Anyone who knows me knows this. Why do I love them so much? Why do I still cling to a hobby that many people perceive as something for children or for shut-ins? It doesn't garner me much popularity or recognition, I'll tell you that. Among many social communities, identifying yourself as someone who loves games - other than mainstream titles such as Call of Duty - is a surefire way to lose things. That respect you might have had? Ehhh, I'm not sure about this guy. That person who thought you were an alright guy? But, he's such a nerd, though.
People who take their hobbies a little too seriously aren't exactly the life of the party, and I try to avoid being one of these guys:
But let's face it. You play Dark Souls or Breath of Fire or Final Fantasy or Warcraft or talk about Dragon Ball Z or One Piece or Lord of the Rings or Marvel or Star Wars or Dungeons and Dragons or that roleplay you were involved in or Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon and you immediately become a nerd.
I love being a nerd, and involving myself in nerd communities, partially because it's stigmatized.
The people who are involved in "nerd culture" are involved out of a very genuine interest in it. So much so that they are often willing to pursue it in lieu of losing social standing. They honestly love what they are talking about, they love getting lost in these books and movies and games that are fantastical and whimsical and out there and fun. They resonate with the characters that they love, they feel a sense of fulfillment from being involved in these worlds, or maybe they enjoy the action and set pieces. Lord knows that Dragon Ball isn't exactly a Shakespearean play, but people find characters and stories in it that they love anyway. People don't become invested in nerd culture to become popular, well liked, or successful. It's the exact opposite of going out and buying a pair of Jordans or a designer bag or driving a Lamborghini. Nobody becomes or embraces being a nerd for status, power, comfort, or any other insincere reason. People are invested in the culture because they appreciate it for what it is. In that sense, being around and involved with "nerds" is an experience where you let go of your vanity and social desire and find an immense sense of freedom and sincerity.
I've been in all kinds of social groups. I don't only identify as a "nerd". But out of all the people I've been around, these groups of people that genuinely love what they do and what they buy and what they talk about have always felt the most "real". Of course, there are bad seeds in any group, and I find a lot of so-called nerds to be truly terrible people, as there are inevitably bound to be. But when you find a good group of people, they're really fun - and liberating - to hang out with.
I won't lie. Being accepted feels good. I like being able to name drop a popular movie or television show or news story and have people know what I'm talking about and involve themselves in the conversation. But there's not nearly as strong of a connection with mainstream media as there is with niche media, where people connect on a much deeper level because of its relative obscurity or stigmatization. You have to look and try harder to find these connections, which makes them mean a heck of a lot more.
There's a lot of negative stereotypes involved with nerddom, but the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. I choose to like nerdy things because I like the sincerity that can be found in their communities. It doesn't help my social networking at all, but it gives a sense of fulfillment that casual and mainstream interests do not. That said, these hobbies are a luxury. They're always the first thing to go when life gets too hectic or too busy, and there's plenty more important things in life, like relationships and work and other responsibilities. But if you have the time? They're great!
In another universe, I'm blogging about sports teams for the same reason. I'm a sports atheist, because I grew up physically inept. But they know their stuff, too. Watching people argue about this or that player or stats or what team is doing what makes me feel like they're truly invested in what they're talking about, just like nerds. Sports culture is a little too abrasive for me, but I can totally understand it. As I've gotten older, purely intellectual pursuits have given me a similar sense of fulfillment. I love hanging out with English nerds, for example.
Long story short - it's wise to go where the most sincerity lies. At least, that's my mantra for fulfillment in life.
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