Where Can I Find Real-Life Nerds Like Me?

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The discussion centers around the frustration of not being able to find like-minded "nerds" in real life, particularly among classmates who seem more focused on financial gain from their studies than on a genuine passion for science. The original poster expresses a desire for intellectual companionship and challenges, feeling out of place among peers who do not share interests in physics, gaming, or nerd culture. There is a suggestion that the demographic of nerds may be more prevalent in upper division classes, particularly in fields like physics and engineering, but less so in mechanical engineering. Participants discuss potential strategies for meeting more nerdy individuals, such as joining clubs related to science or technology. The conversation also touches on gender dynamics within nerd culture, with some noting that female representation in STEM fields is often lower, and that male nerds may sometimes exhibit behavior that objectifies women. The overall sentiment reflects a yearning for deeper connections with others who share similar intellectual interests and hobbies.
  • #31


The Big Bang Theory is bs, didn't you know. Most physics nerds I know had to be socially sophisticated as they were at the end of the day selling a service.

I am a Lord of the Rings Nerd and a physics Nerd, which makes me an uber nerd, bow before me peons.
 
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  • #32


Femme_physics said:
Not be a part of men's "chicks, beers and cars" culture
Does not exist. Hell, it's given as one of the reasons for why there are so few women in many of the STEM fields. I've spent lots of time around geeks (engineering geeks, robotics geeks, linux user group geeks, tech meetup geeks, harry potter geeks, video game geeks, etc) and they're almost all into chicks and beer on some level. I know it can get kind of super awkward for a bit, but once you get over it and learn how to change the topic it gets better.
As for meeting nerds? Try clubs that do stuff (like robotics or SAE, or whatever club fixes cars at your school) and meetups and your local linux users group, and start talking to people. I found out that my lab is full of anime geeks through repeated convo, not 'cause they offered the info in the first place. Most people don't show up to school in a WoW t-shirt and all that jazz.

Since when do girls like any of those things
I do. *shrugs* Girls are human and all that jazz.
 
  • #33


story645 said:
I do. *shrugs* Girls are human and all that jazz.

You lie!
 
  • #34


Proportionately, the 'nerdy' type people are a very small percentage of our human personality types, thus, the population.

Male 'nerdy' (science) types tend to gather together, eg as someone pointed out, NASA, or research centres, wherever scientists can follow, develop, 'do' their 'work'.

Work being the operative word.

Female 'nerds' do not gather together quite as much.

If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed...
 
  • #35


Obi wonders how she can get herself from Australia to the Lunch Room at N.A.S.A every day. <.< >.< >.> *sigh*
 
  • #36
Obsidian222 said:
Obi wonders how she can get herself from Australia to the Lunch Room at N.A.S.A every day. <.< >.< >.> *sigh*

Easy peasy Obsidian:

http://www.csiro.au/

http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/

Antarctic anyone? can't get any cosier?:smile:

http://www.eoas.info/biogs/A001611b.htm

Science with a political twist:

http://australia.gov.au/topics/science-and-technology/scientific-research

http://www.science.gov.au/

Pap smears for free?

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/crs/

One of the key issues is getting into the science zone, somehow, someway, getting your profile out there, among those whom are so desirable to be with/around, they will generally speaking be engrossed in their work, their passion is science of one sort or another, (seriously what's not to love about the sciences?)...but it can become a 24/24 life, you challenge Winston/Winstonette is reach out.

It's all good.
 
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  • #37


And don't underestimate the brilliant abstract drawcard of cyberspace, (picking and choosing sites of course), but any abstract/science-ish site can be a place to meet likemindeds.

It's then up to you.
 
  • #38


So that's the answer then, go to one of these sciency meetings, and try and look intelligent, whilst my brain melts!
 
  • #39


How many frequent Pap Smear points does it take until you have enough points for the free trip to the NASA lunch room?
 
  • #40


Femme_physics said:
I don't get to meet enough nerds, seriously. Where are the Sheldons, the Urkels, or the nerdy people in physicsforums IRL? Where are they in MY real life, anyway? Is this all an illusion and people like that don't actually exist? Because I never get to meet people like that IRL. I even can't relate to my classmates, they only seem to be studying mechanical engineering for cash, not to the greater goal of fathoming science (whereas I do).

So, I always find MYSELF to be the biggest nerd around! I want someone who can challenge my nerdiness, and I shall challenge his. How is it possible that all my Monkey Island/Hitchhiker's Guide references are only getting me a blank stare?

I agree. The only other semi-nerd I know is my friend in my class Andrew. Otherwise I make jokes about math or physics (Like a funny Schrodinger's cat one) and no one, not even my semi-nerd friend laughs...I wish I knew someone who lived near me that was a good ol' science nerd, to joke with and contemplate the universe and things a normal person would hear and think I'm a nonsensical crazy dude talking about photons, which they think are sci-fi nonsense crazy things! *Breaths deeply in exhaust and anger*

Anyway, I agree... *sighs* (BTW HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy is awesome)
 
  • #41


So, who here laughs at "Let \varepsilon &lt; 0"?
 
  • #42


Obsidian222 said:
So that's the answer then, go to one of these sciency meetings, and try and look intelligent, whilst my brain melts!

What a way to go tho'!

Brain stimulus and all those sexy nerds around you.
 
  • #43


Zryn said:
How many frequent Pap Smear points does it take until you have enough points for the free trip to the NASA lunch room?

That can depend, if you link it purchases of feminine hygiene products and birth control it may run up quicker.

Alternatively ...what is their alternatively?

Thinking...
 
  • #44


jhae2.718 said:
so, who here laughs at "let \varepsilon &lt; 0"?

?

you have math in your brains.
You have waves all around.
And soon you will find
that oscillations abound.
You’re not on you own if you know what i know.
But you are the one who’ll learn how these waves go.

Waves go up and down sine curves, so graph them with care
though sometimes equations make life less hard to bear...

***(78)----3333$$$
 
  • #45


Steppn said:
What a way to go tho'!

Brain stimulus and all those sexy nerds around you.

*sigh* Ahhh yes, a ME paradise..
 
  • #46


Lazernugget said:
I agree. The only other semi-nerd I know is my friend in my class Andrew. Otherwise I make jokes about math or physics (Like a funny Schrodinger's cat one) and no one, not even my semi-nerd friend laughs...I wish I knew someone who lived near me that was a good ol' science nerd, to joke with and contemplate the universe and things a normal person would hear and think I'm a nonsensical crazy dude talking about photons, which they think are sci-fi nonsense crazy things! *Breaths deeply in exhaust and anger*

Anyway, I agree... *sighs* (BTW HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy is awesome)

Where are you from, Lazernugget?
 
  • #47


I just wanted to make another post to gently encourage the people here to pursue their dream of meeting 'nerds'. It may seem challenging, there may not be many around, (seemingly), they maybe reserved to interact with at times, but do it anyway.

There is a a communication level that some people have along an 'abstract' framework, there are many people that like to communicate in a 'concrete' type of framework...to meet and be with, discuss, with likeminded people/communicators is a good start.

Those that enjoy discussing theory, ideas, concepts, science-ish 'stuff'-are out there. They are amazing, intelligent, open minded, funny, sexy...life is way too short not to pursue the things you have an interest for/in.

It will be challenging and may take a while to meet these people but (my experience) it's worth it. It's like coming home to your own planet.

Just remember they tend to flock together, their personalities can be complex, (some) can be reserved in nature too.

But have fun with it. What has anyone to lose really...give it your best.
 
  • #48


Does your University have any societies?

Join astronomy or gaming? You should run into people in wider branches of physics, they do tend to be 90% men, at least in my experience.
 
  • #49


Femme_physics said:
Where are you from, Lazernugget?

The Santa Cruz Area... (California) We were hit by mini Tsunamis...recently...on the news...


BTW, an elements joke for you all.

2 Scientists walk into a bar. One says "I'll have some H2O" The other says "I'll have some H2O too" But the bar tender hands him H2O2, so that scientist dies. THE END
 
  • #50


And the sexy nerd thinks;

"I have no system for understanding this messy person in front of me"!
 
  • #51


Lazernugget said:
2 Scientists walk into a bar. One says "I'll have some H2O" The other says "I'll have some H2O too" But the bar tender hands him H2O2, so that scientist dies. THE END

ROFL! Wow!
 
  • #52


Johnny was a chemist, but Johnny is no more; for what he thought was H2O was H2SO4!
 
  • #53


Steppn said:
Female 'nerds' do not gather together quite as much.
We try, we really do. The assignment for my next women in tech meetup is to bring a friend and I went to my LUG (linux users group) today and there were two other girls (though my local LUG also suffers from a serious lack of people under 30).

If you want women, sneak into your local chemE department. It's traditionally/statistically the engr. with the best rate of female participation (women may even be the majority in many places).

I just wanted to make another post to gently encourage the people here to pursue their dream of meeting 'nerds'.
Just try not to objectify the women in the process 'cause seriously the biggest rant I here from any (and have about being a) female nerd is the "ooh, she's female-shiny!" attitude.
 
  • #54


story645 said:
If you want women, sneak into your local chemE department. It's traditionally/statistically the engr. with the best rate of female participation (women may even be the majority in many places).
Not surprised at that; at least half the chemE's I know are female. Too bad my school doesn't have any engineering :(
 
  • #55


Just try not to objectify the women in the process 'cause seriously the biggest rant I here from any (and have about being a) female nerd is the "ooh, she's female-shiny!" attitude.

I think I have a clue what you mean, but can you elaborate on what you mean by "she's female-shiny" attitude?

I think Steppn was talking about male nerds.


As far as societies, I'm not sure if there are in my college. I'll look.


PS funny jokes :D
 
  • #56


Apologies if I have posted and sounded as to 'objectify women'-I was referring to males, (and I don't want to be objectifying males either for that matter).

My point of posting was the relative low representation of 'science' or 'nerd' types in society, and the challenges faced developing social connections with them, possibly leading to relationship.

I had hoped to offer encouragement to Obsidian to pursue the challenge. I myself, (am female btw), have a relationship with a scientist and the happiness, the intellectual compatibility, just the appreciation of him 'for whom and what he is/does' is amazing. The communication shared is important, the interests shared, the understanding of the reservedness, so no, not objectifying people, but pursue the opportunity if you can.

All the best.
 
  • #57


Steppn said:
Apologies if I have posted and sounded as to 'objectify women'-I was referring to males
Your post was just the jumping off point, it seriously had nothing in it that read "go stalk female nerds now" or the like. Sorry that it seemed that I took it that way.

I was trying to make the general point that if you're going to go into geek space, don't treat it like a field trip (and yeah, I'll extend that to men too) in part 'cause in my LUG yesterday a hot girl walked in and the guys started jumping on her like flies and it was beyond off-putting. It sometimes feels like the only way to get taken seriously is to out geek the guys.

I myself, (am female btw), have a relationship with a scientist and the happiness, the intellectual compatibility, just the appreciation of him 'for whom and what he is/does' is amazing.
It's actually a huge trend in male dominated fields for women to be partnered with someone else in the field. The military is a classic example, but when I went to a women in CS theory conference I saw the same thing. Most of the women there were partnered with fellow CS nerds and a good chunk were in the same research group as their SOs.
 
  • #58


But it's easy for you CS people to find an .so! :biggrin:
 
  • #59


jhae2.718 said:
So, who here laughs at "Let \varepsilon &lt; 0"?

I only laughed the first 10 times. :biggrin:
 
  • #60


jhae2.718 said:
So, who here laughs at "Let \varepsilon &lt; 0"?

XD Lol... too funny! :smile:
 

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