Why Are Nerds Unpopular?
 

http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html

This essay made me think. It's long, but if you guys do read it, tell me what you think? Esspecially the Americans on the board, this has to do with you. I remember people on here saying they were nerds in highschool.

yea ive always been against distinguishing people in classes- nerd, jock ect. i thought this only happened in movies, because its so ridiculous, kids wishing they were popular, and trying contantly to be liked. at my school everyone seems to like me, so i guess im "popular" but im pretty much friends with everyone, and when anyone tries to put any kids down for getting a good mark, i defend them so they dont feel bad. probably because i know how much it hurts to be critisised by a group of people and having no one to help you out - it really sucks, i was a really screwed up kid and ended up having to change schools because of it (was back in grade 1-3) , i know first hand how much bulling sucks. its like john lennon said "they hate you if youre clever, and they dispise a fool" thats exactly how it is at my school, its ridiculous, kids poke fun at a guy who knows all the answers and studies, then ridicule someone for not knowing anything, an getting low marks. these "bullies" constantly contradict themselves.
i think when bullies make fun of other kids, its to try to be more popular, and to be liked more. great essay and thread.

this thread is kinda getting ignored, annoyingly enough, probably cos no one wants to read the long essay.

i don't wanna sound like a smart ass or whatever and i'm not acting like i hold all of life's mysteries, but the majority (if not the whole) of that essay is actually kinda easy to figure out by yourself... i mean for example i knew for a fact "nerds" don't really wanna be popular.. sure, they wanna have friends, but the kind of friends who spend saturday nights learning, just like them...
plus... why do we call them "nerds".. i don't even use that word... just to describe the kind of guy/girl who doesn't know anything about life but the things they study in school, like math and science. the kind of people with no life and no time for themselves. but i don't call them "nerds"...
plus in that essay, they refer to them as if they're some kind of species... i don't think the nerds you see on tv in american movies really exist.. of course, i'm not from america, so i wouldn't know.
in my school, the smart kids are also the popular ones... the kind o' kids who are good at everything.. like they have them all. but if you're not that smart, it means you don't care. for example i don't care.. and i wouldn't call myself "not smart" .. sure, i could be smarter, but i'm not interested in memorising **** for good grades

it's a matter of choice... and the guts to actually choose what's good for you and not be something else just for other people's eyes....

i really don't give a **** about this subject.. nerd kid vs popular kid.. that essay says what i think.. you're not born like that.. therefore you can choose.. if you're the nerdy kinda kid, you should focus more on your studies than envying the others.. but never forget to make time for yourself and friends and hobbies. kids who do that are not nerds
i think there should be a balance.. you should study as much as you need to in order to pass and get yourself a good education, but in the same time make friends and all that.
maybe i got a different idea of what that word means, but in my opinion, the subject's overrated. if you mind your own business and don't exaggerate in what you're doing, nobody'd treat you bad.. that's just the thing.. if they do treat you bad, why hanging out with them and be popular? popular in your own world means more than popular among ****heads

Because Nerds are Nerds.




Think about it, would you hang out with some guy who likes D&D? No, I dont think so.

I think bullying is pretty much the same everywhere, all for the same reasons, it's like, if you're quiet, vunerable or not able to stick up for yourself, then you get picked on! Esspecially if you arn't attractive, kids are getting more and more critical of the way others look, thanks to the media. I think some people might have senstive feelings on this topic as to why they are not posting in it. The essay is long but you can skim read most of it. Even the start sums most of it up.

Yeah I understand where you are coming from. It's like, to be popular you have to have it all, and be smart, athletic, attractive for girls, not so much for boys, have a hobbie that you are awesome at, a great social life + parties.

I'm glad I never really had to worry about that in high school, I did what I wanted and held my head high so no one challenged me.

It can be hard sticking up for people though, because bullies don't always think what they are doing is wrong. I've had a screaming match over someone with a disability!

I like the essay, I knew how pointless school was, but he saiud it very eloquintly

I find people who are worried about the people who lable are annoying. The kids at my school that are smart arent known as the nerds or geeks. American movies make it seem like the smart kid in high school are the ones with the hitched up pants and the glasses. Its not like that. If your smart your smart. Thats that.

Nerds are only nerds because we label them nerds. Heh, You little pricks!