Bill Gates said: “Be nice to nerds. There is a good chance that one day you will end up working for one of them”. In a way, he is right: it is the "nerds" who make the world go round, even if they hardly ever rule it. A nerd can be so fascinated by quantum mechanics that they become estranged from their surroundings. A nerd can be someone who has no idea how to invite a girl out because engineering is the only thing that has been able to absorb him all his life. There are different types of "nerds". Here's how to become one of them and feel like a character from “The Big Bang Theory”!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Think Like a Nerd
Step 1. Know the difference between "nerd", "geek" and "goofy"
If anyone is aware of the subtle distinctions between the three words, that would be a nerd. Knowing what the difference is is important, since the three adjectives may overlap:
- A nerd is an extremely intelligent person with a singular passion for an academic goal. He is quite antisocial and feels more absorbed in his intellectual interests.
- A geek is an individual always interested in a niche activity, but it is not certain that he is inclined to academic commitment or inept from a social point of view.
- A clumsy person is slightly more foolish and socially inept but often not interested in any subject or intellectual research.
Step 2. Be unique
In other words, your course of action should be unique. Nerds are known for their eccentricities, so live life however you want. If you need inspiration, read books on historical nerds:
- Thomas Edison, for example, spent 18 hours a day tinkering with rudimentary electronic tools, when this subject was still relatively obscure. The scientist invented the light bulb, the phonograph, the alkaline battery and the electric train and obtained thousands of other patents, when all this was shrouded in mystery at the time. Edison was the quintessential nerd.
- Alan Turing was another famous nerd, half hero, half scapegoat. He is credited with cracking the Nazis' Enigma codes at the end of World War II and playing a pivotal role in the development of computers. Despite his discoveries, he was persecuted by the British government for his homosexuality and forced to undergo estrogen injections to "neutralize his libido". He committed suicide not long after the trial.
Step 3. Find a subject, or more than one, to immerse yourself in
It doesn't have to be scientific, even though there are tons of nerds attracted to science, technology, engineering and math. The protagonists of “The Big Bang Theroy” are an example: Sheldon is a theoretical physicist, Leonard an experimental physicist, Raj an astrophysicist and Howard an engineer. Learn all you can about the topics of your interest and take care of the knowledge that will actually come in handy someday.
Step 4. Ask questions, constantly
Nerds have the ability and habit to go beyond the surface, to understand the logic of things. To be a nerd, you should have an insatiable interest in knowledge. So you question the quality, source and usefulness of the information you receive.
- Don't blindly trust what authority figures tell you. Nerds know that sometimes these authoritative people can be wrong or give misleading or falsified information just because of the power they hold. The difference between a nerd and an "ordinary" person is that the former will research everything and get all the possible and imaginable statistics, while the latter will take everything for granted.
- Get to the roots of things. A nerd understands everything in depth and doesn't just rely on stored information, but on understanding concepts. A nerd wonders why the sky is blue and looks for the answer: molecules in the air disperse more blue than red light from the sun. And why do molecules do this? And so on.
Step 5. For nerds, details are preferable to generalizations because it's only by piercing the surface that you get to study reality
It is no wonder, then, that nerds tend to gravitate towards science subjects, which present systems that can be observed in nature, while the humanities lack the objective component
Step 6. It's not all black or white:
nerds are not afraid to delve into the gray areas, because they are good at examining the pros and cons, comparing contrasts, theses and rebuttals. They choose quantifiable facts about their opinions. Sometimes this makes them seem inconclusive, constantly struggling with themselves. In fact, they are gathering information to reach a conclusion that goes far beyond personal assumptions, that is demonstrable.
- There are several scientific and philosophical theories that nerds who roam the so-called gray area refer to:
- Thomas Kuhn's paradigm shift. The periods of "normal science" are interrupted by the periods of "revolutionary science", which corresponds to the change of paradigms, which are constantly discussed and exposed (defined, diagrammed, demonstrated through graphs and maps, extrapolated, capable of forming a new amalgam, a new reality).
- The incompleteness of Kurt Gödel. It is impossible to establish uniformity and completeness within formal logical systems. In other words, all the axiomatic formulas of number theory include undecidable propositions / suppositions (fundamental elements of mathematics including the indefinite point, the line, the plane and the space, absolute bases that define the fields of the discipline).
- Your passion could be of any kind: cryptology, philosophy, Nordic mythology, brewing, morphology, numismatics, philately … Whatever it is, live for it!
- Set short-term goals for yourself so you can follow a concrete path.
- If you have found that covering your car antenna with aluminum foil gives you better reception of AM stations, then take advantage of it. A nerd doesn't care what the car looks like if he can listen to the radio without a problem.
- If you decide to spend the whole night dealing with computers and eating a sandwich filled with peanut butter and jelly, go for it. A nerd doesn't care about lack of sleep or diet.
- If you propose to test your friends with an antibody not yet known by science, do so. A nerd doesn't care about the doubts the rest of the world has about his methods and challenges.
- Study a language.
- You may learn a dead or fictional one, such as Cuman, Eyak, Karankawa, Elvish, Dothraki, or Klingon. These languages are purely nerdy!
- Fill your shelves and bookcases, both with novels and books on current events.
- Informative reading doesn't have to be through boring textbooks. Try Richard Feynman's funny physics classic "He's Kidding, Mr. Feynman," one of Brian Greene's best-known and most accessible scientific bestsellers, Robert Graves' research-based historical novel "I, Claudio" (whose unlikely hero survives a particularly brutal period of the Roman Empire) or the hilarious works of fiction "Flashman" (a lewd anti-hero who lived during the British colonial empire).
- Engage in extra-curricular activities, such as computer science, chess, or acting. But, before you dedicate yourself to it, finish your daily school work.
- Ask lots of questions in class. No question is stupid: it becomes stupid when you don't ask it.
- Research your teaching subjects. If you can, get a tutor or mentor to guide you, and ask your teacher if he can give you extra or special tasks to find out more.
- If you don't know anyone in your area who has similar interests to yours, contact an online community (the internet is important for nerds thanks to its freedom of expression and the technological possibilities it offers) or try to get people close to you. are nice to your "nerd".
- If you often get targeted by others, try to make friends with someone who can support you in the most difficult times. Being nerdy doesn't mean you can't be diplomatic.
- If you make a mistake on a test, ask your teacher what to do to improve and discuss your grades. There is nothing wrong with taking your training seriously.
- Learn some computer languages.
- Read manuals and magazines on your favorite topic, or not.
- High-end science fiction and fantasy are nerdy, but you need to know that nerds are discriminating readers and, unlike some geeks, they prefer quality to pleasure or escapism. Favorite classics include the "Foundation" series, "Game of Thrones", "Dune", "Neuromancer", "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and the "Mars" trilogy.
- Watch nerdy movie classics: "The Princess Bride", "Firefly" and "Serenity", "Doctor Who", "Star Wars", "Battlestar Galactica", the original "Tron", "Twilight Zone", "Red Dwarf”,“Robotech”,“Space 1999”,“Fantastic Voyage”,“Blake's Seven”,“The Outer Limits”and“Star Trek”. Also watch non-Hollywood quality movies.
- Try video games to kill time: "Portal", "DragonFable", "Counter Strike", "World of Warcraft", "Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising", "Dungeons & Dragons Online", "Ragnarök Online", "Skyrim" and "Age of Empires".
- Pay attention to both class and work. Join the discussions and ask the instructor or supervisor questions if you have any doubts, so you can make your job and that of others easier.
- Cultivate good manners.
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The types of nerds based on their hobbies:
- Anime and manga. Nerds are almost always obsessed with Japan. Those of this kind are called "otaku", a derogatory Japanese word that means "fanatic". This community is also made up of prolific and creative fan fiction writers and often attends themed fairs, perhaps with a cosplay.
- Music. These nerds always carry their tool with them.
- Nerdy DJs constantly practice, have endless collections of vinyls and remember the artists, the track names of each CD, and its year of release, and a million other unknown details about their favorite musical genre.
- Computer. Most nerds, however, are passionate about computer science.
- Video games. Nerds of this type are on the rise and are a sub-class of computer enthusiasts.
- RPG nerds are almost always fans of "World of Warcraft", "Runescape", "Civilization", "Chessmaster", "DragonFable", etc.
- There are nerds capable of pouring out dozens of generally ignored things, from Hamlet's soliloquy to the nutritional values of goat's milk (they know not only curiosities, but they also have actually useful knowledge).
- History nerds know everything about the Middle Ages or the 17th century and compare everyday life to historical events.
- Competitive nerds compare results and always want to be top of the class.
- Clumsy nerds lack grace and style, and it's hard for them to carry on conversations other than their obsessions.
- Theater nerds, including activities like dance and mime, tend to be different from other nerds.
- Mathematician nerds have been experts in trigonometry since kindergarten and can think of other things during geometry class, they'll still get top marks anyway.
- Nerd scientists dream of enrolling in faculties such as Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry or Geology and end up becoming super-specialists.
- Science fiction nerds love "Star Wars", "X-Files", "Buffy", "Stargate SG-1", "Stargate Atlantis", "Lexx", "Farsape", "Andromeda", "Fringe", "Doctor Who”,“Torchwood”,“Star Trek”, etc.
- Literature nerds spend a good deal of their time reading or writing. Not to be confused with poets, often more identifiable with emo.
- Speech nerds pay attention to the words they use and never shut up. They speak with passion.
- Debate nerds always firmly support their ideas. They are capable of defending an argument even as devil's advocates.
- Nerds who can't stand the stupidity of others and show firmness with respect to their knowledge and opinions are a rarity, also because they are often interested in sports such as martial arts, weightlifting, boxing, etc.
- Nerd fabricators are engineering experts and know how everything works, sometimes without even having to check the manual.
- Robotic nerds are a sub-class of the above, usually good at electronics and computing.
- Train nerds are obsessed with the railroad and can be seen at the station with a notebook, a camera and binoculars (Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” is a stereotypical example).
- Street nerds love cars and driving.
- Hot nerds are a rare species! The subjects of this type respond to the ratio 1: 1: 1 (beauty, sympathy and intelligence). Among the common traits: carrying out individual activities, searching for books that are not bestsellers, calm and articulate expressions, a subtle sense of humor and wit.
- Hippie nerds question traditions and mix two different lifestyles.
- Popular nerds are few. They have their quirks but are more sociable than other nerds, have a good sense of humor, and dress quirky but trendy.
Warnings
- Don't be a know-it-all! If you want to correct a mistake, do it politely and discreetly.
- Many people will try to persuade you of your nerdiness. You continue to live by respecting your ideals, what others think matters very little.
- Don't let your obsession consume you so much that you lose your sense of reality.
- If you want to become a computer nerd, don't use Internet Explorer - it's too mainstream and not very functional for computer enthusiasts. Opt for Firefox or Google Chrome, to be strictly called "Chrome".
- If you make fun of people less intelligent than you, you could get into trouble.
- Of course, you don't have to force yourself to be a nerd. If you have no passion and are not reflecting on this article, maybe this is not your way. Nerd is born, difficult to become!
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Behaving Like a Nerd
Step 1. Get lost in passion
Nerds have a reputation for almost always being in the clouds as their minds wander, traveling to distant places made up of complex correlations and equations. Don't be afraid to be detached if that's your nature. Get lost in the intellectual areas that make you happy and that make you feel connected to the world, even if it means looking disconnected from your involvement.
Step 2. Don't be afraid to go beyond the ordinary
Think differently. Your ideas don't have to be popular (although you may not know what is and what isn't, but that's okay!).
Step 3. Never stop studying
A nerd is greedy for knowledge and knows that anything can help.
Step 4. Use the right words
Nerds, in general, know how to deal with words. And they also read more than average. It is mistakenly believed that a nerd only uses big words. Nerds use the exact term in the exact context. Sometimes the right word can be a big word. Really smart nerds have a gift for using the simplest words to explain incredibly complex concepts.
Befriend the vocabulary and thesaurus. Whenever you find a word you don't know the meaning of, consult it. Choose the right synonym for different circumstances
Step 5. Read voraciously, both books that interest you or not
Browse the newspapers and follow the news to stay informed.
Step 6. Be careful in school
Sit somewhere in the classroom where you can hear the teacher, see the blackboard, and don't get distracted. Try to get high grades and do your homework. Take notes, study for homework, and focus on your goals. But it must be said that not all successful nerds, like Bill Gates, have been tops in school.
Step 7. Channel anger or disappointment productively:
play an instrument, paint pictures … Being a nerd can be complicated, but don't get down on what others tell you.
Step 8. Have fun however you like
Organize a LAN party, watch all the "Star Wars" movies, build a model of a rocket. Almost all of these activities can be done both alone and in company.
Note: Playing “Magic the Gathering” or “D&D”, dressing up as your favorite characters when watching a movie, and engaging in live role-playing are more geeky than nerdy activities
Step 9. Find friends who have similar interests to yours, even if not necessarily nerdy
While geeks navigate different social groups, nerds tend to hang out with other nerds. However, you can vary your acquaintances: if you are an abstract thinker, you can spend time with practical people, and vice versa. Having friends is always nice.
Step 10. Focus on the positives
You are nerdy and you know it and your life is full of satisfaction. If you like yourself, the opinions of others will have no weight. Don't conform to anyone.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Dress Like a Nerd
Step 1. Don't worry too much about your wardrobe
Nerds don't care so much about fashion and usually wear practical clothes. Wear what you like best.
Step 2. Use jerseys from references and jokes (math, Latin or about obscure topics like binary code) nerdy or with characters from comics, movies and video games and superheroes:
Megaman, Mario, Superman, Sonic… Search online for Sheldon's from “The Big Bang Theory” to get an idea.
Step 3. Put on your glasses to dramatically increase your nerdy quotient
There is no “nerd chic” style. By definition, nerds don't care about clothing
Step 4. Nerds tend to wear clothes that favor little their figure and look anachronistic
Put yourself literally the first thing found in the closet, without creating outfits.
Step 5. Some nerds dress up preppy
Wear khakis, polo shirts and loafers with a messy air that allows you to mix everything. Your style will be the first indicator of your nerdiness.
Step 6. Nerds place more emphasis on decorating their room or home than clothing
Start collecting comics, video games, books or whatever you like best.
