I am a Nerd
November 16, 2008
I am a nerd.
What?! Did I just say that?
Well technically I could give a more scientific explanation, but it's difficult (nerds are lazy people like everyone else). In "real life" (a.k.a. offline), I would not call myself a nerd as I don't want to give a certain impression to people nor associate myself with some kind of voodoo technology, because back in their mind that's what people think.
So to put it straight in this comment, I'll say that I subscribe to most of the nerd philosophy and then refer to the nerd. What's this philosophy you ask? Well it's difficult to say, and I'm not all too certain it's a philosophy. Perhaps it's something that affects how the mind of someone subscribing to the nerd philosophy ("nerd") operates and therefore not really a philosophy at all, or perhaps not.
In a nerd's mind, something is always being thought, which I'll refer to as a project. If a nerd appears to be simply looking around, he/she's probably thinking about something. Sometimes others can tell, sometimes they can't. All the time, thinking happens, even in lucid dreams while he/she sleeps.
Hence nerds spend a lot of time thinking about their project, and often times the whole process of doing assignments (like homework or anything for that matter) take much longer, either because they are perfectionist projects or more often because the nerd is thinking about other projects. Of course, thinking carefully about something could be advantageous in the long run - most times it's overkill.
Note that just because the nerd thinks about something doesn't mean it will actually be done, although with proper discipline this can be avoided. The nerd's greatest enemy in succeeding in implementing these projects is fear, uncertainty, and lack of interest.
The thinking that occurs in a nerd's mind means nerds pay attention to details, but unfortunately there are so many details in the first place that the nerd doesn't bother to remember some of them. When the nerd decides not to remember a detail that non-nerds consider important, the nerd is at best marked as bad in memory or possibly even as stupid.
In essence, a nerd's mind is like that of a child (only more experienced and deeper in thought) since he/she has a short attention span. Unlike the popular misconception, an occupation (such as "student" for someone going to school) is not what the nerd focuses on. In fact, a nerd might hate their occupation (most occupations become boring after a while) more than everyone else does, focusing on deviating from the intended path as much as possible (even if the deviation is small).
There is a common stereotype that a nerd is close to their computer, even to the extent of people believing that a computer and a nerd are one machine. I don't believe a nerd is that close to a computer, especially since nerds are always deep in thought, unlike computers. Nerds have probably long existed before computers. I even believe nerds don't require any kind of machine to be a nerd. Since humans are thinking creatures, machines are non-thinking creatures (they do what is said without real and complex thinking), and nerds think too much, a nerd is not a machine nor even close to one, but in fact a human like everyone else.
Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that most nerds are close to their computer and I don't dispute this stereotype. But there's a reason. A computer, including the software running it, is the most complex machine currently built by humans. The opposite of a nerd does not look closely at something, and finds no amazement in how something works. Often times the opposite thinks of a computer as magic, to avoid thinking about it. A nerd, on the other hand, pays attention to the details and is amazed by how the computer works, not necessarily by what it does in and of itself. Since nerds have projects, a nerd must tame the technology, and this is done by learning how the computer works and eventually becoming more proficient in operating, fixing, or tinkering (again, projects) with it.
P.S. This essay was my project for a limited time until I realized I would have to sleep. Perhaps I could continue it another time, but time is an enemy at this moment. Sweet dreams!
something is more fun when done for yourself (not school)
cannot truly multitask (but in another respect can with TV channels for instance)