I am a Nerd!

A cartoon poking fun at the subtle differences between the labels geeks, dorks and nerds crossed my path recently. It was a funny cartoon, or at least I enjoyed it, but it got me thinking. When I was younger the terms were pretty much used as the same word. So how did our obsession with labels get us here just so people can slightly differentiate themselves from others? Vanity perhaps? I'm not sure. All I know is that I can still use it to spoil someone's day.

Do you consider yourself to be a Geek? Have excessive enthusiasm for a specialized subject? Well you are a fool. A freak if you follow the etymology. That's right, "Freaks and Geeks" is redundant. My favorite though is its prior use as a label for circus performers, especially those who bite the heads off small animals. Not really something to be proud of. It sounds more fitting for Ozzy Osborne back in his early years.

Any Dorks out there? Have odd interests and are a bit silly at time? You are a dick. A penis if you prefer. Either way you have labelled yourself as phallic. Dork didn't make it into Monty Python's "Penis Song" so clearly it wasn't even one of the better options. Even with its current use you are considered less intelligent than nerds or geeks, so it's perfect for the underachiever. 

That brings us to the Nerd. The most noble of creatures found in "If I Ran a Zoo" by Dr. Seuss. A far cry from the computers and poorly chosen glasses that we've come to know. If that wasn't cool enough here's even a candy. Even it's transition from literature to insult is credited to family interaction. It is clearly the superior of the three options, thus the only one fitting of someone of my caliber.

So yes I am a Nerd and I say it proud. Now if only I knew why there is not only a hearse at the McDonald's but also one around the corner at Tops.