To nerd or not to nerd? Is that a simple question?

With society filled with retro hipsters, being a nerd isn't such a horrible stigma anymore.  Or is it?

Reading comics and playing D&D won't leave you living in your parent's basement anymore.  With uncool becoming cool again, dressing the part of the nerd is now socially acceptable, But why?

A few years ago celebrating the nerd culture, would have left you watching Babylon 5 reruns on a friday night.  Its programs like "Attack of the Show," which showcase the best of nerd and tech culture.  Now I am not oppose to the nerd culture, I celebrate with my Darth Vader helmet, but I am just curious why the attitudes have changed so fast.

Perhaps its the popularity of comic book movies, like Spiderman and Batman, which have made the reading of the back story socially acceptable.

Not all Nerdage, new coined phrase, leaves you Mr./Mrs. Cool.  Being a hardcore nerd still leaves you alone outside of your counterparts.  Things like old Star Trek and Battlestar Gallactica episodes are still too much for the average nerd to handle.

Determining Your Nerd Level

1)  You have used a wrapping paper tube as a light sabre, and made the corresponding sounds with ur mouth.

2)  Instead of a bikini/underwear model poster, you have a signed photo of the entire cast of Star Trek: Next Generation.

3)  You can recite full scenes of Monty Python's Holy Grail.

4)  You've gone to a comic-con as something other than yourself.

5)  You have a 10 page list of editing errors on a show that contains one or all of the following: lasers, spaceships, Jedi's, Spock's, ghosts or robots.

If you answered yes to three or more questions, you're too much nerd for society to handle. Answering one to two means you may read some comics, but the more mainstream, like superman or batman. If you answered yes to none, then you are fonzie-esc, the epitome of cool.

Being a nerd will eventually go out of fashion, but until then keep searching for those droids you are looking for.

- Robert