It seems today though there has been an increasing shift in how the "nerds" are viewed. The "hipster" look its a growing trend idolizing the independent movement and straying off from the mainstream. This trend is making the typical nerdy glasses look into a fashion trend. Shows like the Big Bang Theory is gaining momentum and showcasing the best of our "Geek Culture". It is now a growing sensation that is ok to be into comics, video games, computers, and technology in general. This almost under the box lifestyle is starting come out onto the open and gaining popularity. There is now no shame to state these interests, it is now something to take pride. How and when this shift began I feel is still under investigation. But thinking about it now, with the rise of innovations and the need for "security" and the best "tech", I can understand this new need.
With the rise of technological innovations there is an increasing demand for those who are gifted with the ability to craft these new technologies. These new demands are sparking the need for these "nerds" to become the center of attention. Now it is cool to be a "engineer" or a "software engineer" or "a nerd" because it is related to wealth and power. Just look at big companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, they were founded by "geeks" and now they are idolized and revered. Now the image isn't that these people are socially awkward, or annoying or maybe even freaks, they are image to success and prosperity. ( I will talk more about the socially awkwardness of nerds at another blog). And I believe this is why that this paradigm shift among nerds is happening. It is a growing need that the "nerds" need to be revered so that more kids and become these "nerds" and fuel the growing in need for technological innovators.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you on your argument saying that the idea of the"nerd" is on the rise. Everybody is taking the concept of being a "nerd" to a whole new level. A couple of days ago I told my friend, "You're such a Nerd!" (just for fun of course – all she was doing was her orgo homework) and she took it as a big complement. People are now getting glasses under prescription with the thick black frames, most often referred to as "nerd glasses." This may be a good thing for our civilization though. I'm glad the trend now is now to be smart, or be a nerd. Maybe that will make some people read a book or do some math problems. Imagine if the new trend was to act dumb and stupid in public, this generation wouldn’t be so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI also think the reason why we see so many “nerds” and “geeks” around us might have to do with the fact that we go to an engineering school. I bet if you visited a liberal arts school, the story would be different. Yeah, it would probably be cool to be a nerd for Halloween, wear those glasses and overalls. But when it has to do with the thing as who is actually intelligent, the count drops to very little. I feel like at Stevens, we don’t have to pretend to be nerds for Halloween, because every other day of the year, that is what we are, and most people aren’t afraid to admit that.
This blog post reminded me of the saying my dad always used to tell me when I was younger. He'd say: "Be nice to the nerds because one day they will be your boss." At the time I found humor in the saying but now looking back upon it, I see that it is completely viable, especially considering the all-encompassing "empire" of computing technology that 'nerds' have created. Computing technology is an integral part of society and, as I have learned and now believe, holds very powerful political values that shape many aspects of culture, society, and politics. Who is in charge of designing and controlling this technology? The 'nerds.' But I honestly don't think that 'nerd' is an appropriate term to tie to the technology savvy individuals who poured lifetimes worth of work into technological advancements that many today take for granted. The dictionary defines the term 'nerd' as "a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious." I don't believe that those who write code or design software come even close to foolish and they are certainly not contemptible. This leads me to believe that 'nerd' is a degrading term used by bullies to describe a person with a certain set of characteristics and skills that are different from their own. I want to refrain from divulging into the psyche of bullies, and instead, explain why I think that there is a shift in targets of public scrutiny.
ReplyDeletePeople today, at least in the United States, are much more tolerant toward certain social groups, demographics, sexual orientations, etc. The 1990's witnessed great adversity towards the LGBT as well as those who associated with computing technology, however I feel a gradual shift has occurred sometime between the past two decades leading to a youth that is much more accepting of social differences.
I agree with your point that with the advent of tech giants, including Apple, Google, and Facebook, and the internet as a whole, computer engineers have boosted their social appearance by making technology that appeals to the masses. Also, I feel that computer scientists and engineers have also broken the stereotype that many who work with computers professionally are oftentimes withdrawn and lack basic social skills.
I really enjoyed your thought provoking post. Thanks for sharing!