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vir·tue      /ˈvɜrtʃu/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[vur-choo] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
–noun 1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. 
{{pp-semi-vandalism}}
2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude. 
{{otheruses}}{{wiktionarypar|nerd}}
3. chastity; virginity: to lose one's virtue. 
4. a particular moral excellence. Compare cardinal virtues, natural virtue, theological virtue. 
5. a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowing one's weaknesses. 
6. effective force; power or potency: a charm with the virtue of removing warts. 
7. virtues, an order of angels. Compare angel (def. 1). 
8. manly excellence; valor. 
—Idioms9. by or in virtue of, by reason of; because of: to act by virtue of one's legitimate authority. 
10. make a virtue of necessity, to make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation. 


[[Image:nerd.jpg|frame|right|[[Robert Carradine]] as the archetypal nerd, Lewis Skolnick in ''[[Revenge of the Nerds]]'']]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'''Nerd''' is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or [[stereotype]], that refers to a person who passionately pursues [[intellectual]] activities, [[esoteric]] knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more [[Social relation|social]] or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a [[loner]] by peers.


[Origin: 1175–1225; alter. (with i < L) of ME vertu < AF, OF < L virtūt- (s. of virtūs) maleness, worth, virtue, equiv. to vir man (see virile) + -tūt- abstract n. suffix]
== Etymology ==


—Related forms
The word "nerd" appeared as the name of a creature in [[Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss's]] book <i>[[If I Ran the Zoo]]</i> ([[1950]]), in which the narrator Gerald McGrew claims that he would collect "a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too" for his imaginary zoo.<ref>[[Dr. Seuss|Geisel, Theodor Seuss]], ''[[If I Ran the Zoo]]'', p. 47, Random House Books for Young Readers, New York, 1950</ref> The [[slang]] meaning of the term dates back to [[1951]], when [[Newsweek]] magazine reported on its popular use in [[Detroit, Michigan]].<ref>''[[Newsweek]]'' (1951-10-8), p. 16</ref> By the early [[1960s]], usage of the term had spread throughout the United States and even as far as Scotland.<ref>Gregory J. Marsh in Special Collections at the [[Swarthmore College]] library as reported in [http://www3.iath.virginia.edu/lists_archive/Humanist/v04/0074.html Humanist Discussion Group] (1990-6-28) Vol. 4, No. 0235.</ref><ref>Glasgow, Scotland, ''Sunday Mail'' (1957-2-10)</ref> Throughout this first decade, the definition&mdash;a dull person&mdash;remained constant and was, at the time, a synonym for "[[square (slang)|square]]" or "[[wikt:drip#Noun|drip]]." It was only later, in the 1970s, that the word took on connotations of bookishness and [[Social ineptitude#Social ineptitude|social ineptitude]].
vir·tue·less, adjective
vir·tue·less·ness, noun


An alternate spelling, as ''nurd'', also began to appear in the mid-1960s or early 70s.<ref>''Current Slang: A Quarterly Glossary of Slang Expressions Currently In Use'' (1971), Vol. V, No. 4, Spring 1971, p. 17 </ref> Author [[Philip K. Dick]] claims to have coined this spelling in 1973, but its first recorded use appeared in a 1965 student publication at [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]].<ref>Personal Correspondence (1973-9-4) reported on [http://www.eldacur.com/~brons/NerdCorner/NerdMail.html#PKDick the web]</ref><ref>RPI ''Bachelor'' (1965), V14 #1</ref> [[Oral tradition]] there holds that the word is derived from "knurd" ("[[drunk]]" spelled backwards), which was used to describe people who studied rather than partied. On the other hand, the variant "gnurd" was in wide use at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] throughout the first half of the 1970s.


—Synonyms 1. See goodness. 2. probity, integrity.
Other theories of the word's origin suggest that it may derive from [[Mortimer Snerd]], [[Edgar Bergen|Edgar Bergen's]] ventriloquist dummy, or the [[Northern Electric Research and Development]] labs in [[Ontario]] (now [[Nortel]]). The [[Online Etymology Dictionary]] speculates that the word is an alteration of the 1940s term ''nert'' (meaning "stupid or crazy person"), which is itself an alteration of "[[wikt:nut|nut]]."<ref>''The Online Etymology Dictionary.'' "Nerd." [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nerd]</ref>
—Antonyms 1. vice.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.  
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This vir·tue      (vûr'chōō)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  


Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness.
The term was popularized in the 1970s by its heavy use in the [[sitcom]] ''[[Happy Days]]''.
An example or kind of moral excellence: the virtue of patience.
Chastity, especially in a woman.
A particularly efficacious, good, or beneficial quality; advantage: a plan with the virtue of being practical.
Effective force or power: believed in the virtue of prayer.
virtues Christianity The fifth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
Obsolete Manly courage; valor.  


==Characteristics==


[Middle English vertu, from Old French, from Latin virtūs, manliness, excellence, goodness, from vir, man; see wī-ro- in Indo-European roots.]
The stereotypical nerd is intelligent but socially and physically awkward. In film and television depictions, nerds are disproportionately [[white male]]s with [[glasses]] and [[dental braces|braces]].<ref>Lori Kendall. "OH NO! I'M A NERD!": Hegemonic Masculinity on an Online Forum.  ''Gender Society''. '''14''':256. (2000)</ref><ref>Ron Eglash. Race, Sex, and Nerds. ''Social Text''. '''20:''' 49 (2002) </ref>  It has been suggested by some, such as linguist Mary Bucholtz, that being a nerd may be a state of being "hyperwhite" and rejecting [[African-American culture]] and [[African American slang|slang]] that "cool" white children use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/magazine/29wwln-idealab-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin|title= Who’s a Nerd, Anyway? |accessdate=2007-07-28 |author=Benjamin Nugent|date=July 29, 2007|work=New York Times Magazine|}}</ref> However, after the introduction of the [[Steve Urkel]] character on the television series ''[[Family Matters]]'', nerds have been seen in all races and colors as well as more recently being a frequent young Asian male stereotype in North America. Further, the term and its use predate the popularity of African-American behavior mimickry in some whites, which did not really take off in significant levels until the early 1990's. Also, many popular whites haven't acted or dressed in an African-American style at all, such as the grunge trend, for example.  


They typically appear either to lack confidence or to be indifferent or oblivious to the negative perceptions held of them by others, with the result that they become frequent objects of scorn, ridicule, [[bullying]], and [[social isolation]]. Some nerds show a pronounced interest in subjects which others tend to find dull or complex and difficult to comprehend, or overly mature for their age, especially topics related to [[science]], [[disambiguation]], [[mathematics]] and [[technology]]. On the opposite end of the spectrum, nerds may show an interest in activities that are viewed by their peers as immature for their age, such as trading cards, comic books, or [[role playing games]] such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and other things relating to [[fantasy]] and [[science fiction]]. They are also stereotyped for being obsessed with ''Star Trek'', ''Star Wars'', and other science fiction shows or movies. Nerds are often portrayed as either obese or incredibly thin and nonathletic. Nerds are also portrayed as having symptoms of [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]], such as by showing an extreme devotion to following classroom rules.
(Download Now or Buy the Book) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
virtue 


c.1225, "moral life and conduct, moral excellence," vertu, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vertu, from L. virtutem (nom. virtus) "moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, worth," from vir "man" (see virile). Phrase by virtue of (c.1230) preserves alternate M.E. sense of "efficacy." Wyclif Bible has virtue where K.J.V. uses power. The seven cardinal virtues (c.1320) were divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). To make a virtue of a necessity (c.1374) translates L. facere de necessitate virtutem. [Jerome]
Stereotypical nerd qualities have evolved in recent years, from awkwardness and social ostracism to widespread acceptance and even celebration of their abilities. This is largely attributable to the rise of the [[computer]] industry, which has allowed many "nerdy" people (most notably [[Bill Gates]]) to accumulate large fortunes and other measures of social prestige. Some measure of nerdiness is widely considered desirable, because it suggests a person who is intelligent, respectful, interesting, and able to earn a large salary.  This evolution has dovetailed with waning emphasis on the social awkwardness of nerds, with more attention placed on their intelligence and academic enthusiasm.
==Nerds and Asperger syndrome==


Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Many traits associated with the nerd stereotype&mdash;an unusual penchant for accumulating highly specialized or technical knowledge, impaired social ability, and/or occasionally poor [[motor coordination]]&mdash;are characteristics of [[Asperger syndrome]], an [[autism spectrum disorder]]. The existence of the nerd concept in the popular consciousness may be attributed to [[covariance]] between certain behavioral and cognitive predispositions, which at the extreme results in forms of [[autism]]. Studies using the [[Autism Spectrum Quotient]] (AQ), a measure of autistic tendencies, find that occupations commonly linked to the nerd stereotype are associated with elevated AQ, with the highest average AQ seen among computer scientists, mathematicians and physicists.<ref>S. Baron-Cohen, S. Wheelwright, R. Skinner, J. Martin and E. Clubley, [http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/docs/papers/2001_BCetal_AQ.pdf The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) : Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians], ''Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders'' '''31''', 5-17 (2001)</ref> Other studies have found associations between heightened AQ and prenatal [[testosterone]] exposure as well as genetic factors, suggesting a distinct genetic and developmental basis for traits associated with the nerd stereotype.<ref>Rebecca Knickmeyer, Simon Baron-Cohen, Briony A. Fane, Sally Wheelwright, Greta A. Mathews, Gerard S. Conway, Charles G.D. Brook and Melissa Hines. Androgens and autistic traits: A study of individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. ''Hormones and Behavior'', '''50''', 148-153 (2006)</ref><ref>Francesca Happe, Patrick Bolton, Lee M. Butcher, et al. Genetic heterogeneity between the three components of the autism spectrum: a twin study. ''Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry'' '''45''':691 (2006)</ref>
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This virtue


noun
==Nerd pride==
1. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong 
In the 1984 film ''[[Revenge of the Nerds]]'', starring [[Robert Carradine]] and [[Anthony Edwards]], Carradine in particular worked to embody the nerd stereotype and, in doing so, helped create a definitive image.<ref>{{Citation | last = Singer | first = Jon | title = Carradine hits the jackpot as Lewis Skolnick | magazine = Lumino | date = 2005-08-28 | url = http://www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/341/10/ }}</ref> Additionally, the storyline presaged, and may have helped inspire, the "nerd pride" that emerged in the 1990s. ''[[American Splendor]]'' regular [[Toby Radloff]] claims this was the movie that inspired him to become "The Genuine Nerd from [[Cleveland, Ohio]]."<ref>{{Citation | last = Hensley | first = Dennis | author-link = http://www.dennishensley.com | title = Revenge of the nerd: American Splendor's Toby Radloff is out and proud about his sexuality and his nerddom | magazine = The Advocate |date=2003-09-02 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2003_Sept_2/ai_110737685}}</ref> In the ''American Splendor'' film, Toby's friend, ''American Splendor'' author [[Harvey Pekar]], was less receptive to the movie, believing it to be hopelessly idealistic. Many seem to share Radloff's view, as "nerd pride" has become more widespread in the years since. [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] professor [[Gerald Sussman]], for example, seeks to instill pride in nerds:
2. any admirable quality or attribute; "work of great merit" [syn: merit] [ant: demerit] 
{{cquote|My idea is to present an image to children that it is good to be intellectual, and not to care about the peer pressures to be anti-intellectual. I want every child to turn into a nerd - where that means someone who prefers studying and learning to competing for social dominance, which can unfortunately cause the downward spiral into social rejection.
3. morality with respect to sexual relations 
:: &mdash; Gerald Sussman, quoted by Katie Hafner, ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[29 August]] [[1993]]}}
4.  a particular moral excellence 


WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.  
The popular computer-news website [[Slashdot]] uses the [[tagline]] "News for nerds. Stuff that matters." The [[Charles J. Sykes]] quote "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one" has been popularized on the Internet and incorrectly attributed to [[Bill Gates]].<ref>{{Citation | last = Mikkelson | first = Barbara | last2 = Mikkelson | first2 = David P. | title = Some Rules Kids Won't Learn in School | year = 2000 | url = http://www.snopes.com/language/document/liferule.asp | accessdate = 2007-07-22 }}</ref> In [[Spain]], [[Nerd Pride Day]] has been observed on [[May 25]] since 2006.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
virtue1 [ˈvəːtʃuː] noun


a good moral quality
An episode from the animated series ''[[Freakazoid]]'', titled "Nerdator", includes the use of nerds to power the mind of a [[Predator (alien)|Predator]]-like enemy, who delivers a memorable monologue on the importance of nerds:{{Fact|date=May 2007}}
Example: Honesty is a virtue. Arabic: فَضيلَه
Chinese (Simplified): 美德
Chinese (Traditional): 美德
Czech: ctnost
Danish: dyd
Dutch: deugd
Estonian: voorus
Finnish: hyve
French: vertu
German: die Tugend
Greek: προτέρημα, αρετή
Hungarian: erény
Icelandic: dyggð
Indonesian: kebajikan
Italian: virtù
Japanese: 美徳
Korean: 미덕, 선
Latvian: tikums
Lithuanian: dorybė
Norwegian: dyd
Polish: cnota
Portuguese (Brazil): virtude
Romanian: virtute
Russian: добродетель
Slovak: cnosť
Slovenian: vrlina
Spanish: virtud
Swedish: dygd
Turkish: erdem, fazilet


virtue2 [ˈvəːtʃuː] noun
{{cquote|...what they lack in physical strength they make up in brain power. Who writes all the best selling books? Nerds. Who directs the top grossing [[Hollywood]] movies? Nerds. Who creates the highly advanced technology that only they can understand? ...Nerds. And who are the people who run for the high office of the Presidency? No one but nerds.''{{Fact|date=November 2007}}}}


a good quality
The Danish reality TV show [[FC Zulu]], known in the internationally franchised format as [[FC Nerds]], established a format wherein a team of nerds, after two or three months of training, competes with a professional [[football (soccer)|soccer]] team.
Example: The house is small, but it has the virtue of being easy to clean. Arabic: ميزَه حَسَنَه
Chinese (Simplified): 优点
Chinese (Traditional): 優點
Czech: výhoda
Danish: fordel
Dutch: voordeel
Estonian: eelis
Finnish: etu
French: avantage
German: der Vorzug
Greek: προτέρημα, προσόν
Hungarian: érték
Icelandic: kostur
Indonesian: kebaikan
Italian: vantaggio
Japanese: 長所
Korean: 장점, 가치
Latvian: labums; priekšrocība
Lithuanian: privalumas
Norwegian: fortrinn
Polish: zaleta
Portuguese (Brazil): virtude
Portuguese (Portugal): virtude
Romanian: avantaj
Russian: достоинство
Slovak: prednosť, výhoda
Slovenian: prednost
Spanish: virtud
Swedish: fördel
Turkish: üstünlük avantaj


virtue3 [ˈvəːtʃuː] noun
[[Nerdcore hip hop]] is a genre of [[hip hop music]] that has risen in popularity over the last few years, often expressing nerd themes with pride and humor. Notable artists include [[MC Chris]], [[MC Plus+]], [[MC Hawking]], [[MC Lars]], and [[MC Frontalot]]. The term ''nerdcore'' has seen wider application to refer to [[webcomics]] (most notably ''[[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Penny Arcade]]'', ''[[User Friendly]]'', ''[[PvP]]'', and ''[[Megatokyo]]'') and other media that express nerd themes without inhibition.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}


goodness of character etc
==References==
Example: She is a person of great virtue. Arabic: عِفَّه، طَهارَه
Chinese (Simplified): 贞操
Chinese (Traditional): 貞操
Czech: poctivost
Danish: god egenskab
Dutch: deugdzaamheid
Estonian: vooruslikkus
Finnish: hyveellisyys
French: vertu, mérite
German: die Rechtschaffenheit
Greek: αρετή
Hungarian: erkölcsi tisztaság
Icelandic: verðleiki, kostur
Indonesian: watak baik
Italian: virtù
Japanese: 貞節
Korean: 덕, 덕성; 정숙
Latvian: laba rakstura īpašība; labs raksturs
Lithuanian: dorumas
Norwegian: karakterstyrke
Polish: prawość
Portuguese (Brazil): virtude
Portuguese (Portugal): virtude
Romanian: merit
Russian: добродетель
Slovak: dobrá vlastnosť, bezúhonnosť, počestnosť
Slovenian: krepost
Spanish: virtud
Swedish: dygd
Turkish: meziyet, haslet


See also: virtuous
{{reflist|2}}


Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
==See also==
On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
virtue


virtue: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary
*[[The Angry Video Game Nerd (Show)]]
* [[Anorak (slang)]]
* [[wikt:dork|Dork]]
* [[The Benchwarmers]]
* [[Boffin]]
* ''[[Fear of Girls]]'', a short film about Nerds
* [[Geek]]
* [[Geek chic]]
* [[Nerd Pride Day]]
* ''[[Revenge of the Nerds]]'', a [[1984 in film|1984]] film about college nerds
* "[[White and Nerdy]]", a song by [[Weird Al Yankovic]]


On-line Medical Dictionary, © 1997-98 Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB
==Further reading==
 
* Kendall, Lori. "'The Nerd Within': Mass Media and the Negotiation of Identity Among Computer-Using Men." ''[[The Journal of Men's Studies]]'', 7(3) (1999): 353-69.
* Kendall, Lori. "Nerd Nation: Images of Nerds in U.S. Popular Culture." ''International Journal of Cultural Studies'', Vol. 2, No. 2, 260-283 (1999)
* Kendall, Lori. "'Oh No! I'm a Nerd!': Hegemonic Masculinity on an Online Forum." ''Gender & Society'', 14 (2) (2000): 256-274.
* Bucholtz, Mary. ""Why be normal?": Language and identity practices in a community of nerd girls." ''Language in Society'' (1999), 28: 203-223. Cambridge University Press.
* Newitz, A. & Anders, C. (Eds) ''She's Such a Geek: Women Write About Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff''. Seal Press, 2006.
* Okada, Toshio. ''Otaku Gaku Nyumon'' (Translated: 'Introduction to [[w:Otaku|Otaku]]ology'). Ohta Verlag. Tokyo, 1996.
* Frayling, Christopher. ''Mad, Bad And Dangerous?: The Scientist and the Cinema''. Reaktion Books, 2005.
 
==Documentaries==
 
* ''Genuine Nerd'' (2006) - Feature-length documentary on Toby Radloff.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0820887/ Genuine Nerd (2006) (V)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
 
==External links==
 
<!-- Wikipedians: because of recent spam-links (a form of Wikipedia vandalism), please discuss external links on the talk page first. Thanks. -->
* "[http://geekstudies.org/papers/mit5-presentation-notes.pdf The Well-Dressed Geek: Media Appropriation and Subcultural Style]" (Paper by Jason Tocci presented at the MIT5 conference]. PDF, 180kb).<ref>[http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/mit5/index.html Media in Transition 5<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* [http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html "Why Nerds are Unpopular"] An essay by [[Paul Graham]] about the conformist society in American highschools.
* [http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/14724;jsessionid=aaa5LVF0 "The Nerds have won"], an article in the [[American Scientist]]
* ''[http://www.nri.co.jp/english/opinion/papers/2004/pdf/np200484.pdf The Otaku Group From A Business Perspective]'' (PDF, 366kb).  Japan, 2004.

Revision as of 18:56, 23 March 2008

Template:Pp-semi Template:Pp-semi-vandalism Template:OtherusesTemplate:Wiktionarypar

File:Nerd.jpg
Robert Carradine as the archetypal nerd, Lewis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers.

Etymology

The word "nerd" appeared as the name of a creature in Dr. Seuss's book If I Ran the Zoo (1950), in which the narrator Gerald McGrew claims that he would collect "a Nerkle, a Nerd, and a Seersucker too" for his imaginary zoo.[1] The slang meaning of the term dates back to 1951, when Newsweek magazine reported on its popular use in Detroit, Michigan.[2] By the early 1960s, usage of the term had spread throughout the United States and even as far as Scotland.[3][4] Throughout this first decade, the definition—a dull person—remained constant and was, at the time, a synonym for "square" or "drip." It was only later, in the 1970s, that the word took on connotations of bookishness and social ineptitude.

An alternate spelling, as nurd, also began to appear in the mid-1960s or early 70s.[5] Author Philip K. Dick claims to have coined this spelling in 1973, but its first recorded use appeared in a 1965 student publication at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[6][7] Oral tradition there holds that the word is derived from "knurd" ("drunk" spelled backwards), which was used to describe people who studied rather than partied. On the other hand, the variant "gnurd" was in wide use at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology throughout the first half of the 1970s.

Other theories of the word's origin suggest that it may derive from Mortimer Snerd, Edgar Bergen's ventriloquist dummy, or the Northern Electric Research and Development labs in Ontario (now Nortel). The Online Etymology Dictionary speculates that the word is an alteration of the 1940s term nert (meaning "stupid or crazy person"), which is itself an alteration of "nut."[8]

The term was popularized in the 1970s by its heavy use in the sitcom Happy Days.

Characteristics

The stereotypical nerd is intelligent but socially and physically awkward. In film and television depictions, nerds are disproportionately white males with glasses and braces.[9][10] It has been suggested by some, such as linguist Mary Bucholtz, that being a nerd may be a state of being "hyperwhite" and rejecting African-American culture and slang that "cool" white children use.[11] However, after the introduction of the Steve Urkel character on the television series Family Matters, nerds have been seen in all races and colors as well as more recently being a frequent young Asian male stereotype in North America. Further, the term and its use predate the popularity of African-American behavior mimickry in some whites, which did not really take off in significant levels until the early 1990's. Also, many popular whites haven't acted or dressed in an African-American style at all, such as the grunge trend, for example.

They typically appear either to lack confidence or to be indifferent or oblivious to the negative perceptions held of them by others, with the result that they become frequent objects of scorn, ridicule, bullying, and social isolation. Some nerds show a pronounced interest in subjects which others tend to find dull or complex and difficult to comprehend, or overly mature for their age, especially topics related to science, disambiguation, mathematics and technology. On the opposite end of the spectrum, nerds may show an interest in activities that are viewed by their peers as immature for their age, such as trading cards, comic books, or role playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and other things relating to fantasy and science fiction. They are also stereotyped for being obsessed with Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science fiction shows or movies. Nerds are often portrayed as either obese or incredibly thin and nonathletic. Nerds are also portrayed as having symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as by showing an extreme devotion to following classroom rules.

Stereotypical nerd qualities have evolved in recent years, from awkwardness and social ostracism to widespread acceptance and even celebration of their abilities. This is largely attributable to the rise of the computer industry, which has allowed many "nerdy" people (most notably Bill Gates) to accumulate large fortunes and other measures of social prestige. Some measure of nerdiness is widely considered desirable, because it suggests a person who is intelligent, respectful, interesting, and able to earn a large salary. This evolution has dovetailed with waning emphasis on the social awkwardness of nerds, with more attention placed on their intelligence and academic enthusiasm.

Nerds and Asperger syndrome

Many traits associated with the nerd stereotype—an unusual penchant for accumulating highly specialized or technical knowledge, impaired social ability, and/or occasionally poor motor coordination—are characteristics of Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. The existence of the nerd concept in the popular consciousness may be attributed to covariance between certain behavioral and cognitive predispositions, which at the extreme results in forms of autism. Studies using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a measure of autistic tendencies, find that occupations commonly linked to the nerd stereotype are associated with elevated AQ, with the highest average AQ seen among computer scientists, mathematicians and physicists.[12] Other studies have found associations between heightened AQ and prenatal testosterone exposure as well as genetic factors, suggesting a distinct genetic and developmental basis for traits associated with the nerd stereotype.[13][14]

Nerd pride

In the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds, starring Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, Carradine in particular worked to embody the nerd stereotype and, in doing so, helped create a definitive image.[15] Additionally, the storyline presaged, and may have helped inspire, the "nerd pride" that emerged in the 1990s. American Splendor regular Toby Radloff claims this was the movie that inspired him to become "The Genuine Nerd from Cleveland, Ohio."[16] In the American Splendor film, Toby's friend, American Splendor author Harvey Pekar, was less receptive to the movie, believing it to be hopelessly idealistic. Many seem to share Radloff's view, as "nerd pride" has become more widespread in the years since. MIT professor Gerald Sussman, for example, seeks to instill pride in nerds: Template:Cquote

The popular computer-news website Slashdot uses the tagline "News for nerds. Stuff that matters." The Charles J. Sykes quote "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one" has been popularized on the Internet and incorrectly attributed to Bill Gates.[17] In Spain, Nerd Pride Day has been observed on May 25 since 2006.Template:Fact

An episode from the animated series Freakazoid, titled "Nerdator", includes the use of nerds to power the mind of a Predator-like enemy, who delivers a memorable monologue on the importance of nerds:Template:Fact

Template:Cquote

The Danish reality TV show FC Zulu, known in the internationally franchised format as FC Nerds, established a format wherein a team of nerds, after two or three months of training, competes with a professional soccer team.

Nerdcore hip hop is a genre of hip hop music that has risen in popularity over the last few years, often expressing nerd themes with pride and humor. Notable artists include MC Chris, MC Plus+, MC Hawking, MC Lars, and MC Frontalot. The term nerdcore has seen wider application to refer to webcomics (most notably Penny Arcade, User Friendly, PvP, and Megatokyo) and other media that express nerd themes without inhibition.Template:Fact

References

Template:Reflist

See also

Further reading

  • Kendall, Lori. "'The Nerd Within': Mass Media and the Negotiation of Identity Among Computer-Using Men." The Journal of Men's Studies, 7(3) (1999): 353-69.
  • Kendall, Lori. "Nerd Nation: Images of Nerds in U.S. Popular Culture." International Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, 260-283 (1999)
  • Kendall, Lori. "'Oh No! I'm a Nerd!': Hegemonic Masculinity on an Online Forum." Gender & Society, 14 (2) (2000): 256-274.
  • Bucholtz, Mary. ""Why be normal?": Language and identity practices in a community of nerd girls." Language in Society (1999), 28: 203-223. Cambridge University Press.
  • Newitz, A. & Anders, C. (Eds) She's Such a Geek: Women Write About Science, Technology, and Other Nerdy Stuff. Seal Press, 2006.
  • Okada, Toshio. Otaku Gaku Nyumon (Translated: 'Introduction to Otakuology'). Ohta Verlag. Tokyo, 1996.
  • Frayling, Christopher. Mad, Bad And Dangerous?: The Scientist and the Cinema. Reaktion Books, 2005.

Documentaries

  • Genuine Nerd (2006) - Feature-length documentary on Toby Radloff.[18]

External links

  1. Geisel, Theodor Seuss, If I Ran the Zoo, p. 47, Random House Books for Young Readers, New York, 1950
  2. Newsweek (1951-10-8), p. 16
  3. Gregory J. Marsh in Special Collections at the Swarthmore College library as reported in Humanist Discussion Group (1990-6-28) Vol. 4, No. 0235.
  4. Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Mail (1957-2-10)
  5. Current Slang: A Quarterly Glossary of Slang Expressions Currently In Use (1971), Vol. V, No. 4, Spring 1971, p. 17
  6. Personal Correspondence (1973-9-4) reported on the web
  7. RPI Bachelor (1965), V14 #1
  8. The Online Etymology Dictionary. "Nerd." [1]
  9. Lori Kendall. "OH NO! I'M A NERD!": Hegemonic Masculinity on an Online Forum. Gender Society. 14:256. (2000)
  10. Ron Eglash. Race, Sex, and Nerds. Social Text. 20: 49 (2002)
  11. Template:Cite web
  12. S. Baron-Cohen, S. Wheelwright, R. Skinner, J. Martin and E. Clubley, The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) : Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 31, 5-17 (2001)
  13. Rebecca Knickmeyer, Simon Baron-Cohen, Briony A. Fane, Sally Wheelwright, Greta A. Mathews, Gerard S. Conway, Charles G.D. Brook and Melissa Hines. Androgens and autistic traits: A study of individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Hormones and Behavior, 50, 148-153 (2006)
  14. Francesca Happe, Patrick Bolton, Lee M. Butcher, et al. Genetic heterogeneity between the three components of the autism spectrum: a twin study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 45:691 (2006)
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  18. Genuine Nerd (2006) (V)
  19. Media in Transition 5