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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Books for Thought: When you are called a nerd for loving books, how do you feel?

Previously known as Monday's Question of the Day, Books For Thought is a feature where I post a book-related question up for discussion. I am open to all opinions and enjoy reading diverse comments from my lovely followers. I look forward to picking your minds!

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When you are called a nerd for loving books, how do you feel?

My Response: One word -- annoyed. I've been called that so many times, I lost count. They mostly use it as a back handed compliment of a 'pretty nerd.' Gotta just love my husband for coming up with that one. What I want to know is, when did it become nerdy to read? Reading is a great thing. It helps stimulate your mind, instead of letting it go to waste with all the distractions we have today. So, when I hear that association with bookworms, it irks me to see the ignorance in our society. We urge children to read, but when adults and teens have an addiction to books, we are called nerds? I just don't get it. Can someone please explain it to me?

What are your bookish thoughts?

21 comments:

A Journey in Reading said...

It used to bother me when people called me a nerd for reading as much as I do. Over the years I decided to let it go. I am also in graduate school and I have been called a nerd for that too... At least I am a nerd who can talk about a variety of subjects that I have learned from books.

Alexia561 said...

I wear the nerd badge proudly! I've also been referred to as a book geek, which doesn't bother me either. From the amount of people I see reading in public, I have high hopes for our future! :)

Anonymous said...

I wear the nerd badge loud and proud. :D

Kelsey said...

Great answer, I've gotten used to the word, too. Nerd pride! :)

Tiffany said...

Yeah I used to get teased a bit and called a nerd when I was in school because my nose was always buried in a book but it never really bothered me and it certainly doesn't now :)

Rebecca-Books said...

For me, I know I shouldn't be upset by it or annoyed, that they're just picking you out because you're the only one, but I understand that you just can't help being annoyed.

Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said...

I think I must be mostly surrounded by bookish people because I haven't been called a nerd in a negative way in forever.

Here's my response.

Amanda said...

That isn't a problem where I live. When people see how much I read they are impressed/ask to borrow a book. The only person who calls me a nerd for reading a lot is my sister, but she's just trying to be a pest.

Vy said...

Proud! Well honestly it bothers me sometimes but not any more to know that I'm not the only one.

kaye (paper reader) said...

I usually have a book in my bag wherever I go and on most days at work I read at lunch to destress and many of my coworkers ask me what I'm reading because they're genuinely curious and we often have chats about books. People know I like to learn and study and so when I'm with a book they're not surprised. I think there's more wrong with the connotation of 'geek' being bad than there is anything else.

Rachel said...

I was called a nerd lots growing up for my book obsession, and it bothered me then. But now, I find it funny, since the ones calling others nerd are less-educated (i.e. stupid) and are really telling on themselves. Plus, sometimes I get the occasional "I love how much you read!" which really makes me feel good.

P.E. said...

I find it annoying. I can't read without people bugging me but they can spend hours on social networking sites, stalk celebrities or compulsively play video games?

I agree with Rachel that the only people who call me a nerd for reading are the ones who are less educated. Others just accept that as a part of me and may joke about it but that's fine.

I love being called a bookworm though.

T.B. said...

Hi! I just found your blog, and I'm your newest follower!

When people call me a nerd for being a book addict, I just think of what they're missing out on. Books and the whole world of them are amazing, and it's kind of sad that they don't get to be a part of all that. And I love what you said about us encouraging kids to read, but when it comes down to it, they call the adults and teens nerds for doing so. Haha, hypocrites :)

Anonymous said...

It's never bothered me. In fact, it actually has become a point of pride. The next time somebody calls you a nerd, ask them what their definition of a "nerd" is and you'll probably get something around "Um. Someone who knows a lot of stuff..." In what way is that insulting?

ham1299 said...

Well, given that my blog is called Proud Book Nerd, I think it's safe to say it doesn't bother me one bit! ;-)

Tori [Book Faery] said...

It makes me want to smack someone in the face with one of my hardcovers due to the ignorance. And I really REALLY hated it when my ex used to grab my Kresley Cole books and read the back cover summary out loud and flip through looking for the sex scenes. It's like stfu bitch, you have your video games you play 24/7, and I have my books. BACK OFF lol

It's society's fault. Just like this country frowns down upon education, the people here demean books and readers.

Anyone at Baruch who knows I run a blog thinks it's the coolest thing ever. But those at Albany (had I blogged) would have called me a loser. Sadly, a lot of the students up in Albany aren't going anywhere in life.

Ash said...

I'm one of those that's proud to be a nerd. My friends and I, also nerds, even call each other our nerdlings [nerd + darling]. If loving books and to spend my free time reading makes me a nerd than I'm happy to be one. :]

Words are only what you make of them. So if it's something positive to you than it can't hurt you.

-petit said...

When my friends say that they don't know anybody who lots of books like me, I don't know if they're saying "Gosh, you're weird" or "I wish that I could do that too." Generally, I don't care. At the least, my vocabulary is better than them.

Jillian said...

When I was a kid growing up, I'd get bothered by it thinking of the stereotypical "nerd." But now, I fully embrace it! My boyfriend and I are nerds and talk about books, science, and all these dorky things - and we love it! I have discovered also that the more you accept your "status" as a nerd, the more people will like you for it too!

Elissa J. Hoole said...

I remember being called a "Booker" when I was in middle school or whatever--it was a derogatory term for anyone smart, basically. That bothered me because it implied that I was a nerd who only cared about studying and my grades, when I was really usually daydreaming and reading for pleasure, haha.

Now, I embrace my book nerdiness (I'm an English teacher, so...yeah, it's expected) and have upgraded to a BOOK PUSHER. I am constantly finding the perfect book for everyone and getting them so interested in it that they can't say no! :)

I <3 Book Nerds!

Casey (The Bookish Type) said...

I actually take it as a compliment. It means I'm not an idiot. I've been known as a book nerd my whole life, and it's so much an identifying part of me that I think people just take it for granted -- so I don't think they ever mean it derogatorily. I make reading look good ;) Of course, it could just be because my friends are book nerds too.

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