Some people go with "Noooo! I don't think so!" which means one of two things. 1) They've never met me or 2) They put a negative connotation on the word "nerd".
The most common response is nervous laughter while they try to ascertain how I feel about my own label.
But the response that spurred this post is the admonishing "Don't say that!" Somehow, in the current heyday of geek chic, being labeled a nerd is still seen as an unfortunate occurrence.
I have no qualms about calling myself a nerd. I wear it as a badge of honor. I care about something(s) enough to be considered a nerd.
But then I really blow people's minds with the sheer diversity of my nerdscape.
Comics, Sci-Fi (not SyFy), computers, fantasy books, Star Trek/Gate/Wars, documentaries, music deconstruction, baseball stats, genre TV shows, gadgets, math......
Wait just a second my opinionated opiner, I like some of those things but I'm not a....nerd.
And here's where the conundrum comes in. Given the current accepted definition of "nerd", everyone is a nerd about something.
Patton Oswalt may have written the best rant ever on this subject. He points out that the internet gives us instantaneous access to a wealth of information that would have taken basement dwellers of old years to compile.
Why argue about how many episodes of Star Trek TOS had Kirk hooking up with a pastel-colored lady when all it takes is a quick Wikipedia search? You want to own life-sized replicas of Ian Holm circa Alien AND Fellowship of the Ring? Look no further than Ebay/Craigslist. You might just find some herpes while you're there.
So, my dear reader(s), I say embrace your emerging nerdiness. Accept your irrational obsessions. And don't be afraid to read that Farscape/Care Bears crossover fanfic just because Karen in HR would think you're weird.
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