The Big Bang Theory (1 Viewer)

Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
#22
In my experience, people like that can be pretty talkative in the very narrow spectrum of social situations where they're comfortable - essentially with friends who share their interests in something very nerdy. It's certainly not very well represented by the stereotype though, and it's certainly not a good example of a typical nerd.
When you say "something very nerdy", you mean "a topic with substance in which both have a strong interest"?

Because most conversation that gets had is pretty void of interesting content, wouldn't you say?
 

mikhail

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2003
9,576
#30
When you say "something very nerdy", you mean "a topic with substance in which both have a strong interest"?

Because most conversation that gets had is pretty void of interesting content, wouldn't you say?
I mean typically either technical or associated with geek culture.

The Big Bang Theory tends to use physics, maths and to a lesser extent computers for technical material, but there are plenty of other areas from U.S. politics (which I've never understood the fascination of to non-Americans - sure, a superficial awareness of it is relevant to anyone, but I know people who can name the order in which the Presidential primaries take place, voting procedures in the Senate, etc.) to evolution to philosophy. Often we're talking about very narrow subsets of these topics.

From geek culture, The Big Bang Theory tends to use science fiction and fantasy, particularly comic book superheroes, but again there's a whole spectrum from chess to art-house cinema.

The thing is, introverts aren't exactly all nerdy. How many of you know someone who is pretty quiet, but can talk for hours about football? How many of you are that someone?
 

Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
#33
I mean typically either technical or associated with geek culture.

The Big Bang Theory tends to use physics, maths and to a lesser extent computers for technical material, but there are plenty of other areas from U.S. politics (which I've never understood the fascination of to non-Americans - sure, a superficial awareness of it is relevant to anyone, but I know people who can name the order in which the Presidential primaries take place, voting procedures in the Senate, etc.) to evolution to philosophy. Often we're talking about very narrow subsets of these topics.

From geek culture, The Big Bang Theory tends to use science fiction and fantasy, particularly comic book superheroes, but again there's a whole spectrum from chess to art-house cinema.

The thing is, introverts aren't exactly all nerdy. How many of you know someone who is pretty quiet, but can talk for hours about football? How many of you are that someone?
I have to say the fantasy/Lord of the rings/World of Warcraft/Star Trek/etc culture actually exists and it's really weird. I thought that was just made up. I'd say the dominant variable there being fantasy.

Then there are people who are geeky about something, but it's like engineering or politics or... what you said. Those aren't people actively trying to "escape" from reality so I'd classify them differently.

And yes, introverts generally aren't talkative. I used to be pretty introvert in the past. It was the internet thing that got me interested in that so called "social" side of life. Started having conversations with people online, later also offline. Before then I just... really didn't seem to have anything to say, or a need to say anything. That was also the time when I played computer games like a madman. Championship Manager, Civilization etc
 

Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
#34
Mikhail, you have hit a nerve or two there my friend
Talking about me? If anything, you did, that's what got me posting. I detest the stupid "geek-on-tv" stereotype and I resent the fact that it's being used to get people who know nothing of this to watch tv. At least if it were real I could say "it's a little cruel" or "it's harsh but it's funny". But it's just not real and it gets people to attribute a false stereotype to people they barely know just because it's on tv.
 

Elvin

Senior Member
Nov 25, 2005
36,922
#38
I have to say the fantasy/Lord of the rings/World of Warcraft/Star Trek/etc culture actually exists and it's really weird. I thought that was just made up. I'd say the dominant variable there being fantasy.

Then there are people who are geeky about something, but it's like engineering or politics or... what you said. Those aren't people actively trying to "escape" from reality so I'd classify them differently.

And yes, introverts generally aren't talkative. I used to be pretty introvert in the past. It was the internet thing that got me interested in that so called "social" side of life. Started having conversations with people online, later also offline. Before then I just... really didn't seem to have anything to say, or a need to say anything. That was also the time when I played computer games like a madman. Championship Manager, Civilization etc
I'm like that right now. 1-2 sound-bites at most.
 

mikhail

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2003
9,576
#40
But have you ever known anyone who's like the stereotype? I haven't.
I've known a couple of engineers who were somewhat like that, and vaguely known people who were members of the college science fiction and fantasy society who seemed (to the extent of my fairly limited contact with them) to fit the stereotype quite well.
 

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