Stereotypical nerds are people wearing Coke-bottle glasses while clutching their calculators and debating the outcome of a fight between Batman and Captain America. While this misconception still exists to a degree, the term “nerd” has recently evolved into a symbol of pride rather than a pejorative.
Nerds have gained a curious kind of elitism of late. In these strange modern times, society has become a competition over who has the most obscure interests, the least-discovered hobbies.
Sketchy underground music or the latest cult television show is simply a torrent away (or, if you’re feeling particularly generous, purchased off the creator’s low-rent flash site through PayPal). Constant exposure to new material through Tumblr, Reddit and 4Chan creates an easy, pressure-free way to sample a wide variety of nerd culture, allowing one’s “inner nerd” to shine. Easy access to a variety of content makes engaging in nerdy activities less exclusive and thereby much more desirable. Without the pressure of having to make face-to-face contact with fellow fans, new users have a chance to try something they might otherwise publicly shun.
The British TV show “Doctor Who” is a case study in how the Internet creates fanbases for previously obscure activities. The sci-fi show chronicling a humanoid alien’ s exploits through time and space has always had a significant following in England, but remained relatively obscure in the U.S. until recently, when the show’s addition to Netflix prompted a wider American viewership.
In the U.S., the sixth season premiere of “Doctor Who” drew 1.3 million viewers, BBC America’s highest ratings ever. The introduction of this show to Netflix allowed people to take a chance and watch something a little outside their comfort zone. After all, nobody has to know what’s on your Netflix queue.
Even obtaining comic books no longer requires a trip to the local, and probably seedy, comic book store. Digital distribution means that anyone can download the latest issue of “Nightwing” from the comfort of their Macbook Pro while Taylor Swift plays quietly in the background.
Casual fans of cliché nerd hobbies want well-lit, easily accessible places to buy their back issues and Save Firefly buttons, an entirely understandable desire. More seasoned fans, however, resent intruders into what they consider “sacred ground.”
This line of thinking seems almost self-destructive: with the comic book industry on the brink of extinction, why would you reject new fans? Many still labor under the misconception that more people wanting to engage in these types of activities somehow dilutes the fan base. If you can’t list th
e publication date of every 100-page Giant-size X-Men comic from 1964-81, how can you be expected to carry on a civilized conversation about why Rogue is your favorite character?
It’s true that a more diverse readership will likely result in more diverse discussions, and this is by no means a bad thing. Attempting to chase new fans away for fear that their opinions will somehow sully the purity of their obsession is childish and petty.
The hypocrisy of this mindset is unbelievable. The long-held cliché that nerds are bullied is being turned on its head. Less ardent nerds are being attacked for not having enough of an in-depth knowledge of their topic, which is unfair on multiple levels.
If there is an opportunity to bring awareness to a sometimes-overlooked community, why would any “true” fan pass up the offer?
Rather than trying to drive off fans who want to learn more about TV shows or video games, the interest of a wider fanbase should be taken as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Bullying only helps to perpetuate an unfriendly stereotype, and gives nerds a bad reputation. Besides, we need more people on Team Batman.