[torben-friis]

> No one says "I want to be a nerd!"

This might be generational - now that tech is mainstream, and there's a constant influx of nerd culture into the general public (marvel/scifi/fantasy movies and shows, videogames, etc) it's pretty popular.

Half the tinder profiles I see have girls claiming to either be nerds or attracted to them (or both).

[pb7]

I see it as an in vs. out group thing. When you identify as something, it takes any negative connotation out of it because you own it. When others identify you as that thing, it could be harmless, or it could be malicious and there is no way to know. I’m sure you can think of a few racial and sexual orientation terms that have entirely different reactions depending on who’s saying them.