You're Not such a Nerd: Commodification of Nerd and Gamer Sub-culture
87 replies, posted
Sheldon has autism.
[QUOTE=1STrandomman;38160511]All 4 of the main characters are "intellectual" elitists lacking in common sense and completely incapable of a normal relationship. Penny exists to find common sense solutions to their stupid problems and contrast them as a "normal" person. One of them even lives with their grandmother.
The punchline to every joke (if they even count as jokes) is a stereotype.[/QUOTE]
except, and this is based on what i read from wikipedia, the characters develop relationships just fine and build careers in a totally positive way.
penny herself is painted as becoming better because she's becoming nerdier.
a flaw in a character isn't a stereotype, it's characterization.
it seems most criticism of BBT is based on assumptions, assumptions defeated simply by reading the wikipedia page.
People want to be part of a category that they're not, instead of being just themselves, which, in the mind of some, means nothing at all.
[QUOTE=thisispain;38160535]except, and this is based on what i read from wikipedia, the characters develop relationships just fine and build careers in a totally positive way.
penny herself is painted as becoming better because she's becoming nerdier.
a flaw in a character isn't a stereotype, it's characterization.
it seems most criticism of BBT is based on assumptions, assumptions defeated simply by reading the wikipedia page.[/QUOTE]
It's easier to see if you've actually watched it, not just read a wikipedia page.
[QUOTE=Geikkamir;38160737]It's easier to see if you've actually watched it, not just read a wikipedia page.[/QUOTE]
well how about you show me evidence besides vague assertions
if it really is like blackface then we should be able to see it from just a little bit of footage
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xgjUhEG3U[/media]
[quote]All 4 of the main characters are "intellectual" elitists lacking in common sense and completely incapable of a normal relationship. Penny exists to find common sense solutions to their stupid problems and contrast them as a "normal" person. One of them even lives with their grandmother.
The punchline to every joke (if they even count as jokes) is a stereotype.[/quote]
here it's demonstrated that at least 2 of the characters display common sense and understanding of a normal relationship. there's no "Penny" that serves as comedic contrast, and i would say the only joke that relies on the stereotype is maybe the comic-con one.
compare that to this:
[img]http://www.musicals101.com/News/jolson.jpg[/img]
It is an insulting, over-simplified representation of a group of people used to entertain people who don't understand that groups true nature.
[QUOTE=squids_eye;38161672]It is an insulting, over-simplified representation of a group of people used to entertain people who don't understand that groups true nature.[/QUOTE]
again i don't get what the "true nature" or the "group" is
you seem to be aping shit you've heard applied to other groups without even a critical understanding of what it is you're aping.
first you have to tell me what about it is insulting... i'm a textbook nerd (i feel like an idiot calling myself that) and i find its attempts at humour far more insulting than its portrayal of nerds.
go take it up with Saved by The Bell where the nerd character was literally the most annoying person on the planet.
[QUOTE=thisispain;38161688]again i don't get what the "true nature" or the "group" is
you seem to be aping shit you've heard applied to other groups without even a critical understanding of what it is you're aping.
first you have to tell me what about it is insulting... i'm a textbook nerd (i feel like an idiot calling myself that) and i find its attempts at humour far more insulting than its portrayal of nerds.
go take it up with Saved by The Bell where the nerd character was literally the most annoying person on the planet.[/QUOTE]
If you don't understand the nature of that a nerd is then that is your own problem and you probably shouldn't involve yourself in an argument that you don't understand.
You've said yourself that you haven't watched the show. Clearly a lot of people who consider themselves actual nerds are insulted by it so that should be enough evidence for you that the show is insulting.
[QUOTE=squids_eye;38161744]If you don't understand the nature of that a nerd is then that is your own problem and you probably shouldn't involve yourself in an argument that you don't understand.[/QUOTE]
uh no i don't understand the rationale
when you say words like "true nature", "group", or "insulting" you have to rationalize your usage of those words
what is the true nature of this supposed group? what about it is insulting? you can't just put those words out and automatically assume everyone is on-board and in agreement over that
[QUOTE=squids_eye;38161744]You've said yourself that you haven't watched the show. Clearly a lot of people who consider themselves actual nerds are insulted by it so that should be enough evidence for you that the show is insulting.[/QUOTE]
yeah uh i never said i didn't watch the show, just that i haven't watched the whole thing which is why i was quoting wikipedia on the story arc.
i'm just asking what an "actual nerd" is and why they should be insulted. if i'm not insulted does that mean i'm not a "actual nerd"? at what point are you simply creating arbitrary notions of "actual" and "non-actual" used to justify dislike of a show?
[QUOTE=thisispain;38160767]well how about you show me evidence besides vague assertions
if it really is like blackface then we should be able to see it from just a little bit of footage
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xgjUhEG3U[/media]
here it's demonstrated that at least 2 of the characters display common sense and understanding of a normal relationship. there's no "Penny" that serves as comedic contrast, and i would say the only joke that relies on the stereotype is maybe the comic-con one.
compare that to this:
[img]http://www.musicals101.com/News/jolson.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Oh don't worry the big bang theory has plenty of ethnic stereotyping, especially in the case of Howard who's the stereotypical Jew.
The Big Bang Theory is a pretty awful, unfunny show packed with obnoxious and occasionally insulting stereotypes but comparing it to blackface shows massive historical ignorance.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38161900]Oh don't worry the big bang theory has plenty of ethnic stereotyping, especially in the case of Howard who's the stereotypical Jew.[/QUOTE]
well of course finding a TV show that doesn't ethnically stereotype is rare
the sopranos were one big giant stereotype
I just dislike the big bang theory because it is not funny, they over use the laugh track on every pun, reference, awkward moment, etc. I couldn't care less what group it is stereotyping the show is just poorly designed in my opinion.
I don't mind the popularization of "Nerds/Geeks," what bothers me is the fact that the Internet culture has spilled over into the real world and now people are constantly spewing out old/annoying/pointless memes every chance they get.
[QUOTE=Bredirish123;38165344]I don't mind the popularization of "Nerds/Geeks," what bothers me is the fact that the Internet culture has spilled over into the real world and now people are constantly spewing out old/annoying/pointless memes every chance they get.[/QUOTE]
Yeah just the other day I was at a burger joint and the cooks were joking about some meme and saying derp.
Then when I went to sit down at table, the guy on the next table was browsing r/funny on his laptop.
:v:
Oh god this guy can't speak well at all. He makes great points but it's almost painful to listen to [img]http://niggaupload.com/images/LWTyU.gif[/img]
[QUOTE=thisispain;38160535]except, and this is based on what i read from wikipedia, the characters develop relationships just fine and build careers in a totally positive way.
penny herself is painted as becoming better because she's becoming nerdier.
a flaw in a character isn't a stereotype, it's characterization.
it seems most criticism of BBT is based on assumptions, assumptions defeated simply by reading the wikipedia page.[/QUOTE]
Maybe defeated by reading the wikipedia page, but upheld by actually watching the show.
[editline]24th October 2012[/editline]
And thisispain I am ashamed that you think blackface is as simple as just laughing at negative stereotypes. The whole point of blackface was to re-appropriate black culture and commoditize it for selling to rich white people. It was a people's cultural identity being stripped and transformed for the sake of profit.
[QUOTE=thisispain;38160767]well how about you show me evidence besides vague assertions
if it really is like blackface then we should be able to see it from just a little bit of footage
here it's demonstrated that at least 2 of the characters display common sense and understanding of a normal relationship. there's no "Penny" that serves as comedic contrast, and i would say the only joke that relies on the stereotype is maybe the comic-con one.
[/QUOTE]
Their only suggestion was to add a loop counter to his flow chart. Their knowledge of social interaction astounds me.
I meant relationship in a more specific sense, and this can't be argued. None of those characters are capable of a normal romantic relationship. Raj is physically incapable of speaking to women, and Howard is a creep.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar_u8c88Gyo[/media]
Sheldon is Sheldon. That just leaves Leonard...
...who has no self respect. There was an entire episode based around him going into QQ mode because Penny made some offhand remark about them being manchildren because they collect nerd memorabilia, and he immediately started making plans to sell his star trek figures because he thought she'd suddenly like him if he did.
This is both why people say Leonard is the most normal and why he isn't normal at all. He appears to be self-aware, but he's really just self-conscious. Under other circumstances this would just be a character flaw, but given all the other characters are distilled stereotypes, and the source of his self-esteem issues is always his nerdiness, it's really a more subtle example of the underlying problem.
Disagree with this video on so many different levels, but I especially disliked the Big Bang Theory/IT Crowd comparison. They say that Big Bang Theory is offensive because they guys are depicted as socially inept whereas the girl has far more social grace and always has to help them out. Now look at the IT crowd. Leaving a character open isn't exploiting nerd culture, leaving ends untied for future episodes is a staple of american sitcoms. The Big Bang Theory is only really offensive to "nerds" because it's accepted by a mainstream non-nerd audience, whereas the IT Crowd is more of a niche show, and co-incidentally, far better written.
Also I don't see anything really wrong with saying "lol I'm such a nerd" after playing games or something, it's called sarcasm, I'd honestly sometimes say something like "I'm such a great chef" when cooking something basic. Don't get me wrong, idiots who wear those massive glasses and photoshop their pictures with nerd written on them, dead seriously, are still idiots.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38165758]
And thisispain I am ashamed [/QUOTE]
sorry
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38165758]that you think blackface is as simple as just laughing at negative stereotypes. The whole point of blackface was to re-appropriate black culture and commoditize it for selling to rich white people. It was a people's cultural identity being stripped and transformed for the sake of profit.[/QUOTE]
but it didn't re-appropriate any black culture??? it was white dudes with black-face doing stupid shit. it was white culture, not black culture that resonated in black-face
[QUOTE=thisispain;38170028]
but it didn't re-appropriate any black culture??? it was white dudes with black-face doing stupid shit. it was white culture, not black culture that resonated in black-face[/QUOTE]
One of the biggest examples of blackface were "minstrels"; people in blackface who played "black music" that was adapted for rich white people, generally by combining banjo with english folk music. The point was to take the music, and clothing choices of a people and turn it into something that a larger, richer group of people would buy. This isn't bad only because it's hateful, this is bad because it strips the meaning and identity from people.
Also keep in mind that blackface acts weren't just done out of spite. There was a very important reason to their use: to sell tickets, "snake-oil remedies", and advertisement space.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38170422]One of the biggest examples of blackface were "minstrels"; people in blackface who played "black music" that was adapted for rich white people, generally by combining banjo with english folk music. The point was to take the music, and clothing choices of a people and turn it into something that a larger, richer group of people would buy. This isn't bad only because it's hateful, this is bad because it strips the meaning and identity from people.
Also keep in mind that blackface acts weren't just done out of spite. There was a very important reason to their use: to sell tickets, "snake-oil remedies", and advertisement space.[/QUOTE]
They were an act first, using racism that was very common to sell things.
I don't like the way the grouped gamer and nerd up together. You can be a gamer, but not a nerd. I would justify calling a me a gamer, but I have never felt a feeling of being a nerd as he tried to describe in this video.
[editline]25th October 2012[/editline]
Also I find Big Bang Theory and IT Crowd funny.
[QUOTE=Squeaken;38135524]I love how 'nerd culture' is suddenly an exclusive club.
If someone wants to call them self a nerd who gives a shit.[/QUOTE]
The whole point of the video was that the status of nerd was something that you had to earn in the past , something that alienated you. To just do it without the rejection just for show so people think you're smart and still expect to receive the added respect of being in the subculture is laughable. Especially when you were one of the people attacking nerds.
I think this goes deeper and there are sub-classifications of nerd and geeks.
I don't believe I am a nerd or geek though, I think I would sit closer to gamer and I'm not too comfortable with that classification either because almost everyone games these days so it's not too clear what I classify as beyond an utter idiot for spending so much time trying to find out what to classify myself as in this post (I think no-life gamer suits me most though).
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.