# You are taking it way to far. How much more of a nerd can you be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027 "2003-07-17T01:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DdDHellspawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DdDHellspawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DdDHellspawn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/1 "2003-07-17T01:20:11Z")
Now I know everyone is a geek/nerd/doofus/dork when it comes down to it. Accept that and life becomes alot easier. But people can take things way too far. How many people know a Trekkie or a Star Wars fanatic?.. I have met a couple in my days and are amazed with these people. It’s cool to be into a hobby and all but living your life after a fictional story is obserd(sp?)!!! This is what brings this rant from me. [LOSERS!!!](http://bbspot.com/News/2003/07/star_trek.html) Dude you’re 38 years old and arguing with a 16 year old over if a destroyer would beat the Enterprise E. It’s okay to got to a convention every once and a while. I was big into RPGs when I was 6-14. I still love to play video games and I’m 21. Am I the only one who sees something a little disturbing about this? ---
**Author:** ![TalksToWalls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@TalksToWalls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TalksToWalls)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/2 "2003-07-17T01:48:44Z")
Dude, you do realize that’s satire, right? Funny, ha ha? [http://bbspot.com/News/2003/07/babylon\_5.html](http://bbspot.com/News/2003/07/babylon_5.html) [http://bbspot.com/News/2003/07/digital\_waste.html](http://bbspot.com/News/2003/07/digital_waste.html) etc. Anyway, everybody knows the Enterprise-E with a full complement of weapons could tear up a Star Destroyer. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/3 "2003-07-17T01:54:32Z")
**DdD** , methinks you’ve been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Panzerfaust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Panzerfaust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panzerfaust)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/4 "2003-07-17T02:40:42Z")
You can’t expect too much from the boy. He lacks a certain skepticism. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/5 "2003-07-17T03:05:33Z")
I got a response from my ad on [match.com](http://match.com) once, and besides it being weird enough that I already knew the guy b/c he’d graduated high school with my sister (and I with his), his email included this line: “I hope you don’t mind that I make my own Star Wars costumes.” Better than THAT, if any of you saw the episode of Conan where he sent Triumph to mock the people in line waiting to see SW, he’s one of the guys in line getting picked on. Haha! ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/6 "2003-07-17T03:33:19Z")
I had one of the best relationships of my life with a guy who camped out for a week to see Return of the Jedi. And I pay somebody to make me anime costumes. So, ya know, to each their own and stuff… In my own defense, I’m not sure what the Enterprise-E is, I only watch TOS. But I’ll go on for hours about whether Alucard could kick Vash the Stampede’s butt. (He could, obviously. Duh) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/7 "2003-07-17T03:35:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DdDHellspawn \* > \*\*Dude you’re 38 years old and arguing with a 16 year old over if a destroyer would beat the Enterprise E. \*\* Wha…?! That’s totally stupid _and_ gay!! ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/8 "2003-07-17T03:43:29Z")
We all have our (nerdy) hang-ups I would guess, but rent the movie “Trekkies” and you will all feel a whole bunch better about yourselves… These people (may their individual deities bless them) have bigger hang-ups than most. …Did you mean an ISDI, ISDII, or ISDIII subclass of Star Destroyer, I mean, If the Enterprise couldn’t close fast enough those double ion cannons of the ISDI would tear her apart, however at close range… er, like I said… nerdy hang-ups. ---
**Author:** ![DdDHellspawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DdDHellspawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DdDHellspawn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/9 "2003-07-17T03:47:36Z")
First off how can Lord of the Rings copy Babylon 5 when Tolkien wrote it way before that stupid ass show ever was thought up? It just goes to show how pathetic these people are. And how have I been whooshed??? and what the hell does that mean??? And I’m not saying that it’s gay cause I am against the use of that word. I’m just ranting about all the damn idiots who can join the rest of us in reality. ---
**Author:** ![TalksToWalls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@TalksToWalls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TalksToWalls)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/10 "2003-07-17T03:49:31Z")
_sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/11 "2003-07-17T03:53:58Z")
I could be nerdier if I wanted to… ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/12 "2003-07-17T03:58:07Z")
Question: What makes a Star Wars fan that camps out for a movie or a Trekkie that argues about which ship is the best any more nerdy than a football fan that camps out for the Superbowl or a baseball fan that argues that Hank Aaron is a better slugger than Barry Bonds? ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/13 "2003-07-17T04:04:32Z")
A. The action figures in his closet ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/14 "2003-07-17T04:09:24Z")
Why is arguing over sci-fi comparisions called _nerdy_ but arguing over what Al Gore couldve done if he was elected somehow be intellectual? Why is imagining if Batman can withstand an attack from killer tomatoes is somehow gay but trying to argue whether or not to invade Iraq _after the Iraq war_ is the height of socio-political reparte? If your forte is engineering design specifications of television and movie space ships, then debate away. You cant begrudge a man for submitting his opinions of his expertise to the forum that can best appreciate his endeavour. Neither can you judge the man based on the poor debating skills of his opponents. You may think its nerdy and childish but he IS speaking of contemporary cultural icons of the past 3 generations. He is 38 because he wouldve been 13 when Star Wars (episode 4 to all you SW nerds) first came on the movie screen. Being childish may not be something to aspire to, but being a child at heart has no drawbacks. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/15 "2003-07-17T04:14:33Z")
Ahhh “Trekkies”. If anything can reasure a person when they think they might be a nerd it’s that docu-film. Some of those people defy psychology. Why? Just why? And what’s more - the flippin Stars of the show seem to be a little bit obsessive about it too. (you’d expect them to be all “Oh It’s just an acting job - it pays the bills” but no) ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/16 "2003-07-17T04:14:46Z")
BTW as a 45 year old man I can objectively say that the Enterprise would totally _ **OWN** _ a Corellian Destroyer or even one of Darths capital ships (with Darth on Board) To paraphrase a wise scotsman, “They’ll be wallowin’ like a garbage scow aginst a warp drivin’ Starship.” ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/17 "2003-07-17T04:17:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dinoboy \* > \*\*A. > > The action figures in his closet \*\* as opposed to sports stars bobble heads?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/18 "2003-07-17T04:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*But I’ll go on for hours about whether Alucard could kick Vash the Stampede’s butt. (He could, obviously. Duh) \*\* Whaaaaa?! OK, OK. Alucard is cool. Yes. But we **are** talking about the Humanoid Typhoon here. You know, the $$60,000,000,000 man? No, I don’t see it. 😃 Anyway, haven’t I seen this exact (Enterprise v. Star Destroyer) argument in Cafe Society 3 or 4 times? So I guess what I’m saying is: We can’t possibly get any nerdier than this. (Well, some of us can, but me? no.) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/19 "2003-07-17T04:18:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\*Why is arguing over sci-fi comparisions called _nerdy_ but arguing over what Al Gore couldve done if he was elected somehow be intellectual? > > Why is imagining if Batman can withstand an attack from killer tomatoes is somehow gay but trying to argue whether or not to invade Iraq _after the Iraq war_ is the height of socio-political reparte? > \*\* Because the former in both cases is NOT REAL! FICTION! I personally have nothing against most ‘ordinary’ fans (I myself might have one or two opinions about what can beat who etc…) but there are a worrying abundance of those who take it too far. Like the kid with the monotone voice who designed his own suit (and spinoff). the goofy little woman who insists on wearing her uniform(and tricorder etc…) at work and seems (when you hear her talk) to believe it’s all real. ---
**Author:** ![dinoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027/20 "2003-07-17T04:41:52Z")
As a matter of fact: I own both action figures (the ORIGINAL ones with the straght arms and internal extending light sabers), AND bobble heads, so… so I’m feelin’ pretty good right about now… I think I’m gonna go and watch “Trekkies”. As to being passionate about a hobby, I have to agree there has to be a line drawn somewhere. Like maybe before you leave your house in Star Wars underroos (hey, I was seven and the alliance was in peril). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-taking-it-way-to-far-how-much-more-of-a-nerd-can-you-be/189027.md?page=2)