When we were growing up, a lot of people thought of being nerdy as something negative, but times have changed. Shows like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Stranger Things” have made geeky characters relatable and lovable, helping us see them in a new light. Now, new research suggests more people are now proudly embracing their nerdy side.
According to a poll of 2-thousand adults, 46% openly admit they’re a geek in certain areas of adult life, despite 56% never wanting to be called that when they were in school.
- Over two-thirds (69%) believe that being healthily obsessed with specific interests actually makes people more interesting.
- Nearly two in 10 (18%) consider themselves the “geeky” one in their friend group.
- And 59% admit they’ve never tried to hide their nerdy side to avoid being called out as one.
- Half of respondents think “geek culture” has gotten more mainstream in the last 10 years and 36% actually think it’s cool to be a geek now.
- The top traits people associate with geeks are being obsessive (39%), quirky (38%), and intelligent (36%).
- Famous real life geeks include Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Bill Gates, while Sheldon Cooper from “The Big Bang Theory” is the top TV geek.
- Six in 10 believe that having nerdy characters in TV shows is a “great way to celebrate geekiness” and 18% find themselves relating to these characters.
- Overall, 66% of those surveyed believe anyone who is a geek should feel proud to admit it.
Top 10 Geeky Things People Do:
- Comparing specs before buying any gadget
- Watching behind-the-scenes documentaries
- Keeping tabs open on your computer just in case
- Keeping old tech just because it’s nostalgic
- Keeping spreadsheets for personal projects
- Watching YouTube tutorials just for fun
- Memorizing lines from your favorite movies
- Having favorite fonts for documents
- Memorizing theme songs from old TV shows
- Learning obscure trivia for fun
Source: Talking Points