They're not Nerdfighters, right?

[Tòmachan ~blogs admin ~]

Now, before I start this blogs brain fart, I I want to give a shout out to a Nerd on the site.
He's created a Mod for the game of Rome Total war.
So, if you happen to play said game.
Give the lads work a look at.
You know you wanna..
His mod! 

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So recently I've been paying attention to the chat, forums and general Nerdfighty places, and I must admit. 

I'm disappointed.

Not that the general idea and thought behind the whole "Nerdfighter" thing, but more those who use this label to demean or lessen another who tries to identify with our group. If you're not reading certain books, you're not a Nerdfighter, if you're watching certain shows; you're not a Nerdfighter. If you aren't worshipping people in certain fandoms, - you guessed it - you're not a Nerdfighter. 

~ But they've got plenty of excuses for why it's okay~

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Now, I'll be fair and honest here. I've only ever read one of Johnny's books - and that's because a friend sent me it -, never bought any DFTBA thingy-ma-bobs; and never intend too. I hardly watch television, mostly ignore the fandoms and generally avoid this whole thing altogether. However, I find this idea that to be a Nerd, you need to like certain things, act in certain ways and so on and so forth, to be utter honey-badger droppings. It's like someone coming and telling me I'm not Scottish, because I'm not wearing a skirt or drinking. Seriously? Nerds? We're actually having a problem with elitism? I'm sorry, but the irony is just grand, fab and hilarious all at once. Can anyone imagine the little Larping Nerd telling someone off for not having the proper 'kit' and thus; isn't a true Larpy? We moan and we begrudge the fact that the world treats Nerds different or something to that affect. But the moment we're in our 'hive' we pounce on any unsuspecting person who happens to disagree. Is that how Nerds work?  Apparently so. 

 ~ Apparently someone suggest Harry Potter wasn't great~
~In front of this blood hungry pack of Nerdians ~
~ May God rest their poor clubbed souls~ 

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For me, to be a Nerd simply means to enjoy education. Enjoy enlightenment on subjects and topics and simply be a good person. You don't need to have a " I love J.K " tattoo, or have a bazillion DFBTA T-shirts to be a Nerd; you simply have to be a good person. 

Alas, apparently some of the folk didn't get the memo.

On a final - and less serious note -, here's a braw wee song to appease your eardrums with.

[Mynda]

I don't even like the idea that nerdfighter = nerd. Because I don't classify myself as a nerd. But I do cringe whenever soemone says another person "is not a nerdfighter" because of *insert bull shit here* and this is an issue that will never go away. When communities become as large as this, and have been around as long as this one has, you will have elitism, and all you can do is ignore it. 

[Joshua Gannon-Salomon]

Sometimes, people who do things 24/7 feel that they are superior to those they consider "weekenders" or "casual players." It is no excuse for stirring up unnecessary drama online or off, but I think that there might be a way to defuse accusations of not-being-a-true-nerdfighter by vocally recognizing that, yes, some of us have been here a long while, and some of us have dedicated ourselves more fully than others, and that's awesome - but it's a big Internet and a big world, and we are all fighting suck in our own ways, which is awesome, too. DFTBA.

[Dan Ostler]

I love how easy it is to become a Nerdfighter. I have never been accused/accused anyone of "not being a real nerdfighter" or whatever, but I can see how it would be easy to try to call out a "part time nerd." 

Remember that if you want to be a nerdfighter, you are a nerdfighter.

[E]

Exactly.  I just joined Nerdfighters, so I haven't seen any of this discrimination, and I wouldn't expect to.  I joined this sight because I thought it was for people who have actual personalities and passions.  Nerdfighters are really created in the essence of a being, not by his/her actions.

[Lonna Mathie]

Well said :) I did worry I wouldn't be ~accepted~ at first, not just on the Ning but generally in Nerdfighteria because I'm new and I only have one John Green book (as of yet) and I haven't given vast sums of money to various charities and such like, I guess in the same way that people dislike people for only having heard the newest Biffy Clyro album when they have songs dating back to whenever. But then I thought.. if I want to call myself a Nerdfighter then I bloody well will. DFTBA :)

[Stewart Alan Williams]

Hear Hear! Well done! Quite so! Indubitably! Rather! 

[Riley]

I completely agree with you, but I have never seen a comment about people calling others non-Nerdfighters (mostly because I tend to stay way from many sites that aren't YouTube).  A nerd is anybody who enjoys learning, whether or not they are able to do so well.  Here's how I thought of this (as I had already come to his conclusion before I read this):  I saw a Ning group of dyslexic nerdfighters.  I then thought "Can people with Dyslexia be nerds", which made me thing that, as long as they want to learn and aim to help the world, you can be a nerd and a nerdfighter.

I don't care how smart someone is or the kind of music they listen to or the books they read or how much Nerdfighter stuff they have or plan to buy.  If you're reading this, chances are, you're a Nerdfighter.  If you read this whole thing and don't plan to be giant squids of anger about either the OP or my comment, thank you.

[Gabrielle]

Y'know, the whole "you're not a Nerdfighter" thing? Totally not new- started within the first year or so of the Ning's existence. It's why I hardly ever come to the site anymore, even though I was one of the first members. That, and the totally "stereotypical internet" downturn pretty much every forum I was following took. The Ning went from a "safe" place to one where I constantly felt attacked, judged, and belittled. I still feel like I'm a Nerdfighter (and I'm not going to perpetuate the cycle by trying to establish Nerdfighter "cred"), but I bet some would even say I'm not simply because I don't lurk around on the Ning nowadays, as I used to during the early days of its inception. But, that being said, I'm glad the Ningmasters are aware of it and (still) trying to combat that ironic elitism. :)

[Sam Thomas]

Large agreement from me. pretty well written too :)

[Sarah ...]

This is good! I completely agree, in fact I was talking to my friend about this the other day, thank you for bring this up!