Why Nerds are Unpopular: an essay by Paul Graham
As we’re all aware, smart kids are usually near the bottom of the popularity ladder. We also know that it’s during the teen years when everything gets classified as ‘cool’ and that everything cool makes you a better person than if you didn’t have all of that. I think that the essay gives us a good idea about how the social hierarchy of high schools is determined.
For example, being gangster is obviously the thing today. So we have all of these people getting their gangster clothes and cell phones and start trying to speak in the same way rappers rap. By the way, speaking like rappers doesn’t work, since rappers rap like that for a reason: to keep whatever they’re rapping about in rhythm so it doesn’t sound like crap. Talking like that is just retarded. We also have computers, so while trying to type and exude their gangster-ness, they type with their elite technologically advanced lexicon of shortened words, some standard, some invented on their own.
Now then, we have smart people. I think I’ll use myself as an example, since people consider me smart. Please don’t think I’m being an arrogant bastard by saying this. People ask me what I get on tests and assignments and no matter what I say, it’s all considered inherently arrogant bastardness by many. So then. A few years back, I was being smart and worrying about tests and projects and stuff. Basically, when the whole gangster thing caught on, I didn’t even notice. Why? Because I didn’t give a damn. I had my own interests and stuff that I had to worry about. Why would I waste my time and money trying to fit in? To me, it had no payoff whatsoever.
Today, I still don’t give a damn (obviously). I have this friend who wants me to join him in the cafeteria where all the gangsters hang out. Why would I though? Being gangster just isn’t me. I have my own personality and interests. Those are way more important to me than conforming to the culture. I also think the culture is retarded. They idolize people who get shot in the mouth, and these are the same kids thinking they’re true gangsters and at the same time they throw pennies at cars and laugh obnoxiously, congratulating themselves on another successful gangster act.
Sure, there are people that can be popular and smart, but like anything in this world, it’s the exception. Being popular requires incredible work and most smart people aren’t willing to give up what they think is important for what the rest of the world thinks is important.
While the nerds were being trained to get the right answers, the popular kids were being trained to please.