A typical '80s arcade was not a "nerd" hangout ...

[RandyT2]

This again? Would you like a link to the definition of the word "irrelevant"? I could have been the most stereotypical nerd in the history of the world, and it would not change the fact that "a typical '80s arcade was not a 'nerd' hangout".

I'll do one better. Here's a definition of the word "nerd".

nerd, nurd [nɜːd]
n Slang
1. a boring or unpopular person, esp one obsessed with something specified; a computer nerd
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Now here's what you said:

Also, I don't know what movies you are talking about, but I spent every last quarter I could get my hands on in the arcade during most of the '80s. In other words, I'm speaking from experience; movies have nothing to do with it.

So either doing so made you a really popular guy, or you were obsessed with the games. I'm guessing the former notsomuch, thereby confirming your conformance with the latter. The places were full of folks just like you (and me.)

 

[Frankenpora]

I'll repeat:

They are taking the current nerd / video game stereotype and are trying to apply it to the past.

I'm going to point out the obvious here, but there was no such thing as video arcade games that were 30+ years old in the '80s. Whether people who are currently into '80s arcade games tend to be nerds or not is irrelevant.

I suupose it comes down to your definition of a nerd. I was a nerd because I was poor, not because I wore a pocket protector. Also I was'nt opposed to smoking, drinking, or fighting for that matter.... Maybe I was'nt a nerd??? confused

 

[MaximRecoil]

I have to agree with this generalization despite being against stereotyping. I used to fear that one of the older "rocker" dudes with a comb in their back pocket and an el camino parked outside was going to kick my ass off a game simply because I was younger and they wanted to play. For that reason alone, I'd leave the new releases to those guys and go off an play Gyruss or Congo Bongo to avoid any sort of confrontation.

LOL ... guys like "Todd" from Beavis and Butt-Head. I remember a lot of "Todds" in the arcades back then.

 

[RandyT2]

I suupose it comes down to your definition of a nerd. I was a nerd because I was poor, not because I wore a pocket protector. Also I was'nt opposed to smoking, drinking, or fighting for that matter.... Maybe I was'nt a nerd??? confused

Booger was a "nerd". Case closed

 

[MaximRecoil]

I suupose it comes down to your definition of a nerd. I was a nerd because I was poor, not because I wore a pocket protector.

Nerd because you were poor? I've never heard of that definition before. The slackers, druggies, and voc boys tended to be poor too, but were about as far from being a nerd as you can get.

Also I was'nt opposed to smoking, drinking, or fighting for that matter.... Maybe I was'nt a nerd??? confused

Doesn't sound like a nerd to me.

Watch Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" video for a good illustration of the nerd stereotype:

 

[avidgeek]

LOL ... guys like "Todd" from Beavis and Butt-Head. I remember a lot of "Todds" in the arcades back then.

Or one of these freaks...maybe sans lipstick.

 

[RandyT2]

Or one of these freaks...maybe sans lipstick.

"It puts the lotion on the skin..."

 

[MaximRecoil]

I'll do one better. Here's a definition of the word "nerd".

nerd, nurd [nɜːd]
n Slang
1. a boring or unpopular person, esp one obsessed with something specified; a computer nerd
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

There's far more to the nerd stereotype than that. Maybe you should find a language application guide if somehow the usage of the word "nerd" in common vernacular has escaped you for all these years.

So either doing so made you a really popular guy, or you were obsessed with the games. I'm guessing the former notsomuch, thereby confirming your conformance with the latter.

Again, irrelevant either way. See above.

The places were full of folks just like you (and me.)

No they weren't. Most people in arcades back then had a casual interest in the games at best; they were killing time / hanging out. Most of them never even got to be better than average at any game, and most of them didn't start collecting arcade machines when they got older. And — this part is key — very few of them were considered nerds by their peers.

 

[Frankenpora]

Nerd because you were poor? I've never heard of that definition before. The slackers, druggies, and voc boys tended to be poor too, but were about as far from being a nerd as you can get.



Doesn't sound like a nerd to me.

Wish the kids I went to school with new that.
Skaters = Nerds when I was in school
Little did they know we were actually the coolest. I shaved the sides of my head a year too soon and cought endless amounts of hell, next year all the cool guys were doing it.
It's hard to be cool when all your clothes come from a second hand store.... We'll at least it use to be... I never did find one of those damn Gotcha bracelets there.

And what the hell ever happened to all those old flourescent OP jackets?

 

[mitchschaft]

Some of you are confusing nerds with dorks . Skating was not "cool" when I started in the mid 80s.

 

[Phetishboy]

Or one of these freaks...maybe sans lipstick.

I get $20000 in boyalties every time my image is used. How much do you think you owe me by now? Half a mill? You disgust me. I abhor internet paparazzi. I do look good in that shade of lip gloss though, so that pic isn't a total loss.

 

[Frankenpora]

Some of you are confusing nerds with dorks . Skating was not "cool" when I started in the mid 80s.

I suppose in context you are correct. But I distinctly remember kicking at least two peoples ass after being picked on. I am sure nerd was in there. Oh I was short for my age too.
Was'nt afraid to fight anyone. I tought Kevin Vislay a lesson and that F'er was 6"4' in the 9th grade.... Hmmm I wonder if anyone here is from Mead WA...
Anyway either it made you tough or exposed your weakness...
Man I need to listen to some NoMeansNo right about now.

 

[DreamTR]

Exactly, and that was a lot closer to the truth than "only nerds hang out there". The idea that arcades were mainly a nerd thing is a recent idea invented by people who weren't around back then, and perhaps recently saw Brian Kuh on King of Kong. They are taking the current nerd / video game stereotype and are trying to apply it to the past.

I mean, maybe now you have fighting game aficionados but it's mostly families and workers and casual players...I must have frequented 20-30 different arcades from 1979-1987 3-5 days a week and 6-8 arcades from 1987-2005 and scenes change but back in the early 80s it was a lot of teenagers hanging around and playing but it was much more social back then. The nostalgia brought some people back from those days but make no mistake, those were some shady times

 

[MaximRecoil]

I mean, maybe now you have fighting game aficionados but it's mostly families and workers and casual players...I must have frequented 20-30 different arcades from 1979-1987 3-5 days a week and 6-8 arcades from 1987-2005 and scenes change but back in the early 80s it was a lot of teenagers hanging around and playing but it was much more social back then. The nostalgia brought some people back from those days but make no mistake, those were some shady times

I haven't really been to an arcade since the SFII craze in the early '90s, so I don't know what they are like now. I'd guess that most all of the locally owned (as opposed to a national chain) shady arcades are gone now, but those were very common in the '80s.

There were actually towns/cities that banned arcades. I doubt there are any places that banned chess clubs or D&D sessions.

 

[RandyT2]

There's far more to the nerd stereotype than that. Maybe you should find a language application guide if somehow the usage of the word "nerd" in common vernacular has escaped you for all these years.

Silly me for relying on definitions.

The people who made the arcades successful were people like you who dropped every quarter they could find into the latest game, and others when that one was busy. For every shady character who hung out there and played a couple of games, there were droves of actual game enthusiasts who were playing their pockets dry behind them. By definition, these folks were the "nerds". Without that base, there's no way the arcades could have thrived the way they did. The avid players are the ones who fueled the demand for home console ports of their arcade favorites, because when they did the math, it was less expensive for them to buy the game (well, a more primitive version that played sorta like the real one.) And those ports were some of the highest selling games for consoles. A casual player wouldn't care if the console games came from the arcades, or were original titles.

I understand that you think the casual "pastime" players were the majority, but an awful lot of people will rightfully disagree.

 

[xxstatic]

Lotta nerd banter going on in here......

 

[Frankenpora]

Lotta nerd banter going on in here......

Look all definitions aside.
If you know what planet Luke went to when he met Yoda......
You might be a NERD
If you know what a Tribble is.....
You might be a Nerd
If you know what Issue Superman went in to wierdo world or whatever....
You might be a Nerd
If Dungeon master is a job that you have once aspired to....
You might be a Nerd

Feel free to continue.......

 

[groffdaddy]

I was the best chess player in school for example.

Best chess player in school = Nerd.

 

[Frankenpora]

All this Nerd talk got me thinking. Someone should build a Nerd test. Of course my next thought was "some nerd probably built one already"
Would'nt you know:
http://www.quizrocket.com/nerd-test
of course it breaks down in to a data mine, but I am sure if there is on there are a hundred.

 

[Frankenpora]

Best chess player in school = Nerd.

Definately.
That reminds me. I was in the Astronomy club
And I asked questions the teachers could'nt figure out the answers to.

Am I a Nerd again? Oh please say yes.