Nerdification

I started watching downloaded episodes of The Big Bang Theory on my laptop a few months ago and it didn't take me long to realize, I had so much in common with these guys.

The realization that I was a nerd.

But what makes a nerd? Is it just wanting to be Lion-o of the Thundercats or be a member of the Silverhawks, or knowing that Patrick Stewart was Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (a series which I absolutely adored? Wanting to be MacGyver?

At times, I find myself laughing so hard at what Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj talk about on the hit series and I find myself relating to everything they're doing. My wife apparently, who has come to grips with marrying one, laughs along as well.


The all knowing Wikipedia defines it as "a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities." They are "stereotypically intelligent and but socially and physically awkward."

Hmmm. Hold up.  Wait a minute.

If it means growing up intellectually inclined, I guess, yes, I'm a nerd.

But I'd like to think I didn't grow up as a social outcast. I'm not saying I was a jock, given how most of my life I've made it a dream to win big on Jeopardy! but I had more than my fair share of stage time, lettered in almost every sport I could think of, dabbled in writing for the school paper and some, so pretty much a non-social outcast life.

But still, whose fault is it, (aside from myself) that has me thinking I'm more a nerd than most people I meet?

As I read on its origins, I realize that society at large is to blame. Popular culture makes this so. The norm established by "normal" people setting trends refer to social status and inclusion by referring to people of lesser stature in terms of social interaction -- the outsiders, the "nerds" -- for them to stand out.

Well, in those terms, I'm glad I'm a nerd. Seeing it through my eyes, they're the ones not on my social radar. They are outsiders to me and I'm pretty happy with how I've turned out. Even if it means knowing who Brent Spiner is.

As Charles Sykes said, "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one."