[jmuguy]

In the movie Revenge of the Nerds, they basically rape someone. So I dunno, being a "nerd" doesn't necessarily imply you're also a good person. Mark Zuckerberg is definitely a nerd, and he's also a piece of shit.

I also think its another variation of that trope that the people that seek power are the very ones you don't want to have it. And those that don't care about it are the ones we need to seek it. Take Woz for example.

[lopsotronic]

Where the self-identifier of "nerd" as "I don't care that I don't know how to make people like me" is given precedence over "I care more about esoteric knowledge than about how to make people like me"

[blooalien]

> Where the self-identifier of "nerd" as "I don't care that I don't know how to make people like me" is given precedence over "I care more about esoteric knowledge than about how to make people like me"

I no longer really give a rat's ass whether people like me anymore, because a lifetime of being bullied over nothing more than my choice of hobby/career has taught me that I'm just gonna be widely hated for simply enjoying learning new stuff, no matter what else I do or how nice I am to people. (To the contrary, I'm hated and abused more the nicer I try to be.) Literally two people in my life have encouraged that joy of learning; My mother and my fifth grade teacher. Everyone else has tried to shut that down at every available opportunity (with the exception of the rare few others I occasionally find that also love learning). Fine. Hate me. Like I really care anymore. Not worth the effort to engage on that level anymore for literally no gain whatsoever. Hah-ha. I'ma nerd. Whatever. Get over it.

[sciencejerk]

You must live in the Americas. I live here in MidWest USA and there's an anti-intellectual culture, unless you're somewhere on the coasts, or pacific northwest. Hate to generalize but that has been my experience

[_DeadFred_]

Bro, welcome to the human condition. This is literally everyone. Not just you. You can however choose to be a geek, a quirky person, or a nerd, unproductive and not showering because you don't care if you offend others (and then being angry when others treat you like someone who doesn't shower). It's hard and hurts, I get that. Relationships are hard. Not assuming everyone hates you is hard. Not assuming one throwaway comment/joke someone makes defines how they see you is hard. But embracing the nerd won't help. Be a geek who solves problems. I knew high school was going to suck for me. I played DND. I listened to metal. So I joined the football team. I switched from nerd to geek.

You are lucky you got to experience so many people championing you, most people have way less or none. Please try to stop going to court in your head over how the world has offended you. As a grey beard, I lived there and ruined my life over it. Shockingly "I XYZ because 123" is not actually a productive/great life ethos or way to live life.

Hope that wasn't too harsh. I'm sorry you are hurting. I can hear the hurt in your comment. I can relate so hard to it. I am sorry you are hurting. Wish I could offer a hug.

[lopsotronic]

As long as the "learning" part is more pleasure than the sensation of not caring about other human beings, I think you're solid, man.

The problem with the nerd-kings-tycoons of today, is that the idea of being feudal lords makes them think about electronic slave collars, rather than about good governance, complex systems, or even just being a badass king. The apartness becomes the goal, rather than being merely a by-product of academic focus living through a regressing world that apparently wants to be lit only by fire.

[_DeadFred_]

In 90s tech the terms Woz is a geek, Zuck is a nerd.