Talk:Nerd

Merger proposal

There is a discussion at Talk:Geek#Merger_Proposal about the proposed merger of Nerd and Geek articles.—RJH (talk) 17:43, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

I am sorry but I am a member of many geeks websites and nerds are different. Nerds are more focused on computers but geeks can be focused on more activities that does not include using a computer. Someone who is passionated on crafts assembling can be a geek yet never used a computer.

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)

Nerds are more focused on computers but geeks can be focused on more activities that does not include using a computer. Someone who is passionated on crafts assembling can be a geek yet never used a computer. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.69.193.158 (talk) 18:31, 27 February 2009 (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)

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. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Apostleofplagues (talk • contribs) 05:04, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

• Holy Hell, someone thinks too highly of the horse they're on. Oh, I mean, I am deeply humbly sorry for the transgressions in this article on behalf of all wikipedians in the world. I seek reconciliation with you, the most mature and the most wise of all occultist philosophers, whos mature, esoteric and intellectual activities are only pursued by mature persons such as yourself and those with the wisdom and enlightenment to lead us through these dark times. Tool. -- comment added by User:Kahou.

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.

Nerds in Film

Why doesn't Revenge of the Nerds get a mention? Seems like a popular culture portrayl of the nerdlinger King Nerd