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MineralMan

(151,301 posts)

5. The distinction is very difficult to make.

Reply to snooper2 (Reply #4)

Wed Sep 24, 2014, 10:36 AM

Sep 2014

The funny thing is that the word "nerd" wasn't really in use back in 1957 with the same definition it has now. The definition of a nerd that was prevalent then was "someone who sniffs bicycle seats." Seriously. And "geek" still had the definition of "someone in a side show who bites the heads off chickens."

The language evolves, it seems.

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I'm an Unashamed Nerd. [View all] MineralMan Sep 2014 OP

There's nothing wrong with being a nerd. el_bryanto Sep 2014 #1

Sputnik flashback Ptah Sep 2014 #2

Yup. That was it. MineralMan Sep 2014 #3

My older brother was 13 then and had just got his Novice License. Ptah Sep 2014 #7

Did you launch rockets? A few days after Sputnik, Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #43

Nerds have BO LOL, I would rather be a Geek snooper2 Sep 2014 #4

The distinction is very difficult to make. MineralMan Sep 2014 #5

Watch the video and it will be explained snooper2 Sep 2014 #6

There is a wonderful movie that starts with the "Sputnik" event. Stuart G Sep 2014 #8

isn't that one of those action movies hfojvt Sep 2014 #36

+1 daleanime Sep 2014 #37

That reminds me of a student I had in the mid 90s... tk2kewl Sep 2014 #9

I am the proud mother of Skidmore Sep 2014 #10

Excellent! I'm sure I drove my parents nuts with my nerdery, MineralMan Sep 2014 #11

Your mother sounds like a treasure. Skidmore Sep 2014 #12

She still is a treasure at 90 years of age. MineralMan Sep 2014 #13

Lucky you. Skidmore Sep 2014 #14

There will be hugs, for sure. MineralMan Sep 2014 #15

As I remember that time period, the nerd label was given to those that rhett o rick Sep 2014 #16

Miss Weaver. She was quite a character, and a great MineralMan Sep 2014 #19

Very cool. I am glad you have good memories. Having good teachers at young ages rhett o rick Sep 2014 #23

I remember going out in the evening packman Sep 2014 #17

Yes, that too. It was amazing, to be sure. MineralMan Sep 2014 #20

I'll bet that there are people in that class who remember that thanks to you! logosoco Sep 2014 #18

"Nerds are just cool people in a different way." MineralMan Sep 2014 #21

Unapologetic science nerd here, too! ColesCountyDem Sep 2014 #22

Radioactive Boy Scout meets The EPA seveneyes Sep 2014 #24

The times they were a'changing... Crash2Parties Sep 2014 #25

Me too, just a different generation. riqster Sep 2014 #26

I was always a popular girl secretly in love with the nerds. smirkymonkey Sep 2014 #27

Last year, I went to my 50th HS reunion. MineralMan Sep 2014 #28

I'm so nerdy that I make my own beer Nye Bevan Sep 2014 #29

... MadrasT Sep 2014 #34

I was a radar repairman in the Army upaloopa Sep 2014 #30

I remember it well, was in boot camp at Parris Island. CK_John Sep 2014 #31

May as well post the OED definition and usage examples muriel_volestrangler Sep 2014 #32

You might want to get a new calendar ... GeorgeGist Sep 2014 #41

The OP was all about the 1950s muriel_volestrangler Sep 2014 #44

Me too, and I do it for DU as can be seen here... scubadude Sep 2014 #33

I am nerd in a family of nerds Gothmog Sep 2014 #35

Guess I have to admit to being a nerd, also. meti57b Sep 2014 #38

Nice story. Good on you. dipsydoodle Sep 2014 #39

Sputnik really spurred science and research in the USA BobbyBoring Sep 2014 #40

Now we kill people better. GeorgeGist Sep 2014 #42

I Built a Tesla Coil Around that Age AndyTiedye Sep 2014 #45