# I feel like such a tool. I'm always surprised when black people like nerdy white people things. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341 "2016-08-28T23:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/21 "2016-08-29T14:12:43Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Another surprising fact! Some “she’s” learned (even as undergraduates) about Delta blues musicians. And the ones from Texas, too… > > (Just recently, I read [_Meeting Jimmie Rodgers: How America’s Original Roots Music Hero Changed the Pop Sounds of a Century_](https://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Jimmie-Rodgers-Americas-Original-ebook/dp/B0058RTMCW/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472479313&sr=1-3&keywords=jimmie+rodgers#nav-subnav). Among his fans was Howlin’ Wolf–whose “howl” was inspired by Jimmie’s “blue yodel.”) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/22 "2016-08-29T15:37:19Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > The OP wrote, “Why can’t I get that black people can like other cultures?” > > It’s obvious. You’re a racist. > > 😃 JUST KIDDING! I knew somebody was gong to say that. JK or otherwise. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/23 "2016-08-29T15:48:38Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > (Did anyone else find it amusing that he was quoting lyrics from hip hop he liked as an example of the singer liking “white” culture, while he was there enjoying “black music” without a second thought…?) I generally like to give any music genre a chance. Just like any other music, there’s some hip hop I don’t like and some I like. Hip hop has indeed grown from the days of hos and thugs, as evidenced by _Hamilton_. By the same token, I was (and still am) the white nerd disguised as a redneck. I’m always a little reluctant to geek out in front of mixed company, but then I might go to a gaming convention and realize I’m waaaaay at the bottom of nerd cred. ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/24 "2016-08-29T15:51:48Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Several years ago I met a young black lady who was one of the most fantastic polka/Eastern European folk dancers I’ve ever seen. She could be Steve Urkel’s daughter. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/25 "2016-08-29T16:26:10Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I generally like to give any music genre a chance. Just like any other music, there’s some hip hop I don’t like and some I like. Hip hop has indeed grown from the days of hos and thugs, as evidenced by _Hamilton_. > > By the same token, I was (and still am) the white nerd disguised as a redneck. I’m always a little reluctant to geek out in front of mixed company, but then I might go to a gaming convention and realize I’m waaaaay at the bottom of nerd cred. Sure- I wasn’t criticizing or being surprised you were listing to hip hop. I just found it amusing that what made sense for you to do came as a surprise that someone else was doing it. Totally normal and human response, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/26 "2016-08-29T16:32:13Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Where was I when nerd shit was declared the province of white people? What other “white spaces” do I need to know about? Utah. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/27 "2016-08-29T16:38:19Z")
Larry Wilmore, late of _The Nightly Show_, proudly called himself a “blerd” for “black nerd.” Since I’m a nerd myself, most of my black friends are nerds too (Hi **Asimovian**!) My first boyfriend from when when I was 16 is black and he’s still one of the nerdiest nerds I know. One guy I started hanging out with recently, we went to the local comic-con together, and we were talking about music and I forget what he said his current music obsession was but it was super nerdy. Too nerdy for me. Not like I expected him to only like hip hop (he does) but it was some super obscure and boring-sounding stuff that I’m not even sure my music-nerd brother would be in to. Blerds abound! ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/28 "2016-08-29T16:45:24Z")
A (black) friend got me a few moths ago. She called me up to tell me all about the new man in her life and among other things, he wanted to take her camping. I said, oh! So you’re dating a white guy? She started laughing and said, why is _everybody_ asking me that? I said, because black people don’t go camping. She laughed and said, I know, but this guy does. If it makes you feel any better, everybody does it to some degree. At my last job we used to play what we called the black/white game. There was a lot of turnover there and at times we’d get a list of names of the new hires and everybody would try to guess the race based on the name. Everybody was sure Washington would be black - nope Hispanic. Everybody was sure Josh would be white - nope black. I can still remember one of the black guys at work walking away shaking his head at what kind of black family would name their son Josh. LaTina was white, everybody got that one wrong too. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/29 "2016-08-29T16:49:43Z")
A few years back, one of my colleagues expressed surprise that one of our black student workers had said something nerdy. She said something like this “Wow, I just don’t really expect young black guys to be that nerdy!” I replied – “Well, then, you should come to the Great Escape (Nashville’s comic book store) on new comics day! Comic book nerds come in all colors!” Which was, of course, true – over the years, I had plenty of extremely-geeky discussions with black acquaintances at the store about comics and nerd-dom in general. Fun memories! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/30 "2016-08-29T16:53:34Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Everybody was sure Josh would be white - nope black. I can still remember one of the black guys at work walking away shaking his head at what kind of black family would name their son Josh. No way! [Josh Gibson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gibson) is one of the best baseball players of all time (and also black)! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/31 "2016-08-29T16:59:31Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > LaTina was white, everybody got that one wrong too. I would not have guessed black OR white for that one… ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/32 "2016-08-29T17:02:16Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Since I’m a nerd myself, most of my black friends are nerds too (Hi **Asimovian**!) Dammit, don’t blow my cover. I’ve worked hard to make sure everyone thinks I’m cool and not nerdy. I’m pretty sure it’s working, too.\* \*please don’t let my wife see this thread ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/33 "2016-08-29T17:03:58Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Probably none since the OP admits that the fault is on him and refers to his surprise as a “prejudicial string”. > > We’ve had threads guessing at the reasons for the mainly white audience for “nerd” things: cultural (peer acceptance), economic, roots in European culture: early sci-fi, European feudal fantasy, British humorists, etc. But I don’t think it’s radical to note that most of the dudes into it have historically been white and that’s the mental picture a lot of people have. Also, dudes. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/34 "2016-08-29T17:07:30Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Dammit, don’t blow my cover. I’ve worked hard to make sure everyone thinks I’m cool and not nerdy. I’m pretty sure it’s working, too.\* > \*please don’t let my wife see this thread Dude, your name is “Asimovian,” Not “ActuallyIAmJayZ”. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/35 "2016-08-29T17:08:08Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Dude, your name is “Asimovian,” Not “ActuallyIAmJayZ”. Yeah, he kinda outed himself there. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/36 "2016-08-29T17:14:17Z")
I’m white and I like watermelon! When I was in high school I even watched Soul Train. It was on, there were only so many channels. And I’m still a nerd. I think it came from the King Crimson and Rush years. There! Feel much better. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/37 "2016-08-29T17:17:03Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Dude, your name is “Asimovian,” Not “ActuallyIAmJayZ”. There was just a problem with the system when I signed up. It’s actually A$imovian. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/38 "2016-08-29T17:25:57Z")
I propose that your rap name be a$$ismovin’ Related to this topic, one of my favorite recent essays is Tolstoy is the Tolstoy of the Zulus. ETA: Oops, wrong link. I’ll try to find the right one. It’s a passage from Between the World and Me, but I can’t seem to find it online. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/39 "2016-08-29T18:32:27Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Also, dudes. The OP was expressly about a guy so, yeah. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/40 "2016-08-29T18:40:02Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > No way! [Josh Gibson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gibson) is one of the best baseball players of all time (and also black)! This guy wasn’t into sports so he probably had no idea who Josh Gibson was. He was thinking more about how Josh can also be used as kidding, as in joshing around, of I’m just joshing ya. Not a suitable name for a black man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341.md?page=3)