Miriam Webster’s definition of the word NERD: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially: one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.
It seems everywhere I turn, I am affronted with a word-NERD. Against my better judgment, I braved Old Navy on the tax-free weekend prior to the first week of school (other than this, I swear I’m a total sane person), and all the young cute workers were dressed as extreme nerds. In Target yesterday, in the teenage girls section (don’t judge, a really cool denim shirt caught my eye from the outer aisle) I spotted a t-shirt that had the word NERD huge across the chest in big block letters.
At a class on metadata, keywords & back matter at the RWA convention in Atlanta this summer, the instructor asked for a show of hands of a certain kind of nerd and half the room threw their arms in the air. Now, mind you, none of these girls looked anything close to nerdy. They were highly attractive, impeccably dressed ladies.
I see people owning up to nerdiness all the time who in no way shape or form resemble the nerd stereotype. Somehow, it would seem that nerd is the new cool. Now this paradigm shift is one I’ll happily jump on board with. I would (and have) referred to myself as an Excel nerd. I absolutely love spreadsheets. My dream job (other than writing of course) would have me in front on an Excel spreadsheet for nine hours a day calculating numbers, using new formulas, and consolidating data from other sources. (I’m all giddy just thinking about it). For the ones unaware of its benefit, let me tell you – an excel spreadsheet can help you organize, calculate and analyze huge data of sales figures, taxes, and commissions within seconds. All you need is just a few formulas to get it done. In case, you are wondering where to learn all these formulas, you can consider taking excel training classes in Denver or wherever you reside. However, as I plug numbers into formulas, I like to think that I’m not doing so in an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept manner.
So why are we suddenly referring to our passions and strengths as nerdiness? Is it a self-effacing way of bragging about what we’re good at?
But my real question is what does this new nerd popularity mean for middle and high school kids? If a 14 year old boy loves math and Dungeons and Dragons, is he suddenly cool now? Sure, he might get an amazing high school graduation announcement (like the ones from Jostens or similar companies) due to his high academic potential, which could really give him a boost for his future. However, does he still have to deal with the same social pressures that have been around since pre-nerd popularity? When I was in high school “a while back” I’ll tell it to you straight-it was in no way shape or form cool to be a nerd.
So what is high school like for today’s students? Are true nerds owning up to their pocket protector, taped glasses heritage, rising up and taking back the campus Revenge of the Nerds style? Or are nerds being robbed of their own social class as the cool kids steal their namesake? Or are they all holding hands in a Kumbaya fest, swaying side-by-side in peaceful demonstration?
I don’t have a teenager (yet) so I really would love these answers from those of you who do. Comment here, if you will, or message me if you don’t want to publicly admit your nerd knowledge. Start a dialogue. This enquiring mind wants to know. Now get back to work you blog-reading nerd.