Everybody's a Nerd

I met a guy last week and we were talking about writing and I was talking about how I write for fun and he said, “So, you’re basically a nerdy girl.” And I replied, “Yes. I love being a nerd! It’s so much fun!” Writing and reading are my passions, so I love doing anything associated with them—including essay writing and analyzing the plot structures of Saturday morning cartoons. In fact, I love analyzing the themes in Star Trek episodes and figuring out why the villain was lame in the new Percy Jackson film. I talk about depth, character, and subplots. I talk about writing business letters to my favorite cereal company. Am I a nerd? Most definitely YES! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As I thought about that phrase, ‘so you’re a nerdy girl?’ some more, I told my sister, “Everybody’s a nerd!” Some people are nerds about hunting or fishing. Some people are nerds about football and college rivalries. Some people are nerds about motocross racing. How do you spot a nerd? You mention a certain topic and suddenly they are talking your ear off about that subject and asking your opinion on the competition last week and who you think will win the championship next month. They start speaking a different language about full backs and hole shots and draw weights on compound bows. Nerds love that nerdy language.
Unfortunately, being a “nerd” in our society is often the same thing as being a “loser.” They are seen as socially awkward, totally lacking in common sense and too obsessed with their passion to notice the world around them (such as, current fashion trends?). But what about those men who watch football all the time? Or people who spend every weekend on four wheelers? They aren’t seen as “losers,” but they are just as committed to their passions as the computer geeks. For some reason, if you are a nerd about sports or outdoorsman stuff, you’re cool. But if you’re a nerd about English, science, or anything academic and “boring,” the world sees you as a socially handicapped “loser.” Which is kind of funny since the computer “losers” are having just as much fun as the four wheelers, and are probably making more money. Bill Gates is a case in point.
Be careful in how you judge a nerd. Just because a person likes to read doesn’t mean they don't have any fashion sense. Just because someone plays basketball doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy poetry, too.
But seriously, being a nerd is fantastic fun! Find your passion, stick to it, and have a blast!!