American Nerd 240
Adam Jenkins writes "This book seemed to have potential, particularly since the image of nerds has changed in recent times.
Once objects of derision and schoolyard bullying, nerds are now acknowledged as having a place in society.
The Lord of the Rings became a multi-million dollar movie trilogy, the internet is now used by an incredible number of people,
and computer games are no longer seen as being 'just for kids.' Around the years of the dot-com boom, successful
nerds were driving Ferraris and going to cool parties. So it's not so surprising
that the definition of a nerd has changed over time, nor that a society which has generally become better at accepting
people who are different, has accepted nerds." Read below for the rest of Adam's review.
As is clear from the title, American Nerd sets out to concentrate on the American nerd, and to define what a nerd is.
As with a lot of social labels, it's not so easily defined. Nugent defines two categories of nerd; those who are intellectual and socially
awkward in a machine-like way, and also people who are simply socially excluded. We learn that the word 'nerd' first started being used in
America around the 1960s, but as well as the more recent 'geek', there have also been words like 'boffin' and 'greasy grind' which are similar in meaning.
The book is divided into three sections, with the history of the nerd, a more detailed section called "Among the Nerds",
and a shorter section "My Credentials". The latter section expands on the glimpses into Nugent's life through the rest of the book,
like the case study in the second part about Nugent's friend from the Ghetto of Amherst and includes another case study,
about another of his childhood friends.
| American Nerd: The Story of My People | |
| author | Benjamin Nugent |
| pages | 224 |
| publisher | Scribner |
| rating | 9/10 |
| reviewer | Adam Jenkins |
| ISBN | 978-0-743-28801-9 |
| summary | A history and entertaining discussion of the American Nerd. |
The author spent some his school years being picked on as a nerd and at the start he discloses that consequently his journalistic objectivity is compromised. Later in the book, he tells us that he stopped being a nerd in his teens. As part of this disclaimer, Nugent states that he empathizes with nerds and anti-nerds alike, and really, who better to do that than an ex-nerd? He seems to have done some good research for the book, including attending the Third Annual Anime Los Angeles Convention, SCA events like Estrella War in Arizona, and talking with Rosie Shuster and Anne Beatts, who wrote the first nerd sketch for Saturday Night Live.
The publishers claim this is the first comprehensive examination of nerds, and it's certainly a fine study of the history to date. No doubt there are good related academic papers in the fields of psychology and sociology, and the books of Professor Sherry Turkle (mentioned in this book) sound interesting, but American Nerd is not only more accessible, but it is specifically about nerds. I've read a couple of books which have touched upon nerd culture, but they have mostly concentrated on other topics; usually the stories of early Silicon Valley pioneers and their companies. Nugent's book covers not only the more usual topics like how nerds are treated at school and what a nerd is, but also science fiction fan clubs and conventions, computer gamers, "fake nerds", Japanese pop culture and parallels between race discrimination and nerds. I was a little surprised that some nerd subcultures weren't included, like those around computer bulletin board systems, or tabletop gaming and live action roleplaying. There were lots of analogies and examples from not only movies like Blade Runner, Rain Man and The Nutty Professor, but also classic literature, like Pride and Prejudice, and Frankenstein. Of more current works, there's mention of Beauty and the Geek and The Big Bang Theory, and some interesting information about the production of Freaks and Geeks.
I'm not sure whether the book would appeal only to nerds or ex-nerds. I think the subject material is probably broad enough that it would have a greater appeal. Parts of the book are quite funny like the story about a Super Smash Bros. Melee competition at a Major League Gaming tournament, and the examples of strange vocabulary adopted by gamers. There are also stories about Ben and his interactions with his friend's crazy Mormon Mum. Toward the end of the book, he described getting drunk with popular kids at age 13 in Petrozavodsk, Russia and deciding he didn't want to be a nerd anymore. There was a lot that I learned from this book, not just the history of nerds, but also something of modern subcultures like yaoi, otaku and SCA, as well as some American specific things like RPIs Bachelor journal and high school debating. Though there's some parallels drawn in this book between the UK and the US in the coverage of "muscular Christianity" around the late 19th century, I am sure that currently nerds in the UK are quite different to those in the US, and I did wonder generally just how nerds in other countries are similar and different to the American variety.
This is an intelligent and thought-provoking book, which also manages to be entertaining. Whether you're a nerd or not, you will find parts of the book that remind you of some of your own experiences and make you appreciate how much richer our society is for having nerds!
You can purchase American Nerd: The Story of My People from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
Nerds. (Score:5, Interesting)
It's curious that nerds, who are generally very precise in matters of technology, are such painfully sloppy writers.
Like, say, this review.
I don't remember the username, but someone on here had an excellent signature for this: "Slashdot, where people know the difference between grep, zgrep, and ngrep, but not there, their, and they're."
--saint
Revenge of the Nerds... (Score:3, Interesting)
Had probably the best definition of both a nerd and a geek.
"A Nerd is someone who is obsessed with computers and technology. A Geek is someone who is obsessed with computers and technology... and LIKES IT THAT WAY."
I'm a geek. ;)
Re:Nerds. (Score:5, Interesting)
When I type, I literally have an inner monologue going on of what I wish to type. A lot of people work this way. It is a means of pre-screening what you want to say so that it would actually make sense if talking directly to other people.
Also, my hands move faster than I can think sometimes. When words like "there/their/they're" come along, my brain just says "there". Especially in a hurry or under stress, my brain doesn't say "WHOA there buddy. That sound can be spelled more than one way depending on the context".
The same mental clog is what, I believe, to be the misuse of words like lose/loose. In quick mode, my brain is much more inclined to type "loose" for the sound "lewz", because most every other word that has a double-o makes the "ew" sounds. Deep in the grey matter, I know better, but when furiously typing away, such things slip.
Re:Revenge of the Nerds... (Score:5, Interesting)
"Computer geek"
"Can't spell geek without a double-E"
and so on...
I agree. The red-necks I went to school with in Stone Mountain Georgia may still think football and cheerleading are more important than math, science, and computer skills, but they can go suck my ever-hard wang. I've started a software company, own a nice boat, house, and car, while working from home and enjoying the country club. And, I married a brilliant woman with an MBA. Sweet revenge.
What does Nerd mean now? (Score:2, Interesting)
One of the meanings of Nerd, the technogeek, has fallen by the wayside. It used to be that staying inside playing Atari 2600 while all the normal kids where outside playing tag made you a nerd.
Nowadays *all* the kids stay inside and play video games all day.
The Nerd label continues to stick to smart kids (a.k.a. kids who try to get good grades).
Stoopid is kool and the Culture of Dum rules.
Maybe that's why American Morons are the most underachieving and get the most expensive public education in the world.
Re:Examples are not nerdy (Score:3, Interesting)
I think that kind of cuts to the chase of it.
I know more then a few people who went into comp sci for the money. Some of the were the football jocks in high school. However, they wouldn't look at a computer outside of work because it is just an means to an end.
On the other hand, I was intrested in computers before there was any real money in them. If there was no money to be made at all in the computer industry I'd probably just have an expensife hobby.
What am I? (Score:2, Interesting)
I was actually pretty popular in high school and college, a very social individual, played a few (varsity) sports, played in a band, was good with the ladies throughout my younger years, and now I'm engaged to a beautiful lady. However, I'm also unhealthily addicted to video games (played many, many games dating back to the DOS era), a large Star Wars fan (I have action figures, books and cards still), had close to a 4.0 in HS, was in the gifted program (and went to academic competitions), got a BS in a computer field, work in the IT industry, own almost every console (as well as a GB, GBA, DS, and lynx), have multiple computers with multiple operating systems, program in several languages, made a few video games, made a few websites, etc. I know pretty much everything a nerd would know - but I don't have the nerd negative stereotypes. What does that make me?
Maybe not so good, but . . . (Score:4, Interesting)
Those are america's problems (Score:5, Interesting)
in other countries there arent such distinctions as 'nerds' etc, or such kind of school bullying culture.
lets take turkey for example. in turkey if you are a nerd and its obvious, your future is guaranteed. you are taken as a good student, and everyone treats you accordingly. leave aside the respect you'll be getting in family circles, in school everyone knows your place, and how your place in future will be. this doesnt put you into the 'in' crowd, - there are 'popular' or 'in' crowds in every culture -, but it wont put you out either. you dont get bullied, harrassed or despised.
and stuff unfolds as they predicted generallly - you score top scores in nation-wide university entrance exams, get into a top university (there are 4 major universities here which send graduates to oxford, m.i.t. and similar), and when you graduate from there, you dont even probably stay in a single country, but rather become a top official in a global corporation.
what i know from a number of other countries is that situation is more or less similar to this, around europe. this makes me think that this 'nerd' issue, nerd bullying etc are exclusively american issues.
Social status (Score:3, Interesting)
clothing is a strong indicator of social status
And yet...people with modest incomes can still afford nice clothes if they want them.
And utter assholes who will use and abuse their women can also afford nice clothes.
It seems silly to me that clothing would be so important as a first-contact filter. But then again I am a geek, and a lot of the status quo seems silly to me. Despite my general distaste for expensive clothing, I own some, have worn it, and have gotten dates. My overall experience of women has been that they are too demanding, often bored by the things that interest me (and interested in things that bore me, like nice clothes), and the pleasure they offer is fleeting. I hear that some of them also spread diseases.
The times when I was dating were some of the most stressful in my life. The times when I did the things I enjoy with my friends who also enjoy them were some of the happiest. So, apart from an inclination to raise children (which I don't have), I see little reason to bother with dating at all.
And without obsession over women compromising my goals, I am free to dress however I damn well please.
Re:Typical dichotomy of people in America (Score:3, Interesting)
Because US culture is competitive, and anyone who does not dedicate all his time to sports and ever-going popularity contest is seen as a loser. Therefore the only way to win is not to play.
I have nothing against healthy social interaction and reasonable efforts toward personal fitness, however this is not what American culture is about, certainly not among teenagers.
Re:Those are america's problems (Score:5, Interesting)
Video games now are especially not considered a geek thing anymore. Obviously the popularity of Halo, Madden, Guitar Hero, and Call of Duty have cemented that, but I can even remember going to a party hosted by one of the "popular kids" and even he couldn't resist joining in some pickup fighting game tournaments. Fighting games are definitely nerdy compared to Guitar Hero, but that didn't stop him.
I think the trend of nerdiness becoming socially acceptable is only going to increase. My little brother is an epitome of nerdiness--his computer is an old laptop that runs linux, DWM, and a firefox extension that makes his browser feel like vi. He plans on majoring in math and he competes in the AMC/AIME/USAMO. He also regularly gets calls from girls asking questions or inviting him to parties.
Today the US has no problem with accepting nerds, as long as they can be the least bit sociable.
As for the definitions of "dork," "geek," and "nerd," it's a waste of time. I thought about it for a while, came up with objective definitions that clearly separated them, but found out that even I didn't use my definitions with any consistency.
Social Clubs (Score:3, Interesting)
In it's most basic sense a nerd is anyone not in your particular social circle. Geek is often used in this sense. You have computer geeks, band geeks, football geeks (see 'jock'), and cheerleader geek. We then apply different words to the same label so we get Goth, Emo, Jock, Headbanger, Gearhead, etc.
It is human nature to break down and organize information into discrete catagories. Short, tall, fat, skinny, etc. It's how humans think. If suprises me that we are still writing books about obvious things.
Closed social circles gravitate to extremes. So while most 'jock' for instance are normal decent people the gravitation to extremes progresses if the social circle is closed. In huge schools it's rare to find groups of jocks operating as bullies. There is too much inflow of new people constantly to allow the social circle to become closed. In smaller communities, the agression within social circles rises quicker. Quick enough to hit flash points before people start graduating.
Regardless of the social group, if it is a closed system, it will gravitate to an extreme. The nerd in the 80's sense (i.e. Revenge of the Nerds) would then be a group of social outcasts in their own closed system. Same with their opponents (in a similar closed social system.) This leads to flashpoints of extreme behavior. The urge to conform within the closed social circle and advance within that circle provides the pressure that moves to the extreme. When a social circle hits a flashpoint that pressure is diffused within the social group. Hopefully that flashpoint is a constructive act rather then destructive. The saying, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt" is the perfect example of that pressure release. A reality check comes in and diffuses the gravitation to an extreme. The cycle starts over. With enough "fresh blood" coming in with fresh ideas, etc... that slows that pressure from building (until the pressure is high enough to prevent new people coming into the circle turning the initally open system into a closed one.)
Nerds\Geeks\etc.. are a facinating group to study because they are nearly always in a state where their social network is OPEN. I look forward to picking this one up from the review but would love to see more books looking into other social groups as a whole more often.
I can't count the number of football players I played D&D with in highschool. It was weird, we'd chill killing zombies and in school then make fun of nerds. The next day I was DM'ing the nerds and they'ed make fun of the jocks. When college hit I got them around the table together. 20 years later, what a crew of friends to have.
nerd and geek vs wannabes (Score:3, Interesting)
Most people who describe themselves as geeks and nerds are wannabes.
Here are some clues.
Real nerds spend long periods of time pursuing their craft while wannabes show up at parties talking about how they are nerds. Much like wannabe writers and poets show up at parties talking about the books and poems they are going to eventually write while the real writers are holed up too busy writing to show up at parties. If you haven't spent long hard weekends working on your craft (be it programming, engineering, writing, music, etc.) instead of drinking and trying to get laid, you are a wannabe.
Real nerds often take common activities and turn them into nerdish activities. For example a nerd friend of mine watched basketball. But part of the watching was he was developing a program to help develop a betting system. Much like how Stephen Jay Gould enjoyed the stats of baseball. If the person doesn't do things like this, they are a wannabe.
If you call yourself a geek or nerd, you are a wannabe. Only others can do this, only others can make you a social outcast. That after all is what the word 'outcast' means, you have been cast out.
If you care about what people think about you and what badges they put on you, you are a wannabe.
HTH HAND
Re:Nerds. (Score:3, Interesting)
I think there is a good portion of people that do not consider a post on the internet to be worthy of proof reading.
That's sad. I would imagine there's a pretty large intersection between those people and the ones that claim "language is a living construct, so I can break the rules whenever I want."
On the Internet, we don't have things like body language, voice inflection, or eye contact to help convey extra information. The words that you use become more important in those circumstances, not less.
--saint
Re:No revenge needed. Was:Re:Revenge of the Nerds. (Score:4, Interesting)
A wise observation, IMO. I hate to think how mean I was to little girls in the neighborhood before I hit puberty. I think high school is a bit like that - a phase you grow out of.
Still, I can't forgive the rednecks from Stone Mountain. I turned out OK, and I can probably thank the rednecks for part of my drive to succeed (to prove them wrong). But my friends didn't have my luck. Most have never overcome the damage done to their self-image at a young age. I think their lives and all of America would be much better off if we were to build up the self esteem of our most talented geeks.
I read a cool article on being tall. In general, each inch of height is worth about $2K/year in extra income for a guy. However, it doesn't matter how tall you are... what matters is how tall you were when you were sixteen. Guys who sprout in their twenties don't benefit.