On Nerd Pride Day, a chat with the Nerd Show about being Nerd!

0
1775

Nerd Pride Day, or geek pride day, is an initiative that defends the right of every person to be a nerd or a geek, and to promote nerd/geek culture, celebrated on May 25th. The date was chosen to commemorate the premiere of the first film in the series. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, on May 25, 1977 (not to be confused with the Star Wars day), but shares the same date with two other similar fan “holidays”: the towel day, for fans of “five trilogy” The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in honor of its writer Douglas Adams, and the Glorious 25th of May for fans of the series Discworld, in honor of its writer Terry Pratchett.

The initiative originated in Spain in 2006 with the “Day of the Friki Orgulo” and spread around the world via the internet. In this way, we played a ping pong with the influence Renato Wambertochannel nerd show on Youtube, which specializes in this subject and has the biggest YouTube channel with content from the 80's and 90's, to talk about what it's like to be a Nerd. Check it out below:

What is being a nerd these days?

I think being a nerd today is quite variable. In the past, we were nerds for studying a lot, today there are series nerds, games nerds, anime nerds, Tech nerds… I think things are expanding and will continue at this pace. I like it very much.

What was the nerd like back in the day?

I think the nerd used to be more of a stereotype and a scapegoat. Anyone who didn't fit in, for being different or having exotic tastes, was labeled a nerd. Also for having some tastes considered childish.

Do you, as a person who has lived through the changes in the nerd phase, see all this with good eyes?

I think it's great! To give you an idea, it was difficult to be a Star Wars fan a few years ago. It was not like today that any shirt in any store has these prints. We currently have an entire market open for Nerd culture. So we have to make the most of it.

What are the main differences you have noticed in recent years?

Mainly in the movies. In the past, information was very one-sided. The studio released a movie without listening to the audience. They did it in hopes that it would work and the public would approve. Today we have movies specifically for the geeky audience, and yet the community is big enough to be heard and represented.

Is the nerd of today the one who only plays games, reads comics, watches movies, dresses up cosplay or does it all together?

I think there are both those who do everything and those who participate in a specific community. For example: I'm the board game nerd (laughs).

Do you believe that with greater spaces in the movie industry, nerds started to feel more comfortable and will show themselves even more?

For sure. Representation is very important in our lives. That's why many people fight so hard for them. A while ago I wouldn't go out with my Nerd socks, I'd be embarrassed, but nowadays I don't care about that anymore. My socks are too much. (laughs)

In the past, nerds suffered a lot of prejudice for their way of speaking and dressing. Today the situation is completely different. We have clothes from all nerdy designs and games. Movies tell geek stories and one of Netflix's most beloved series, Stranger Things, is nerdy. How do you see all this?

I think we're breaking some paradigms, when we go to school there are always “crowds”. The popular, the sportsmen and there are always the excluded. What we realize is that the stories of these people once excluded are also interesting. I bet this is making a lot of people rethink school time.

Is there still prejudice against Nerds?

Not from outside. I think there is a prejudice of the nerds themselves with the nerds. A lot of people try to delegitimize some people by saying something like: “You only know the heroes because of the Marvel movie. I read the comics." But I don't think that changes anything. If you listen to the radio, can you never like TV? It doesn't make sense to me.

Do you believe that the professionalization of video game players is a won cause for nerds? For example, years ago we would never have imagined that people playing games could be targeted and valued. Today, they are as targeted as football players.

Yes I think. I just go further. Just like gamers, the content creator profession also suffers from prejudice and is a won cause for nerds. We work with what we love to do. You know what I see from all this? That life can be lighter than it used to be. Nowadays we no longer have the rigid standards of society. You can work with what you really believe in and feel fulfilled. You just have to work hard to make it happen and it works.

LEAVE AN ANSWER

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here