Dating a Nerd: 101

A Brief History
A Stroll with Dr. Seuss	The term "Nerd" first appeared in a 1950's Dr. Seuss book titled If I Ran the Zoo. "And then, just to show them, I'll sail to Ka-Troo And Bring Back an It-Kutch a Preep and a Proo A Nerkle a Nerd and a Seersucker, too!” The nerd was a small humanoid creature who looked rather comically angry.
Nerds Become Square	The next appearance of the term "nerd" was in a 1957 issue of the Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Mail in a regular column entitled “ABC for SQUARES”: “Nerd--a square, any explanation needed?” Authorities disagree on whether Dr. Seuss's nerd and the one in the Glasgow article are actually the same. However, one theory states that the word nerd (“comically unpleasant creature”) was picked up by the five- and six-year-olds of 1950 and passed on to their older siblings, who by 1957, as teenagers, had restricted and specified the meaning to the most comically obnoxious creature of their own class, a “square.”
Nerds in the 21st Century	The current slang definition of a nerd is: A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept. It will be interesting to see, however, whether this defintion will also undergo a change as the ability to understand emerging techonology becomes crucial in mainstream culture. Even now, many people firmly believe that calling someone a nerd is the ultimate compliment.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

How to Recognize a Nerd
Appearance	GLASSES: This is the easiest way to spot a Nerd. If a person has chosen to wear glasses rather than contacts, you're probably looking at a Nerd. CLOTHES: Look for clothing that is outdated or mismatched. Alternatively, you might meet a "studious Nerd", who dresses like a college professor, even when he's 22. HAIR: A Nerd never seems to be in posession of a good brush or comb, and his hair looks as rumpled as his clothing. Or, your Nerd may be a "greased back" kind of guy, making you want to shove him into the nearest hair salon for a good shampoo.
Intelligence	ALL ABOUT THE BRAIN: Nerds are classically smart people...they just seem to know more than everyone else. They always want to learn new things and need to question WHY and then get the answers. They use logic to define their world, almost to a fault. If A+B=C, then A+B will always equal C. There is no room for deviation. HOBBIES: Nerds spend a lot of time with their noses in books, even dictionaries, which might explain why so many of them wind up needing glasses. You're likely to find Nerds on the chess team at school, or heavily involved in Science and Math. Bugs and chemicals, as well as computers and gadgets also seem to hold an endless fascination for them. The Nerd is the guy who can solve the Rubik's cube without the book. LANGUAGE: Nerds often use a lot of technical terms, especially when they're talking with colleagues. You'll need to share your Nerd's thirst for knowledge, or else be prepared to never know what your Nerd is talking about.
Good with Machines, Bad with People	SHYNESS: The Nerd is the one who blushes when you say hello to him. He rarely initiates conversation because he either fears that no one will talk to him, or worse, people will stare at him like he's suddenly sprouted antennae. Women and crowds tend to terrify him because he doesn't know how to interact socially. This can make him unpopular, either because he appears "aloof" or because he intimidates people with his high IQ. DATING: This is sometimes a cruel joke for a Nerd, who often finds himself overlooked by his heart's desire when a moron with a pretty face walks by. When he does fall for someone, he will be slow to profess his feelings, fearing rejection, or simply finding it difficult to express himself to the opposite sex. When it comes to recognizing when a woman is interested in him, don't count on the Nerd to see it until you've smacked him over the head with a dictionary or planted your naked behind on the computer keyboard.
Sense of Humor	A LITTLE BIT WARPED: Can Nerds help it that they are usually three steps ahead of the rest of us mentally? A Nerd, if given the proper situation, has a wonderful sense of humor so long as the person on the receiving end of the joke understands him. Most often the jokes float gloriously above the heads of his audience, but for those who understand, you most often times find them rolling on the floor.
Clumsy & Absent-Minded	THE LITTLE THINGS: Nerds are often too deep in thought to concentrate on mundane things like walking. This makes them easy to spot in a crowd. A Nerd is also not the one to put in charge of time-sensitive details like buying groceries, doing the laundry, or picking up clothes sent to the cleaners. While a Nerd can remember numbers and facts that would stump the rest of the world, he can't seem to remember his own birthday, let alone yours.
Attentive & Trustworthy	COMPASSION: A Nerd is often described as a "nice" guy - the hope and pitfall of all Nerds. Nerds make trustworthy friends and companions, who can be great listeners if you can pull their attention away from their gadgets long enough for them to notice your plight. Once they've focused on you, all that brainpower and depth of feeling will be at your disposal until they feel all is right with the world again. HELPFUL: Do you have a problem you just can't seem to solve, either technical or emotional? Call on a Nerd. They are happy to offer any wisdom they possess, and they'll share it without making you feel foolish or inferior, either.
Hard-Working	CAREER: Most Nerds seem to have their professional future mapped out well in advance, with set goals to achieve. Nerds in school tend to know their grade point averages to the third decimal point, and they often succeed professionally as accountants or computer engineers (like Bill Gates), where they can work by themselves. THE OFFICE: While a disorganized workspace is a mystery to most, it may just be heaven to a Nerd. Even though a Nerd may have piles upon piles of papers stacked on his desk, he knows where each piece of paper is. The stacks of papers on the floor next to his desk are just as important. The fate of the world could depend on his finding the paper that he was seeking in one of the piles on his desk. That's why Nerds do not have housekeepers.

The Road to a Relationship
What Attracts a Nerd	INTELLIGENCE: A man or woman with brains is sexy; one who has the intelligence to understand a complicated theory or process and then the ability to successfully articulate that information without appearing smug or making anyone feel inferior. GOOD MANNERS: A Nerd will hold open doors and firmly believes that chivalry is alive and well. He will want someone who appreciates that quality. STILL WATERS RUN DEEP: No self-respecting Nerd would ever be described as shallow, and they don't want to date shallow people, either. A Nerd's "shy & quiet" exterior tends to be a cover for amazing depth.
First Date	SMART WOMEN FASCINATE NERDS: Some men avoid brainy women. Not Nerds. And with so many common interests, there's always lots of stimulating things to talk about! FUN & SEXY: A Nerd's sense of humor and lack of self-absorption might be a welcome breath of fresh air after dating typical "Alpha" men. And as for the first kiss? Be prepared for him to knock your socks off! ROMANCE: Nerds believe in things like writing poetry and love letters, as well as sending flowers just because they care. With a Nerd, you'll discover what romance is really all about!
Getting Serious	COMPLETE DEVOTION: Nerds are dedicated partners, are less absorbed with their own looks, and love the women they fall for just the way they are, without expecting them to be perfect supermodels. TRUSTWORTHY: If a Nerd comes home late, it really is because he was working and lost track of time. Also, one never has to worry that a Nerd will become an unemployable couch potato. BORN READERS: For most nerds, books are like oxygen...utterly essential! A Nerd will never complain that you spend too much time reading. However, you may find books mysteriously teleporting from your stack to his! PASSIONATE LOVERS: Underneath that cool exterior, there is often a powder keg of passion just waiting to be set off.
Happily Ever After	TRUE LOVE STORIES: It's been 13 years and we're still happy together and looking for a lifetime of love. My nerd is a computer whiz and brings his techno-savvy to my rescue when I really mess up my PC. He's discovered his funny side with me and is a blast to be with now that he knows how to have fun. He's my true love. I loved a Nerd so much that I married him! And I've loved every moment with him since, even as he is trying to explain the "proper aspect ratio" of movie screens for the one hundredth time. My Nerd didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't swear, didn't even try to kiss me at the end of the date. Didn't own a car, so we either walked or took a city bus. The big date was bowling. We did go down to the Mississippi River to watch the submarine races occasionaly. Even sat still for the "interrogation" by the dreaded parents. Always got me home before curfew. Of course, this took place over 40 years ago and he's still the kind of guy that my girls go for. Oh, forgot to tell you...I married this nerd in August 1960 and we are still together (44 years this August). Give me a Nerd every time!!!

Love Letter to a Nerd

Hey, you, you with the glasses and the slightly distracted look. Yes, you, the nerd. I think I love you. Ah, you don’t believe me. You’re sure this is some kind of joke. Au contraire. Allow me to explain why you, above all men, intrigue me. I’m fascinated when I catch you deep in thought (which is ninety percent of your life) because you’re obsessed with your subject, whatever that happens to be. Watching you catch fire is downright adorable. Wind you up, point you in the direction of your current project and all your bells and whistles go off. Plus you’re comfy to be around. You don’t care if I’m wearing the latest fashion, because God knows you’re not. So I can forget about how I look for a change and concentrate on what’s going on. Which is a good thing, because with you, I need to stay on my toes. You make me wonder what lies beyond the farthest star, whether bat sonar is the same as whale sonar, whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable and why we haven’t invented a use for dryer lint. You tackle every subject as if you will have to write a Ph.D. dissertation on it tomorrow. I find that sometimes exhausting but mostly endearing. I love that you can forget time because you’re consumed by whatever cockeyed analysis you’re working on. Sure, you stand me up and char the coffeepot and forget to eat, but when it comes to your current passion, you’re totally in the moment. You’re not ruled by the clock, and that’s awesome. Because you’ve never taken attention from the opposite sex for granted, you’re appreciative when it happens. Grateful, even. And that may be the most delightful trait of all. So many nerds, so little time. Consider me, now and forever, a confirmed nerd-lover. Come to mama, you gorgeous geek, you. You’re my hero.