NationStates Jolt Archive

Rotovia's thread reminded me of another word beginning with N that, while it has been used derogatorily since its conception, is now used by the very people it derogatized. The situation seems different though, if only because of the radical difference in degree of historical oppression.

So the question is: has nerd become a term of good? Or is it still derogatory?

So the question is: has nerd become a term of good? Or is it still derogatory?

Yes. :headbang:

But not nearly as bad as "the N word"

No! The right to wear the title of "nerd" must be EARNED!

If you say it to someone who doesn't self-identify as a nerd, then I imagine it'd be offensive.

My father's family is Italian and Sicilian. It's not so much part of my identity. If I had to describe myself, I'd have about 40 or 50 other things on my list before "my Italian heritage." I don't even like most Italian food. So, when I hear people jokingly or not jokingly insulting Italians (wop, dago, greaseball - you get the picture), I just laugh. I think words only take on positive or negative meaning when they're part of your identity. If you pride yourself on being 'cool,' you probably wouldn't like to be called a nerd. If you pride yourself on your nerdiness, you'd take the label as a badge of honor. Know what I mean?

I find myself only offended being called a nerd when the thing I'm doing to deserve being called that is of an intellectual value.

I mean, actually knowing all 50 states and being called a nerd, that's uncalled for.
Knowing that one Star Wars language, you can't complain so much.

If you say it to someone who doesn't self-identify as a nerd, then I imagine it'd be offensive.

My father's family is Italian and Sicilian. It's not so much part of my identity. If I had to describe myself, I'd have about 40 or 50 other things on my list before "my Italian heritage." I don't even like most Italian food. So, when I hear people jokingly or not jokingly insulting Italians (wop, dago, greaseball - you get the picture), I just laugh. I think words only take on positive or negative meaning when they're part of your identity. If you pride yourself on being 'cool,' you probably wouldn't like to be called a nerd. If you pride yourself on your nerdiness, you'd take the label as a badge of honor. Know what I mean?

Yes, I do. Growing up in the 50's a wop was this Micks best friend. But don't let anyone outside OUR comminity use those terms.

Also, I've seen differences in these names. Sort of different degrees of "dorkdom".

A "geek" for instance is usually assigned to someone who has very specific knowledge, such as a "Star Wars Geek" or a "History Geek" or a "Computer Geek". A "nerd", from what I've seen is applied to those who seem to have an all encompassing "dorkiness".

I try not to associate with people that don't identify themselves as nerds.

Yes, I do. Growing up in the 50's a wop was this Micks best friend. But don't let anyone outside OUR comminity use those terms.

:) Heh. Nah, I don't care. I let my German-English-Irish boyfriend call me his greasy dago. I call him my robotic kraut.

If you're not sure, then smile when you say "nerd". On the other hand, if the victim is a nerd, what's he going to do about it? Beat you up?

If you're not sure, then smile when you say "nerd". On the other hand, if the victim is a nerd, what's he going to do about it? Beat you up?

Hack your computer maybe.

Actually, a couple of years back I was part of a nerdish anti-prep movement. We were planning to send fake emails between the preps insulting eachother and then laugh at the ensuing chaos. Never quite got around to it though.

I find it as a derogatory term. You see, I try to make myself an all rounded person by going to AP classes as well as playing sports and participating in extracurricular classes. So if I am considered a nerd, I kinda feel insulted. However there is a lot of people who dont mind being called nerd just because they know the topic that was being discussed in class. They even call themselves nerds. Personally, I think those people are posers.

Like in all games. The poser n00bs will go saying that they are the best at it and then they get thrashed. The true experts usually keep themselves quiet and then they unleash their true skill at the game and own all those poser n00bs.

Hack your computer maybe.

Actually, a couple of years back I was part of a nerdish anti-prep movement. We were planning to send fake emails between the preps insulting eachother and then laugh at the ensuing chaos. Never quite got around to it though.

Ahem...OWNZOR'D!

I would have really liked to have seen that. God knows preps can get kinda...annoying...

One might be proud to be a nerd, but one should never be proud to be a prep...

And I'm tired of using these damn labels...I'm just going to refer to myself by my school ID number from now on, 'kay?

I find it as a derogatory term. You see, I try to make myself an all rounded person by going to AP classes as well as playing sports and participating in extracurricular classes. So if I am considered a nerd, I kinda feel insulted. However there is a lot of people who dont mind being called nerd just because they know the topic that was being discussed in class. They even call themselves nerds. Personally, I think those people are posers.

Like in all games. The poser n00bs will go saying that they are the best at it and then they get thrashed. The true experts usually keep themselves quiet and then they unleash their true skill at the game and own all those poser n00bs.

The difference is that nerdiness isn't so much a claim of skill as it is one of lack of skill. Its perfectly possible to be a stupid nerd, you just need the correct interests and lack of social skills. While its not necessarily offensive, it does demonstrate people's stupidity if they call someone a nerd just because they're good at school, as it ignores the fact that the majority of people who are good at school are also part of the "cool" crowd.

Uh.. it depends on how you use it? Wait... no... oh Lord. I guess I really don't know.

I find myself only offended being called a nerd when the thing I'm doing to deserve being called that is of an intellectual value.

I mean, actually knowing all 50 states and being called a nerd, that's uncalled for.
Knowing that one Star Wars language, you can't complain so much.

Star Wars? Pssh. Star Trek is superior.

SoH 'oH ghobe' QaQ Daq tlhIngan mIghtaHghach wa'

vaD pIn ghotpu!

Star Wars? Pssh. Star Trek is superior.

SoH 'oH ghobe' QaQ Daq tlhIngan mIghtaHghach wa'

vaD pIn ghotpu!

I think he meant Star Trek anyway, as I can't think of any Star Wars languages people know.

I think he meant Star Trek anyway, as I can't think of any Star Wars languages people know.

Star Wars has three main languages, Basic, Ewokese, and Huttese. Basic can be excluded, as it's basically English. They're all pretty simplistic. The others aren't even worth mentioning, they're so incomplete.

When did "nerd" become an insult?

All those cocky, jackass jocks ever become are grocery baggers, while the nerds grow up to make millions on Wall Street.


DORK POWER! W007!!!1

The word "nerd" lost its social status punch when all those captains of the football teams wound up working for Bill Gates. Now nerds are ridiculed to a point, but vengeance awaits in post-secondary and beyond.

The word "nerd" is insulting to me at the same times that other words, such as "geek," are insulting to me. And that's when they're used to describe a person with average or better social skills.

Nerd and geek, and there are a couple other similar words, should be used in describing people with extensive knowledge of useless trivia and far less than average social skills. Melvin from Office Space is deserving of one of these words, though not necessarily geek or nerd.

I still claim the day I built my entire pc from single pieces, empty case up, as the day I got my offical "geek license" heh

-snipper- So the question is: has nerd become a term of good? Or is it still derogatory?

I have always thought of the word nerd as an affectionate word. That's the way I have used it .. the few times I have. I know there are people that think the term "nerd" is derogatory.. but they are usually dumbasses.. or people that have been picked on and called nerds by dumbasses. Remember nerd candies? They were soo cute :) I also think of geek as a good word. Although geek and nerd have different meanings .. one still makes me think of the other.

The word "geek" is becoming more positive than "nerd" lately.

Anyway, if you identify with the term, and want to tell someone that you share their interests, it might be appropriate.

I preffer "geek"

It's all about context

The term is only offensive if the person finds it offensive. Here's how I define the nerd/geek/dork combination.

A nerd is someone with extremely large amounts of knowledge - generally this knowledge is hardly applicable to any sort of profession, let alone daily life. Also generally, nerds posess few, if any, social skills.

A geek is a nerd with more social skills. They still possess the requisite knowledge, but they tend to not point it out at bizarre times. Overall, they tend to be fairly socially acceptable, but occasionally 'geek out'; geeking out most often consists of exhibiting esoteric knowledge or drawing bizarre parallels between real life and lesser-known events, people or places, whether fictional or non-fictional. Most geeks also tend to have an odd interest in 'abnormal' clothing (perfect examples of such clothing choices are: chainmail [either gender], glasses with thick frames which are generally dark in color [either gender], black-and-white-striped mid-thigh socks [females] or mid-shin black, red or green boots [males]). Those (such as myself) who are attracted to geeks, find these tendencies extremely refreshing/cute/adorable/insert appreciative adjective or noun-adjective here.

A dork is a geek who is slightly less socially acceptable due to geeking out excessively, or using inappropriate or lesser-known comparisons.


Geeks r b sexi n hotttt!11!11!eleven111!11!!11!!!!11orange

to be called a nerd is a compliment, damnit!
at least it is with myself and friends...

to be called a nerd is a compliment, damnit!
at least it is with myself and friends...

Hahaha. Yeah. I don't find it offensive. I've been called a "music nerd"; that's awesome, rather than offensive. :D

The term is only offensive if the person finds it offensive. Here's how I define the nerd/geek/dork combination.

A nerd is someone with extremely large amounts of knowledge - generally this knowledge is hardly applicable to any sort of profession, let alone daily life. Also generally, nerds posess few, if any, social skills.

A geek is a nerd with more social skills. They still possess the requisite knowledge, but they tend to not point it out at bizarre times. Overall, they tend to be fairly socially acceptable, but occasionally 'geek out'; geeking out most often consists of exhibiting esoteric knowledge or drawing bizarre parallels between real life and lesser-known events, people or places, whether fictional or non-fictional. Most geeks also tend to have an odd interest in 'abnormal' clothing (perfect examples of such clothing choices are: chainmail [either gender], glasses with thick frames which are generally dark in color [either gender], black-and-white-striped mid-thigh socks [females] or mid-shin black, red or green boots [males]). Those (such as myself) who are attracted to geeks, find these tendencies extremely refreshing/cute/adorable/insert appreciative adjective or noun-adjective here.

A dork is a geek who is slightly less socially acceptable due to geeking out excessively, or using inappropriate or lesser-known comparisons.


Geeks r b sexi n hotttt!11!11!eleven111!11!!11!!!!11orange

I sort of agree... I've always seen geeks as people with nerdish tendencies, while nerds are the full package. A geek can basically be a 'normal' person, with a healthy social life and personal interests in such things as science, sci fi, fantasy, computers or whatever. A nerd, however, immerses them entirely in this kind of thing and has trouble communicating with non-nerds, or about any non-nerdy subject. I like geeks, nerds I would tend to avoid.

I sort of agree... I've always seen geeks as people with nerdish tendencies, while nerds are the full package. A geek can basically be a 'normal' person, with a healthy social life and personal interests in such things as science, sci fi, fantasy, computers or whatever. A nerd, however, immerses them entirely in this kind of thing and has trouble communicating with non-nerds, or about any non-nerdy subject. I like geeks, nerds I would tend to avoid.
The only exception is if the person is an grammar geek like me. I tend to get aggravated very easily when talking with people who can't be arsed to actually put in the effort to look literate while online. In addition, people who use things like 'y'all', 'ain't', 'woulda', 'wanna' or things of their ilk in casual conversation get right under my skin. If you can't be bothered, I'm sure Jesusland would love to have you. *amused*

The only exception is if the person is an grammar geek like me. I tend to get aggravated very easily when talking with people who can't be arsed to actually put in the effort to look literate while online. In addition, people who use things like 'y'all', 'ain't', 'woulda', 'wanna' or things of their ilk in casual conversation get right under my skin. If you can't be bothered, I'm sure Jesusland would love to have you. *amused*

An grammar geek like you?

Haha, just kidding :p I guess that's an internet-specific kind of geek. Personally, when writing on the internet or cellphone I hate writing in txtish or other over-contracted language, but then on the other hand I never proof-read so I leave myself open to have my spelling abused if someone isn't quite up to arguing with what I've said...

An grammar geek like you?

Haha, just kidding :p I guess that's an internet-specific kind of geek. Personally, when writing on the internet or cellphone I hate writing in txtish or other over-contracted language, but then on the other hand I never proof-read so I leave myself open to have my spelling abused if someone isn't quite up to arguing with what I've said...

Shush, you. I originally wrote 'an English geek', but then I realized that that would have specific connotations, like that I actually enjoy reading large amounts of writings from little-known authors. So I switched to 'grammar', but forgot to change the preceding article. :P

And so far, your spelling is quite fine.

It's not really an excuse, but I forgot to proofread because I'm tired and it was a relatively small error. >_<

Shush, you. I originally wrote 'an English geek', but then I realized that that would have specific connotations, like that I actually enjoy reading large amounts of writings from little-known authors. So I switched to 'grammar', but forgot to change the preceding article. :P

And so far, your spelling is quite fine.

It's not really an excuse, but I forgot to proofread because I'm tired and it was a relatively small error. >_<

Haha, I'd usually never mention someone else's spelling/grammar, but I was unable to resist. Im sure you can be forgiven.

In todays PC world it is not permissible to call anyone anything other than thier name. No matter how accurate, appropriate or funny it might have been.

Call them nerds, no problem. Just don't call them 'refugees', right Rev. Jackson?

I don't think you should call anyone names unless you are really mad... wait I mean unless they know you are kidding. You would be surprised how much it can hurt people even if you are kidding. I have to watch myself, I came from a family where we all just made fun of eachother (called eachother dorks, made jokes about b.o. stuff like that) when my husband married in he was really shocked, he thought we hated eachother. He is getting better about it. (as if that really is a noble goal to get better at calling family names)

so in conclusion don't call anyone names whether it offends you or not.