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Last edited by fernogx; August 5th, 2018 at 07:06 PM.
Another open-ended question.
How about YOU comment first, and see what responses you get?
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Last edited by fernogx; August 5th, 2018 at 07:06 PM.
Okay.
It's in English.
How's that?
What is it that bothers you about the "format and layout of the essay"?
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Last edited by fernogx; August 5th, 2018 at 07:06 PM.
Ah, got it.
Your comprehension is limited.
Please define exactly where this "second half" starts.
And please quote sentences that support this claim of yours.
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Last edited by fernogx; August 5th, 2018 at 07:06 PM.
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Last edited by fernogx; August 5th, 2018 at 07:06 PM.
Off to the ignore list you go...
Nerds arn't unpopular per se, they are just viewed as being different, and generally amonst children and youths different is seen as bad, hence unpopular. This is because people are searching for their identity and they reject ones that don't fit with the consensus opinion. Thus by adopting the consensus opinion most feel they are fitting in. Usually by adolescence most people have found their place and thus don't need to adhere to a consensus opinion and thus don't have the same down on what you would consider nerds. The same thing applies to other social groups not just nerds, but really it all comes down to insecurity and immaturity.
Secure people never need to put others down, they enjoy boosting other people up.
At school, children are far more animalistic.
They tend to respond to their more base instincts.
As a nerd, people stopped treating me differently once I became an adult.
Granted, being a nerd is not the most attractive trait you can have - but there's no such thing as an ugly rich man.![]()
The link has nothing to do with education - its about start up investment. Even if you bother to trawl through the long list of "essays" the essay has nothing to do with education either. Neither is discussion of the format of an "essay" to do with education............
There are many FORMS of "Nerds". There are music nerds, art nerds, singing nerds, science nerds, math nerds, biology nerds, chemistry nerds, band music playing nerds, symphony nerds, mechanical nerds, racing nerds, golfing nerds. I think you can place any human in a "Nerd" category as to what their passion lies in.
Not enough that you'd notice!
Rich ugly men with hot women : theCHIVE
But I agree with your comment about nerds in the previous post.
Anyone that becomes an expert becomes a nerd.
But perhaps we are discussing the wrong word?
Should we be talking about geeks and not nerds?
I see no essay: just a blank page with links to investment opportunities. Are you sure this isn't spam?
But I thought the name was familiar; there are a couple of comments on the essay here: Language Log » Nerd, geek, PK: Creeping Romanization (and Englishization), part 2
Ah, I see an extra 'I' crept into the URL...
Format: obviously copied from a text editor with hard line breaks so it doesn't use HTML formatting at all.I want to hear some opinions regarding the ideas presented in the essay and the format of it.
Ideas: seems reasonable from a quick skim. But it seems very US-centric: everything from the idea of "nerds" to the (possibly unique?) style of American suburbs. I don't know if programs like The Big Bang Theory (science nerds) or Glee (performing arts nerds) have changed attitudes since this was written (10+ years ago, I think).
I read a small portion of the essay. I got the impression the writer assumes intellect, "nerdiness," and unpopularity are basically mutually inclusive.
In my experience, those types of terms had a small correlation - and that is at its best. There were a lot of popular, and unpopular, intelligent kids that I grew up with. It had everything to do with how they carried themselves, and how broad their interests appeared to be. A kid who gives the impression he/she is only interested in poetry, plays, and medieval weaponry is going to have a tough time finding a group of people that are interested in having frequent conversations about Ibsen, Plath, and Szablas. A kid who gives others the impression he/she is interested in wide variety of things is going to have a much easier time finding friends.
Nerds are unpopular because nerds are often highly intelligent (at least, that is my personal understanding of "nerds".) Being part of a typically nerdy crowd, I've made some observations over the years:
First and foremost, that can mean some social awkwardness accompanies their smarts. This can make it a struggle to build friendships with the majority of people.
Secondly, I would suggest that being highly intelligent puts you in a minority. You simply don't relate to the masses. Nerds tend to form friendships with others like them and, within that social group, often follow the typical personality traits. Most nerd herds have their alpha nerd, for instance.
From my experience, it also seems as though being highly intelligent makes you intimidating to others. They don't admit that, of course. They tend to flex their physical prowess over you in some attempt to reestablish their own ego.
In light of what I've said, I am also completely aware that some nerd, like anyone else, can suffer from a superiority complex and end up unpopular because they are, for lack of a better word, douchebags.
if you define popular as football players and cheerleaders, then usually nerds don't do those things.
Outside that definition, I didn't see any noticable disparity in popularity when I was in highschool 50 years ago.
Peer group identity is a peculiar thing. Some(most?) of it had to do with how well you tested which determined which classes you would take. So you got to know much the same people throughout the school years. We congregated in different interests and activies;chess club, math club, science club, etc
I enjoyed playing football at school(soccer), but I also enjoyed being part of the chess club, I never saw myself as nerd, but equally I never really had a specific subgroup of people to be associated with. I don't really think that being a nerd has anything to do with intelligence, you get plenty of intelligent people that like sports. I think it's more about a social preference for more academic pursuits. It's sometimes the same with people who like classical music it doesn't make them social pariahs, they don't all need to be genii to enjoy it, but equally it doesn't mean everyone else who prefer other types of music are morons.
The idea of being a nerd seems more about a difference in taste and a preference that goes against mainstream popularity. Why so many nerds that are highly inteligent choose to reject popularity and conformity is probarbly just a way of them expressing their own individuality, just like a skinhead, punk or goth. It's possibly also taken as lack of respect for the mainstream values which others hold that can sometimes see them become targets again though, they are usually only targeted by insecure people that can't handle the idea that the things they consider so important arn't always considered so by everybody.
But even today we as a society pass judgements upon individuals that don't conform to our views of assigning value to activities. Many of us value and enjoy watching sports, heros are made of athletes that achieve the highest levels of sporting success, their accomplishments revered, yet those who have chosen different pursuits such as stamp collecting or train/plane spotting are some how frowned upon by our society, much as in a similar way in which nerds may be viewed during school years.
I was completely unaware that nerds were unpopular. I tended to only crush on nerdy guys. How can any girl not like a guy with a big huge throbbing IQ?
I'm so confused.
I'm not sure it's so much a rejection as "I have more interesting things to think about" - popularity only registers peripherally.
Likewise the "expressing their own individuality" - I'd say that's not a even a consideration: "why would I want to spend time doing that? I have more important stuff to get on with".
Meh. I don't see much point in displaying individuality, sounds like a waste of time better spent elsewhere. I do, however, agree that being a "nerd" or "jock" doesn't rely solely on intelligence. Sure, some people may think that sports are pointless endeavors, I do, but I also know people more intelligent than myself "in terms of spatial thinking/problem solving" that are enthralled at the aspect of a soccer game. As to the social awkwardness, some people simply prefer seclusion. What do most people talk about? Gossip, trivial affairs of the day, clothing, and arbitrarily addressing inconsequential aspects of the environment wherein the conversation is occurring. Personally, I find those subjects empty and terribly boring to discuss.
I thought the essay was total junk, myself. It's all speculation and opinion based on one persons limited perspectives and his bias in it. He did not perform a study nor did he put any real work into it. He just wrote an editorial that made little practical sense.
Many intelligent people are popular. Many unintelligent people are unpopular. Popularity often has more to do with social skills, looks, attitude and personality than the intellect of the person. There is a lot of diversity among people and the entire essay seemed to stereotype absurdly.
I think the authors ego is larger than his I.Q.
they are actually similar...don't you think? ...I was a theatre arts nerd/geek...I was off performing from age of 13...I returned to school and just was one of the kids in school.....but *L* I was the one that was gone for a month or two at a time and took my homework off with me
Yes, they are similar - but different.
I have seen some heated debates on the difference between nerd and geek.
Personally, I can kinda see the difference, but it is intuitive and subjective.
But that makes it almost impossible to describe.
Anyway, if technology keeps advancing, everyone will end up being nerds/geeks.
I was considered a nerd for being into computers as a child.
But nowadays, people are considered 'weird' if they don't know how to use a computer ( - even my mother uses one!)
I expect such technological knowledge - once considered the domain of the geek - will become mandatory soon.
I guess there are certain people, I suppose some which might get classed as nerds, that just don't put the store or value on spending time and effort to create a persona or an identity. But this is a rejection of the importance that others put on and into the effort of creating an identity, they prefer to spend their time and efforts on pursuits of their choosing instead. For some people being seen as popular, clever or attractive are the be all and end all of their existence, especially when young, others are just happy as themselves.
Nerd prevail in the end. Steve Jobs could have ruled the world if he so chose.
Ooh!
Do "other people" (non-nerds) create an identity? Or does it arrive as a consequence of their actions/ interests/ etc etc?
Does this not also apply to nerds?
Ergo: nerds DO have an identity/ persona.
(Although I doubt that you meant it the way I read it).
It's not a rejection.But this is a rejection of the importance that others put on and into the effort of creating an identity, they prefer to spend their time and efforts on pursuits of their choosing instead.
I could well ask a non-nerd "Why have you rejected the fascinating world of combat aircraft/ tanks/ weapons? Are not, for example, the intricacies of the Hawker P.1121 far more enthralling than a bunch of overpaid idiots running around a playing field with a ball in a pointless game?" 1
1 And the answer to that question is, of course, "infinitely so".
I never cared what people though. Horrified my MIL and my mother. Still don't care. I am myself. Like me, hate me, diss me.....whatever. I won't stop being who I am to please others. It actually has worked out quite well! So.....why would "nerd" ever be in any equation of people....it they are just themselves?
I guess really then that's what it come down to, being yourself doing the thinks you like and being ok with that. If that makes someone a nerd then so be it or if it makes them a jock same thing applies. That just doesn't always come easy to everybody though sometimes it can take a long time before they are comfortable with themselves and they don't always treat people, like those they may consider nerds for example, with respect.
Should people change so that people will treat them differently? Well for some people the answer will always be no, where as others would disagree.
Simple experiment here: We go to a shop and buy a new pair of trousers, we think they fit really well and look great, when we go out in them we get lots of strange looks and a few negative comments. Do we still feel the same about the trousers and when we go shopping again would we still by the same style and type?
We are all influenced by the opinions of others, the only real question is how much influence that is and how we let it affect our choices.
The wisest people are flexible and willing to modify superficial aspects of themselves in order to be accepted or not to offend the popular sensitivities. For instance, at home, I cuss like a sailor. The fact that I cuss a lot doesn't really have any bearing on whether or not I am a good person. But, when I am in public or posting on a forum, I do my best(though I slip once in a while)not to use unnecessary profanity because it gives people an inaccurate impression of who I am. I perceive myself to be reasonably intelligent and rational, most of the time, and I will do my best to project that image to others so that there is no unearned disrespect. It doesn't mean no one will give me negative feedback but it greatly reduces it if I comply with the social etiquette embraced by the majority of the members of society I live in.
Social compliance makes others believe you share and respect their values and the things that are important to them, it means they'll find it easier to accept you because they also naturally expect you'll accept them! Sometimes people who seem different have a harder time being accepted because others don't understand them and arn't sure how they'll feel about them. Life is constantly throwing up situations though, where we are all expected to give in and comply with the social norm, but we are at least still free to behave as we wish in our own homes, like you have stated you swear like a trooper at home. This at least gives us some where we are free to express ourselves, which we all need.
But in general though there is quite a fine line between social compliance and just being one's self, stray to far either way and it's going to be problematic.
Um okay...
What I don't get is, if they're superficial aspects why bother modifying them?
"Flaw" #1: if you're that bothered about "being accepted" you wouldn't be a nerd in the first place.
Ergo it's SEP 1, neh?Sometimes people who seem different have a harder time being accepted because others don't understand them and arn't sure how they'll feel about them.
Nerds have a hard enough time working why supposedly rational people do X, Y or Z 2.
See above: it's problematic enough as it is for a nerd.But in general though there is quite a fine line between social compliance and just being one's self, stray to far either way and it's going to be problematic.
1 SEP, for those that haven't come across it is Someone Else's Problem.
2 Which leads to the conclusion that, just maybe, these people aren't that rational.![]()
Last edited by Dywyddyr; July 15th, 2013 at 02:11 PM.
Agreed, when social compliance reaches the point that you pretend to believe in an ideology that you resent then it is going too far. Luckily in the USA and I am guessing many European countries, diversity is embraced and while you may not be able to be yourself in one venue, there are plenty of venues where you can. For instance a Harley motorcycle enthusiast who happens to wear leather, have lots of tattoos and a long beard, will not likely be accepted at a snooty ivy league golf club. No matter how much this Harley enthusiast loves golf. But he can go to biker bars or motorcycle rallies and be himself without getting any snears. If he wants to go play golf, he simply has to find a golf course that isn't a private club and won't be as likely to throw him out, but it is likely he would still have to dress more appropriate for playing golf and speak in a fashion that is more associated with golfers.
Its that old "when in Rome" concept.
I am a musical theatre geek, and I am a golf geek and a sports geek......I guess I am just like the combination pizza of geeks. Thank you very much.
Hey we are all geeks in our own way, I love property and cars myself, put with another property or car geek and we can on about it for hours, probarbly bore the pants off anyone else. But I bet also for you if you are with other people that really like musical theatre or golf then at that time it just doesn't matter what others may think, you are with someone who just enjoys the things you do. Really being a geek even about only a few things isn't bad if makes you happy.
How do you define popularity?
Nerds can be popular
Football Team, Wretling varsity and hanging around the science forum...
Nerds can be "popular" in their own sub-group.
Hardly the same thing as popular.
I never cared about being the Artsy Fartsy Music/Theatre nerd. I could have been a cheerleader...was one in JHS......but...I never desired that again.....would any of you given up who you are in your own nerdy way for a popularity vote?
I think not.
For the jocks, it's who has the biggest muscles and can run the fastest. For the theater folks, it's who can sing and dance the best. For the nerds, it's who has the best grades or learn to solder at the youngest age.
It's always a popularity contest and I never understood the point. I guess my inate lack of interest in being alpha is why I was friends with people from almost every group. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're not really trying...
I for one wouldn't.
I neither require the endorsement nor affirmation of others. If they are unable to recognize the knowledge and skill base that some of us possess, I figure its their lost, not mine. I'm reasonably self-assured and skilled enough to function without pandering to society's whim. In my occupation, they prefer getting the required tasks done correctly and efficiently.
Your comment: For the nerds, it's who has the best grades or learn to solder at the youngest age shows that you think nerds have their own popularity hierarchy.
But the point is: nerds aren't interested in popularity, ergo there is no "most popular nerd".
If another nerd happens to be doing something of interest then fine, he (or rather, what he's doing) gets attention. If he isn't then he doesn't register.
Ah okay.
I think I see what you mean. (Or at least I think I get what you mean).
Steve Jobs. By a long shot.
Although Bill Gates always struck me as more of the prototypical nerd.
Not sure how that question arose from my sentence.
They may well have been at one time.
But then they became popularisers, and popular with non-nerds.
They became acceptable nerds, which is a contradiction in terms.
And, at least as far as Sagan is concerned, (apparently) became at least (more?) interested in spreading their knowledge.
While I agree, in principle, that everyone else you have to interact with having the same level of knowledge is a good idea 1, doing it en masse and in public is decidedly non-nerdy.
1 Or, better, more, knowledge - but that's only so that it's then possible to go off and start extending what you know: which wasn't going to be a consequence of Sagan's "campaign".
I never cared about being the Artsy Fartsy Music/Theatre nerd. I could have been a cheerleader...was one in JHS......but...I never desired that again.....would any of you given up who you are in your own nerdy way for a popularity vote?
I think not.
Read posts 35 and 47, I believe.
I did read them. I even replied.
My point is that being a "nerd" puts you into a social subgroup of the entire school wherein popularity again determines your status within that group.
I believe there ARE alpha nerds. You may not win homecoming king, but you are still competing to be head of the chess club or AV club.
I don't think you will ever really get away from popularity contests. As I said in MY point, I ended up competing for social status among several groups purely because I was not focused on attaining a social status with a single one. I think of it as inevitable so long as you participate in social convention.
That is fair enough.
I don't think I ever bothered to win a popularity contest. I was too busy to care! Still am. I do know people who need that, but to me it was empty. I am content to be the "odd" one.
I am social, to a point, but I also like my quiet time. I love my golf, and my walk in that forest, where I play here, and in Hawai'i I am very content to power walk the beach w/o companionship, though enjoy having someone walk and talk with also.
So, were you a "nerd" of some type in school? Do you think it harmed you, being "different"?
I was in band, football, theater tech, basketball...I didn't settle into one group. I had a really strange mix of friends growing up. I think it gave me a great viewpoint and set me up well for my job. I get to do science, but I have to spend 95 degree days roughing it in wetlands and on rivers and lakes. Most of my nerd friends spent their time inside, on their computers. While I love computers, there's nothing like being outside in the woods.
I mean, when I would go snowboarding on Mt. Hood, I would climb the glacier so I could examine the fumaroles. I guess I'm a nerd "mutt" if anything.
Ok, I can relate. My friends were musicians, theatre arts, sports, hikers, nature people, woodworkers, well not were but are. I think surrounding yourself even in your younger years, with people who had interests other than yours, gave you insight and flexibility in many ways.
I love to be outside. I never am home. I have to be DOING something. Sometimes however, that entails doing hours of computer work and research. I am a project person....my husband says, "bury the bone and she'll fine it and put meat on it again.".....hmmmmm now I typed that, I am rather wondering if he is calling me a DOGGIE!
Oh heavens!! I wouldn't want to turn out like you or anyone else!
Ah but I am, very good at what I do....because part of my homework, is studying and observing people and their speech, movment, and other distinctive mannerisms. THAT is my constant research..and if I should have to play you, Mr. Duck.....I now have a total sense of how to portray you! You have a very distinct persona. That by the way is a compliment. http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs41/f/20...con_by_GDJ.gif
Yeah?
So you're ready to play a leather-clad, sunglasses-wearing (24 hrs a day regardless of weather or location 1) apparent thug who discusses the finer points of Shakespeare, in French, at the drop of a hat?
1 Although I did, at the request of the bride's mother, take them off briefy in church for a wedding I attended.
That wouldn't surprise me!! *L* Sir Duck.
I am rather odd when it comes to Shakespeare......having been bored to death for the 100th time in "Romeo and Juliet".....my delight and only "Shakespeare" that I have agreed to perform was a musical called, "Return to the Forbidden Planet".
Are you familiar.....originally out of London.
I've not seen Return... but I do know that the original (Forbidden Planet 1) was based on The Tempest.
(Oh, just checked the Wiki page for Return..., and it appears that it, too, is Tempest-based).
1 When Leslie Nielsen was a serious actor, well before his Airplane, Police Squad/ Naked Gun days...
Good research...yes it was based loosely on the Tempest and a few other Shakespearian play...it is done with 60 rock and roll and set on a space vessel, probably similar story line to "Forbidden Planet" with Leslie Nielsen, and it is a SPOOF ...hilarious and probably the most favorate of ANY show I have ever done...though "Social Security" is pretty much up there also.
I think Babe is just kidding with Dywyddyr.
I don't think he is in a corner. About all anyone could glean from forum participation on how to portray someone is how to pretend to be them on a forum. They couldn't actually play them on stage. No one reveals all aspects of themselves online. Mannerisms, ticks, style of speech(referring to vocal inflections and intonation), personal motivations and pains. In order to really portray a character, especially one that really exists, well, you really gotta be able to get into their mind, understand their perspective on things, understand how and why they feel the way they do about things. Otherwise you are just doing impressions and that isn't really acting.
Visualizing the duck:
dark hair, closely cropped
lean, not lanky
(maybe with a nervous twitch)
I been wrong before
and
I'll be wrong again
...................
care to enlighten me?
.................
mirrored shades in the night time is just creepy
though, I do like the feather boa thing
You might try claiming that you got "closely-cropped" correct, but that would be ignoring the ~inch-wide strip at the back which reaches nearly down to my waist.
OK
dark before grey?
..........
one of my sons has dark (almost black) hair and always wears black
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