17 replies to this topic

[Azure-Edge]

Maybe popular isn't the right word. Trend? Chic? I dunno. Regardless it seems that these days being 'nerdy' has become 'mainstream'. At least sorta. You see lots of people 'nerding out' who are in fact not nerds at all and honestly have never been about of any counter culture of any sorts. So I'm just curious as to what you guys think of this? Any reactions at all?

 

Being that this is a fan forum, I'd say there is a fair amount of people here who'd consider themselves about of the 'nerd/gamer' subculture, so that's why I'm asking here. Do you guys like that people are becoming more interested in stuff that you do or does it feel like people are stepping on your toes? That seems to be one popular reaction on the internet. Personally I find it weird yet slightly humorous since you can obviously tell the 'real nerds' from the 'fake nerds'. 

[AdmiralClassy]

I don't mind if more people are embracing my types of interests but it can be sorta annoying for someone to classify themselves as something when it's not true, like girls who call themselves "girl gamers" and all the play is the latest cod :/

[Hank Hill]

I'm not sure what "nerd culture" equates to.

 

Do you mean people that are actually into comic books/video games/fantasy stuff as nerd-culture increasing, or people that watch Doctor Who, can make the standard Star Trek references, and watch the Marvel flicks because there's hot guys?

[Mocha Bear]

Well, I'm not gonna sit here and define what a "gamer" is but in general I don't like it when people act like something they're not because its popular or whatever phrase you want to use. If people are genuinely interested then good for them.

[Tom]

I saw a guy wearing a My Little Pony shirt and talking about how much of a brony he was.

 

I asked him what his favorite episode was, in which he replied, "I dunno, I don't watch the show."

 

I wanted to kill him.

 

On a side note, it's stores like Hot Topic that make me disgusted because they fuel the wannabes.

Edited by Tom, 01 January 2014 - 07:34 PM.

[Azure-Edge]

I'm not sure what "nerd culture" equates to.

 

Do you mean people that are actually into comic books/video games/fantasy stuff as nerd-culture increasing, or people that watch Doctor Who, can make the standard Star Trek references, and watch the Marvel flicks because there's hot guys?

 

It's hard to put in to words but I think everyone gets the idea. I say 'nerd' culture but talking broadly as 'counter culture' basically stuff that has in the past been something people didn't want to be associated with. It's not just the stereotypical 'nerd' stuff but anything from comic books, anime, games, tabletop games, cosplay, scifi, etc.

 

You touched on it at the end. I'm basically referring to the sudden increase in people acting interested in say comic book stuff on account of the movies compared to people who have legitimately always had a passion for those kinds of things. In other words people who 'act' like they're 'nerds' but in reality have minimalist interest in this stuff at most.

I saw a guy wearing a My Little Pony shirt and talking about how much of a brony he was.

 

I asked him what his favorite episode was, in which he replied, "I dunno, I don't watch the show."

 

I wanted to kill him.

 

On a side note, it's stores like Hot Topic that make me disgusted because they fuel the wannabes.

 

Bingo, that right there. That's exactly what I'm talking about. Hot Topic is.....meh. I really don't care for it since I'm not really in to goth stuff but I don't necessarily consider part of the equation.

[Bill Cipher]

I'm what one would call a nerd, and I'm happy that Nerd-Culture is somewhat more popular. Like, if you had told 6 year old me that in 10 years, Spiderman would less popular in the mainstream then Iron Man, that I'd be living to see a JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE on the big screen,etc, I'd have my mind be blown. 

 

With the rise of nerd culture, I like seeing more people get introduced into the whole Nerd culture. Sure, there's less of the diehard fans, but I owe a good chunk of my current fandoms(Marvel/DC on the Comics side, Doctor Who, etc) to the fact that they've been so mainstream popular. Like, I loved watching superhero movies as a kid like most kids did, but because of the popularity of the MCU, I've gotten into all kinds of stuff in the Comics that I never would have. Albietly, I can't tell if this would have happened regardless of this, but still.

 

Allowing more people into Nerd culture can give us new chances for new fans, and therefore new creators with new ideas. Some don't work, but others do. 

[Azure-Edge]

I'm what one would call a nerd, and I'm happy that Nerd-Culture is somewhat more popular. Like, if you had told 6 year old me that in 10 years, Spiderman would less popular in the mainstream then Iron Man, that I'd be living to see a JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE on the big screen,etc, I'd have my mind be blown. 

 

With the rise of nerd culture, I like seeing more people get introduced into the whole Nerd culture. Sure, there's less of the diehard fans, but I owe a good chunk of my current fandoms(Marvel/DC on the Comics side, Doctor Who, etc) to the fact that they've been so mainstream popular. Like, I loved watching superhero movies as a kid like most kids did, but because of the popularity of the MCU, I've gotten into all kinds of stuff in the Comics that I never would have. Albietly, I can't tell if this would have happened regardless of this, but still.

 

Allowing more people into Nerd culture can give us new chances for new fans, and therefore new creators with new ideas. Some don't work, but others do. 

 

I agree that it's awesome to see more people interested in the things I like. I'm more than open to other people learning about this type of stuff. It's awesome. Personally though I feel that most people aren't genuinely interested in this stuff, more that they're just in to it because that's what their friends are in to at the moment kind of thing. The 'nerd stuff is cool' seems more like a fad rather than true interest. At least that's how I see it. 

[Tom]

Hot Topic is.....meh. I really don't care for it since I'm not really in to goth stuff but I don't necessarily consider part of the equation.

Hot Topic is more than just goth stuff nowadays, because it tries to cash in on internet memes and pop culture.

 

Now you can buy a studded choker, Fred™ t-shirt, and My Little Pony wristbands all in one place.

[Azure-Edge]

Hot Topic is more than just goth stuff nowadays, because it tries to cash in on internet memes and pop culture.

 

Now you can buy a studded choker, Fred™ t-shirt, and My Little Pony wristbands all in one place.

 

Well this is just me but personally I never saw the interest in clothes based on my interests other than stuff like band t-shirts. I dunno, not my kinda place.

[Hank Hill]

Well this is just me but personally I never saw the interest in clothes based on my interests other than stuff like band t-shirts. I dunno, not my kinda place.

 

They have good video game themed T-Shirts at hot topic. That alone keeps me going there. That and the buttons, love the buttons.

[Elric]

I think everyone has a particular interest and/or hobby that can be considered nerdy. The more "nerdy" shows like Doctor Who has become really popular, but I wouldn't really consider them nerds, just people that are fans of sci-fi series. Just because you watch something considered "nerdy" doesn't mean that you have to classify yourself as a nerd. 

I think you are only a nerd if you consider yourself one, just like you are only part of a fandom if you consider yourself part of the fandom. 
 

[grahamf]

Still, if you consider yourself part of a fandom without having experienced the source that the fandom originates from...

[Chaos]

The way I see it, there are 3 "nerd" statuses. The dork, the nerd, and the geek.

 

The dork is the person who pretends to be a nerd, but doesn't know what they are talking about, and that's what most people are these days. They brag about how many hours they have logged on each game, specifically games like skyrim and call of duty. They take pride in calling themselves nerds or geeks even though they are not. This includes weeaboo's and those popular idiots that put on 3d glasses.

 

The nerd is the person who consumes everything that is produced. The things that are "consumed" are things like anime, games (not call of duty and that kind of stuff), and even music, and they solidly support the nerd culture. They are socially rejected most of the time and they do not brag about their status. They accept that they are nerds but do not go around flaunting it. Nerds are usually seen as having a certain clothing style which is partially true, but not all the time.

 

Geeks are the producers that I mentioned earlier. They are the people that make the things that nerds love as well as consumed things that other geeks have made. They also do not flaunt their status, but accept that they are geeks. They do not have a select style that they dress and actually blend into crowds like a normal person without actually being normal. They spend a majority of their time in front of a screen mostly because it's part of their job.

 

I don't know... this is just my view on "nerds".

[grahamf]

The way I see it, there are 3 "nerd" statuses. The dork, the nerd, and the geek.

 

The dork is the person who pretends to be a nerd, but doesn't know what they are talking about, and that's what most people are these days. They brag about how many hours they have logged on each game, specifically games like skyrim and call of duty. They take pride in calling themselves nerds or geeks even though they are not. This includes weeaboo's and those popular idiots that put on 3d glasses.

 

The nerd is the person who consumes everything that is produced. The things that are "consumed" are things like anime, games (not call of duty and that kind of stuff), and even music, and they solidly support the nerd culture. They are socially rejected most of the time and they do not brag about their status. They accept that they are nerds but do not go around flaunting it. Nerds are usually seen as having a certain clothing style which is partially true, but not all the time.

 

Geeks are the producers that I mentioned earlier. They are the people that make the things that nerds love as well as consumed things that other geeks have made. They also do not flaunt their status, but accept that they are geeks. They do not have a select style that they dress and actually blend into crowds like a normal person without actually being normal. They spend a majority of their time in front of a screen mostly because it's part of their job.

 

I don't know... this is just my view on "nerds".

So... Like this?

[Chaos]

So... Like this?

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In a way, yes. That's about as close as it's going to get with a chart lol

 

 

[Raiden]

I been gaming since the mid 80's. Immersed myself in gaming with a collection and memorabilia and t shirts books magazines soundtracks and more. Have two friends who work in the industry and like some anime like Ghost in the Shell,Cowboy Bebop and such. Hate hate hate the pedo looking anime. Love RPGs and like some of Japans culture and history.  I think you can only take it so far before looking like a twat like calling people by their name then -San. When those people are so white (like me) they make Casper look black. I just can't stand in general people who try to act ethnic when they are whiter than white.

 

I do go far but I think I know when I feel it's too far. Like I do wear gaming shirts and talk gaming with friends and like to play and watch things about gaming. It's my passion is the industry. I don't do cosplay and in person do not try fake cuss words like goram.(Have used it on forums with censors) What I cannot stand is garbage on TV like Big Bang Theory.  A better show for that culture of people is IT Crowd.

Then yes there is the people who try and exploit themselves as "nerds" because they are a different kind of hipster. Like take Nathan Barnett and his character Kieth Apricary and Nate himself is a massive gamer and collector. I don't know how to describe why but Nate and IT Crowd do it right. BBT feels like a mockery by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Like Dan Houser trying to write a black character. It just comes out stereotyping and crap.

 

The definition of geek or nerd changes from person to person. I used to embrace the geek chic thing but later realized the people who go on about that are I said before people who have no clue what it is..they just pretend to.

[iEatTacos]

I love video games but I don't want to go around flaunting it. And the more people who are into what I like, the better