Why Are We Nerds?

[RoarkinVertigo]

I picked up a copy of Psychology Today when I was at Barnes & Nobles this afternoon. In it I found an article entitled "It's All Geek to Me," by Benjamin Nugent. I found some points in it particularly interesting and hopefully optimistic for some of you reading this. The following is a summarized version of the answers to questions that thousands of us nerds all over the world have had and spent countless sex-deprived hours trying to figure out.

Question #1 : Why are we nerds?
Its not your fault. You were basically born that way. There are two types of people, those with systematic brains and those with empathic brains. We have systematic brains which is totally cool. It just means we are better at figuring out logical things like math, biology, coding, D & D, chess, video games, and disassembling your dad's camera. Women usually have empathic brains, focused on relationships and things unrelated to logic, hence the reason you dont know what to say to the cute brunette in Barnes & Nobles.

Question #2 : Can you become cool?
Yes. According to the article, if we attacked social dynamics with the same vigor as we do computer assembly we can become masters of social Jujitsu. Right now we just have low emotional intelligence. To become better all you have to do is pay more attention to social situations and practice. Newbie Challenge maybe ?

Question #3 : What happens?
The only problem is that while learning to become more social you might become depressed for a little while. Essentially, you will start to realize how socially awkward you are and how far you have to go to change. This will temporarily fuck you up.


For you nerds out there...dont be shy...its okay to admit you're out there...I'm one...I mean I'm at my parents house right now, posting on an online dating forum, while I'm having a text argument with a girl about which is better vampires or werewolves...come on.

Werewolves clearly..

Here's the deal, every conversational situation has a template. Flirting, small talk, and job interviews all can be learned. Just spend more time out talking with people, focus your time and energy on building relationships, get out of your head and in other's, watch tv muted and look at people's emotions, have eye-contact when you speak, bust you're ass doing these things and in no time you'll be more socially calibrated than the cool drug-dealer kids you knew in school.

If you want to know more check out the article in Psychology Today.

[Reaction1]

I AM a nerd too. This is great! lol.

Although I have changed, I feel like I continue adding better things to myself everyday.

REVENGE OF THE NERDS!!!

[fees]

i am a nerd too

nice article , thx for posting

[TheRogue]

Oh pleeeeaaase. Vampires are so much better!!!

Speaking of which, I'm a nerd too. Which is probably why I'm on here instead of having long empathic discussions with my girlfriends...go figure.

Rogue

[Ayiva]

Yeah, girls can be nerds to...

Hmm.. I don't think systematic & empathic brains exclude each other... You can be both empathic & systematic.. (& maybe have information overload from empathy & shut down or seek distance because of that..) Maybe you just didn't learn effective strategies yet...

I agree about being able to learn.. Effective communication & such can totally be learnt...

[RoarkinVertigo]

Originally Posted by Ayiva

Yeah, girls can be nerds to...

Hmm.. I don't think systematic & empathic brains exclude each other... You can be both empathic & systematic.. (& maybe have information overload from empathy & shut down or seek distance because of that..) Maybe you just didn't learn effective strategies yet...

I agree about being able to learn.. Effective communication & such can totally be learnt...

Thanks for the response. Systematic and Empathic brains aren't mutually exclusive. To be completely systematic would probably mean you have a severe case of autism or aspergers disease. Normal people have the ability to be both systematic and empathic but most men, and specifically nerds, have highly systematic brains. Whats good is through practice you can teach your brain to be balanced.

[Ice Pill]

Originally Posted by RoarkinVertigo

Question #1 : Why are we nerds?
Its not your fault. You were basically born that way.
....hence the reason you dont know what to say to the cute brunette in Barnes & Nobles.

" Hey! I've only got a minute before I need to get back to my friends *points at a group of people I do not know (kinda of like what I did with mom and dad in 3rd grade open house LOL)*..but what do u think about [redundant opinion openner topic ]"

Lol.

Um, well I agree with a lot the article has to say, but just not the 2nd.

It's all ways been my personal opinion that we are the way we are because we (all humans) have VERY dynamic brains that can adapt and adjust to anything based on experience, aquired knowledge, and aquired taste....

The most girls being empathic and most guys being systemetic theory doesn't really agree to me.

If a 7 year old girl is trained by society to play with dolls and play "house".
And a 7 year old boy is trained by society to play with footballs/whatever sport played by the family, and taught basics of the craft of his dad (ie mechanic or tech nerd [FTW!] or whatever).

She'll be learning how to play out conversations and...um...talk.
And he'll be learning how to use enviormental factors, strength, and whatever else, to get a football from point A to point B.

Then we have an aspiring Social Godess.
And an aspiring Techincal God.

__________________________________________________ __
My sister is like my whole proof to this.

When I was living with my dad and her, there was nothing but husky men and a little girl in the house. Of course we gave her dolls and shit, but she (like every other baby) tried to act more like us (because her subconcious saw it obviously worked).

So, my 5 year old sister can go from playing with dolls, and talking her head off, to turning on a computer browsing the internet (WTF!) and playing first person shooter games, like Gunz and Half-Life.

Gunz and Half-life.....
__________________________________________________ ____
And she can crack open a beer and rest it on her potbelly (<---- LOL jk about that one).

[cheez avenger]

I'm a film, comic, and art nerd.


Geez, my avatar says it all.

[True Pimp]

Originally Posted by RoarkinVertigo

Thanks for the response. Systematic and Empathic brains aren't mutually exclusive. To be completely systematic would probably mean you have a severe case of autism or aspergers disease. Normal people have the ability to be both systematic and empathic but most men, and specifically nerds, have highly systematic brains. Whats good is through practice you can teach your brain to be balanced.

Give this man a beer! And the guy he quoted too.

Unless your brain is messed up to begin with, you can train yourself to be what you need to be...

[Upgraydd]

i am tired of being a nerd.