As most Internet junkies do, I was browsing the vast halls of the big library we call the Internet, shifting through the junk mail and advertisements for the tiny rewarding nuggets of treasure under the junk. I stumbled across a read that involved the issue of the nerd, and most specifically, the gaming nerd. The brain juices flowing once again, I pondered the conundrum presented by this little article: are nerds going out of style?

    Maybe “out of style” is a bad word for that, but you have to think about it. Some of you can remember that playing games and doing anything remotely related to “nerdish” activity pinned you as the last guy picked in a softball game. Nowadays, you have to go to the extreme to earn the badge of being a nerd (as opposed to a geek, which is a whole ‘nother story in itself). Today you are more likely to hear the “cool guys” talking about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 or Splinter Cell. Hell, to be a full blown-out nerd you’d have to spend your days reading columns written by other nerds on gaming websites. Yes, I do take a pride in being one of the “elite” few that can call themselves addicted, but as time goes on, I feel myself less qualified to be a “nerd.” Not to say that I am “cool” per se, but just “less nerdy.” Of course, maybe it’s not me, and maybe it’s not a “more nerdy” society. What if games are getting, dare I say, COOLER?

    Cool is an interesting word, considering it started in an era dominated by pop music and mullets. Anyway, we aren’t here to delve into the word “cool”, because I am legally not allowed to use the word more than three times in an entire page, otherwise I am rejected from the “Mystical Dragon People of Anne Arundel County Club.” Hopefully I’ll make it in this year, just as long as my Druid costume holds out.

    Anyway, that being a useless paragraph about my lame life, let’s get back to the topic. The nerd is disappearing, and there is nothing we can do about it. Or is there? Our world becomes more and more competitive each year, and even the nerds have followed the curve of society (and in an odd twist) have to try harder to become outcasts of society. This is why I believe that the nerds in all of us must break free. You have to let it all go. Break free my brethren and don your thick glasses and magic the gathering memorabilia! Go forth we shall, and bring back the nerd!