Thoughtful Vocabulary: Nerd
Nerd n. Definition: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person
especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits
The word of the day, or maybe the decade, is "nerd." Merriam-Webster's definition is above, and while it's historically accurate, it's definitely not where that word has landed today.
"Nerd" is one of those weird words whose definition is broadening and twisting back on its old meaning in spite of hordes of people trying to hold on to the past.
According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, the word came into written prominence (beyond just spoken slang) in the 1960's and 1970's primarily as an insult for the un-hip and bookish. A cool daddio or mommio (do those sound right for the 1960's? ... Yeah, those sound exactly right) would be out at parties socializing and blowing off work. A NERD would be back at home, studying and pining for popularity. Then Sci-Fi and Fantasy got tangled up in Nerdiness, and suddenly whole genres were (in the mainstream, mind you) looked down upon for being uncool.
But as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation so eloquently put it...
Ben Wyatt: a Nerd among Nerds.
In a society where superhero movies make billions of dollars and your elderly relatives might have an opinion on this Captain America or THAT Captain America, the game has changed. What does nerd mean anymore if people who were once cool daddios and mommios can now quote extensive trivia about the dragons in Game of Thrones?
Nerd and proud is in right now. Think about the vlogbrothers and their army of nerdfighters (not those who fight nerds or even nerds who fight, but nerds who are I guess, fight-ier about their nerdiness). Book nerd, vlog nerd, whatever. They’re here to represent.
In general, I think "nerd" is evolving to mean "a passionate enthusiast of a hobby or pastime." You've got superhero nerds and video game nerds, sure. But even things that are considered mainstream "cool" can be pursued with nerdy enthusiasm: sneaker nerds, fantasy football nerds, rap nerds. To nerd (as a verb) is to study something considerably deeper than the surface knowledge one needs to enjoy it, and to do so out of positive feelings, not force. And frankly, I like that definition a whole lot better than the snide version we get that looks down on people for pursuing an interest.
But I also don't want to give off the idea that nerds, whatever that means anymore, have been exclusively victimized or bullied by this word. A lot of times, it's the nerds themselves doing the gatekeeping. What, you watched The Lord of the Rings a dozen times and have favorite characters, but you can't speak and write Elvish? How dare you call yourself a NERD. We fought (virtually) and suffered (debatably) over that title. This word belongs to us, and not to thee, and no, we're not being Tel'athim about it!
CollegeHumor captures the Gatekeeping Nerd in their natural habitat: withering superiority.
It's those nerds that are giving the rest of us nerds a bad name. And it's a genuine shame, because being enthusiastic about something you care about (provided it doesn't harm others) is one of the best qualities in a person. William Blake once wrote, "Exuberance is beauty." I'm inclined to agree, and since language is democratic, we can help celebrate the best parts of nerdiness by using the word without insult or irony to describe people just enjoying the things they enjoy and learning them real, real good.
Let's not get weird over people genuinely having fun and pursuing their interest. Let's all be real cool nerds on this one.