Takeaways: Welcome to the Nerdiverse Series
What did we learn about the qualities of nerds and nerdiness?
Friends, we did it. This Nerdiverse series is now complete. So far, we’ve covered two essential vibes: coolness and nerdiness. Together, they represent a wide swathe of people we know and love. My hope is that you’re seeing them with a new appreciation. There is more to cover in this project, and I look forward to bringing it all together.
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What Did We Learn?
As this series comes to a close, my focus is on what we learned and why it matters. The driving question of the Vibes Project is: Why are we the way we are? Understanding nerdiness gets us closer to answering that question.
This subject is relevant because nerds are ascendant today. Their unique abilities are becoming more appreciated. Computers and the internet have created paths to wealth and status that didn’t exist before. The nerdiverse is all around us, yet it’s difficult to see past reductive stereotypes. I think we can do better.
By considering a few key qualities, we can gain a more realistic picture of the perspective and priorities of many nerds. These qualities are likely incomplete and not meant to be prescriptive. People are complex, and more work is required.
Let’s look at the qualities I outlined in this series.
Rational Thinking
In researching this series, I came to understand that nerdy qualities often represent an optimized approach to life. In many cases, the nerd perspective is highly logical and less burdened by the chaotic, weird, and unpredictable nature of most humans.
Here’s a simple example. Imagine you are planning a road trip with a friend. There are two options: the quick route and the scenic route. Let’s look at the difference:
Quick route: more efficient, more predictable, more optimized
Scenic route: less efficient, carefree, beautiful
When I say nerds are rational thinkers, it means the quick route (more rational) is more attractive than the scenic route (less rational). Let’s consider the logic.
A trip in a car can be analyzed and optimized for efficiency. Each mile consumes time, gas, and money, all of which can be calculated. These calculations can become a kind of game or challenge that involves optimizing a measurable outcome, such as arriving at the destination on time and on budget.
What you value, such as the beauty, atmosphere, and color of the scenic route, is highly subjective and not measurable. It’s more of a feeling or appreciation that evokes a romantic sense. Your friend may enjoy the scenery, but stopping so often may not seem rational. Is the scenery really worth the time? This perspective isn’t a passing opinion. It’s more like a lens that nerds apply to the world around them. While they appreciate beauty, that perception may be balanced with a focus on efficiency.
Think about this in your life. When you’ve had disagreements with others, you might think, “Why would they want to do that?” It’s easy to assume that everyone shares your perspective, but that’s not always the case. Knowing yourself and those around you means considering that rational, objective, and efficient options are highly valued by some, and that doesn’t make them wrong.
Read Part 2: Why Nerds Don’t Smoke (Rational Thinking)
Rules and Systems
The big idea of this quality is a preference for systematic thinking and a focus on explicit rules. This involves understanding the mechanics of something and then learning to manipulate it effectively. It’s not enough to know that something works; nerds often want to know why and how. This preference makes tabletop games, programming code, engineering, math, and other technical fields highly attractive. They are rulebound and have predictable outcomes.
This preference creates a contrast in mainstream culture. I wrote about the “social game” that represents how young people are expected to socialize at parties, bars, and other social gatherings. Some people seem to intuitively know implicit rules on how to behave, what to say, and how to connect with others. These subjective and unspoken rules are not perceived equally by everyone.
For a rational thinker who prefers to work within rules and systems, this can feel disorienting. The social game doesn’t appear to have explicit rules or a system that can be optimized. Playing this game, for many nerds, doesn’t come naturally and requires practice. Many would prefer a small, private group focused on a specific game, debate, or problem-solving activity.
This preference, from the outside, may appear to be a social failure because it’s different. This is not usually the case. Nerds are keenly aware of their preferences and happy to pursue them, even if it means not playing the social game that is expected of them. Situations with clear structure, order, and rules create an environment for nerds to be authentically themselves and socialize with people who share their perspectives.
Read Part 3: How Nerds Get High (Rules and Systems)
Intellectual Curiosity
It’s no surprise that nerds are known for their intelligence. This relates to the concept of knowability, where virtually anything can be researched, understood, and applied in practice. Physics, chemistry, technology, and engineering offer a bottomless source of knowledge that can consume a lifetime. This could also include history, philosophy, or astronomy. The term “bookworm” captured this quality long before the word “nerd” appeared.
The nerdy attraction to this kind of knowability stands apart from mainstream culture because it’s not based on the social game. As I wrote previously, “Some people pursue social status, nerds pursue their interests.” For many, it’s not just the pursuit of a subject, but mastery of it.
It’s easy to imagine a nerdy person at their library, workbench, or digital battle station working/playing into the wee hours. From the outside, this can appear to be a consolation for not attending a party, show, or bar. In reality, time spent on intellectual pursuits is a prize to be cherished. Nerds often make a conscious choice to prioritize knowledge over their social lives. It’s a core motivation and authentic expression of who they are.
Read Part 4: Library Rats and the Rage to Master (Intellectual Curiosity)
Precision and Completeness
Imagine being a rational thinker who does best in systems with clear rules. You are intellectually curious and take the time to understand how things work. You are highly motivated to find and explore new ideas.
In this world, precision is important. A single character can prevent a software program from working. A missed digit can throw off a calculation. Success in these situations requires diligence, attention to detail, and a strong motivation to complete tasks with precision and accuracy. This is a highly rational and productive approach.
The nerdy preference for precision and completeness is often noticeable in social situations. Nerds can be passionate about niche subjects and may tend to explain them in an overly detailed manner. They may also be quick to provide feedback or corrections on another person’s points. While this can seem rude or awkward, that is not usually the intention.
From the nerdy perspective, incomplete or erroneous information isn't useful. The only rational approach is to ensure every detail is correct. This is a behavior that nerds apply in many circumstances. Unfortunately, in the social game, this is not always welcome.
Read Part 5: When Good Enough Isn’t Enough (Precision and Completeness)
Summary
My goal has been to highlight the qualities of nerdiness and share evidence that nerdiness is not only normal but also logical and productive. I want to honor the authenticity of many nerds and build a new appreciation for what it means to be nerdy.
Here’s how the nerdy qualities work together:
Rational Thinking is the perspective that influences how they see the world
Rules and Systems create the environment where they can be comfortable
Intellectual Curiosity is the motivation driving their interests
Precision and Completeness are behaviors that they use to engage
Perhaps the most significant idea I drew from this research is the role of the social game. A reality of nerdiness, and a thread that connects the qualities, is a disinterest in playing the social game that others play. This disconnection is visible to others and creates a situation where nerds are targeted for being different. My hope is that by understanding the reality of nerdiness, we can move past the perception that they are doing something wrong or in need of correction.
Once you realize that nerds are more authentic than most people and proudly nonconformist, you can start to see that they are in control and making conscious decisions that support their abilities and interests. If that direction doesn’t match mainstream expectations, maybe it’s the expectations that need adjusting.
Links to the Full Series:
Part 1: Welcome to the Nerdiverse
Part 4: Library Rats and the Rage to Master (Intellectual Curiosity)
Part 5: When Good Enough Isn’t Enough (Precision and Completeness)
Interested in learning about the origins of Coolness? Check out my series, “The Roots of Cool.”
Before you go, please leave a comment with any ideas, thoughts, or feedback you have. I’m planning the next series and will be in touch again soon.
One of my most favorite people once said “being a nerd as a kid is not fun, but being a nerd as an adult is GREAT!!! Enjoyed the series, thanks”