FFXIV Nico 16
©2014 Craig Ashby
Screen Capture

FFXIV Nico 16 is my best action shot. My Black Mage casting some fire magic in my Crystal Tower gear. More true nerd cred.

The concept of nerd has cropped up a lot lately. Recently at work I mentioned that I have never seen Back to the Future and my nerd status was called into question.

My response was that mainstream movies do not nerd cred make. Having my nerdness rated by whether or not I have seen Top Gun seems ludicrous.

The whole discussion devolved into the younger people at work expressing that Citizen Kane isn’t as good as Back to the Future. Sorry kids, I can’t help you. If it’s baby food you want, mass media has you covered.

Overall this era has really embraced the concept of nerd in a way that is off putting at best. Everyone aspires to be a nerd. If you watch the new Doctor Who you get automatic inclusion. It’s the Big Bang Theory clause that lets you in.

It seems the bar has been set lower than ever. I need a little more paper, pencil and die nerd. I need original Doctor Who nerd. I need seventies and eighties comic nerd realism at this ball.

Or better yet, how about Neo Realism cinema nerds or Chinese film buffs? How about you stop fronting and really grow your nerd branding? Because really kids, your nerd cred needs work.