Nerds Es Fervens

A recent letter questioned our own Penny (of Dear Penelope) on the validity of the attitude that Nerdism is hot. Well, speaking in terms of popular trends, nerds are definitely in. However, like a priceless artifact, sometimes what is most valuable, if understood by few, is unappreciated by many… in times of less favorable trends it takes a nerd to know the value of a nerd, but that in no way diminishes our value. Nerds have always been hot, from our primal roots when he who could fashion a weapon to bring home more meat was the most suitable mate, to modern times when nerds woo and entrance with their sleek, lanky stature and spectacles that flash vibrantly in the glow of their pc screens.

The question also arose, however, of what sort of nerd is really hot? Is the shy, foot-shuffling, allergy-ridden youth our new romantic ideal? Or, is it the comic-book aficionado who would disparage any Star Wars fan who doesn’t know every obscure detail about Mynocks? Let’s break it down:

The shy-mouse nerd is perhaps the first image most mental dictionaries reflect in defining a nerd. The shy-mouse nerd is paralyzed with shyness, generally a doormat to those who would use him/her so, and usually goes to great lengths to remain in his or her own world, avoiding human contact and living inside the imagination. This sort of nerd is still hot, as all nerds are, but is especially attractive to others who are somewhat gentle and meek.

The more moderate tribe nerd is still somewhat reclusive, but not socially paralyzed. This level of nerd travels in a pack with similarly nerdy friends, usually avoiding change within the group at all costs, but capable of interaction with the outside. They may challenge each other in battles of trivial knowledge, often on the subjects of Star Wars, Comic Books, or the new voices in Halo2, but are generally not particularly supercilious towards those with less expertise in these fields. They are still capable of outdoor activities (like airsoft) and one or two of them may even date about once every locust season.

An excellent example of nerdness is Intellectual Machisimo, this nerd has the greymatter and knows it. They are generally characterized by a rapier wit and knack for satire. Some show their confidence mildly like Dennis Miller’s old news reports on SNL, some may strut it like a peacock on a catwalk. They are not usually your most effusive of characters, but when they do speak they make it count and often make you laugh.

Then, you have your Ignatius/professor negative nerd; a connoisseur of everything and the first to promulgate his derisive opinions about most everything. Being confident about your nerdism is excellent. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, as they say. However, one should never leave those with less cool out in the cold. Clique-ish superiority is unattractive on anyone, from the lamest jock to the most erudite of scholars, and is generally a symptom of insecurity and unresolved adolescent issues. Exclusionary behavior is not only offensive, it is an embarrassment to all who exhibit it and to their cohorts.

Your extremes, like the Ignatius and mouse varieties, are specialties that only certain persons appreciate, but the central varieties are always incontrovertibly hot.
To quote a phrase our head editor coined, "Nerds es fervens!"