Knerdy Knitting
where spelling isn't as important as awesome

An Essay in Three Parts

Part the First:  Nerd

Like most slang, the word “nerd” has no firm definition. It means different things depending on the location and age of the speaker. So perhaps the definition I will give here is more of an explanation, and it is important to know that it is coming from a twenty something living on the west coast of the United States.

“Nerd” has two sister words, “geek” and “dork.” Together they describe a certain subset of the population that doesn’t fit with mainstream expectations. “Dorks” are the most socially awkward of the the three. They are inadvertently rude, or speak in non sequiturs, or give too much personal information. They are clumsy and drop things. They dance in particularly unappealing ways. They may not have adequate personal hygiene. Dork is the most insulting of the three, and is rarely used positively.

Geek is the least insulting the three. It has widely been reclaimed as a mark of pride in one’s intense specific knowledge. Traditional geeks are knowledgeable in the hard sciences and mathematics or literature based on the hard sciences and mathematics. But the term can describe those passionately interested in any subject, including the soft sciences, music, film, and food. Geeks may have been ostracized as children for their interests and consequently poorly socialized. This is not an requirement, however. Geeks band together as adults, rejoicing in shared information about their favorite topic.

What, then, is a nerd? Nerds are so detail oriented that they have trouble functioning socially. They like facts, numbers, and statistics. This allows them to do very well in traditional academic systems, which in turn may lead to negative social interactions as a youngster. They are the most naturally logical of the three, but because they don’t see the bigger picture logic is not always to their advantage. Nerds do not understand insinuation, often have trouble with irony, and don’t take hints. “Nerd” is an insult, but can also be used as a friendly reminder to not be so myopic.

We now have half our definition.  Knerdy knitting is awkward, goofy,  intense, out of context, or just plain strange to the other kids.