GalacticCactus Forum

Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Jonathon on July 30, 2007, 10:08:01 AM

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: Jonathon on July 30, 2007, 10:08:01 AM

I thought this (http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/004766.html) was an interesting little bit on nerdiness as defined by high-school students. Obviously Weird Al was onto something with his song.

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: Porter on July 30, 2007, 10:40:31 AM

That shouldn't be too surprising.  Nerdy, as a pejorative, is generally considered to be an antonym to "cool", and black culture has long been closely linked to popular and "cool" culture here in the US.

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: Tante Shvester on July 31, 2007, 03:47:08 PM

Here's the article, from Sunday's New York Times magazine. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/magazine/29wwln-idealab-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin)

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: Jonathon on July 31, 2007, 03:58:38 PM

Thanks for the link, Shvester.

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: Tante Shvester on August 01, 2007, 07:00:05 AM

Any time, Bruder!

Title: On being white and nerdy
Post by: rivka on August 01, 2007, 10:44:39 AM

Another take on the article. (http://www.insidehighered.com/views/blogs/confessions_of_a_community_college_dean/notes_on_nerds)