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Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





The Rock

I've stopped caring about what people think of my wargaming hobby. It's more fun than just getting wasted every week (don't mind occasional drink sesh myself) or just loafing in front of the tv every night.

AoV's Hobby Blog 29/04/18 The Tomb World stirs p44
How to take decent photos of your models
There's a beast in every man, and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand
Most importantly, Win or Lose, always try to have fun.
Armies Legion: Dark Angels 
   
Made in us
Lesser Daemon of Chaos





San Mateo, CA

It's nerdy in the sense that it takes up a lot of your time, it sometimes deals with science fiction or fantasy, and most of the rulesets are extremely complex.

The Cones of Dunshire, a fake game in Parks and Recreation that's kind of a pastiche of every "nerd" game ever made, has what looks to be Warhammer Fantasy models.

I hide the fact that I play Dungeons and Dragons from most people older than me because the mainstream either views it as dangerous (one person asked if I ever cut myself while playing) or pathetic, or simply confuse it with something like World of Warcraft (which I myself hypocritically view as both dangerous and pathetic.)

Wargaming is a bit different though in that it seems more constructive. Every experience I've had in sharing the hobby with "outsiders" has been positive. I even found out that my brother in law used to play Chaos, and a female friend has a large Sisters of Battle army sitting around somewhere.

5000
Who knows? 
   
Made in gr
Alluring Sorcerer of Slaanesh






Reading, UK

I think it's considered nerdy because it isn't necessarily the norm for a lot of people. I don't hide my hobby from my friends and often have tried to get them involved with it, but it's not football and doesn't involve throwing pointy things at a numbered circle. But they respect me for doing something I enjoy and more often than not I'm the one taking the mick out of myself for doing it.

My misses says I am a nerd because I play with toy men. I say she is a nerd because she likes embroidery. I guess we all have something that makes us a nerd.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/08 15:05:42


No pity, no remorse, no shoes 
   
Made in be
Waaagh! Warbiker





Lier, Belgium

my opinion about this: I sport alot, have a very good job, own a car and a house, have a girlfriend and so on. One of my favourite hobby's is warhammer, but it's just a hobby for me.

For others, it's more like a lifestyle, and that's where the 'nerd' comes in i think. If i look at our local store,
95% are male (offcourse) and this contributes nerd factor

a big group of these guys/kids spend most of their free time and most of their money in the store, as is their right, but it's also considered nerdy.

and something i've noticed myself: some are normal dudes who just play WH as hobby, they talk to girls,...

but others crawl away in between the pages of their rulebook as soon as a girl enters the shop, they don't speak to girls, only to stare at them and gossip between the dudes about here.

So imo there are alot of WH players you can easily call nerds, but not all, there are cool dudes too


8000 points fully painted
hive fleet belphegor 3500 points
1k sons killteam

Dakka is the ork word for shooting, but the ork concept of shooting is saturation fire. Just as there is no such thing as a "miss" in a target-rich environment, there is no such thing as a "dodge" in a bullet rich one

 
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

The definition for nerd seems to keep evolving.
I had covered the "common" definition of a nerd earlier, this is what I think it means to be a nerd:

"A person that takes great pride in obsessively involving themselves in esoteric facts of some topic or hobby at the expense of other life experiences."

I feel this allows it to be inclusive to sports fanatics (can rattle-off stats on all players of a team) to people who like their guns: an obsession bordering on unhealthy.
So many things are mainstream now, I would be hesitant to label many people on this board as "nerds" since their grasp of "life balance" runs contrary to the nerd stereotype.
So many people (myself included) would derive joy in knowing some obscure fact about the topic of interest no-one else knew, a means of showing off I guess.

Any holes in this definition or refinements to it?

A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut




West Browmich/Walsall West Midlands

 Talizvar wrote:
The definition for nerd seems to keep evolving.
I had covered the "common" definition of a nerd earlier, this is what I think it means to be a nerd:

"A person that takes great pride in obsessively involving themselves in esoteric facts of some topic or hobby at the expense of other life experiences."

I feel this allows it to be inclusive to sports fanatics (can rattle-off stats on all players of a team) to people who like their guns: an obsession bordering on unhealthy.
So many things are mainstream now, I would be hesitant to label many people on this board as "nerds" since their grasp of "life balance" runs contrary to the nerd stereotype.
So many people (myself included) would derive joy in knowing some obscure fact about the topic of interest no-one else knew, a means of showing off I guess.

Any holes in this definition or refinements to it?


Whichever way you define it, you are going to generalise to a major extent so you are both right and wrong

Frankly i do not give a dam what people think about it, sure folks may poke fun at the cost, but after all they cannot comment, as they spend money on things that I don't understand either. Moreover many myths are peddled about the wider community when in my expereince it only applies to a small section of it, and tars us all with the same brush. Sure GW stores are where we get the bad wrap, but most of the gamers i know are very decent people.

Some people are just blind to what the hobby gives those who partake, not to mention its more often than not it makes us the "unique" person in a room etc, and despite my best efforts to hide things being a wargamer always comes to bite me on the bum when i'm least expecting it

Many people just think its strange or unusual, to the layperson a totally vaild viewpoint.

However i'm sure we also could brand the model railway crowd as nerds yet they never seem to have the "image" problems wargamers have: ingnorance isn't bliss




A humble member of the Warlords Of Walsall.

Warmahordes:

Cryx- epic filth

Khador: HERE'S BUTCHER!!!

GW: IG: ABG, Dark Eldar , Tau Black Templars.
 
   
Made in gb
Lit By the Flames of Prospero





Rampton, UK

Its just yet another subjective term that we should not take to heart !
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut





I don't quite see the need for any sort of definition. Why would I use the word "nerd" to begin with?

   
Made in us
Member of the Ethereal Council






 Skinnereal wrote:
I'm happy enough to be both.

Geek doesn't mean the circus 'freak' who bites heads off snakes anymore.
Anyone who has a set of specific knowledge is now classes as a geek.

Nerd, yes, that's me. Nerdiness is usually an insult, but I don't care.
Nerdy is as nerdy does.

Again, Maybe this is my generation, But Typically a describer, like party girl or sports nut.

5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
 
   
Made in gb
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






Here's the difference as explained through song.




Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

 Sigvatr wrote:
I don't quite see the need for any sort of definition. Why would I use the word "nerd" to begin with?
Because the human animal likes to categorize?
You would use the word "nerd" if someone fits the definition and you do not want to give a long descriptor = shorthand, a macro language.
I am a Canadian, white, male, heterosexual, liberal, roman catholic... you get the drift.
Different levels of group belonging with all the prejudices that entails.

Thinking harder now on the OP topic: wargaming and being a nerd is not mutually exclusive.
You can enjoy and play a tabletop game but it does not mean you are an Otaku.
As pointed out, a fair number of military personnel enjoy tabletop wargaming which has been a part of their history for centuries, they tend not to fit the "nerd" stereotype.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/08 18:25:22


A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in us
Growlin' Guntrukk Driver with Killacannon




USA, Maine

Go watch former football players and sports fans do a live Fantasy Football draft and ask me again what a nerd is!

Painted armies:

Orks: 11000 points
Marines: 9500 points
Khorne Marines: 2500 points
Khorne Demons: 1500 points 
   
Made in de
Decrepit Dakkanaut





 Talizvar wrote:
 Sigvatr wrote:
I don't quite see the need for any sort of definition. Why would I use the word "nerd" to begin with?
Because the human animal likes to categorize?
You would use the word "nerd" if someone fits the definition and you do not want to give a long descriptor = shorthand, a macro language.


Just say that someone is a "fan" of something. Add adjectives to factorize. "Big", "remarkable". You get my point. "Fan" has a positive connotation, "nerd" has a negative connotation. So why would you use the latter?

   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

 Sigvatr wrote:
 Talizvar wrote:
 Sigvatr wrote:
I don't quite see the need for any sort of definition. Why would I use the word "nerd" to begin with?
Because the human animal likes to categorize?
You would use the word "nerd" if someone fits the definition and you do not want to give a long descriptor = shorthand, a macro language.
Just say that someone is a "fan" of something. Add adjectives to factorize. "Big", "remarkable". You get my point. "Fan" has a positive connotation, "nerd" has a negative connotation. So why would you use the latter?
Because "fan" and "nerd" are not equal, I would say it infers a certain degree of cost to their extreme liking of a given topic.
They become a bit odd socially due to that extreme focus (other topics and social graces are secondary if not cursory to that individual).
History has many accounts of highly intelligent and focused individuals forgetting "simple" things when living in their head.
It has a similar feel to the label "idiot-savant" but more self-inflicted.
Though "geek" seems to have replaced the traditional meaning of "nerd" where nerd still has the connotation of being smart while geek is more the focus aspect.

A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in gb
Ultramarine Librarian with Freaky Familiar





 WolfLordThunderfist wrote:
I am doing a speech on why wargamers are stereotypically classed as nerds and is that stigma true. any advice/ arguments for me to use?? This is being used in my english Qualification so i will need good strong arguments both for and against the wargamer 'nerds' and should they be classed as such.

Myself, I am an avid D&D, Wh40K, LoTR SBG and Dropzone Commander player


Haven't you heard? Now we're the ones that are cool.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/08 19:37:07


 
   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

Toofast wrote:
I am 6' 185 pounds, muscular, athletic, military veteran (special forces), I like to shoot guns and build race cars in my spare time. I have also been into MTG and tabletop war gaming for most of my life. In the past week I've had 2 girls who were absolutely shocked to learn that I play stuff like 40k. They basically said "wow, you don't look like you would be into that stuff. It's hot that you have a nerdy side". Not every war gamer, or even the majority fit the stereotypical "nerd" profile of overweight neckbeard basement dwellers with no social skills. I forget where, but I recently read a study that showed 40-50% of war gamers are active or retired military. It's not a nerd hobby any more than collecting firearms is a white, conservative male hobby. There are also some extremely attractive women that play 40k, along with a surprising number of celebrities who would never be seen as a "nerd" by people who didn't know their hobbies.


First of all, I want to meet you - you sound like my dream man.

Secondly, 'extremely attractive women that play 40k'.. you had me until that moment I don't think I've met one in 25 years of wargaming (maybe it's my location?) although I have met about 5000 'overweight neckbeard basement dwellers with no social skills' in that time.

Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in us
Veteran Knight Baron in a Crusader





Well I've gotten a few of my exes into 40k back when we were dating. They were all attractive so I count that. Outside of myself or friends getting hot girls to play, I haven't seen an attractive female wargamer. Does that still count?
   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

Toofast, please stay in your current location.. using the Dakka GPS-player finder to home in on your location now..

Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in gr
Alluring Sorcerer of Slaanesh






Reading, UK

But then some people have that auto switch that says wargaming = nerdy and can't see past that. It's like, burned into their very being. You might be a bronzed adonis but all they do is stare, point and laugh as you move your space mans over the board, biceps rippling

No pity, no remorse, no shoes 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




If one is black and plays wargames are they still considered a nerd or is that now being racist?

 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




VA USA

I was the captain of my highschool rugby team, I'm in marketing for supply chain solutions company, I dress very well on a daily basis (considering I'm only 24). I can cook, build furniture, repair engines, know more useless movie/music information than I'll ever need, I paint (canvases not just models), and I've typically has a pretty successful sex life with the ladies.

I don't think anything about me can be defined by any one label, and I think that of all people.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Pacific wrote:
Toofast wrote:
I am 6' 185 pounds, muscular, athletic, military veteran (special forces), I like to shoot guns and build race cars in my spare time. I have also been into MTG and tabletop war gaming for most of my life. In the past week I've had 2 girls who were absolutely shocked to learn that I play stuff like 40k. They basically said "wow, you don't look like you would be into that stuff. It's hot that you have a nerdy side". Not every war gamer, or even the majority fit the stereotypical "nerd" profile of overweight neckbeard basement dwellers with no social skills. I forget where, but I recently read a study that showed 40-50% of war gamers are active or retired military. It's not a nerd hobby any more than collecting firearms is a white, conservative male hobby. There are also some extremely attractive women that play 40k, along with a surprising number of celebrities who would never be seen as a "nerd" by people who didn't know their hobbies.


First of all, I want to meet you - you sound like my dream man.

Secondly, 'extremely attractive women that play 40k'.. you had me until that moment I don't think I've met one in 25 years of wargaming (maybe it's my location?) although I have met about 5000 'overweight neckbeard basement dwellers with no social skills' in that time.


I grew up in a Navy town/family. it was amazing that most of the players were in fact military and you could guess what they did in their branch by what army they were playing. Jump out of a plane? Blood angels! Medic? Red Scorpions.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/11 20:59:48


 
   
Made in gb
Lit By the Flames of Prospero





Rampton, UK

Toofast wrote:
Well I've gotten a few of my exes into 40k back when we were dating. They were all attractive so I count that. Outside of myself or friends getting hot girls to play, I haven't seen an attractive female wargamer. Does that still count?


hmm thats what they all say,
I think there could be bias here !

I think you should hook up with Pacific.
   
Made in us
Veteran Knight Baron in a Crusader





I need a pic of Pacific before that happens
   
Made in us
Agile Revenant Titan






Austin, Texas.

To all of those who cannot understand OPs pov, your not in high school
Nobody likes it when you tell them that you play a modelling board game in your free time.

I do drugs.
Mostly Plastic Crack, but I do dabble in Cardboard Cocaine. 
   
Made in nz
Regular Dakkanaut




Toofast wrote:
I am 6' 185 pounds, muscular, athletic, military veteran (special forces), I like to shoot guns and build race cars in my spare time. I have also been into MTG and tabletop war gaming for most of my life. In the past week I've had 2 girls who were absolutely shocked to learn that I play stuff like 40k. They basically said "wow, you don't look like you would be into that stuff. It's hot that you have a nerdy side". Not every war gamer, or even the majority fit the stereotypical "nerd" profile of overweight neckbeard basement dwellers with no social skills. I forget where, but I recently read a study that showed 40-50% of war gamers are active or retired military. It's not a nerd hobby any more than collecting firearms is a white, conservative male hobby. There are also some extremely attractive women that play 40k, along with a surprising number of celebrities who would never be seen as a "nerd" by people who didn't know their hobbies.


Diss dewd is hawt ^


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Sigvatr wrote:
 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:


Sorry mate, I don't believe people knowing about a hobby like ours would hinder you in your professional life.


Really, I feel sorry for you since you feel the need to hide such a benign thing about yourself. Sounds like a miserable way to live.


There is no need to feel sorry for me. It's a choice I made and I chose to live by it. War gaming is a rather small part of my life and I gladly choose not being able to openly talk about it when the wage I receive ensures a life free of any financial worries for me, my wife and our daughter (and future children) along with being able to spend a lot of quality time with our little family. I am not allowed to go into further detail in regards to my occupation, but let's just say that some branches require absolute and flawless professionalism when dealing with international partners all over the planet and most people in said branch being highly conservative and stiff with little to no tolerance for stepping out of the line.


Who are you, Donald Trump?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Entirely personal perspective.

I don't tell people I play wargames. They know me as they know me. I got nothing to hide, but it's not something I advocate. It's my personal hobby, that's all.

When I'm not drooling over Golden Demon models I'm drinking p*ss, taking dr*gs and trying to smash whatever p*ssy chooses to stand in my way. Lol. Sorry but it's pretty much how it is.

REGARDLESS I LOVE WARHAMMER DEM LIL MINACHORES ARE KEWL AND FUN TO PAINT CAUSE IM A CREATIVE PERSON IM MY SPARE TIME.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/09/12 04:54:48


 
   
Made in gb
Joined the Military for Authentic Experience





On an Express Elevator to Hell!!

Rayvon wrote:
Toofast wrote:
Well I've gotten a few of my exes into 40k back when we were dating. They were all attractive so I count that. Outside of myself or friends getting hot girls to play, I haven't seen an attractive female wargamer. Does that still count?


hmm thats what they all say,
I think there could be bias here !

I think you should hook up with Pacific.


Toofast wrote:I need a pic of Pacific before that happens


Time for me to leave the thread then, haha !

40-50% from the military sounds very high, I can only imagine it is different in the US? I know a couple of guys that play who are ex-army, but that's probably all out of a large group of friends and whatnot. Know lots of people who play that know a lot about the military and history, but that's different.

Epic 30K&40K! A new players guide, contributors welcome https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/751316.page
Small but perfectly formed! A Great Crusade Epic 6mm project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/694411.page

 
   
Made in de
Swift Swooping Hawk






Nerd is just a word and since gaming in many flavours became a mainstream thing it's not the same as 20 years ago. In my school time playing video games, RPGs or tabletop definitely made you a nerd since most people didn't understand at all what you are doing. If you are a 14 years old today chances are high that your dad played video games (or still does) and probably at least knows what roleplay is (even if he calls all systems D&D). In the late 80s and early 90s there even were campaigns by church groups condemning such games as work of the devil.

So nowadays being a nerd is maybe something different. I also noted that while back in the days the "classic nerd" mostly was intelligent, interested in science, reading, etc. if I go to a tabletop shop or gaming event I see a much more diverse target audience. In the late 80s the typical jock wouldn't have played a video game at all, today most of them own a PlayStation. Not a bad thing at all I guess, maybe there is a bit more understanding than back then.

My armies:
Eldar
Necron
Chaos Space Marines
Grey Knights
Imperial Knights
Death Guard
 
   
Made in sk
Regular Dakkanaut





Well, i think its not hobby that meke you nerd, its human stupidity...or society if you wish.

"Faith is the soul of any army; be it vested in primitive religion or enlightened truth. It makes even the least soldier mighty, the craven is remade worthy and through its balm any hardship may be endured. Faith ennobles all of the worlds the soldier undertakes be they so base or vile, and imports to them the golden spark of transcendent purpose."
— Lorgar Aurelian, Primarch of the Word Bearers 
   
Made in us
Sybarite Swinging an Agonizer





Leavenworth, KS

I like what I like, and hang with people who like the same things. My wife likes that I have passionate interests and supports me as such. Anything else is but so much dust in the wind.

"Death is my meat, terror my wine." - Unknown Dark Eldar Archon 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka




A nerd/geek can never become a jock and be able to play great at sports and have a great physique, but a Jock can be a geek and play with plastic toy soldiers.

Why am I seeing "closet geek" for a few people here? To ashamed to admit it?

Agies Grimm:The "Learn to play, bro" mentality is mostly just a way for someone to try to shame you by implying that their metaphorical nerd-wiener is bigger than yours. Which, ironically, I think nerds do even more vehemently than jocks.

Everything is made up and the points don't matter. 40K or Who's Line is it Anyway?

Auticus wrote: Or in summation: its ok to exploit shoddy points because those are rules and gamers exist to find rules loopholes (they are still "legal"), but if the same force can be composed without structure, it emotionally feels "wrong".  
   
 
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