Nerd Pride?

Dearest Cute Nerd Girls,

I must admit that am the person who Ryan Dow is referring to in his e-mail. I asked "we don't have to tell them we're a nerd do we?" at our 24 Hour Comic Day event.However, it is not because I am not proud to be a nerd. It was because I didn't want to be hassled by anybody, including the massive amount of drunk college football fans that were flocking the streets and bars, before I finished my 24 Hour Comic.

Which leads me to my question:

Due to the still lingering social-stigma attached to being a nerd are there times when it is okay to become chameleon-like and shy away from typifying yourself as a nerd to large "non-nerd" crowds, such as drunk college football fans, or should I not fear and represent the "nerd-nation" by displaying my "nerd-pride?"

Daniel Olson
http://www.bewilderedkid.com/

LAUREN
I understand that it is difficult in certain situations, especially if you were teased mercilessly in grade school. (only the cool kids win the regional science fair, seriously...)

I think we need to take it back from the jocks, the frat boys, and the jerks who thought they demeaned us when in reality were truly making us all realize how fucking brilliant we were and continue to be. Do you think Bill Gates shies away from the term "nerd"?

Thought not.

NESSA
I think if you feel you are a nerd, you should be proud. Don't hide from anyone but you don't have to write it across your forehead to be proud either.


MARY
It is absolutely ok to blend in when dealing with drunk football fans if you feel like it. One privilege is that you are most likely intelligent enough to simply choose when to allow others to be aware of your exceeding nerdiness. Remain quiet. Perhaps they won't attack.

Of course every time I try to do that, I inevitably trip over my own feet. I blame that on my gimpy leg. Fuck. I am a spaz. That is sometimes hard to hide. However, I don't need to e concerned with my spazzy elegance around drunken football fans.

"Ha ha look...that girl is like totally wasted man!"

I am a big fan of avoidance. I don't know how positive that is. Being nerd also means being smart enough to know when being nerdy can get your ass kicked.

However this happened at Grumpy's where you could get a discount while working on the 24 hour comic, correct? It is a Neutral Territory. They offer the discount. Everyone should leave you alone there, especially if you sit at one of the high tables or in the side room. Many of the female servers are semi nerd girls at least. Grumpy's has a plethora of nerds. Have you ever been there for trivia or the open mic comedy nights? Nerds galore! Grumpy's is a thriving metropolitan hub of Minneapolis in our fine nerd nation. You are relatively safe there.

Being selectively proud of your nerdittude doesn't make you any less worthy of your nerd pride. It makes you smart enough to avoid obnoxious assholes when you don't feel like dealing with them.

Thanks for writing to C.N.G Daniel Olsen aka Danno (not to be confused with Dan Klownowski aka Danno.)

Visit http://www.bewilderedkid.com/