Introduction:

On the surface, your everyday American nerd is a quiet, docile, socially awkward creature. Stranded from their own kind, they must do everything they can to avoid excessive attention, lest they be cast in a negative light. When traveling in a pack, however, the nerd can become a bizarre, loud, and cantankerous being.

Abstract:

Nerds tend to congregate at various conventions, such as those glorifying Japanese anime, video games, or the European Renaissance. Those distinctions exist only on the surface; in reality, the nerd will often blend elements from each of these conventions. Often, outside observers will see knights from all edges of the earth celebrating anime, grown men dressed in Japanese school girl outfits playing video games with their compatriots, or protagonists from video games mingling with pages and squires.

It is at these mixing pots of nerdkind that the worst aspects of humanity are often observed. Without the fear of isolation, the nerd will often overact to present him or herself in the most memorable way possible. Simple conversations quickly become shouting matches, where passers by will often hear unfamiliar phrases such as "lawl!" or "0wn3d!!" In addition, the outsiders at these crossroads of nerdity are those who easily blend with mainstream society. Verbally abused for being uninformed on certain memes, their curiosity is met only with demands that they "lurk moar."¹

These situations often cause tensions to rise for all attendees. When every conversation is a battle for local supremacy², the nerd becomes volatile. Blind fury can become triggered by simply declining, for example, a free comic book.

Habitat 1:

Three years ago, my duty in the National Honor Society was to earn fifty volunteer hours within the semester. My peer suggested volunteering at an anime convention for a quick six hours. My desire for science had overtaken me, and I decided to go. My brother agreed to attend with me, due mostly to the fear that I would be "thrown to the wolves." When we arrived, we were the only people dressed "normally." Several of the grown men were in dresses or skimpy sailor outfits designed for women, and the (few) women were bursting out of ensembles designed for hyper-perfect cartoon figures.

Thanks to our ignorance of the goings-on of the convention and, admittedly, the subject material, he and I were tasked with making sandwiches. After we had finished our assignment, we were permitted to walk the grounds and mingle with entertainment extremes. At one point, another volunteer asked us if we would like a free comic book. I accepted, with the full intent of discarding the book as soon as I could. The exchange between this volunteer and my brother, however, did not go so smoothly. "Hey, do you a free comic book?" "No thanks, I'm good." "What!? You don't want a free comic book??" "No, I'm not all that into comic books." After my brother had shattered this nerd's worldview, the nerd had skulked off into the nether regions of the convention.

Habitat 2:

Gaming conventions are very similar to anime conventions. The stars of both shows were born in Japan, and the two entertainment mediums often blend, resulting in Dragon Ball Z games and Devil May Cry animes. This amalgamation is not a recent phenomenon. The conventions themselves are very similar in nature. Both contain many nerds dressed in bizarre clothing and large, colorful wigs. The only difference is the subject material. Regardless of the minute differences between the kinds of nerd exhibited, the rage displayed is often identical.

This past summer, my brother and I again ventured into the inner depths of a nerd gathering spot: a gaming tournament, although we had no desire to compete. We merely wanted to see a handful of internet celebrities in person, which we did. We were not alone in our goals, however, as one irascible fan of the Angry Video Game Nerd (with an appropriate forum name: NerdFan12) exhibited the acme of anger. Over the two and a half days my brother and I attended this tournament, we witnessed things only day-care center workers see.

He had marked his territory in the back corner of the convention hall. On a plastic blue tablecloth lay every video game console released before the Nintendo 64, along with a small, old TV, and he rarely let anybody play the games he brought with him. When the very tired organizer, Craig, sat down at a nearby table to play his favorite game, Dr. Mario, with a fan, NerdFan12 started shouting at Craig for "invading [his] space." Later, I sat witness to another attendee playing Shaq Fu on NerdFan12's Super Nintendo. While this attendee was in the middle of a round, NerdFAn12 hit the eject button on the console and slapped the game to the floor, shouting "it must be destroyed!" (The great irony is that NerdFan12 had purchased the game that weekend)³

Habitat 3:

The Renaissance Festival has arguably maintained its unique nerd subphylum. While one can often find video game heroes from the future* mingling with Vikings and Conquistadors, most of the mock-villagers at the Renaissance Festival uphold their honor of the yesteryears. Historical accuracy is optional, however, as fairies, scantily clad warrior women (of whom the majority should never wear a chainmail bikini), white Japanese Samurai, Robin Hood, and gladiators all walk the same muddy roads.

The Renaissance Festival employees are as dedicated at their jobs as grown men at anime conventions are dedicated to wearing painfully short plaid skirts. Imagining what Lucius the Blacksmith does during the work week is a unique challenge. Does he keep his ponytail? Does he wear a kilt? Will he hammer warm steel on his off-days too? Renaissance Festival employees could possibly be more akin to carnies than nerds, but it is hard to argue that anybody who walks through crowds of tourists in colorful tights, pointed shoes, and bell-adorned hats is not a nerd.

As an aside, an interesting emphasis on sexuality can be found at these Festivals. Approximately 70% of all women in costume wear bosom-enhancing garb, such as corsets, beer maiden outfits, and the aforementioned chainmail bikinis. Incidentally, only a mere .01% of these women can justify wearing this sort of attire, while 14% of the women emphasize their low-hanging breasts and 19% have absolutely nothing to display.

Conclusion:

The explosion of the internet has caused the nerd to evolve. With more access to other nerds, the personalities of a few have caused an entire sub-culture to distance itself further from the mainstream. Virtual wrestling matches through the typed word have caused violent e-shouting. When many of these vocal e-wrestlers congregate, real verbal shouting matches emerge. The desire to "one-up" an opponent has always been within humanity, and the nerd goes into battle armed only with an undying urge to defend his or her honor, usually by causing the opponent to go deaf or back off from fear or annoyance.

"When you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." This is a simple phrase taught to children that has, in part, been wholly abandoned. Setting aside a space for a mass of nerds uncovers the extremities in the nerd personality. Zeal and pathos often usurp reason and manners. The battles for one-upmanship have become the norm in these situations, leaving only a silent minority. If this is not true, then it is only the loudest and most extreme that are most memorable, which is quite possibly the nerd's intent.

¹ "explore the internet more to understand what we are discussing before attempting to join in any conversations we might hold"
² of what is unknown
³ After the convention, my brother informed me that NerdFan12 had been banned from the website's forums on two separate occasions, and that his parents were informed that he was not allowed to attend any more events that the website was officially hosting or attending.
* Such as an obese Soma Cruz or an abnormally short Master Chief