Topic: Gripe Thread

[Plank of Wood]

I read a book about that. To be a nerd you cannot just engage in nerd cliches and nerd chic, you must actually take a disturbingly rabid interest in nerdy subjects. At my school wearing fake "nerd glasses" (black plastic frames, square-y) was a fad. I on the other hand was the only one actually reading sci-fi and fantasy, playing DnD, and participating in other decidedly nerdy activities. I despise the people who claim to be nerds because nerd chic is popular. I want to hit them. Really horde.

[emmet]

I think by definition nerds also need to believe in evolution.

Can someone fact check me on this?

[Inkling]

The problem is that everyone has their own definition of Nerd and Geek.  I think there are three aspects to it: liking nerdy things such as DnD or comic books, and being nerdily obsessive over those things or other topics, and being socially awkward, the geek chic thing.  Things that used to be more exclusively nerd territory like superheroes or video games are now mainstream.  In my opinion, fantasy sports are incredibly geeky.  So yeah, it might help if these words meant something instead of being so vague.

[Plank of Wood]

Well actually according to the internet, I have seen the following people identified as not being "real geeks":

- Popular People
- People who play casual games
- Parents
- People who do Sports
- People who are Famous outside of the Internet
- Attractive Women
- Unattractive Women
- Women in general (and don't write an article about it because then you'll get rape threats)
- People who wore a DC shirt once but don't know all of the Batman arcs off by heart
- Religious People
- Cosplayers (no I don't know how this one works either)
- Republicans
- Pop Music Fans
- People with "real jobs"
- 15 year olds
- Germans


I think the real problem here is people using the idea of identifying as a "geek" as an excuse to be an elitist bully.

[/gripe]

[/lurk]

I think by definition nerds also need to believe in evolution.

GRAVITY IS ONLY A THEORY


Science isn't something you "believe in."

[Krakow Sam]

anthropomorphic climate change

Climate change in the shape of a man?

and being socially awkward, the geek chic thing. 

Geek chic is purely a fashion thing and has nothing really to do with social awkwardness.

Geek chic is wearing cardigans and having boring haircuts and thick rimmed glasses and is basically just a subset of hipster fashion, but without pretending to be poor and dirty.

[emmet]

I think by definition nerds also need to believe in evolution.

GRAVITY IS ONLY A THEORY


Science isn't something you "believe in."

I was wondering if someone was going to point this out.

How am I supposed to phrase it? "I think by definition nerds also need to not ignore the truth of evolution." Isn't quite as catchy.

[sgore]

I think the real problem here is people using the idea of identifying as a "geek" as an excuse to be an elitist bully.

This is unfortunately true of a number of categorizations. Trying to aggressively enforce some kind of objective standard of who does or doesn't belong to an ill-defined group usually causes more problems than it solves.

[Krakow Sam]

Seems like a pretty typically curly haired thing to say Sgore. 

[Inkling]

I have learned my lesson and will never hurriedly write a post before running out the door.  Also,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

[PatMan33]

Scottish people are turds.

[martyk]

Hey, I have a friend who's Scottish and isn't a turd.

[sgore]

Seems like a pretty typically curly haired thing to say Sgore. 

Gah, you're right.
My apologies.
I'll try to post something more straight haired next time (Or at the very least, wavy).

[PatMan33]

Scottish people are turds.

And if I said Karen Gillan is Scottish,
and PatMan33 replied Karen Gillan is not a true Scotsman,
then that would be an example of the No True Scotsman fallacy,
because he arbitrarily excluded someone from the definition to maintain his original claim.

It wasn't arbitrary.

They are genetically inferior and their vocal cords are deformed such that their "voices" cause physical pain to listen to.

[Krakow Sam]

Lurk, show them what you do.