I am a nerd.
I am very very proud of being a part of such a vibrant, exciting, intelligent, awesome community of lovely, funny people.
I have had the great good fortune of traveling all over the world signing autographs, speaking in large halls and tiny pubs, meeting thousands and thousands of fellow nerds-of all ages sizes and colors, for well over 20 years now.
When I was little, I played Star Trek and Dark Shadows with my Barbie dolls. I made costumes for them out of gum wrappers to look like Lt. Uhura’s. When I was cast on Babylon 5 it was a dream come true. When I had my own Star Fleet costumes in every color on the Paramount lot, I knew I could die complete as a human being.
I have been going to San Diego Comic Con for over 20 years. It was a quaint little con full of fun and wackiness back in the day. (Now there are 250,000 people that show up and every studio in the world breaks their backs trying to make a splash to get the attention of the …wait for it…nerds.) My son grew up cos playing there every summer. He is 21 now and still going. I am very proud of that. ( The photo is my son Julian, in some of his costume with me at my table at SDCC 2011. Photo credit Jan Schroeder)
I even started a new business all about celebrating being a nerd, joining other nerds in community and doing what we nerds love to do. Have nerdy adventures! Go see the places our favorite books, movies, and characters were talking about. See where what we love was created. Talk to the people who helped create it! Letting our nerdiness all hang out with no judgement, just FUN. I picked places that got me excited because I figured it I was so excited then I could find 10 other nerdy souls who would love to do this too. And sure enough, I have been joined by just amazing people and we have the time of our lives.
I recently found myself outraged by a studio who wanted me to take the word NERD off my website as they felt it was derogatory to the fans.
How DARE they?
Obviously, they felt that being a nerd was a ‘Bad Thing’.
Obviously, they did not consider themselves nerds.
How DARE they tell me what to do? How Dare they try to wedge themselves into my business with my tribe?
Then, because it’s what I do, I questioned myself. Am I wrong? Is being a nerd a Bad Thing? Is it insulting or derogatory?
Are you kidding?
Haven’t you noticed, You Studio Lawyer, that we nerds Rule The World? Why do you think you even have a job? Because the studio that you are enslaved to makes untold Kajillions of dollar (or pounds) by creating movies for us …NERDS. The biggest TV shows and movies are created for us. And I hate to break it to ya, but you are a law NERD. AND I bet you are a Star Wars nerd too, or even Doctor Who.
So I own the word nerd. I am a fucking proud nerd. We are an exceptional group of people. We have been dedicated to what we love for decades before it was cool, or even acceptable! We have been ostracized, beat up and made fun of by the jocks and cool kids. Even the hippies stayed away from us. (Which was fine with me because I hate the smell of patchouli.)
But in our own groups we thrived and multiplied and raised another generation of little nerd kids, and then other people started noticing that what we saw and loved was AWESOME.
NOW look at the world!
I don’t know what’s going to happen with the dumb studio lawyers. They may not let me have the nerd event at their studio. I was upset for a bit and then I relaxed. I love what I am doing. I love the community we have. It may be a small thing, but I am not going to change my business or my website to please a group of people who don’t know what the fans know. That we are nerds and we are fine with it. It has happened before and it will happen again, that the studios make decisions that upset the very group they need to buy their products. They don’t get it. But we do.
We are nerds and we are fantastic. We have changed the very world, and the future by our insight and passions.
I celebrate you and being one, with you.
Amen. Keep nerding!
We used to be mocked wherever we went, considered t be t the bottom of the ladder in school, good only for getting the jocks to pass by tutoring(also known as doing their papers yourself). Now we have made such an impact, if you aren’t nerdy n some way, you aren’t considered cool. My nerdiness brings all the nerds to play… Don’t think that it isn’t hard… Damn right, it can be hard… I will cheer you, I bring along the bard!
Damn right Pat! Moreover those of us Nerds who became scientists and engineers are bringing the best of our imagination to the real world – the best way to predict the future is to make it happen 🙂
Was always given a hard time for loving Science Fiction, and being a nerd. Just made me dig my heels in harder, thinking what’s wrong with that.
Good for you Baby! We are all here for you.
Well said… I am a confessed nerd… in the 80’s we held our heads low in shame… now we hold them high…
Exactly
Awesome Post! I’m a Nerd and have been one since the 50’s.
Awesome Post Patricia! I’m a Nerd and have been one since the 50’s when it was not a popular thing to be.
Right? It was risking your life to be a nerd.
Pat, you are so awesome they need to invent a new way to measure your awesomeness. Damn straight I am a proud nerd, and glad to have you and so many of my nerd friends as members of my tribe. So say we all! Danger, Will Robinson! Live Long and Prosper! David Westbay
Hahaha! Thank you my friend! happy Birthday!
Well said, Pat, very well said indeed!
Patty, in this day and age, there are always those trying to make a buck off the back of others hard work, exploiting interests and hobbies. When they can’t do that they try and destroy the enjoyment of their activities by just these sort of means. I won’t mention any legal actions but I nearly fell out my chair laughing at attempts to copyright the word Shire. None of us English folk from the shire of York would stand for that sort of nonsense. Nerds of all walks and interests unite! ???❤️
Thank you! Well said!
We Nerds have already inherited the Earth…
Nerd with you! It’s only offensive to those who aren’t nerds. We get it! We are introducing it children to Babylon 5. They love it. Nerdlings!
Nerd pride!
I love that: Nerd Pride!
You should come up to Seattle soon. The Museum of Flight is having a grand opening of a new wing featuring iconic jets and etc. Here also you can walk through a ISS mock up and THE Shuttle Trainer. Not a Shuttle you have to just admire and look at from afar, but a close up real deal. They give tours. Late June.
Be what you are, be proud of what you are. Lawyers only exist to try and take the fun out of life. If they get too obnoxious just remember the immortal words of Col Jones “They don’t like it up ’em Catain Mainwaring, they don’t like it up ’em” 🙂
I so agree that us nerds rule!!!! I am a Babylon 5/Voyager/Dr Who nerd. Long may we rule.
Hear hear!
Nerd and proud! It’s not a derogatory term as far as this Brit is concerned. I cross the boundary between nerd and geek as some things I’m more knowledgeable on than others.
I’m curious as to why the studio think being a nerd is bad. Our community work together to raise money for charities. Nerds and geeks provide me with a community where I’m not seen as my disabilities first but as a person who CAN do things. We don’t judge on ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or disability. We embrace difference knowing it makes the world go round.
Nerd is not a bad word, nerd is everything that this world should aspire to be.
I couldn’t agree more.
Nerd and proud of it!! And I think it’s amazing what you’re doing with Quest. I hope they let you go ahead with the event. Great post! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Well said. The business forgets who pays their wages, be it films, games, comics etc. They should be thankful nerds exist
The term “Nerd” is now badge of honour for me and my thousands of brethren. If someone has a problem with it that are obviously out of touch with the modern world and should escape from their caves of pre war bunkers. Perhaps a dose of every day life will clue them in, either that or they will have a heart attack. Either way good for us so called “nerds”.
Amen!
Hello! I love your blog and your attitude (& it’s not “‘tude” but your appreciation of how people can be). I -as many others- would love to share some nerdy (or ‘normal’) moments with you -some day on one of your funky trips? Thank you for keeping in touch with fans/like-minded beings and sharing your thoughts & experiences. xx
I hope you can join us sometime Andrew. We have a blast!
It looks it! I’ll keep watching this space… xx
Totally agree Pat. I am a non-IT person running a team of IT developers I was shocked to find that in fact I was the only Geek/ Nero amongst them. It sort of cuts against the stereo type. But to be honest I am now proud to announce to them all that I am the only Geek in the room. I will however continue to talk about Sci-fi, comics, and my personal favourite, Babylon 5
Wow that is unusual! Maybe you will convert some!
Well said Pat,I couldn’t agree more. I had the pleasure of spending 2 mini tours with you & Claudia when you popped over to the London. I was a bit nervous meeting the pair of you to start off but I soon realised you were a nerd like the rest of us & we had a great time,even if it was raining.
Andy
We did! It was so fun to see you Andy.
And we’re all better off because you’re a fucking proud nerd! Screw the lawyers & thanks for this great post!
Great Blog Patricia. I think to me being a nerd means we are passionate people 🙂
Yes! We are passionate!
Absolutely right. I’ve been a ‘nerd’ since before I even knew the word. I went to my first Star Trek convention in 1982 (seriously, it was the weekend when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands – we come out after a weekend partying and discovered that we were at war!!!!). I met my ex at a convention. I’ve brought up 2 nerdy kids. I LOVE who and what I am. Don’t let ANYONE try to belittle it. It’s not their fault they’re not as awesome as we are.
hahaha! I love that Lynn!
awesome first post, maintain the rage
Thank Jey! xoxox
I fully support your, Patricia, and thank you for your dedication to fandom. Like you, I am proud of being a nerd/geek and am fortunate enough to be an editor for Marvel UK (which is a part of Panini UK). My 3 year old daughter recently went to her first comic con, MCM EXPO, and loved it. She even was described as a beautiful geeky flower and that the geek was strong with her. My wife and I are raising her to embrace her passions, and always be true to herself and never bow to peer pressure.
That’s beautiful Brady!
Huzzah!
you go girl.It’s cool to be a Nerd!we all need to be more nerdy and less anal retentive in these days
hahaha! True!
Yes! And I also can’t stand the smell of patchouli. Nerds should proud of how awesome we all are. We all love things that at some point others scoffed at. Yet we stayed true. Be a proud nerd. Peer pressure is lame.
It’s funny isn’t it? I dealt with peer pressure in school and now the studio is doing it to me now. The difference is I am an adult now.
Could not agree more – Nerd and proud 🙂
🙂
Patricia, you are amazing! And I for one am happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with you and all the other nerds/geeks out there who pay that idiot’s salary with their hard earned bucks/pounds by buying the studios’ products! Who are they to tell you what to call your business and how to run it? The hell with ’em – so say we all! (Btw, if it’s WB and the visit to the HP Studio, I don’t imagine JKR would be too impressed with their attitude!) I wish you all the luck in the world with your venture. ?xoxo
Hey Mags! Thank you for your unflagging support as always. Love ya!
I am a long time Highlander and Star Trek nerd. Proud of it. Somebody doesn’t like it? Fuck ’em!
Hahaha! Thanks Ken!
I love being a nerd!! And you have been inspiring me to let it shine more and more openly. Awesome article and thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks Molly! I was just letting it out of my heart and I am amazed by the response.
Good for you! How dare they try to tell us nerds what “offends” us! We have fought for many generations to own our nerdome and not be ashamed! I am a second generation nerd, raising the third generation. So rasberry to them!
Exactly Alicia! We are adults and can decide for ourselves.
Thanks for all your work. I am the head of my small family of nerds! My kids were raised on scifi and tech, zombies and deadites. And we kick ass!
Awesome Matt!
I’m proud to be a nerd, have been since I was 4 (I’m now 51) and I will sing the song of my people: She Blinded Me With Science…
BTW Pat, when are you coming to Australia? We have Comiccons in every city. Love to see you and Claudia!
Hope to come soon! 🙂
I’ve always been a nerd–a Sci Fi nerd, a science nerd, a chess nerd, and a history nerd (specifically a Civil War nerd). I was in nerd heaven when I was able to merge two of my nerd kingdoms on my blog when I posted about John Sheridan and B5 seceding from Earth Gov.
Cool! I have a few friends who do Civil War enactments. They LOVE it!
I for one am proud to be called a nerd, and consider it a badge of honor since the 70’s. It’s also a bonus being in the same category as you. BONUS!!!
Thanks Tom! You are sweet.
Yes, nerds rule the world. I think there was always a little nerd in all of us. I was a semi-jock who played football and went home and watched Star Trek ( I was a gopher at a radio station that let me go see Star War’s premier because they didn’t know what it was) . I believe the world has stopped fighting and embraced their inner nerd. In short, the nerds assimilated us all. We should have known. Resistance was futile.
hahahaha! Perfect Richard!
I was a nerd and a jock, so I often took ribbing (mostly good natured but not always) from both sides. But a quarter century later I write, design role playing games, and can easily lift my little girl up and swing her around. So being a nerd jock paid off in big ways for me.
Fantastic! You have my son’s dream job!
Pat you always have the best outlook on things! NERDS RULE! I think it’s about time to have you back on The IntelleXual Podcast to talk about your new business and to catch up with all your other good works!
Oh yes let’s talk soon!
Perfectly spoken! And as one of the vast swarm of nerds out here I want to send you so many thanks for being a public face for nerds everywhere! Love all the stuff you do and hope to someday be able to meet you and thank you in person. 🙂
I hope to meet you too!
I’ve told my students for
Years, we are all a nerd about something. Your post is pretty perfect.
Just look at you! You’re a savvy business woman with years of professional, creative experience. You’ve reared a wonderful son. You’ve earned the praise of your peers. And you’re a nerd. See what we can do?
Go get ’em!
Thanks Cliff! xo
Don’t they know that messing with you means messing with “us” you know those who video chatted with you, gone on a quest with you, meet you at a con or in other words your Nerd Family. They don’t know rule 1 never mess with the redhead or those who like her.
that should be Gary Moore…hit submit to soon
Hahaha! Well I guess I am mad because I believe I have the freedom do be who I want to be with out anyone telling me what to do. I appreciate not everyone is a nerd, or likes the word. Buy they are free to choose too!
Pat, hello from “Down Under”. I grew up in the 70’s mostly in Sydney. There were only three tv channels to choose from originally then four. I raced home from school to watch “I Dream Of Genie” and loved it. I watched every episode of “Lost In Space”, (more than once), and later discovered “Star Trek”.
When Babylon 5 aired in Australia it was one of those tv shows that I planned my evening around. I didn’t miss it and still love it on DVD.
Yep, I’m a “nerd” and damn proud of it. A group of like minded friends on Facebook even created our own page, “Superhero Sanctum”.
I have four teenagers and guess what, they’re “nerds” as well. So now there are five members of one family that you could class as “nerds”.
Someone at the studio is too precious and needs to get a life desperately. You keep doing what you’re doing Pat and don’t let this get you down.
Thank you Wayne! I hope to get to Oz soon. All of you are making me feel much better!
Old school people like us are comfortable being called a “Nerd”. Now people like the term “gamer” because that is more socially acceptable and marketable.
Hi John!
I’m old school. But I am not a gamer. I don’t play any games. I often feel out of the loop when folks atrt talking about the current games. My son is tho!
Rock on 🙂
🙂
When I was in the 3rd grade some kids tried to bully me by calling me a nerd. It did make me mad but that night I thought about it. What made them call me a nerd. It was because I loved to read, loved science fiction, loved fantasy, was smart. I could find nothing wrong with that. They tried it the next day and my reply was, “so.” It sure took the wind out of their sails. I’m a nerd and I’m proud of it.
Exactly Shawn. We own it. And now look at the world!
Thanks Pat! As another scoff nut who was bullied in school, but now has kids who love scifi too, say screw them and be proud!
Yep! We win!
I grew up as a nerd, my dad started my reading with Tom Swift books and then got me reading Robert A. Heinlein books. My mom and dad always watched the old 50’s monster movies and the sci-fy movies that came on Friday and Saturday nights. I never felt shame about being a nerd. I was in the Chess club in high school and the few people who tried to tease me about my “nerdiness” quit when they realized it backfired. It never made me angry or ashamed, rather I felt a fierce pride knowing I understood more about the universe of possibilities that God offered me through science fiction and fantasy. I figured God had enriched my mind by giving me those venues of escape from the mundanes of the world.
I love that perspective!
Absolutely awesome! I am a nerd of many flavors and I embrace it wholeheartedly. Keep up the fight!
Thank you Bella!
I love being a nerd! At one time people would make fun of me because of my love of Star Trek and science fiction, but that has all changed and it is now good to be a nerd and a geek and it is really great. Patricia Tallman you are great xx
It’s amazing how things have turned around!
Speaking as someone who can’t say ‘yes’ without hearing Ambassador Kosh (the blithering Hoover bag) say it too, I salute you and am happy to be a nerd alongside you.
Thanks Robert!
Being nerdy has helped me overcome the reality of living with a physical disability (alas, divorcing it is not an option). Being nerdy helped me escape from it and pretend, just for that moment I was a brave Narn or cunning Centauri (yes, I was–am–a big Babylon 5 fan). Being nerdy helped me identify that being different can be cool, exciting and rewarding as I grew. Now being nerdy helps me see finish that manuscript. 🙂 Btw, thank you for being awesome.
Me too, Pio. It’s where I escaped to when things we rough. Still are! I play all the Harry Potter films and Lord of the Rings when I am down and need some help!
Excellent piece – It seems they don’t want to upset anyone in case they get sued but they just end up annoying the very people they claim to protect?? Being aged 50 I am still a nerd/geek and proud of it from growing up in the UK with Dr Who, Blake’s 7, Gerry Anderson, Hammer Horror etc. and all the shows from the USA Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Planet of the Apes etc. plus movies like Star Wars, Blade Runner, Alien etc. then all the great shows that followed (including of course Babylon 5) to now where there is so much of the stuff that we love on TV and at the cinema and people like Stephen Hawking to inspire an interest in science it truly is a great time to be a nerd (hope I don’t get sued for mentioning the n-word to much – LOL)
I know, I agree. I am sure they mean to ‘protect’. But we are grown ups-Let us make our own decisions. If folks don’t like me or my site they do not have to come!
Thanks for doing the right thing even if it costs you this event. Stay true to your heart and strong in your convictions. Your fans love you more for being strong for yourself and them.
Thanks John!!! xo
Born a nerd, die a nerd, long live the nerd.
Yes!
From a proud UK nerd, well said Patricia well said.
Thanks Paul!
It’s time for Revenge of the Nerds, and no, not a movie this time!
hahahah! I loved that movie.
I am a 2nd generation nerd, raising a third generation of (currently) little nerds. Mr. Lawyer guy needs to realize that the largest grossing and most popular media products were created for nerds (and by fellow nerds). It’s nowhere near a derogatory word anymore. I’m proud of my nerd-ness :).
Thank you Joe. I appreciate the support!
I don’t self-identify using the word “nerd”. I was socially abused and mistreated a lot as a child and a teen. One of the words used to harm me was “nerd”. I never learned to be sensitive to racial slurs against me for being half Italian (my dad is a first generation born in the USA among his family). However, I did learn to feel slighted and verbally assaulted with terms like “fag”, “geek”, and “nerd”.
Trying to reclaim a socially stigmatized word is difficult (I personally prefer literal word usage and am annoyed that you can’t say “intimate” without the interpretation “sex”, and find it silly that people are so terrified of honest sexual discussion that they cannot say “had sex with” and must say “slept with” instead). Trying to reclaim a slur, even if it’s not racial, is even more difficult.
Describe yourself as you like, but be aware that the new culture of “geek is chic” and “nerds are hot” was invented by the media, to spread the marketability of product, not by a natural progression of society accepting our interests.
The executives asking you to remove the word “nerd” might be former victims of social abuse themselves. They might not see the word as you wish it to be seen. They could possibly just be marketing people that care only about profitability, sure enough. Still, the word divides people because of their own personal experiences. People like yourself who have had a successful life embracing “nerdy” things, and people who have only felt victimized for liking what they like.
Keep liking what you like. I enjoy your work (I’m working through Babylon 5 with a female companion currently and I always felt particularly empathetic to your character). I just felt like sharing my perspective here.
Thank you sweetheart! I am so glad you shared your perspective! You could be right and they could have had their own experience with the word. The media may have hopped onto the word, but they didn’t create it. It has been turned around by us, and the eventual popularity of all the things we have loved over the decades. Many on this page have been victimized. We all deal with it the best we can. I want to be able to do what I think is best and let others choose for themselves. I certainly don’t think what I do is for everyone. I believe they should make their own choice. Having the studio bully me into changing my whole business for a half day event is just another way we are being controlled by a group with more power than us. I want to make my own choice and let my friends and clients make theirs. Take care and know you are loved!
I say Nerds rule! ???
YES! Thank you Pam! xoxoxox
Been a nerd all my life and no matter what someone tells me I’m proud of being unique. After all “I, myself, am strange and unusual!”
I love it!
I grew up a nerd in the 60s and 70s reading Poul Anderson, Andre Norton, James Blish, Ursula K. LeGuin, Gordon R. Dickson, Larry Niven, Isaac Asimov, and so many others. For me, my crowning nerd moment was meeting Poul Anderson at World Con in 1984. I expected to meet this big tall Viking with a stein of beer in one hand and a buxom blonde in the other, and instead, I met a kind, gentle, considerate, modest, and soft spoken man who took TWO HOURS out of his busy time at the Con to sit and talk to a callow young man about writing. 30 plus years later and I can still remember every moment of that meeting.
That’s incredible. Poul sounds like an amazing man!
Growing up as a nerd, not a comfortable title at the time, I have to say that it did give me skills that transferred well into adulthood. I’m not afraid to go off on my own to do whatever I have in mind. I know enough to leave information on how to find me if with someone I trust to not abuse the information, but also has (in my opinion) the proper judgement on when to use it if needed. Being alone however is not necessarily our strength. No we are not all the poorly adjusted folk who are often considered by people to be the image of nerds. We value the relationships we develop, and are excited about sharing what we do with people who are doing what they love to do as well. We may not be the best at talking about the weather, well, OK, it was one of the topics I studied in college, so I know more than enough to recognize when someone I’m talking to has no clue as to the relationship between upper atmosphere pressure and lower atmosphere pressure, what affects jet streams, etc. Kind of discourages talking about how good or bad the weather we’re experiencing is at that point. We tend to love to solve problems. But no matter what, our basic mantra tends to be “Eat, sleep, drink (perhaps), love always what you do and who you’re with.”
The world needs way fewer turds, and way more nerds. I’m proud to be a nerd since the 1950’s, before the word existed. I wear it proudly.