDS ARE ALSO MAINLY GOOD AT ONE LESSON E.G. MATHS OR LITERATURE. THEY MAY ALSO HAVE ROLE MODELS THAT ARE NERDS OR GEEKS THEMSELVES. Sherlocknerd (talk) 16:57, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

 Not done. Please see WP:NPOV and WP:Verifiability. In other words, if you want to add content to the page, your content needs to be backed up by a reliable source. You can't simply add "NERDS ARE NOT INEPT BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS." OhNoitsJamie ^Talk 17:07, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

I have refined the first sentence, so it the definition doesn't define "nerdy" readers as neccesarily having those traits, but rather indicates how others see them, rather than as they "are". Sadads (talk) 21:12, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

Proposed merge with Blerd

Subject has insufficient notability for its own article and runs afoul of WP:NAD. Ad Orientem (talk) 20:51, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

I don't see anything worth merging. The only content not already in Nerd that was in Blerd prior to AfD is a mention of Neil deGrasse Tyson. The unsourced comment about a living person is at best trivia. Cnilep (talk) 01:57, 30 January 2014 (UTC)

Since the AFD closed as redirect, I'm going to boldly remove the merge tag. Chris857 (talk) 03:40, 7 March 2014 (UTC)

"have difficulty following sports"

I have difficulty accepting this description. This article tries to inform us that nerds may have nuanced understanding of complex fantasy worlds, yet lack the intellectual capacity to see formations, plays & general progression in sporting events. This seems certainly wrong. I think removing "or even following" from the phrase "and may have difficulty participating in, or even following, sports" would reflect this. Perhaps replace "or even following" with "or even maintaining interest in".