The Nerd Handbook

http://www.randsinrepose.com/archives/2007/11/11/the_nerd_handbook.html

by adrianwaj • 19 years ago

43 14 19 years ago

edw5193• 19 years ago

Nerds are efficient, too. Just emailed this to everyone I know. One minute to give them all the data they ever need to know me. Pretty good return, huh?

mynameishere• 19 years ago

It's cliched, but a [WORD_OMITTED] is defined by his computer

Nobody is defined by his computer, and nobody likes being called a [WORD_OMITTED] 500 times in one article. Can we have a downmod arrow?

cperciva• 19 years ago

I don't mind being called a nerd. I don't have all of the social faults described in the article, but I certainly have many of them -- enough that I immediately sent this to girlfriend with the suggestion that she read it.

Most geeks (people who have exceptional interest and ability in a particular field, usually technical) are also nerds (people who are socially awkward or abnormal). Rather than pretending that this isn't the case, why not accept reality and try to find the best way of dealing with it?

edw5193• 19 years ago

I don't consider these "social faults". A social fault is when you think one thing and say another to a person, or worse, talk about them instead of to them. Are these "nerd" or "human" phenomena.

I liked the article. Even though it's tongue in cheek, anything that helps me help others understand me is greatly appreciated.

Now leave me alone; I'm busy.

timr• 19 years ago

Why? Because it's not "reality". The described "nerd" traits are largely a self-imposed condition, and glorification of them only makes them worse.

There are plenty of people out there who are exceptionally good with "nerdy" subjects, yet whom also have social lives, enjoy travel and human contact, and find a life spent locked in front of a computer to be extremely limiting. And those people are often the most respected and honored by their peers.

The common thread that I sense in these kinds of articles is one of defensiveness -- here's why I'm different, and why you should treat me with kid gloves. And I suppose that's a natural behavior for a group that perceives itself as marginal, but it's not anything particularly insightful or life-enhancing.

pchristensen• 19 years ago

I have most of these characteristics, but I'm also confident in my social skills and well-roundedness. I just use "nerd" as a convenient word to describe those aspects of my personality, and people who know me just add that to their already good impression of me. Read my "Nerd Report Card" at http://www.pchristensen.com/blog/2007/11/12/a-nerds-dirty-la...

edw5193• 19 years ago

function NotSureYouAreANerd() {

SenseOfHumor.show()

}

DanielBMarkham• 19 years ago

makesLotsOfMoney = true;

isConfidentInAbilities = true;

function AmINerd()

{

    if (isConfidentInabilities && makesLotsOfMoney)
    {
        return true;
    }
    else
    {
        throw nullSenseOfHumorException;
    }

}

Goladus• 19 years ago

Is this supposed to be a parody of something else?

Anyway, I think this one tends to be a bit more accurate, for a stereotype: http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/appendixb.html

henning• 19 years ago

Stereotyping like this doesn't really accomplish much.

For instance, I find that a lot of people who program because they love to often have no problems with speaking in front of crowds. The only time I'd be nervous is if I had nothing to say. I love sharing the things I find interesting with other people, so after you get started it comes very naturally and you can just be yourself.

adrianwaj• 19 years ago

I felt parts of me resonate with the Nerd Stereotype. It made me laugh.

There is a good description of a personality requirement I found on this blog (http://blog.boxee.tv/2007/08/08/wanted-a-code-poet/) for a programming job in Israel typifying the stereotype:

"someone that can write PHP with two hands tied behind his back, but dreams in C++.

favorite beach book reading: design patterns (hard cover edition, signed by the authors)

favorite debate topic: LAMP vs. J2EE (prefers LAMP, but can argue both sides of the issue)

favorite animal: penguin.

hobbies: none.

(social skills are not a requirement)

if you think you fit the bill please send us an email (don't forget to mention your favorite compilation flags for the Linux kernel)."

Obviously they're trying to find someone of the stereotype - they'd be the best for that job. I laugh at my Nerd side, it's only just the beginning of personality development.

jetpack• 19 years ago

Although this is surprisingly accurate overall, I think the author is describing the INTJ personality. That's a much better label than "nerd".

The Nerd Handbook

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