When you were a kid were you called a nerd, and if so, how did you deal with it?

[eridani]

http://www.upworthy.com/when-she-asked-him-about-bullying-he-gave-her-exactly-the-answer-she-deserved?c=upw1

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Wil Wheaton When I was little boy I was called a nerd all the time, because I did not like sports. I loved to read, I liked Math and Science, I thought school was really cool and it hurt a lot because it is never OK when a person makes fun of you for something that you did not choose. You know, we did not choose to be nerds. We can't help it that we like these things and we shouldn't apologize for liking these things.

I wish that I could tell you that there is a really easy way to just not care, but the truth is, it hurts. But here's the thing that you might be able to understand. As a matter of fact, I am confident you will be able to understand this because you asked this question. When a person makes fun of you, when a person is cruel to you, it has nothing to do with you.It is not about what you said, it's not about what you did, it's not about what you love. It's about them feeling bad about themselves. They feel sad. They don't get positive attention from their parents. They don't feel as smart as you. They don't understand the things that you understand.

[Ex Lurker]

1. Nerd wasn't a term commonly used in my circle, but I was one

I was never bullied that I remember, but I went out for football to avoid being pigeonholed. I wasn't very good, but it earned me some respect from peers.

A little story. I went to a HS reunion years later. There had been a very pretty nerdy type girl in our class. More than one of the ex-jocks mentioned her by name, and said they wish they had asked her out, but they were too intimidated by her intellect.

We are ALL insecure about something.

[cap]

2. Google "gifted and talented"

Look at sections on bullying as well.

What the bullies don't realize I that there are multiple intelligences.

Also Marianne Williamson quotes on greatest fear

[cap]

3. There is also a G&T mailing list

Eom

[quaker bill]

4. I went on and won the Chess Tournament anyway

However for self-preservation I did make a number of friends who were decidedly not nerds. I found it was amazing what a little voluntary help with homework and test answers could do for my relationship with the jocks and machine shop guys. One or two "A" grades on the report card (for some the first their parents had ever seen) and they very quickly had my back in any confrontation.

Nothing really changed in the long haul, as most them ended up expelled or in jail before graduation, but I got through middle school and the freshman year unscathed.

[bluestateguy]

5. I hit the gym

Bulked up my shrimpy frame. The mockery tapered off.

It also helped that I was pretty good at sports, so I was at least known as an athletic nerdy kid.

[janlyn]

6. I am a high functioning autistic.

Of course I didn't know that growing up, I was not diagnosed until my 30s. I loved school but, at the same time it was horrible. My greatest tormentor was a girl named Jolene. She seemed to revel in making me miserable. By high school it was a little better and I realized being bullied made me a stronger person.
A few years ago, I joined one of those sites that connect you with high school pals, and there was Jolene. As I read her profile I realized she had not changed at all.I also so how insecure she really was, and at that point I was able to forgive her and yes, even to feel sympathy for her.

[Hooked_n_Looped]

7. Lifted weights, read books, joined the Army...

... And got to do more cool shit than 99% of my High School class can imagine.

[tularetom]

8. I had some nerdy tendencies but I played football, hunted and fished

I was always a voracious reader but I despised school because I felt I could learn more on my own. And although we didn't have a lot of money there were plenty of books around for me to read and I didn't go nuts when it rained and I was stuck inside, I just picked up a book.

But I was a terrible student and I never brown nosed the teachers and I played on high school teams, so I was able to avoid the dreaded "nerd" designation.