Are we created beings or just a product of a random genetic mix & socializing experiences?
6 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I find it interesting that when I was young, I desperately wanted to be assimilated. I longed for a collective where I could find belonging and acceptance. But now that I'm old(er), I find myself longing to stand out, to be unique. At this stage in my life, I enjoy community, and I value the validation of my peers, but there's a big part of me that wants to know I'm one of a kind. Not just another Trekkie. Or tax payer. Or church goer. But a nerd unto myself. Irreplaceable.
I’ve recently started to realize that stuff I thought was wrong with me, was there for a reason. It sounds so simple, but I’m still not sure I understand it all. The “stuff” had to do with how I related to God and to other believers – not like a “normal” Christian. I guess I thought I was a spiritual nerd. I think the thing that sucks about being a nerd is feeling isolated and alone. When you find out those things that you thought made you a nerd bring meaning and hope to others, it changes things. “You mean I’m supposed to be this way?”
I've migrated the orginal comments from the old Bridge Talk blog over here to it's new home. That's why they all have the same time and date and why they are missing the author links for those left by other bloggers.
Stacey pointed me to this new project. Fantastic. I've always had an inner nerd, sometimes not so inner, although my athletic ability seemed to offset some of the negative effects of nerdishness in my school years. My kids have sometimes felt the pressure to not be too smart or good at something from peers but we have rallied them in the opposite direction, feeding the passion they each have for their particular/peculiar abilities. I know it won't end when they get older. I've felt the pressure as an adult not to appear to think too much in certain contexts, of being categorized as too academic, that sort of thing. It doesn't stop at some magic age. More power to the nerds. And I like the candy Nerds too.
I think that everybody has an Inner Nerd. Only some choose to unleash it to the form of The Outer Nerd. Of course, that choice has been made for you, even if you don't think that is your path down the road. When you start to get pressured for being smart, or even poor at athletics, that is a sign of your Inner Nerd trying to escape to become The Outer Nerd. My Outer Nerd appears in the classroom, but only when nobody is looking or listening. The Inner Nerd hates attention, but does strive to obtain that attention. When it does escape, that is where the "nerdy" appearance aspect comes in to play. Even if you look exactly the same, the public will get a strange vibe that signals to them that you are a nerd. Sometimes The Outer Nerd appears for a minute, but can stay for eternity. We nerd folk have higher academic goals than the sloppy, lazy type, and for that we go further in life. To be received by the high school and post secondary public, though, our Inner Nerd must be caged, locked, and not let out until the sun comes up. This meaning when we are truly successful. I can feel my Inner Nerd trying to escape, but it may only leave when I am deep in thought, completely unaware of anything, and not having a care in the world, just writing stories. Stories can be written by anybody, but must be written by The Outer Nerd to be great. In fact, my Outer Nerd appears every time that I write, but hides when the attention comes. It is afraid of this attention, even though it is the one thing The Inner Nerd wants. The Outer Nerd is part of The Inner Nerd, but can have completely different wants than The Inner Nerd, such as acceptance, even though The Inner Nerd already has that.
6 comments:
I find it interesting that when I was young, I desperately wanted to be assimilated. I longed for a collective where I could find belonging and acceptance. But now that I'm old(er), I find myself longing to stand out, to be unique. At this stage in my life, I enjoy community, and I value the validation of my peers, but there's a big part of me that wants to know I'm one of a kind. Not just another Trekkie. Or tax payer. Or church goer. But a nerd unto myself. Irreplaceable.
Is that so wrong?
I’ve recently started to realize that stuff I thought was wrong with me, was there for a reason. It sounds so simple, but I’m still not sure I understand it all. The “stuff” had to do with how I related to God and to other believers – not like a “normal” Christian. I guess I thought I was a spiritual nerd. I think the thing that sucks about being a nerd is feeling isolated and alone. When you find out those things that you thought made you a nerd bring meaning and hope to others, it changes things. “You mean I’m supposed to be this way?”
nerds create!
I've migrated the orginal comments from the old Bridge Talk blog over here to it's new home. That's why they all have the same time and date and why they are missing the author links for those left by other bloggers.
Hey Rob,
Stacey pointed me to this new project. Fantastic. I've always had an inner nerd, sometimes not so inner, although my athletic ability seemed to offset some of the negative effects of nerdishness in my school years. My kids have sometimes felt the pressure to not be too smart or good at something from peers but we have rallied them in the opposite direction, feeding the passion they each have for their particular/peculiar abilities. I know it won't end when they get older. I've felt the pressure as an adult not to appear to think too much in certain contexts, of being categorized as too academic, that sort of thing. It doesn't stop at some magic age. More power to the nerds. And I like the candy Nerds too.
I think that everybody has an Inner Nerd. Only some choose to unleash it to the form of The Outer Nerd. Of course, that choice has been made for you, even if you don't think that is your path down the road. When you start to get pressured for being smart, or even poor at athletics, that is a sign of your Inner Nerd trying to escape to become The Outer Nerd. My Outer Nerd appears in the classroom, but only when nobody is looking or listening. The Inner Nerd hates attention, but does strive to obtain that attention. When it does escape, that is where the "nerdy" appearance aspect comes in to play. Even if you look exactly the same, the public will get a strange vibe that signals to them that you are a nerd. Sometimes The Outer Nerd appears for a minute, but can stay for eternity. We nerd folk have higher academic goals than the sloppy, lazy type, and for that we go further in life. To be received by the high school and post secondary public, though, our Inner Nerd must be caged, locked, and not let out until the sun comes up. This meaning when we are truly successful. I can feel my Inner Nerd trying to escape, but it may only leave when I am deep in thought, completely unaware of anything, and not having a care in the world, just writing stories. Stories can be written by anybody, but must be written by The Outer Nerd to be great. In fact, my Outer Nerd appears every time that I write, but hides when the attention comes. It is afraid of this attention, even though it is the one thing The Inner Nerd wants. The Outer Nerd is part of The Inner Nerd, but can have completely different wants than The Inner Nerd, such as acceptance, even though The Inner Nerd already has that.
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