Nerds, you say?

Cass here:

John was asking if we're nerds, and whether our fans are nerds. I'm wondering, what exactly defines a nerd? Wikipedia weighs in:

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers.

This rings true, in a real way, about my childhood, and i guess in some ways about my present. I mean, I am obsessed with sex, but not sex in that booby-bouncing porno-chic addleheaded kind of way. I'm nerdy about sex. I want to know what people do and feel and think about sex in theory as well as in practice. I study the ways we relate to each other sexually and the ways we as individuals relate to sex. For the record, I am also geeky for systems and organization (love you, David Allen!), Sudoku, Language and etymology, old Jazz, Sideshow and Carnival history, costuming and design. Lately I'm on a roll reading Steven King. That's right, Steven King.

But there's a flipside to all of this - the world has moved on since there was one definition of 'cool'. It's kind of hip to be a nerd. Or a geek. But not a drip. Or a twat. Or a douche.
Just warnin' ya.

My favourite kinds of nerds are those that overlap with the art and alternative culture - the Burner Nerds, the Sex Nerds, the Hip-Hop Nerds, the BDSM Nerds (Lord Seth from Accounting, we salute you!), the Choir-Leading Monkey Cult Nerds, the Noise-band-electronica nerds, the Skater nerds, The Broadway nerds (OMG! The Broadway Nerds), the Polyamorous Nerds, and the freaks.

I like the freaks. A freak is like a nerd with that extra splash of extroversion, and a healthy dose of crazy. I love the people who don't give a rats ass about doing what's popular and who follow their crazy dream. Gabba Gabba we accept you, we accept you, one of us!

Was that nerdy? That was nerdy. I'm a nerd.