Be a Nerd

Bill Gates has some famous advice: "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one."[1] In many ways, he's right: nerds make the world run, if not exactly ruling the world. A nerd is someone who can be so fascinated by quantum mechanics or punctuated equilibrium that one forgets everything that is happening in the present. A nerd can be someone who cares deeply about punctuation, because it has a definable set of rules, and it helps people communicate. A nerd may be someone who wouldn't know the first thing about asking a guy out because she's in love with math and science. And yet, all nerds are different. Whatever your definition of a nerd, read on for tips on how to think like a nerd, act like a nerd, and maybe even dress like a nerd.

Steps

Think Like a Nerd

  1. Know the difference between a nerd, a geek, and a dork. If anyone would care about the subtle distinctions between the three, it would be a nerd. Getting the distinction down is important but not necessary, as there may be significant overlap between the three.
    • A nerd is thought to be a highly intelligent person who has a singular passion about an academic pursuit. They are, rather, nonsocial or socially awkward, being quite absorbed by a singular passion of intellect.
    • A geek is thought to be an individual who is always interested in a niche activity or subject, but who is not necessarily academically inclined nor as socially inept as the nerd.
    • A dork is thought to be slightly sillier and also socially inept, but perhaps not interested in a niche or academic pursuit.
  2. Be singular. In other words, act the only way you know how, in a way all your own. Nerds are renowned for eccentricities because they are, each, quite unique. Live your life, every day, like it's entirely your own, like you are the master of your own ship. If you need inspiration, read about some famous nerds in history. Here are three short vignettes of people, considered "nerds," who did entirely what they wanted:
    • Thomas Edison, for example, spent 18 hours each and every day tinkering with rudimentary electronics at a time when it was still a relatively obscure endeavor. Edison labored to invent the light bulb, the phonograph, the alkaline battery, and an electric train, along with a thousand other patents, at a time when such invention were considered mysterious and amazing.[2][3] Edison was a quintessential nerd.
    • Isaac Newton is a great example. He made many discoveries including the reflector telescope, calculus(both, differential and integral), Laws of Motion and Gravitation, Colours of light. He was usually busy with his research work. He didn't talk much. He is considered to be the most influential person of this world. He did not sleep much, about 3 hours.
    • Alan Turing is another famous nerd. Half-hero, half-scapegoat, Alan Turing is credited with helping to crack the Nazi Enigma codes at the end of World War II, as well as playing an instrumental role in developing the first computers of the 20th century.[4] Despite his achievements, he was later prosecuted by the British government for a homosexual encounter and was forced to take estrogen injections to "neutralize his libido."[5] Turing killed himself not long after the trial.
  3. Find a subject or subjects that you can immerse yourself in. It doesn't need to be science-related, although researchers are finding that increasingly numbers of autistic individuals (who often qualify as nerdy) are drawn to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM majors).[6] Learn as much as you can about the subjects you are interested in, and safeguard that knowledge so that you can use it effectively later on.
  4. Question, constantly. Many nerds are defined by their ability — some say habit — to question the information they receive until they are satisfied about its authenticity or understand the logic behind it. To be a nerd, you must be on an insatiable quest for knowledge. To be on an insatiable quest for knowledge, you must constantly question the quality, source, and utility of information you receive.
    • Don't trust information just because it comes from an authority figure. Nerds understand that figures of authority can sometimes get away with misleading or falsified information simply because of their power. The difference between a nerd and a plebe (tradesman/common laborer) is that the nerd will pore over Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers to see whether they hold-up, while the plebe (simple) takes the information/propaganda for granted.
    • Get to the root of things. A nerd will understand a question inside and out. A nerd will not rely on memorized information, but rather on understanding a concept. If a nerd asks the question "Why is the sky blue?" and is given the answer, "Because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light,"[7] her next question will inevitably be: "Why do molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light?" She will continue the line of questioning until the answer relates to something she already understands completely.
  5. Examine the details. The devil may be in the details, but that doesn't mean you can't embrace them. (That was Vladimir Nabokov's advice to his students.[8]) The nerd may prefer concrete details over generalizing statements because details can be cross-checked by reality more easily than generalities can. The nerd cares more about being right than appearing smart, so he grabs onto details as a way of investigating reality.
    • No wonder, then, that nerds tend to gravitate towards the sci, tech, eng, math, i.e.: STEM majors: STEMs deal plainly in facts and systems observable in nature, whereas many other more subjective disciplines lack the objective, fact-checking component.
  6. Go toward the gray areas. No, this is not an obscure fashion directive; it's a way of thinking. Nerds tend to see gray areas where others see black and white. This is because nerds are good at examining pros and cons, comparison and contrasts, theses and rebuttals. They devalue their own opinion and focus on the "quantifiable" facts. Sometimes, this leaves them looking like occupational vacillators, constantly seesawing back and forth between "sides" of an argument (arguing with themselves, it may seem). In fact, they are gathering information and waiting for pre-aligned, set "opinion" (conclusion) to hit them with the force of facts, instead of forming an opinion (hypothesis) that one begins justifying by supporting facts.
    • There are several scientific/philosophical theories that nerds who love the gray area reference. It might be helpful to get familiar with just a few of them:
      • Thomas Kuhn's paradigm shifts: Periods of "normal science" are interrupted by periods of "revolutionary science," called paradigm shifts that are relentlessly discussed and expounded (defined, diagrammed, flow-charted, mapped, extrapolated, spanning and forming a new amalgam, a new reality...). For STEMs adherents paradigm shifts are entirely new, focuses of scientific thinking and concentration.[9]
      • Kurt Gödel's incompleteness: It's impossible to establish consistency and completeness inside formal logical systems. In other words, all consistent axiomatic formulations of number theory include propositions/assumptions that are undecidable (fundamental elements of math include the undefined point, line, plain and space which are nonetheless bases to define large fields of mathematics).[10]
  7. Ask the experts. If you know someone who is experienced in a certain field, ask them what they know. Pose questions, listen closely to their answers, and speak up if you don't understand yet, or if you disagree with them.
    • Remember, knowledge can come from surprising sources! Everyone is good at something. Practice intellectual humility and approach each person as if they have something new to teach you.
  8. Lose the ideas of genius and talent. Being intelligent doesn't mean knowing everything; it means knowing things and being eager to learn more. Get comfortable with asking questions and being wrong. The quest for knowledge includes wrong turns and realizing that you don't know. Focus less on "What do I know?" and more on "What can I learn?"

Act Like a Nerd

  1. Lose yourself in your passion. Nerds get the reputation for being in the clouds half the time because their minds are wandering, probing distant places or complex correlations and equations. For this reason, don't be afraid to be aloof, if that's who you are. Lose yourself in the intellectual areas that make you happy and help you feel connected to the world, even if it means you seem disconnected by the "depth" and "displacement" involved in your internalizing a singular passion.
    • Your passion could be anything, from cryptology to philosophy to Norse mythology to brewing. It could be anything from morphology to cardiology to numismatics or philately. Whatever it is, make it a blast!
    • Set short- and long-term goals for yourself. The sooner you set yourself some goals (perhaps in an outline of variable and constant parameters, a rubric, or a protocol), the easier it will be to achieve them. Setting absorbing goals has the benefit of being especially nerdy!
  2. Don't be afraid to go beyond the ordinary. Think differently. Don't be afraid to tackle an idea or activity that isn't popular. (Realize that you may not have a great grasp of what is popular and what isn't in the first place. No matter!)
    • If you found that lining your car antenna with aluminum foil gives you better reception on the AM stations in your car, then go for it. A nerd does not care how his car looks if the radio station is playing properly.
    • If you decide that coding all night and eating grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches makes your heart squeal and your tummy hum, then go for it. A nerd does not care whether his lack of sleep and confounding diet make him an object of mystery.
    • If you propose to test all your friends for an antibody not yet known to science, then go for it. A nerd does not care whether the world doubts her methods and challenges her findings.
    • If you are interested in computer viruses and want to tell all your friends what a trojan is, than go for it! A lot of nerds like to learn about things that seem pointless to others.
  3. Be polite. Say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me." Don't hesitate to apologize if you've hurt someone's feelings or done something wrong. Treat everyone with courtesy, whether they are a fellow nerd, a valley girl, or a person with an intellectual disability.
    • Sometimes, correcting others hurts more than it helps. If a person is sensitive or in a bad mood, or if the situation isn't good, let it slide. If you know that a person prefers to be corrected, discreetly correct them and don't make it a big deal.
    • Support fellow nerds. Be there for nerds who get bullied, and build up budding nerds instead of tearing them down for not knowing as much as you do.
  4. Always be learning. A nerd is on a constant quest for knowledge. A nerd doesn't always care whether the information they receive has any utility. The mere fact that it's simple, profound, or counter-intuitive is enough to make it cool.
  5. Use the right words. Nerds are usually pretty good with words because they care about getting things right. It doesn't hurt that they may read more in a month than the average American reads in a year.[11] Regardless, the misconception out there is that nerds use big words. Wrong. Nerds use the right word given the context. Sometimes, the right word happens to be a big one. Extremely smart nerds have the ability to use incredibly basic words to explain incredibly complex subject matter.
    • Make the dictionary and thesaurus your friend. Whenever you come across a word you don't know, consult the dictionary. Whenever you believe you could be using a better word given the circumstances, consult a thesaurus.
  6. Read voraciously. Read everything in your area(s) of interests that you can get your hands on, including reference books and encyclopedias. Read and watch the news enough everyday to be informed about what's going on beyond your community. Read fiction books, too, because they can help build your vocabulary and gives you a good sense of spelling. Read things that you like, but your parents don't approve of. For example, you like the Harry Potter books, but your parents claim that they will "give you nightmares." Read them! (The Harry Potter series isn't very scary at all. A little mature, maybe, but not horror.)
    • Study several related languages. Try to pick up a language just for kicks; or maybe because a subject your learning about has original sources in the native tongue. Experiment with web-based translation machines. If you feel that learning a language is too hard, then try and learn Pig Latin. Pig Latin has a set of rules to go by in order to speak it, so it is very easy to learn.
      • Extra cred goes to nerds who study a "dead" or fictional language, such as Cuman, Eyak, and Karankawa, or Elvish, Dothraki, or Klingon.[12][13] Dead or fictional languages are exquisitely nerdy.
    • Keep your bookshelf/ebooks stocked. Prioritize non-fiction over fiction, although use and abuse fiction all you like if that's the only thing you plan on reading.
    • Note that informative reading doesn’t have to mean slogging through a dry, unbearable textbook. For an entertaining and informative read, try the funny physics classic Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, any of Brian Greene’s very popular and accessible science bestsellers, or well-researched historical fiction like I, Claudius (whose unlikely hero survives a particularly brutal period in the Roman Empire) or the hilarious Flashman novels (whose anti-hero is a lecherous scoundrel of the colonial British empire).
    • Though Non-fiction is more informative than fiction, fiction can still have real facts in it, too. Some books to read in the teen's genre is John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars" (even though the book is about teenagers, they have adult views on life and cancer, which the main character has). Some classics are Jane Eyre (a classic by Charlotte Bronte, a very good one, though with tough words and text. If that's a problem, then read an abridged version) and Little Women (even though Little Women is a classic, with views that are from back then, it isn't very boring, it makes sense and the plot is interesting).
  7. Pay attention in school. Try to get a seat where you can clearly hear, see the teacher and chalkboard, and pay attention. A good goal to set for yourself is to try getting mostly As in everything you do at school, including homework. Take notes, study for that test, and focus. Most of all, come to school ready to learn and try not to worry about the social scene too much if it's uninteresting or uncomfortable. Note, however, that just because you're a nerd doesn't mean you have to care about school. Many nerds (Bill Gates included) either flunked out of or were close to flunking out of school.
    • Try some extra-curricular activities, such as robotics or math club, chess, or drama. Try to balance your extra-curriculars so that they don't bring your grades down.
    • Ask a lot of questions in class. There is no such thing as a stupid question, remember? The only stupid question is the question you didn't ask.
    • Do research above and beyond what is taught in class. YouTube channels such as Khan Academy, Crash Course, Vsauce, Numberphile, CGP Grey to name a few, offer the opportunity to get ahead at the convenience and enjoyment of your computer. This saves the hassle of hiring a tutor.
  8. Channel any anger or disappointment you may have into your passions. Nerds deal with their anger and heartbreak in a productive way: they practice music, make art, or amend changes to their debate presentation before they lash out at other people. Don't cut yourself down. What other people say about you isn't necessarily who you are. Just don't pay attention to what they say about the way you are.
  9. Seek good, wholesome fun. Nerds don't need to rely upon excitement and danger in order to have fun. They enjoy more wholesome fun, such as LAN parties, watching Star Wars, or building and launching a rocket. These activities can be enjoyed alone (independence is a fine thing) or with friends (the more the merrier!).
    • Note: playing games like Magic the Gathering or D&D, dressing up as your favorite characters for movie premieres, and LARPing is more geeky than nerdy, but that doesn't mean that you have to stay away from them.
  10. Find friends with similar interests. They could be other nerds, but they don't have to be. While geeks often navigate between social groups, nerds are more likely to associate with other nerds, because of common interests. Maybe if you're an abstract thinker, try to find a nerd who's more practical or technical, and vice versa.[14] Having a friend, or a set of friends, who complement you is as much as anyone could ask for.
    • If you don’t know any nerds who are interested in what you do, find a community online or try to get your own friends interested in aspects of nerdiness. The web is increasingly becoming an important social community for nerds, mainly because of its focus on free expression and its utility as platform for technology.
    • If you're prone to being picked on or beat up, think about making a strategic friendship with someone (preferably not a nerd) who might stick up for you in a pinch. Maybe he gets help on his homework, and you get muscle when you need it. Being a nerd doesn't mean you can't also be diplomatic.
  11. Focus on the positive. You're a nerd and you know it. You're also happy and optimistic. That's because your life is pretty good. You like who you are, even if it doesn't seem like very many other people do. (That's okay, they simply don't understand you.) The friends that you do have are good people who make you feel like to be alive. Life is pretty good.

Dress Like a Nerd

  1. Don’t worry too much about your wardrobe. The most important part of looking like a nerd is not caring what you look like. Nerds tend to like clothing that is efficient and comfortable. So if it just so happens that the most worn item in your wardrobe is a pair of sweatpants with 17 pockets, so be it. Embrace it!
  2. Consider practicality. Pull long hair back out of your face. Wear comfortable clothes that don't itch and are good for walking, sitting, and running. A nerd prizes comfort over appearance, and never wears clothes that feel unpleasant.
    • Only wear high heels if you can walk and run confidently in them. If you want to be taller, stick with kitten heels or platform shoes; a significant heel can cause foot damage and is definitely not practical.
  3. Use your shirts to make nerd references or jokes. Video game characters and superheroes, like Megaman, Mario, Superman or Sonic, are de rigueur. Math jokes, or obscure topics (binary code, Latin, etc.) work great, too, as do movie references.
  4. Rock the glasses if you need them. Hipsters have taken the lenses from the lows of the '90s to the rich, abundant, and suddenly cool plateaus of the twenty-teens. No matter. If you're a nerd and you can't see a baseball from a barnyard at two feet, wear your glasses. Your nerd quotient will increase drastically.
    • Because nerds aren't into fashion statements, wearing fake glasses isn't really a nerd thing. (Geeks and hipsters sometimes do this.)
  5. Sport some ill-fitting clothes (if desired). Nerds are known in the fashion world for wearing clothes that do not flatter their body type and are horribly anachronistic, probably because their clothes are hand-me-downs. So if you're going for the nerd look, choose your wardrobe by lottery instead of carefully fitting the outfit together.
  6. Dress preppy. Some nerds, but not all, have the preppy look on lock-down. Chinos, a button-down (tucked-in, of course), a vest, and loafers, with a hint of messiness to tie it all together. Especially when worn during informal occasions, this style will get you pegged for a nerd in no time.

Tips

  • Here's a list of suggestions of different types of nerds, not stereotypes; these are sketches, not rules:
    • Anime/Manga nerd—a nerd who is obsessed with Anime or Manga, and basically everything Japanese in general. Also called 'Wapanese'. Nerds of these sorts also call themselves 'Otaku,' which is a Japanese insult meaning 'fanatic.' (The term is not generally recognized outside of Japan, and is used mostly by American anime and manga fans.) The Otaku community is not just a group of rabid fans; they are often prolific and creative fan fiction writers. Otaku often attend anime and manga conventions, and sometimes engage in cosplay. Otaku are generally common, and easy to find in a group of nerds.
    • Music nerd—also called "band geeks." These nerds got groove. They're usually seen with their instrument of choice or silently tapping out complicated drum rhythms.
    • DJ nerd—practices constantly, hordes vinyl in massive quantities, and can remember the artist, track name, record label, year of release, and a million other obscure details about every record ever released in their chosen favorite genre. They also like to make DJ playlists for their own benefit.
    • Computer nerd—helpful, and can compile a kernel in a heartbeat. They know at least 1 programming language, and are skilled hackers. Usually seen putting the finishing touches on a website or helping the computer-tech teacher.
    • Video game nerd—these nerds are becoming more common daily. Always seen playing and competing in the latest games, they are the progenitors of the '1337' language, and usually identify each other by conversing in it. A sub-class of the Computer nerd. However, video games are more of a geek thing.
    • Factoid nerd—annoying at times, but weirdly endearing. Can recite dozens of things no one needed to know — from the full "Hamlet's Soliloquy" to the nutritional value of goats milk (not just trivia, but things might matter in your knowledge-base).
    • History nerd—Knows everything about their favorite time period(s). Compares everyday life to historical events. Is a historian by a young age and could beat out college students in American Government class.
    • Competitive nerd—compares results, too much; may breathe loudly, and also glance around to see who's not finished, in their marginal time—has to be the first one done (or the last one, if it requires depth and thoroughness). Often alienates others. Always wants be be the best at everything, especially in academics.
    • Dorky nerd—gifted with a natural lack of grace and style. They have difficulty carrying on a conversation about topics that are not their obsession. Nevertheless, they are often sweet and endearing.
    • Drama nerd—possessed with an attitude, which is rare in other types of nerds. They know the ins and outs of many theater arts, including dance, mime, chorus, et cetera.
    • Math nerd—usually knows calculus at a young age or another form of advanced math. They enjoy playing with numbers and learning more than what is taught in school. You can get math nerd stuff such as tutorials on the Internet.[15]
    • Nerd Herd—not really a nerd- a 'nerd herd' nerd will stick around with a large group of people who are loosely classified as nerds. They may or may not be actual nerds.
    • Natural science nerd—initially a generalist, he/she almost always specializes in one form of science (biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology) at a very young age and proceeds to become a super-specialist.
    • "Sci-Fi" nerd—a nerd who loves Star Wars, X-Files, Comics, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stargate SG-1 or Stargate Atlantis, Lexx, Farsape, Andromeda, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Zombies and/or Star Trek. May be a geek.
    • Literature nerd—specializes in fiction, almost always seen to be reading or composing post-modern essays. Usually has a favorite era of literature. Known to be able to produce a notebook out of nowhere. Distinct from emo poets.
    • Speech nerd—speaks clearly and enunciates well. Launch randomly into friendly lectures. Never shuts up. Speaks too passionately for this subject, compared to the average person's disinterest.
    • Debate nerd—always firm in their beliefs. They do their homework on controversial issues, so don't mess with them! They can be found in debate clubs (obviously) and are usually holding some sort of argument even if they're just playing devils advocate.
    • No-crap nerd—these nerds will not deal with others' bad behavior and will stand strong with what they know and believe. These nerds may also take martial art, weightlifting classes, boxing, etc. to be able to stand up and fight, a rarity among nerds.
    • Fabricator nerd—can design and build engineering and physics projects, and use power tools like nobody's business. They know how to work everything from a soldering iron to a chainsaw... sometimes without even checking a manual. Many construction nerds are robotic nerds.
    • Robotics nerd—joins programs like BEST, FIRST, or other after-school robotics clubs. They can usually work any kind of remote (and with lightening speed) and are usually good with electronics/computers.
    • Rail nerd—a nerd who has an obsession with railways, usually known as a trainspotter. Often seen at a station with a notebook, camera, or binoculars.
    • Road nerd—Also called a road geek, these nerds specialize in roads. They go to "road meets", and drive around a lot.
    • Hot nerd—The most elusive of all nerds, due challenges in identifying the species by sight alone. Demands an approximately 1:1:1 ratio of cute, funny, and intelligent. Common traits include: individual activities (willing to separate from the pack), ability and willingness to read a book outside of Stephen King, Michael Crichton or John Grisham, tends to be quiet yet articulate; a subtle sense of humor and quick wit... and, of course, cuteness.
    • Hippie nerd—very out there with extremely strange ways of thinking, these tend to question tradition and always stand out.
    • Cool nerd—this is a social classing of a nerd, also referred to as 'popular nerds.' However, don't be deceived by the words "cool" or "popular." These nerds still have their quirks, it just means that they are more sociable than other nerds. Most cool nerds have a good sense of humor and dress in an edgy, fashionable way.
    • Awkward nerd—this is the second type of social classing for nerds. These nerds can range from socially inept to just annoying, but basically boil down to awkward (hence the name). Being awkward isn't a completely bad thing. They have friends and meet all the requirements of being a nerd, but they normally have less of a social life.
    • Social science nerds—Usually dwell in fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, and political science. These guys take the crown for jargon, articulation, and long-windedness. Although their ideas are often overlooked, they still manage to propose earth-shattering epiphanies about human behavior.
    • Astronomy nerd-- this is a sort of rare type of nerd. They are very interested in astronomy and know a lot about it. These nerds will sometimes have themselves nose deep in a astronomy book.
  • Be passionate about what you do.
  • If you make mistakes in the exam, check with your teacher straight away to know what they are, so you can correct them in the future. Bargain for marks if you have to; there is nothing wrong in that if you are serious about education.
  • Non-fiction, especially on scientific/mathematical topics, is also nerdy. Read in your specialty — such as synthesizer music, programming — or other computer manuals (well, manuals in general), math textbooks, and specialty magazines or journals, like Nuts & Volts or Cinefex.
  • Learn some good computer languages. BASIC might work.
  • Get into classic nerd movies like The Princess Bride, Firefly and Serenity, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, the original Tron, Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Star Trek. (You might also try Red Dwarf, Robotech, Space 1999, Fantastic Voyage, Blake's Seven and other lesser known sci-fi classics that are too good for big budget Hollywood butchering.)
  • Always pay attention in class or the workplace to assimilate concepts, as you will never know whether someone will ask for help. Participate in discussions and assist your instructor or supervision/management to clarify any subject that you may feel needs summarizing or simplifying, if that support seems to be somewhat appreciated.
  • Good science-fiction and fantasy are nerdy, though you should note that nerds are discriminating readers and, unlike some geeks, will often choose quality over enjoyability or escapism. Nerdy sci-fi classics include the Foundation series, Dune, Neuromancer, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the Mars trilogy.
  • Get into gaming if you want to kill time: Portal, DragonFable, Counter Strike, World of Warcraft, Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising, Dungeons & Dragons Online and Ragnarök Online.

Warnings

  • Don't become so consumed with your obsession that you lose sight of reality. A balanced life is important, and a good nerd recognizes the value of other pursuits. Too much specialization is unhealthy.
  • Not everyone in your life will relish your nerdiness. Some may even taunt, boo, or try to convince you that "No, you have it wrong..." and your nerdy style (or nerds in general) aren't cool. Whatever you do, be faithful to truth and accuracy. Listen to new ideas if they have worth, and don't become bogged down by stuffy ideologies or bland stereotypes.
  • If you constantly bully or mock someone who is less clever than you, they could get their friends to harass you or bully back.
  • If you want to be a computer nerd, don't use Internet Explorer. It's a bad browser. Good web browsers are Firefox and Google Chrome. Never refer to either web browser by their full name, IE FF are popular acronyms for the first two. GC to to represent Google Chrome is outdated - use "chrome" instead

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Sources and Citations