Why Being A Nerd Is Awesome
May 2, 2013 6:04 AM Subscribe
Wil Wheaton Explains To A Fans' Newborn Why Being A Nerd Is Awesome
Wasted on its audience imo
posted by MangyCarface at 6:14 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by MangyCarface at 6:14 AM on May 2, 2013
I'm a nerd, and this made me smile. Combined with John Scalzi's "Who gets to be a nerd?" blog post. Being a nerd isn't about what you love, but HOW you love it.
posted by petrilli at 6:15 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by petrilli at 6:15 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Wil is a good guy.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:19 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:19 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
It really hit home with me being the dad of a 7 year old and a (almost) 10 year old, how much I hope that they will be able to embrace what ever passions they have, regardless of what other people say.
posted by ShawnString at 6:21 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by ShawnString at 6:21 AM on May 2, 2013
Wasted on its audience imo
If only we had some sort of international digital distribution system that allowed virtually anyone to access this and send it to people...Seriously, though, the interview itself comes from this Youtube video taken by the woman who asked the question about her daughter. You can hear some in the audience starting to sniffle towards the end.
And yeah, Wil consistently shows himself to be top-shelf humanity in general.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:32 AM on May 2, 2013 [8 favorites]
If only we had some sort of international digital distribution system that allowed virtually anyone to access this and send it to people...Seriously, though, the interview itself comes from this Youtube video taken by the woman who asked the question about her daughter. You can hear some in the audience starting to sniffle towards the end.
And yeah, Wil consistently shows himself to be top-shelf humanity in general.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:32 AM on May 2, 2013 [8 favorites]
Took me over 30 years to embrace my inner nerd. Hell I didn't even know I was a nerd until I met my best friends who introduced me to Dragon Con, D&D games, etc. I'm forever grateful that I can finally define myself and tell the world to suck it.
posted by stormpooper at 6:34 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by stormpooper at 6:34 AM on May 2, 2013
I am grateful that I inhabit the same planet as Wil Wheaton.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:40 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophie1 at 6:40 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tutu Hulk is Best Hulk.
posted by Artw at 6:42 AM on May 2, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:42 AM on May 2, 2013 [22 favorites]
And yeah, Wil consistently shows himself to be top-shelf humanity in general.
Something on his blog that choked me up recently - at a recent con he was at, a woman came up with her family and she had this ancient and wrinkled picture of Wil she'd cut out of a "Tiger Beat" style fanmag that she asked him to sign. But then she told him the backstory for that picture - she'd been in a really bad car crash when she was a teenager, and had to go through extensive physical therapy to re-learn how to walk. She was a huge Wil Wheaton fan then, she said, so she and the doctors hit upon a motivation technique - they'd hung that picture up across the room and would cheer her on by urging her to "walk over to Wil and give him a kiss." And thus she was motivated to stay with her training, and thus succeeded in learning to walk again.
Wil said that he got up, came out from behind the table, walked about ten feet away from them all, and then held out his arms and said "walk over to Wil and give him a kiss." The woman did, pecking him on the cheek, and he gave her an enormous hug, both of them choking up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [60 favorites]
Something on his blog that choked me up recently - at a recent con he was at, a woman came up with her family and she had this ancient and wrinkled picture of Wil she'd cut out of a "Tiger Beat" style fanmag that she asked him to sign. But then she told him the backstory for that picture - she'd been in a really bad car crash when she was a teenager, and had to go through extensive physical therapy to re-learn how to walk. She was a huge Wil Wheaton fan then, she said, so she and the doctors hit upon a motivation technique - they'd hung that picture up across the room and would cheer her on by urging her to "walk over to Wil and give him a kiss." And thus she was motivated to stay with her training, and thus succeeded in learning to walk again.
Wil said that he got up, came out from behind the table, walked about ten feet away from them all, and then held out his arms and said "walk over to Wil and give him a kiss." The woman did, pecking him on the cheek, and he gave her an enormous hug, both of them choking up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [60 favorites]
Kids already know this. My son is a Fireman Sam Nerd - he can enthusiastically recount details of every disaster that has ever afflicted Pontypandy. Our neighbors' kid is a Bug Nerd. I'm pretty sure they will grow up to be Dinosaur Nerds.
The message isn't to them - it's to the parents. Let your kids enjoy the things they enjoy the things they enjoy, let them develop their own tastes, follow their enthusiasms. That it's the names of Pokemon or how electricity works doesn't matter.
One of the best things in the world, as a parent, is having your child explain something you didn't know to you.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [13 favorites]
The message isn't to them - it's to the parents. Let your kids enjoy the things they enjoy the things they enjoy, let them develop their own tastes, follow their enthusiasms. That it's the names of Pokemon or how electricity works doesn't matter.
One of the best things in the world, as a parent, is having your child explain something you didn't know to you.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [13 favorites]
Thank you, I wish someone told me it was okay to be a nerd when I was a kid! Thank you Wil Wheaton for that incredible answer and Thank you ShawnString for posting it.
My five year old daughter told me last night that no one plays with her in the school yard. She asked me why. Knowing what that is like, I tried to tell her all about what it was like when I was a little girl. I told her I always want her to be exceptional and that one day she will be appreciated for how smart she is. Thanks again, because I can't wait to read this to her.
posted by Yellow at 6:45 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
My five year old daughter told me last night that no one plays with her in the school yard. She asked me why. Knowing what that is like, I tried to tell her all about what it was like when I was a little girl. I told her I always want her to be exceptional and that one day she will be appreciated for how smart she is. Thanks again, because I can't wait to read this to her.
posted by Yellow at 6:45 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Here's the post where Wil talks about the woman who re-learned to walk to his picture. (I mis-remembered a couple details....)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:49 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:49 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
Wil is good people. I'm glad that he has a career and a seemingly happy life, and in a world where lots of people, particularly celebrities, are indifferent at best to any sort of self-evaluation or philosophical musing, Wil sets out to experience his life and be a good guy. Good on ya, buddy.
I'm also glad that bullshit like "Proof that lame child actors grow up to be lame adult actors. With lame web sites." would not stand for ten seconds on the MetaFilter of today.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm also glad that bullshit like "Proof that lame child actors grow up to be lame adult actors. With lame web sites." would not stand for ten seconds on the MetaFilter of today.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
I have never even once looked at any members on this site, and thought NERD!
Yellow, your story is so sweet. Thanks for that. Also, why the F@*% isn't Wheaton a member here?
or maybe he is
posted by QueerAngel28 at 6:55 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yellow, your story is so sweet. Thanks for that. Also, why the F@*% isn't Wheaton a member here?
or maybe he is
posted by QueerAngel28 at 6:55 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Knowing how "cool" Wil is in real life makes watching his evil alter ego on the Big Bang Theory that much better.
In fact, I get the feeling that just about everybody on that show is a pretty decent human being, considering some of the other quotes I've heard from Johnny Galecki. One sticks out as being particularly noteworthy.
Plus, half of the show seems to be an extension of the non-Booker world of Roseanne. Combine that with some Punky Brewster flash forwards and you end up with the only show I've ever actually paid for. (As opposed to streaming legally, and/or possibly some other methods.)
posted by Blue_Villain at 6:57 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
In fact, I get the feeling that just about everybody on that show is a pretty decent human being, considering some of the other quotes I've heard from Johnny Galecki. One sticks out as being particularly noteworthy.
Plus, half of the show seems to be an extension of the non-Booker world of Roseanne. Combine that with some Punky Brewster flash forwards and you end up with the only show I've ever actually paid for. (As opposed to streaming legally, and/or possibly some other methods.)
posted by Blue_Villain at 6:57 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
Am I the only one who is tired of labels?
I like RPGs so I am a nerd. I play CKII far too much so I am a gamer. I enjoy cooking so I am foodie. I watch and follow football and soccer so I am sports. Whatever. Why do we have to be forced into these boxes. Why not just do what you love and stop giving a fuck about categorizing yourself.
posted by nolnacs at 7:04 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
I like RPGs so I am a nerd. I play CKII far too much so I am a gamer. I enjoy cooking so I am foodie. I watch and follow football and soccer so I am sports. Whatever. Why do we have to be forced into these boxes. Why not just do what you love and stop giving a fuck about categorizing yourself.
posted by nolnacs at 7:04 AM on May 2, 2013 [7 favorites]
He's also a homebrewer and craft beer fan so he pretty much has my vote for all around cool guy (should there be such a contest).
posted by tommasz at 7:07 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by tommasz at 7:07 AM on May 2, 2013
I never watched Star Trek so I came to find Wil through other nerds that I've followed through the years. He's pretty much my favorite person on the Internet and I wish there were more people like him. For a group of people who have a history of getting picked on, nerds can often be total dicks. Wil has a kindness about him that I wish others had. He is a good spokesperson for nerds.
Wil Wheaten Metafilter thread I AM IN YOU!
posted by bondcliff at 7:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wil Wheaten Metafilter thread I AM IN YOU!
posted by bondcliff at 7:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree that labels can be harmful, but unfortunately he's right, there is a certain type of person who wants to understand "the world instead of just riding it [through] space" and that type of person constitutes a pretty small minority in my experience. We're not trying to differentiate ourselves, it's already been done for us. "Nerd" was an insult when I was a kid, something I desperately did not want to be but oh so tragically was. I'll bet it's no coincidence that plucky little Ensign Crusher ended up slipping the bonds of Starfleet to become something much more than another officer; it's kind of what Wil Wheaton's done with his career.
posted by Mooseli at 7:14 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by Mooseli at 7:14 AM on May 2, 2013
I feel sorry for non-nerds, just schlumping through life wishing they could like things.
Also nice to be told how smart and curious nerds are just before the summer movies start, with the chorus of, "CAN'T YOU JUST TURN YOUR BRAIN OFF AND ENJOY THE RIDE?" You don't get points for being savvy and analytic if your primary intake of media is shouting "AWESOME" every time your amygdala fires for 3 seconds because you saw something from when you were a kid.
I got nothing against Wheaton personally but boy am I sick of Team Nerd.
posted by Legomancer at 7:16 AM on May 2, 2013 [21 favorites]
Also nice to be told how smart and curious nerds are just before the summer movies start, with the chorus of, "CAN'T YOU JUST TURN YOUR BRAIN OFF AND ENJOY THE RIDE?" You don't get points for being savvy and analytic if your primary intake of media is shouting "AWESOME" every time your amygdala fires for 3 seconds because you saw something from when you were a kid.
I got nothing against Wheaton personally but boy am I sick of Team Nerd.
posted by Legomancer at 7:16 AM on May 2, 2013 [21 favorites]
Oh, and when I was a kid, I was called a brainiac. I think they called me that because they thought nerd was male and braniac was female. "Brainiac" was said with that snarky tone to dismiss you. We don't make the labels, we can only figure out how we want to wear it, right? I like mine with heels and some red lipstick.
posted by Yellow at 7:20 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by Yellow at 7:20 AM on May 2, 2013
I agree that labels can be harmful, but unfortunately he's right, there is a certain type of person who wants to understand "the world instead of just riding it [through] space" and that type of person constitutes a pretty small minority in my experience. We're not trying to differentiate ourselves, it's already been done for us. "Nerd" was an insult when I was a kid, something I desperately did not want to be but oh so tragically was.
The thing is, I don't think any one is differentiating nerds and picking on them because they "want to understand the world"; they're picking on them because their interests are different than the interests of the in group. There are plenty of people who are totally nerdily into sports, but they're not called nerds in school (excepting some edge cases that usually correlate with poor social skills). The kid who likes Star Trek is always a nerd no matter how much or how little he likes it, and no matter how much liking Star Trek constitutes "wanting to understand the world" which I would say is pretty debatable.
There's no cohesive community of people who have intense interests because if you don't share the same interests what do you have to say to each other? The guy who remembers the stats for every Baltimore Oriole since he was ten has nothing to say to a trainspotter and neither of them have any thoughts on Star Trek. They all have interests, but there's no unity there. You could easily be in two of those groups, obviously, but it's not necessary or even likely.
I also find Wheaton's reference to people "just riding the world through space" to be incredibly insulting to people who don't happen to share his particular approach to life. It's 1) pretty obviously untrue as there's no one who is genuinely completely disinterested in the world around them in all ways and 2) an invitation to insult and bully the people who the benighted masses who don't care to "understand the world." I usually like him, but that left a bad taste in my mouth
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:26 AM on May 2, 2013 [9 favorites]
The thing is, I don't think any one is differentiating nerds and picking on them because they "want to understand the world"; they're picking on them because their interests are different than the interests of the in group. There are plenty of people who are totally nerdily into sports, but they're not called nerds in school (excepting some edge cases that usually correlate with poor social skills). The kid who likes Star Trek is always a nerd no matter how much or how little he likes it, and no matter how much liking Star Trek constitutes "wanting to understand the world" which I would say is pretty debatable.
There's no cohesive community of people who have intense interests because if you don't share the same interests what do you have to say to each other? The guy who remembers the stats for every Baltimore Oriole since he was ten has nothing to say to a trainspotter and neither of them have any thoughts on Star Trek. They all have interests, but there's no unity there. You could easily be in two of those groups, obviously, but it's not necessary or even likely.
I also find Wheaton's reference to people "just riding the world through space" to be incredibly insulting to people who don't happen to share his particular approach to life. It's 1) pretty obviously untrue as there's no one who is genuinely completely disinterested in the world around them in all ways and 2) an invitation to insult and bully the people who the benighted masses who don't care to "understand the world." I usually like him, but that left a bad taste in my mouth
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:26 AM on May 2, 2013 [9 favorites]
I wonder what Sheldon would quip after seeing this.
posted by SteelDancin at 7:48 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by SteelDancin at 7:48 AM on May 2, 2013
Related: Wil Wheaton recovery roots your HTC One, saves the ship, rolls eyes at adults
posted by zombieflanders at 8:13 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by zombieflanders at 8:13 AM on May 2, 2013
Metafilter: schlumping through life wishing they could like things.
posted by emjaybee at 8:25 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by emjaybee at 8:25 AM on May 2, 2013
I got nothing against Wheaton personally but boy am I sick of Team Nerd.
Bacon! Zombies!
Wait, is that hipsters?
posted by Artw at 8:27 AM on May 2, 2013
Bacon! Zombies!
Wait, is that hipsters?
posted by Artw at 8:27 AM on May 2, 2013
I also find Wheaton's reference to people "just riding the world through space" to be incredibly insulting to people who don't happen to share his particular approach to life.
people are going to find offense in what they want, but he absolutely wasn't insulting people who do things differently - see him including sports and fashion design as something you can be nerdy about - i'm betting he doesn't make a lot of clothes or play football on the weekends for fun. to characterize what he said as an insult to people who don't share his approach to life takes more gymnastics than i'm capable of.
posted by nadawi at 9:00 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
people are going to find offense in what they want, but he absolutely wasn't insulting people who do things differently - see him including sports and fashion design as something you can be nerdy about - i'm betting he doesn't make a lot of clothes or play football on the weekends for fun. to characterize what he said as an insult to people who don't share his approach to life takes more gymnastics than i'm capable of.
posted by nadawi at 9:00 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Personally, I enjoy steering the world through space.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:10 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:10 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
people are going to find offense in what they want, but he absolutely wasn't insulting people who do things differently - see him including sports and fashion design as something you can be nerdy about - i'm betting he doesn't make a lot of clothes or play football on the weekends for fun. to characterize what he said as an insult to people who don't share his approach to life takes more gymnastics than i'm capable of.
I don't see the gymnastics necessary to find the insult in "We're understanding the world, while y'all just ride it through space." It's more or less saying that the world has nerds and it has dumb, uninteresting people; he defines nerd broadly and inclusively, but that just means he's insulted fewer people. Do you think that "just ride the planet through space" is a non-insulting way to describe a person? I can't put myself in a head space where saying that someone is effectively inanimate isn't a pretty mean thing to say.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
I don't see the gymnastics necessary to find the insult in "We're understanding the world, while y'all just ride it through space." It's more or less saying that the world has nerds and it has dumb, uninteresting people; he defines nerd broadly and inclusively, but that just means he's insulted fewer people. Do you think that "just ride the planet through space" is a non-insulting way to describe a person? I can't put myself in a head space where saying that someone is effectively inanimate isn't a pretty mean thing to say.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm highly skeptical of "nerd" culture, even though as an SF&F fan I probably am one. Perhaps it's because I think Patton Oswalt was just plain wrong in trying to make a counterculture out of blockbuster films with marketing tie-ins that hit every aisle of the supermarket and department store.
Or perhaps it's because I can't separate that concept from a dynamic of teen identity formation that's irrelevant to me now that my high school academic awards are old enough to buy alcoholic fruity drinks. And with hindsight, my John Hughes-driven vision of the social landscape turned out to be badly wrong in many cases.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
Or perhaps it's because I can't separate that concept from a dynamic of teen identity formation that's irrelevant to me now that my high school academic awards are old enough to buy alcoholic fruity drinks. And with hindsight, my John Hughes-driven vision of the social landscape turned out to be badly wrong in many cases.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
That was cool. I've always liked him, even more now that he's sometimes on Big Bang. Thanks for posting this.
posted by shoesietart at 9:15 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by shoesietart at 9:15 AM on May 2, 2013
I prefer to think of myself as intellectually curious, or at least courageous enough to be curious about stuff that others don't care about, rather than a nerd. All the same, I think it is great when someone affirms that this is a good thing. It reminds me that I need to make a point of doing this with my kids.
posted by dgran at 9:16 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dgran at 9:16 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm highly skeptical of "nerd" culture, even though as an SF&F fan I probably am one. Perhaps it's because I think Patton Oswalt was just plain wrong in trying to make a counterculture out of blockbuster films with marketing tie-ins that hit every aisle of the supermarket and department store.
Or perhaps it's because I can't separate that concept from a dynamic of teen identity formation that's irrelevant to me now that my high school academic awards are old enough to buy alcoholic fruity drinks. And with hindsight, my John Hughes-driven vision of the social landscape turned out to be badly wrong in many cases.
I can't second this enough. I'm not as old as CBrachyrhynchos, but even nearing 25 I can tell that my view of social dynamics at 16 was badly, badly wrong. I hope uncritical consumers don't take this thing of Wheaton's as a vindication of their choices in passive entertainment.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:19 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Or perhaps it's because I can't separate that concept from a dynamic of teen identity formation that's irrelevant to me now that my high school academic awards are old enough to buy alcoholic fruity drinks. And with hindsight, my John Hughes-driven vision of the social landscape turned out to be badly wrong in many cases.
I can't second this enough. I'm not as old as CBrachyrhynchos, but even nearing 25 I can tell that my view of social dynamics at 16 was badly, badly wrong. I hope uncritical consumers don't take this thing of Wheaton's as a vindication of their choices in passive entertainment.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:19 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Is this where I can complain about "I f@cking love science!"
posted by leopard at 9:28 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by leopard at 9:28 AM on May 2, 2013
Perhaps it's because I think Patton Oswalt was just plain wrong in trying to make a counterculture out of blockbuster films with marketing tie-ins that hit every aisle of the supermarket and department store.
Saw this first thing this morning.
Saw this first thing this morning.
Patton Oswalt @pattonoswaltposted by Trochanter at 9:35 AM on May 2, 2013
IRON MAN 3 just blew my ass apart and hillbilly-fucked it full of awesome.*. (*usable poster quote)
Dunno, Wil quit acting to work for NewTek on the video toaster but I saw a video where he cheered for hockey teem or something. I still have doubts about him.
posted by Ad hominem at 9:40 AM on May 2, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 9:40 AM on May 2, 2013
It's more or less saying that the world has nerds and it has dumb, uninteresting people
The world has nerds, the world has dumb, uninteresting people who make fun of nerds for some reason, and the world has a shit ton of other people. Kind of like high school.
I'm pretty sure it's the second group Mr. Wheaton was "insulting", if you can even see it that way.
But mostly he was saying to just like what you like, be kind, and be awesome. To a little girl. He was saying it to a little girl. I'm not sure she has even been born yet. Why anyone wants to take a message like that and tear it apart until they find some sort of offense with it, I dunno. I guess maybe that's a nerdery of its own kind so I suppose I'll just leave it be.
posted by bondcliff at 10:24 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
The world has nerds, the world has dumb, uninteresting people who make fun of nerds for some reason, and the world has a shit ton of other people. Kind of like high school.
I'm pretty sure it's the second group Mr. Wheaton was "insulting", if you can even see it that way.
But mostly he was saying to just like what you like, be kind, and be awesome. To a little girl. He was saying it to a little girl. I'm not sure she has even been born yet. Why anyone wants to take a message like that and tear it apart until they find some sort of offense with it, I dunno. I guess maybe that's a nerdery of its own kind so I suppose I'll just leave it be.
posted by bondcliff at 10:24 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
I went to a small and geeky (public magnet) high school where I wasn't cool or socially connected enough to be a geek. I still remember a classmate telling me in precalc about some 14th century choral arrangements he was enjoying. I said, "Yeah, I like Dead Can Dance too." He said, "How did you...?"
A lot of geekery is finding something and claiming it for yourself, making it a part of your self-presentation and identity. That makes it really easy to get hurt - just witness all the flame wars.
But, having been a young child, and a high-schooler, and a college student, and now a working person, I'm really struck by how often geekery stagnates and fails to thrive. Maybe it goes back to that identity formation thing I mentioned earlier, where you make it about yourself instead of the actual thing. Very few kids who are into bugs or dinosaurs become entomologists or paleontologists. People who are "into psychology" or "into linguistics" are very rarely psychologists or linguists, and very often know little about actual linguistics or psychology. Few gadget fans are working engineers or computer scientists.
By the same token, the linguists, psychologists, and other scientists I know personally don't strike me as those people who browse the science shelves at the local chain bookstore.
And, pardon me for essentializing, but isn't life "about" growth and change? Sure, in childhood a traditionally "nerdy" interest might be about getting away from harassment and finding like-minded peers. I've found that at some point what my interests say about me or what kind of people they attract became much less critical than just, you know, being interested.
posted by Nomyte at 10:53 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
A lot of geekery is finding something and claiming it for yourself, making it a part of your self-presentation and identity. That makes it really easy to get hurt - just witness all the flame wars.
But, having been a young child, and a high-schooler, and a college student, and now a working person, I'm really struck by how often geekery stagnates and fails to thrive. Maybe it goes back to that identity formation thing I mentioned earlier, where you make it about yourself instead of the actual thing. Very few kids who are into bugs or dinosaurs become entomologists or paleontologists. People who are "into psychology" or "into linguistics" are very rarely psychologists or linguists, and very often know little about actual linguistics or psychology. Few gadget fans are working engineers or computer scientists.
By the same token, the linguists, psychologists, and other scientists I know personally don't strike me as those people who browse the science shelves at the local chain bookstore.
And, pardon me for essentializing, but isn't life "about" growth and change? Sure, in childhood a traditionally "nerdy" interest might be about getting away from harassment and finding like-minded peers. I've found that at some point what my interests say about me or what kind of people they attract became much less critical than just, you know, being interested.
posted by Nomyte at 10:53 AM on May 2, 2013 [5 favorites]
The useful definition of nerd is "smart and socially awkward."
Being socially awkward is a handicap -- it's direct effect upon any aspiration, intellectual, artistic, or otherwise, is negative. I suppose some minority of people derive indirect benefit, making productive use of the time that the socially adept occupy with merry-making, or transforming social isolation into motivation for high achievement. However, for the majority of successful nerds, social awkwardness was something they overcame and compensated for in varying degrees in order to get where they got.
If you are in a place in life surrounded by very smart, very successful people, you will be impressed with how visible nerds will often be outnumbered by the never-were-nerds and the surpressed-all-outward-sign-of-nerdiness, and how even the people with very visible nerdiness are serious weekend athletes with wives far too good looking to have dated them in high school, and in many other ways transcend any easy nerdy stereotype.
posted by MattD at 11:11 AM on May 2, 2013
Being socially awkward is a handicap -- it's direct effect upon any aspiration, intellectual, artistic, or otherwise, is negative. I suppose some minority of people derive indirect benefit, making productive use of the time that the socially adept occupy with merry-making, or transforming social isolation into motivation for high achievement. However, for the majority of successful nerds, social awkwardness was something they overcame and compensated for in varying degrees in order to get where they got.
If you are in a place in life surrounded by very smart, very successful people, you will be impressed with how visible nerds will often be outnumbered by the never-were-nerds and the surpressed-all-outward-sign-of-nerdiness, and how even the people with very visible nerdiness are serious weekend athletes with wives far too good looking to have dated them in high school, and in many other ways transcend any easy nerdy stereotype.
posted by MattD at 11:11 AM on May 2, 2013
To a little girl. He was saying it to a little girl.
Apparently what he should be saying to a little girl regarding being a nerd is to keep it to yourself, little girl, because otherwise you're an attention whore.
posted by Legomancer at 11:25 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Apparently what he should be saying to a little girl regarding being a nerd is to keep it to yourself, little girl, because otherwise you're an attention whore.
posted by Legomancer at 11:25 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Being a nerd isn't awesome. Sure, everyone loves games, comics and science fiction now, and "fucking loves science", but if you have a less-popular hobby like HAM radio you're still a tedious bore.
You can be awkward, but not enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Keep your appearance below a certain standard and you're a slob. Come across as unfriendly and you're a neckbeard.
Embrace your passions but don't be weird in anything but a superficial way.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:42 AM on May 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
You can be awkward, but not enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Keep your appearance below a certain standard and you're a slob. Come across as unfriendly and you're a neckbeard.
Embrace your passions but don't be weird in anything but a superficial way.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:42 AM on May 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
The defining characteristic that ties us all together is that we love things
Actually, based on your list of things, it seems like the defining characteristic that ties you all together is that you love *make believe* things. Which is why comic-con is "nerdy" and world cup soccer isn't.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 11:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
Actually, based on your list of things, it seems like the defining characteristic that ties you all together is that you love *make believe* things. Which is why comic-con is "nerdy" and world cup soccer isn't.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 11:43 AM on May 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
I saw Wil at the Calgary Comic Con last weekend. On Sunday morning I went to get a couple of autographs from some very well known celebs(who I won't mention)who've been working for much longer than Wil in many famous productions.
There was 6 people in front of me at the first celebs auto booth and 4 people at the next booth I went too. Wil's booth was right next to the second celebs booth. Wils booth had a line up that went into the concourse!! It was 10:15 a.m and the place had just opened. Made me realize just how respected he is.
posted by Dale 5609 at 11:58 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
There was 6 people in front of me at the first celebs auto booth and 4 people at the next booth I went too. Wil's booth was right next to the second celebs booth. Wils booth had a line up that went into the concourse!! It was 10:15 a.m and the place had just opened. Made me realize just how respected he is.
posted by Dale 5609 at 11:58 AM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Wil is good people. I can't access imgur from work, but I'll definitely be checking this out when I get home.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 12:38 PM on May 2, 2013
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 12:38 PM on May 2, 2013
My objection isn't to enthusiasm. That you can't get me to shut up about things I like (or worse, things I hate) is something of a joke among my family and friends.
Will is good people, it's some of the other emergent aspects of adult nerd culture that rub me the wrong way.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:44 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Will is good people, it's some of the other emergent aspects of adult nerd culture that rub me the wrong way.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:44 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Actually, based on your list of things, it seems like the defining characteristic that ties you all together is that you love *make believe* things. Which is why comic-con is "nerdy" and world cup soccer isn't.
So, basically, the hard sciences are the least nerdy things ever? Sweet!
posted by Zalzidrax at 1:21 PM on May 2, 2013
So, basically, the hard sciences are the least nerdy things ever? Sweet!
posted by Zalzidrax at 1:21 PM on May 2, 2013
I am still trying to determine if I am a nerd or a geek. I have been called both over the years, not because I have an extreme interest in one particular area of knowledge, but becuase I have a lust for knowledge in general. I just like to know stuff. I'm sort of like Diane and Cliff from Cheers, combined, only not unpleasant. Well, maybe a little bit shrill.
I like nerdy things, but I dont do a lot of them. I have some Star Wars stuff, but I don't play D and D or cosplay or anything. (Though I would , if given the opportunity.) My affliction only comes out in conversation when I offer up some strange fact and the other person says "Why do you know that?" I explain myself and then they usually say "Wow, you are such a..." and it's a toss up between geek and nerd.
I can be wry about it now, but as a kid it was just torture. I have two similarly minded children. One has mild OCD and one has Aspergers, so they come with some extra obsessiveness. My parenting has mostly consisted of reminding them that x is awesome, but not everyone at every occasion wants to hear everything about x. I have to remind myself that too, that just because I found something here on MeFi fascinating and I spent 3 hours following links and ended up in Google Books reading an 1898 trade magazine about chicken coops or whatever means that the secretary at work is going to appreciate that. Or that after I read it I crocheted a chicken. In a bonnet. And now I'm writing a sonnet about it. She's going to laugh nervously and say "You're such a nerd!" And she's right, I guess. But I don't need to hear it, so I don't share my interests with many people.
Apparently I had a lot more feelings about nerdiness than I thought when I started this comment.
I still don't know what I am, or how to feel, after 40 years of people looking at me funny.
posted by Biblio at 1:53 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like nerdy things, but I dont do a lot of them. I have some Star Wars stuff, but I don't play D and D or cosplay or anything. (Though I would , if given the opportunity.) My affliction only comes out in conversation when I offer up some strange fact and the other person says "Why do you know that?" I explain myself and then they usually say "Wow, you are such a..." and it's a toss up between geek and nerd.
I can be wry about it now, but as a kid it was just torture. I have two similarly minded children. One has mild OCD and one has Aspergers, so they come with some extra obsessiveness. My parenting has mostly consisted of reminding them that x is awesome, but not everyone at every occasion wants to hear everything about x. I have to remind myself that too, that just because I found something here on MeFi fascinating and I spent 3 hours following links and ended up in Google Books reading an 1898 trade magazine about chicken coops or whatever means that the secretary at work is going to appreciate that. Or that after I read it I crocheted a chicken. In a bonnet. And now I'm writing a sonnet about it. She's going to laugh nervously and say "You're such a nerd!" And she's right, I guess. But I don't need to hear it, so I don't share my interests with many people.
Apparently I had a lot more feelings about nerdiness than I thought when I started this comment.
I still don't know what I am, or how to feel, after 40 years of people looking at me funny.
posted by Biblio at 1:53 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
So, basically, the hard sciences are the least nerdy things ever?
Grade these two answers to this question on a scale of nerdiness:
Question: "What'd you do last week?"
Answer 1) I was at a biotech conference.
Answer 2) I was at a comic book convention.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 4:52 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Grade these two answers to this question on a scale of nerdiness:
Question: "What'd you do last week?"
Answer 1) I was at a biotech conference.
Answer 2) I was at a comic book convention.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 4:52 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Answer 3) I was taking biotech samples at a comic book convention.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:55 PM on May 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:55 PM on May 2, 2013 [4 favorites]
Okay, now that I'm somewhere where I can actually see the link -
Those of you who were upset about Wil's comment about "riding the planet through space"; I'm not sure he meant it that way. He goes on to say that being a nerd is more about "finding something you love and loving it" as opposed to just being blase about it. It doesn't matter what it is you love, he goes on to say.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:04 PM on May 2, 2013
Those of you who were upset about Wil's comment about "riding the planet through space"; I'm not sure he meant it that way. He goes on to say that being a nerd is more about "finding something you love and loving it" as opposed to just being blase about it. It doesn't matter what it is you love, he goes on to say.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:04 PM on May 2, 2013
Oh, and when I was a kid, I was called a brainiac.
The obvious rejoinder is of course:
Wow, you're actually familiar enough with the DC Universe to use a second-tier Superman villain as an insult?
NERRRRRRRD!!!
posted by ShutterBun at 6:36 PM on May 2, 2013
The obvious rejoinder is of course:
Wow, you're actually familiar enough with the DC Universe to use a second-tier Superman villain as an insult?
NERRRRRRRD!!!
posted by ShutterBun at 6:36 PM on May 2, 2013
Nomyte said: But, having been a young child, and a high-schooler, and a college student, and now a working person, I'm really struck by how often geekery stagnates and fails to thrive. Maybe it goes back to that identity formation thing I mentioned earlier, where you make it about yourself instead of the actual thing. Very few kids who are into bugs or dinosaurs become entomologists or paleontologists. People who are "into psychology" or "into linguistics" are very rarely psychologists or linguists, and very often know little about actual linguistics or psychology. Few gadget fans are working engineers or computer scientists.
By the same token, the linguists, psychologists, and other scientists I know personally don't strike me as those people who browse the science shelves at the local chain bookstore.
I have to disagree. I'm a scientist working in a museum and there are a couple of points to make here. These points represent my own experience, but are pretty typical of my colleagues: these stories could be told by any one of them as well.
1) As a first year university student my mind was blown by the discovery that you could actually get a job in the zoological sciences (not just medical science etc), particularly since I had loved loved loved David Attenborough documentaries since I was a pre-schooler. As a kid I thought earthworms were the coolest thing ever. I was entranced by the seals at the zoo. I caught bugs. It was such amazing fun that I simply assumed that this was something people did for entertainment, not work.
2) When I go into a bookshop I always check out the science section. Always! I also check out the travel and history sections for tales of exploration (particularly Pacific and Antarctic explorers, both historical and contemporary). Also the cooking section, but that's beyond the point.
3) All dedicated scientists (ie those who love the science and see it as more than a job) have a little of the geek about their person. All dedicated scientists combine holidays with field trips (as any child of a scientist can tell you). I work on spiders but yesterday I spent three hours learning how to taxidermy a bird. It's not part of my job, but museum taxidermy is awesome stuff and so I wanted to learn how. I love watching bird behaviour. I regularly go to the zoo during feeding time so I can watch the river otters catch fish. I take my evening walk by the nearby river so that I can watch both human behaviour and bird behaviour. I instinctively categorise cloud types as I see them in the sky (last night as I returned from the gym I thought "Hmmm... towering cumulus to the west... yeah we might get some rain"). If that ain't geeky behaviour then I don't know what is.
Again, these stories could be told (and have in many cases) by so many scientist I know. These experiences aren't unique to me, they're characteristic of scientific folks in general.
In short, I can't agree that geekery necessarily stagnates. Every good scientist I know has a little of the childlike wonder and curiosity left in them together with a good dose of geekery. You couldn't get through the hard-slog of science without a bit of geekery to lighten the load.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 6:52 PM on May 2, 2013
By the same token, the linguists, psychologists, and other scientists I know personally don't strike me as those people who browse the science shelves at the local chain bookstore.
I have to disagree. I'm a scientist working in a museum and there are a couple of points to make here. These points represent my own experience, but are pretty typical of my colleagues: these stories could be told by any one of them as well.
1) As a first year university student my mind was blown by the discovery that you could actually get a job in the zoological sciences (not just medical science etc), particularly since I had loved loved loved David Attenborough documentaries since I was a pre-schooler. As a kid I thought earthworms were the coolest thing ever. I was entranced by the seals at the zoo. I caught bugs. It was such amazing fun that I simply assumed that this was something people did for entertainment, not work.
2) When I go into a bookshop I always check out the science section. Always! I also check out the travel and history sections for tales of exploration (particularly Pacific and Antarctic explorers, both historical and contemporary). Also the cooking section, but that's beyond the point.
3) All dedicated scientists (ie those who love the science and see it as more than a job) have a little of the geek about their person. All dedicated scientists combine holidays with field trips (as any child of a scientist can tell you). I work on spiders but yesterday I spent three hours learning how to taxidermy a bird. It's not part of my job, but museum taxidermy is awesome stuff and so I wanted to learn how. I love watching bird behaviour. I regularly go to the zoo during feeding time so I can watch the river otters catch fish. I take my evening walk by the nearby river so that I can watch both human behaviour and bird behaviour. I instinctively categorise cloud types as I see them in the sky (last night as I returned from the gym I thought "Hmmm... towering cumulus to the west... yeah we might get some rain"). If that ain't geeky behaviour then I don't know what is.
Again, these stories could be told (and have in many cases) by so many scientist I know. These experiences aren't unique to me, they're characteristic of scientific folks in general.
In short, I can't agree that geekery necessarily stagnates. Every good scientist I know has a little of the childlike wonder and curiosity left in them together with a good dose of geekery. You couldn't get through the hard-slog of science without a bit of geekery to lighten the load.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 6:52 PM on May 2, 2013
Time for a Leverage quote that I think is somehow related: "Age of the geek, baby." --Alec Hardison.
Okay, that "walk to Wil and give him a kiss story" made ME tear up, and I am a nasty hardhearted bastard.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:22 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Okay, that "walk to Wil and give him a kiss story" made ME tear up, and I am a nasty hardhearted bastard.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:22 PM on May 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wow, you're actually familiar enough with the DC Universe to use a second-tier Superman villain as an insult?
SECOND TIER?
Sir (or Madam), if you feel Brainaic, the conquerer of Kandor, Lex Luther's chum in villainy, we should immediately step outside and settle this like adults.
Unless you refer to Brianiac 5.
posted by Mezentian at 10:00 AM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
SECOND TIER?
Sir (or Madam), if you feel Brainaic, the conquerer of Kandor, Lex Luther's chum in villainy, we should immediately step outside and settle this like adults.
Unless you refer to Brianiac 5.
posted by Mezentian at 10:00 AM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Okay, that "walk to Wil and give him a kiss story" made ME tear up, and I am a nasty hardhearted bastard.
I...kinda got a couple small details wrong, so if everyone could check the link to Wil's blog before you retell it? Thanks (I'm paranoid).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2013
I...kinda got a couple small details wrong, so if everyone could check the link to Wil's blog before you retell it? Thanks (I'm paranoid).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2013
But yes, it is indeed awesome. As is Wil.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on May 3, 2013
People who are "into psychology" or "into linguistics" are very rarely psychologists or linguists, and very often know little about actual linguistics or psychology. Few gadget fans are working engineers or computer scientists.
I wonder about this apparent trend, myself. As far as tech goes, it seems anecdotally to have undergone a huge proliferation with the introduction of smartphones, so that now a large portion of internet trollery seems to revolve around weird, cargo-cultish arguments that reduce to "MY PHONE HAS MOAR GIGoHURTZ!" or "YA BUT JAVA SUXX AND TURNS YOUR HAIR GREEN," etc.* It seems a little different from the other kinds of pseudo-enthusiasm that you cite if only because the companies selling these things surely derive a lot of benefit from this sort of product-based, uninformed factionalism, so that probably affects the dynamic there. But in general I wonder if the internet hasn't had a big hand in fostering this kind of intellectually-oriented social signaling, given how easy it is to feel like you have latent knowledge about a thing just because you've got it bookmarked.
* Though now that I think about it, gamers have been at this exact sort of thing for a while. It just seems more visible, now.
posted by invitapriore at 10:59 AM on May 3, 2013
I wonder about this apparent trend, myself. As far as tech goes, it seems anecdotally to have undergone a huge proliferation with the introduction of smartphones, so that now a large portion of internet trollery seems to revolve around weird, cargo-cultish arguments that reduce to "MY PHONE HAS MOAR GIGoHURTZ!" or "YA BUT JAVA SUXX AND TURNS YOUR HAIR GREEN," etc.* It seems a little different from the other kinds of pseudo-enthusiasm that you cite if only because the companies selling these things surely derive a lot of benefit from this sort of product-based, uninformed factionalism, so that probably affects the dynamic there. But in general I wonder if the internet hasn't had a big hand in fostering this kind of intellectually-oriented social signaling, given how easy it is to feel like you have latent knowledge about a thing just because you've got it bookmarked.
* Though now that I think about it, gamers have been at this exact sort of thing for a while. It just seems more visible, now.
posted by invitapriore at 10:59 AM on May 3, 2013
I have to disagree. I'm a scientist working in a museum and there are a couple of points to make here. These points represent my own experience, but are pretty typical of my colleagues: these stories could be told by any one of them as well.
I'm not sure we're actually disagreeing. I'm sure a lot of scientists used to be nerdy children. And it's great that you and your colleagues are enthusiastic about the greater context of your work. My own experience at a research university is a little more mixed, but I certanly can't deny yours.
But anecdotes notwithstanding, a lot of kids who are bug nerds or comic book nerds or baseball nerds or whatever clearly grow up to be non-nerdy adults, and a lot of nerdy adults are only nerdy in one specific way or for one specific medium or niche genre, and certainly, a lot of nerdy adults are completely uncurious about most things around them. And if Wil is talking about nerdiness as a kind of intellectual curiosity and openness to new experiences, then most people who are happy to call themselves nerds will fail that test.
(But seriously, a lot of the grad school stories researchers I work with tell seem to rotate around crazy pranks or drunken derring-do. And there are certainly a lot of people who regard areas other than their own limited niche, even within closely aligned disciplines, with cool, disinterested detachment. After all, science research can too be a job in every sense of the word, not some kind of ongoing wild-eyed cavalcade of wonderment.)
posted by Nomyte at 12:51 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure we're actually disagreeing. I'm sure a lot of scientists used to be nerdy children. And it's great that you and your colleagues are enthusiastic about the greater context of your work. My own experience at a research university is a little more mixed, but I certanly can't deny yours.
But anecdotes notwithstanding, a lot of kids who are bug nerds or comic book nerds or baseball nerds or whatever clearly grow up to be non-nerdy adults, and a lot of nerdy adults are only nerdy in one specific way or for one specific medium or niche genre, and certainly, a lot of nerdy adults are completely uncurious about most things around them. And if Wil is talking about nerdiness as a kind of intellectual curiosity and openness to new experiences, then most people who are happy to call themselves nerds will fail that test.
(But seriously, a lot of the grad school stories researchers I work with tell seem to rotate around crazy pranks or drunken derring-do. And there are certainly a lot of people who regard areas other than their own limited niche, even within closely aligned disciplines, with cool, disinterested detachment. After all, science research can too be a job in every sense of the word, not some kind of ongoing wild-eyed cavalcade of wonderment.)
posted by Nomyte at 12:51 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by Trochanter at 6:09 AM on May 2, 2013