Steve Urkel.
Actually, Steve Urkel was very popular (IRL). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Urkel#The_Ratings
I assumed the 'Steve Urkel' post was making the point that a black nerd could be very well loved, and moderated it up based on that.
Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
31–40 of 69 posts
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#32I think white society views black people are more masculine and physical, asian people as less so.
You might not like that, but that doesn't affect whether it's true or not.
The result is that black people are expected to excel at the physical. When they don't (instead favoring the intellectual) they're viewed as not making use of this gift.
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#33Steve Urkel.
Also see RZA/Wu Tang Clan, Pharrell Williams/N.E.R.D. It certainly seems like some aspects of nerddom/geekiness are perfectly acceptable: video games, kung fu, sci-fi, etc. Of course, you have to be cool already for geeky things to be acceptable.
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#34Is it really just wearing the right clothes that makes you popular? Maybe the "nerds" are just fooling themselves, making excuses for their social ineptness? What exactly defines nerd anyway? Not being able to talk straight to people? Doing weird things? But what is weird? Maybe building your own radio with nobody to talk to was weird, but what if you used your electronics skills to build fancy effects for your elect…
if you look at a lot of the popular students, you'll find they are often of certain MBTI types (ESFP/ESTP). there's also a particular type (ENFJ) that is insanely charismatic (Oprah Winfrey is an example,) and they are also very popular in different ways
i know that it's pretty much impossible for me to pull that sort of charisma from myself in any quantity, while to them it comes naturally, likely often just through impulse
in other words, no. you probably won't become more popular by trying. wearing the right clothes, and doing all sorts of things that the popular kids do will only make you look like a poser. the popular kids don't do those things to be popular, that's just what you see on the surface. and if you can't see beyond the surface, then you probably don't get it
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#35Is it really just wearing the right clothes that makes you popular? Maybe the "nerds" are just fooling themselves, making excuses for their social ineptness? What exactly defines nerd anyway? Not being able to talk straight to people? Doing weird things? But what is weird? Maybe building your own radio with nobody to talk to was weird, but what if you used your electronics skills to build fancy effects for your elect…
if you look at a lot of the popular students, you'll find they are often of certain MBTI types (ESFP/ESTP). there's also a particular type (ENFJ) that is insanely charismatic (Oprah Winfrey is an example,) and they are also very popular in different ways i know that it's pretty much impossible for me to pull that sort of charisma from myself in any quantity, while to them it comes naturally, likely often just through…
Popularity isn't necessary for happiness. That being said I'm happy I survived high school.
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#36i think humans are experts in spotting "the to stupid to mate with". if you are clever enough chances are the average person will think you are odd enough to be labelled stupid.
of course i was right on spot.
so why the downmod?
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
"kids from immigrant parents tend to focus more on education" Or, more accurately, kids from voluntary immigrant parents tend to focus more on education. C.f. Voluntary and Involuntary Minorities: A Cultural-Ecological Theory of School Performance with Some Implications for Education. Ogbu himself is actually a Nigerian.
I took a class recently on the sociology of education. We focused heavily on Ogbu -- he has done outstanding work that is worth a look from any layman.
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Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#38i think humans are experts in spotting "the to stupid to mate with". if you are clever enough chances are the average person will think you are odd enough to be labelled stupid.
of course i was right on spot. so why the downmod?
1. Your post is clumsily worded. Your argument seems to be 'oddness is mistaken for stupidity'. But you never really state that explicitly, so I'm not sure.
2. If we're 'experts' about spotting people who are too stupid, then why do we mistake oddness for stupidity?
3. Your grammar is also poor - e.g., 'to stupid to mate with'.
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#39 1. People are in groups for purposes. Example: A soccer team is a group for the purpose of playing soccer.
2. Leadership is contextual to the purpose of a group. A great soccer player is likely to be a leader on a soccer team, but if she is a bad musician, she won't be a leader in a band, no matter how charismatic or likeable she is.
3. Popularity is leadership without authority.
4. Lacking an external evaluation function, a group implicitly invents one.
This implies that nerds would actually be popular in groups with an evaluation function for smartness.
The solution is to create critical masses of people brought together in the context of a need to be smart.
Re: Why are Black Nerds so Unpopular?
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are there many people living today whose parents were involuntary immigrants?
'The most popular destination for asylum seekers of all nationalities in 2007 was the US, with an estimated 49,200 new asylum claims' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7301985.stm
That also brings up another question though, why are they being forced to emigrate? Could they be intelligent? Because of that aspect, could their views clash with the society they currently reside in? In many fascist nations, the intelligentsia are the first to be marginalized.
Perhaps you could separate this out by motives for immigration to the US, but I think the point still stands that people who hold education dear to them will instill that value into their children.