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Post by Phil Maurice on Aug 19, 2017 13:37:34 GMT -5
Comedian Bill Maher rarely misses an opportunity to denigrate comics, sci-fi, and fantasy fandom, particularly since such properties have really begun to encroach upon his little slice of the TV landscape. A couple of gems I recall from recent weeks, related to his ill-conceived opinions on "Millenials": "They think Superman is going to solve global warming." (Literally no one thinks this.) "They think comic books are literature." (Spoiler alert, Bill: many are!) I suspect Maher failed an audition for Revenge of the Nerds back in '83 and is still bitter about it.  |
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Post by Jesse on Aug 19, 2017 14:07:21 GMT -5
Here's a pretty brutal review of a recent London Comic Con by a "journalist" who sounds like she mostly covers fashion shows. She repeatedly calls the convention goers "saddos" and even makes fun of one of them for working at McDonalds. It's sad to see that this antiquated and offensive stereotype still exists but it doesn't really effect me mostly because I stopped giving a spit what people think about me a long time ago. I mostly went to art schools so I'm used to letting my freak flag fly I guess. I've only ever been to one Con though and that was back in '96 but I don't see a big difference between people who dress up in costume for them and people who wear their favorite team jerseys to sporting events. Escapism is escapism. Who really cares whether it's binging watching reality TV or reading Tolkien?
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Post by badwolf on Aug 19, 2017 15:14:52 GMT -5
Now that comics are so mainstream I'm not sure how widespread that stereotype is any more. I'd say people who still buy into it are just ignorant and not worth paying any attention to. I'm finally old enough to not really care what people think anyway. I don't know why you equate anime with porn though. There is some pornographic anime of course but in Japan animation is just another medium to tell any kind of story. It's just another stereotype. My sister is big into it and all she ever hear about is that it's Japanese porn. I'm just mixing stereotypes here. If that's all she ever hears about then she can't be "big into it." |
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Aug 19, 2017 17:33:32 GMT -5
But it's completely different if you read the article to the end. Ok, obviously anyone saying that nerds aren't pretty racist is insultingly wrong, but other than that it's a fairly positive article overall. |
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Post by Spike-X on Aug 19, 2017 19:36:45 GMT -5
Comedian Bill Maher rarely misses an opportunity to denigrate comics, sci-fi, and fantasy fandom, particularly since such properties have really begun to encroach upon his little slice of the TV landscape. A couple of gems I recall from recent weeks, related to his ill-conceived opinions on "Millenials": "They think Superman is going to solve global warming." (Literally no one thinks this.) "They think comic books are literature." (Spoiler alert, Bill: many are!) I suspect Maher failed an audition for Revenge of the Nerds back in '83 and is still bitter about it. Bill Maher's a tool. |
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Post by steveinthecity on Aug 19, 2017 19:44:47 GMT -5
The stereotype does bother me somewhat. The people that matter in my life aren't the issue, it's more that I feel a need to keep my comics interests closeted as opposed to say being a golf enthusiast or rebuilding muscle cars or something that seems to hold more 'respect' with the general population.
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Aug 19, 2017 22:54:37 GMT -5
"They think comic books are literature." (Spoiler alert, Bill: many are!) It kind of annoys me when people say comics (or games) are inferior storytelling mediums to movies or prose. They're just different. |
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Post by james on Aug 20, 2017 3:29:40 GMT -5
I think Im more annoyed that a TV show like Big Bang Theory wants to show everyone what nerds are realy like. Yet the only thing that in the writers' minds that makes them nerds is they read comics, watch Star wars, and once fought over a prop ring from Lord of the Rings, and try to make clever quips about comics or Sci Fi usually in front of their hot girlfriends so the girls can roll their eyes to show how unnerdy and clueless they are abour anything their men say.
And this is where most if America gets its idea of what a collector/fan of comics and the whole sci fi fantasy genre are like.
Not to mention its painfully unfunny?
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Post by tarkintino on Aug 20, 2017 16:16:45 GMT -5
I'm absolutely a geek, with my comics reading and Magic: The Gathering playing and Dr. Who/GoT/Flash/Supernatual/other genre TV watching and Funko Pop figure collecting and obsessive knowledge about most of those topics having. On the flip side, I've been married for 15 years, have two kids, serve as an Elder at my church, have led Bible studies, have coached youth soccer, and work in a role that requires me to interact with others on a daily basis. I embrace who I am, all aspects of it, gladly. Other people want to make fun of me for it or stereotype me, they aren't worth my time worrying about, because I'm too busy leading a full and fulfilling life. Oh, and my older daughter, who turns 12 in three months, is coming along quite nicely in her geekdom as well, while also being an athlete, musician, and active in both church and secular organizations. She just does her thing, and I couldn't be more proud of her confidence in who she is. Great post, Captain. Well said and thanks for sharing. 5 out 5 Cap shields/Batarangs/Phasers/lightsabers for that.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Aug 21, 2017 5:27:19 GMT -5
I wear my geekdom as a badge. I don't hide it from my friends and I'll even joke about it, tongue -in- cheek. but these days, it's kool to be a comic book superhero fan.
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Post by brutalis on Aug 21, 2017 7:55:11 GMT -5
Don't even consider stereotypes within the context of geek or nerd as to the average person they are just meant to be used as a general insult lumping together people who don't like the same things as the person doing the put down. Instead I embrace and eschew that being a geek or nerd means me/you are all being something more. We are those who can embrace differences and enjoy vast majorities of entertainment styling's. We are articulate, sociable and likable and interact with all without having to resort to putting down and insulting others and their likes. I prefer being a geek or a nerd as opposed to the everyday working slugs moving mindlessly through life. I am a four eyed, comic book reading, science fiction/fantasy gamer, cartoon watching nerd/geek who likes who I am just fine thank you very much  |
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Post by mikelmidnight on Aug 21, 2017 11:38:53 GMT -5
I think Im more annoyed that a TV show like Big Bang Theory wants to show everyone what nerds are realy like. Yet the only thing that in the writers' minds that makes them nerds is they read comics, watch Star wars, and once fought over a prop ring from Lord of the Rings, and try to make clever quips about comics or Sci Fi usually in front of their hot girlfriends so the girls can roll their eyes to show how unnerdy and clueless they are abour anything their men say. Not to mention its painfully unfunny?
I've always compared BBT to the Eltingville Club -- which is much more negativistic about geeks and nerds but is incredibly funny.
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Post by Jesse on Aug 21, 2017 12:57:47 GMT -5
But it's completely different if you read the article to the end.it's a fairly positive article overall. I've read the entire article a few times and sorry but I completely disagree with both these points. Over and over again she makes disparaging remarks about convention goers and she repeatedly makes fun of the people she's interviewing. Her poor choice of words like "saddos" and calling them "grotesque, ugly, exhibitionist" makes her seem like she intentionally trying to bully them. It may be her tongue-in-cheek sense of humor but if that's the case it's lost on anyone not familiar with her work. Yes she does admit that she's "the nutty one after all" at the end but if that's her point then she certainly could have been more tactful getting there. |
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Post by Jesse on Aug 21, 2017 13:14:54 GMT -5
I think Im more annoyed that a TV show like Big Bang Theory wants to show everyone what nerds are realy like. Yet the only thing that in the writers' minds that makes them nerds is they read comics, watch Star wars, and once fought over a prop ring from Lord of the Rings, and try to make clever quips about comics or Sci Fi usually in front of their hot girlfriends so the girls can roll their eyes to show how unnerdy and clueless they are abour anything their men say. And this is where most if America gets its idea of what a collector/fan of comics and the whole sci fi fantasy genre are like. Not to mention its painfully unfunny? Completely agree with this. |
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Post by Jesse on Aug 21, 2017 13:15:39 GMT -5
Don't even consider stereotypes within the context of geek or nerd as to the average person they are just meant to be used as a general insult lumping together people who don't like the same things as the person doing the put down. Instead I embrace and eschew that being a geek or nerd means me/you are all being something more. We are those who can embrace differences and enjoy vast majorities of entertainment styling's. We are articulate, sociable and likable and interact with all without having to resort to putting down and insulting others and their likes. I prefer being a geek or a nerd as opposed to the everyday working slugs moving mindlessly through life. I am a four eyed, comic book reading, science fiction/fantasy gamer, cartoon watching nerd/geek who likes who I am just fine thank you very much Very well said. |
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