Life With the Geeks and Nerds

While eating in a local restaurant recently, I overheard a few younger folks talking and I heard a word I have known my whole life. One of them call the other a "Geek." In the same conversation, I heard an even more archaic word. Someone in the conversation used the word "Nerd." Now I know from the way they were picking on each other those words were not used in a malicious manner, but it got me to thinking about kids I have known over the years since I was an awkward teenager. I then thought of the folks, both kids and adults who have worn the labels "Geek" and "Nerd." Some folks I know wear those names as a badge of honor, and for some folks it is a major cause of embarrassment and pain. Some folks are bullied because they meet certain people's definition of a Geek or don't fit into what society thinks is "cool" or "normal. Some realize that the reason they are labeled with these types of terms is because they follow a different path than the "popular" crowd.

I started thinking about the Geeks and Nerds I have been around in the past, and have even worn the label myself. (and still do) Let's discuss some of these Nerds.

Band Geeks: That kid in the High School Band. This group actually covers a large section. (The marching band alone is usually pretty darn big.) Throw in Concert band, and larger schools have orchestra or symphony. These Kids are usually smart, talented, well rounded and artistic.

Choral Geeks: Very closely related to the Band Geek stereotype. I have heard some amazing music in High School Chorus concerts. Moving, heartbreaking, joyful.... all beautiful. Some of these folks have gone on to be very famous singers and musicians.

The kid you may have picked on because he was a "Junior" with the local Vol. Fire Department, or Rescue Squad... he or she may have been hanging out at the station, or at a training class while you were on dates, or football games or doing your "cool stuff." Many of these kids go on to be the Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics who dedicate their lives to serving their fellow man by saving lives and helping to ease the suffering of others. Pick on them if you want to, but hope you never need them.  Some of these folks are Chemistry or Physics Geeks and become HazMat Techs and Rescue Gurus. Some even evolve into Doctors PAs and Nurses. Some become Emergency Managers and help our citizens recover from major disasters.

The academic nerds: These are the people that are not only smart, but SUPER smart. They are not only the kids who go to college, but the ones who lead the way academically. The 4.0 crowd, the key, stole and cord wearing crowd at college graduation. Be careful who you pick on in school, you will probably be working for these kids one day. These folks also go on to be the Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers, movers and shakers in the business world. This may be your quiet friend who always has his or her nose in a book, or the nerd who is so smart they never have to study. This is also the person who thinks so outside of the box they blow your mind. (Think Shelton from Big Bang Theory lol)

The Motorheads / Gearheads: I know I know, some of you are thinking, "Hey I was or am a gearhead and I'm not a Geek!" I hate to break it to you... but yeah, you are. Look at the definition ... someone who follows a different path than the "popular crowd." Now if your school was full of motorheads, then ok... maybe you went to a really really cool school. These kids grow up to be the the guys and girls who can not only fix a car, but build awesome things with their hands and brains. Hotrods, race cars, four wheel drive monsters. Some folks consider themselves "car guys" and they think they are cool, but look down on the "gear heads" that take it to extreme and are obsessed. (see also grease monkey). Some folks see this as dirty work that is beneath them.

The tech school Geek: (See also FFA, VICA, DECA, working class, blue collar Geeks) These folks are the ones who also like to work with their hands and brains and end up feeding the world, building and designing buildings, and the infrastructure of our world. These kids are picked on because their path leads them to create and build and grow things. They may be from rural areas or be seen as country bumpkins, or from hard working blue collar families and don't fit the social norm of the "cool crowd."

The artsy nerds: As the name implies these are the people who are very artistic. They are gifted, painters, sculptors, musically inclined. The writers, the poets, and the kid with a talent for drawing that is unreal. These kids may go far with the talent they possess, or their  talent may just be for their own enjoyment.

Comic Book / Cosplay Nerds:  (see also Star Wars geek, Star Trek Geek, SciFi Geek) These are the folks who have a rich fantasy life. Most are scary smart and some are very creative. You can find them at Comic-Con and other conventions celebrating and emulating their favorite characters from movies, comic books and cartoons and video games.

I have hung out with Computer, Tech Geeks. These are the folks who do everything from design, work on, and enjoy the things that keep the modern world working, communicating and really do rule the world. Without our IT gurus.... our modern world would come to a sudden stop.

I am an Amateur Radio Operator, or Ham Radio Geek. The folks I know in the hobby are extremely smart. There are folks who are major Ham Geeks that you would never guess, like Joe Walsh of the Eagles, and so many others. They deal with RF theory, Propagation, electronics and antenna theory. Many go on to design, operate and control many parts of your everyday life, from your local 911 system, to the cell phone you may be reading this from. One of the older gentleman I have met in the hobby, in his younger life, was actually a "radio man" in the US Army and one of the very first Green Berets (Special Forces). This man is much cooler and more "Bad A**" than most of us will ever be.

I have in no way covered all of what might be considered a "Nerd" or "Geek." There are so many more stereotypes out there. In reading this, you may have even seen a little of yourself. You may have thought, "Joe you are describing most every kid or adult I know or have met." That is exactly the point. Everyone is different, it takes all types of people for society to work. It takes all of these folks to keep the world turning. Just because someone don't fit into your definition of "cool" or "popular" they do not deserve to be bullied as kids or adults. If you know of someone who is an outsider, get to know them, they may surprise you with how much fun they can be to hang out with or how much you have in common.

God bless the geeks, nerds and outsiders. Most of these folks are actually extremely "cool" if you take the time to get to know them. I hope they continue to follow the road less taken.  May they continue to think outside of the box, build cool stuff, invent new things, make beautiful music, bring color and shape to our world, educate our children, heal our sick, fight our fires, keep us safe, put our fears to rest, and help make life worth living.