So, a mom wanted someone to explain to her newly arrived daughter what it means to be a Nerd. Now, anyone who loves that list of things that most people find geeky (sorry, meant nerdy – it confuses me too) are usually lumped into the category of Nerd. Namely, anything that doesn’t seem cool. But then, what you consider to be cool might be radically different from what others deem cool. Leather jackets – cool (actually, really hot, as in my skin can’t breathe even when I tell myself I look cool). Comics – nerdy. Sports stars – cool to the “real world”. Sci Fi stars – NERDY to the “real” world.
Neil deGrasse Tyson – just plain cool (I’m so not worthy)!
So, who better to tell this little girl what it’s like to be a Nerd than Wil Wheaton of Wesley Crusher fame (amongst many other cool things). Listen to the short convo that Wil has with the future her who will understand what Wil’s trying to tell her. It’ll actually leaves you a bit teary. And it will allow you to embrace being a nerd. Because being a nerd is about being interested in the world around you in all of its forms, even if they are animated or computerized. Or scientific. Or awkward. Just as long as it keeps you loving the awesomeness that comes with the details…the many, many details that build that awesome holodeck called your mind.
So, don’t just Live Love and Prosper. Live Long and Accumulate (knowledge, ideas…anything that inspires creativity and is easy to carry within) to your heart’s content. The world’s a very big place and there’s just so much awesomeness to discover.
– thanks to Salon for this adorable moment
