Why i stopped being a nerd

As an intelligent and studious person, i am proud to say that i have dropped the "nerd" label. From personal experience, i used to dress somewhat properly and correct others with the facts when they made mistakes. I adhered to using proper grammar shortly after being interested in science. A science nerd is In later years, i've fallen out of the nerd label for many different reasons:

* Being a nerd isolates you from the world -

They say that the most intelligent people are often the loneliest. While it's partially because of their intellectual superiority, it's also because nerds tend to make themselves misunderstood. I've learned that if i socialized with only those who are intelligent, i won't thrive. The mark of a true genius is to make himself understood to a general audience. As a scientist, i am compelled to inspire the uneducated to learn more about science. This cannot be done when i am only stating facts and shunning modern society.

With that, i walked into a science group wearing illustrated jeans, a black shirt and sweater, and long hair. I looked like a complete amateur and i got many condescending stares from university scientists. It seems that the nerd stereotype has breached even the scientific community. This is ironic as Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds to walk the earth, presented himself in such a bizarre fashion. Take a look at this picture of him:



Do you truly expect to take him seriously posing like that? What i don't appreciate about academically minded people is that some are intolerant of amateurs and anyone not enrolled in a university. The goal of the scientist should be not simply to seek knowledge, but also to inspire others and help build a new generation of scientists from all walks of life.

* Mainstream society should not be deemed as ignorant - Refusing to associate with popular activities, media, and fashion to pursue knowledge rather than ignorance is ironically being ignorant. Everything from sports to games, music to gambling, and shopping to dating are all worthy of scientific investigation. One of the main problems with standardized education is that many teachers fail to make science interesting. This is why art and popular activities help bridge understanding with those who are not scientists. What inspired me to become a scientist was not endless facts, but imagination and creativity through science fiction. While i am very bright, i don't have my head in the books all the time. I also enjoy other hobbies such as music and poetry. I realize that there is more to life and human nature than just factual knowledge.

* Emotions and intellect are in conflict - There is a misconception among some nerds that intellect and emotion are somehow opposed to each other. This can be a depressing mode of thinking. I find that typically people who have this mindset struggle in dealing with their own emotions. Both must be balanced for your mental well-being. Emotions are necessary for survival. The solution is to nourish both intellect and emotion rather than believe yourself to be "robotic."

Stereotypes arise when we fill in the gaps about a social group due to our lack of knowledge. The solution is to break stereotypes by conforming to values that will help us reach our goals.

My dream of a cybernetic breed

When i was a child, i was inspired by sci-fi depictions of human and cyborg hybrids. I wanted to resolve a common problem in the world - crime. I researched what science had to say on cyborgs. I found the singularity, a hypothetical era in which A.I machines will be fully independent of humans. No longer will they depend on human programming to thrive.

I wanted to design a race of cybernetic "police" or supersoldiers. I already had some ideas inside my head by studying the human body. I imagined the sounds they'd make and their mechanical movement. I thought about their energy source and their exterior design. They would look something like the above picture but much more frightening and chillingly inhumane. Why? Because i wanted criminals to fear them. In other countries like Singapore, fear works very well in keeping crime rates low. I thought of precautions to take for every weapon, fighting strategy, and so forth. When sending out my cyborgs, i didn't want them to kill criminals. The goal was to inflict enough excruciating pain until the criminals are reformed. If they don't fear human cops then they will fear cybernetic machines. These cyborgs would be rather mysterious to both civilians and criminals. I would also ensure they'd engage in psychological warfare when pursuing those who break the law.

What changed? I thought of the disastrous consequences that could occur should the singularity take place. Once A.I break away from human control, there's no stopping them from what they deem is "necessary." Worse, governments and other criminal organizations would use this advanced technology for corrupt purposes. It was also unethical. I didn't want to create a world run by fear and a lack of compassion.

Ultimately, i felt humanity could create a force nothing could stop. I am convinced that the human race should not have too much power over any global problem. The technological singularity would encourage a degradation of what makes us human. Other scientists such as Stephen Hawkings agree with me. My only hope is that scientists would consider the possible consequences and not be drawn into too much ambition.