What's Your Nerdette Cred Rating?

News Type: Event — Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:00 PM EDT

technology, hot-chicks, naomi-wolf, camille-paglia, dana-scully, princess-leia, donita-sparks, seven-of-nine, geek-girl, a-v-club, nerd-girl, nerdette, suzi-gardner

Synthesis

This photo is here just for those who are reading this in the Hot Chicks group

Generic nerd girl

Tina Fey: an archetypal nerd girl

Yes, Jodie is also a nerd

Even musicians can be nerdettes...but they have to be songwriters to qualify...

Inspired by a thread on Lauhal's column, in which Scott Butki and I (and indeed, everyone else on the thread) revealed that we've always had a 'thing' for nerd girls, I got to wondering: Just what are the criteria for being considered a true nerdette?

After giving the issue some thought, and speaking as a something of a lifelong connoisseur of nerdettes, I offer the following ratings scale for your consideration. Take the test and see how much of a nerdette you really are!

You have read The Chronicles of Narnia more than 3 times. (1 point)

You think the The Chronicles of Narnia movie was great, but thought that there should have been more messianic imagery during the death of Aslan (2 points)

You have, or have had, a pet named Aslan (5 points)

____

You drive a VW Beetle (1 point)

You drive a VW Beetle because you like to say 'fahrfegnuven' (2 points)

You drive an original VW Beetle, not one of those fancy retro versions. (5 points)

____

You have watched all of the Star Trek series, and seen every episode of at least two of them. (1 point)

You know what the acronym TOS means when referring to Star Trek. (3 points)

You have actually attended a Star Trek convention (5 points and my phone number)

____

You wear glasses (1 point)

You wear glasses exclusively; no contacts, ever (...why Miss Smith! You're beautiful!) (3 points)

You wear cat-eye glasses (5 points)

____

You have removed the cover from your computer at least once (1 point)

You have successfully removed and replace graphics cards, video cards, sound cards or motherboards (3 points)

You program computers for a living (or at least as an enthusiastic amateur) (5 points). As a bonus, double your score for this question if you've ever actually hacked anything.

____

Your clothing is mostly shapeless (1 point)

Your mostly shapeless clothing is comprised of variations on shades of black, grey or brown (2 points)

You dress like Celestina (5 points)

____

You were born a brunette, and have stayed that way (1 point)

You were born a blonde, but dyed your hair brunette (3 points)

You were born a brunette, but have dyed your hair red like Gillian Anderson (5 points)

____

You prefer to use Excel even for text processing, on the off-chance that you might need to tally some numbers (1 point)

You won't use a Mac because it's harder to get 'under the hood' (2 points)

You still use WordPerfect because it allows you to make use of all the macros you developed (5 points)

____

You wore sensible shoes in high school (1 point)

You still wear sensible shoes, but now they're really expensive ones (3 points)

You wear orthopedic shoes (five points) (Whatever score you get on this category, double it if you have one pair of stilettos, just for 'fun'.)

____

You don't smoke, because it's scientifically proven to harm your health (1 point)

You smoke occasionally at social functions; sometimes, even a cigar if you get a little tipsy (3 points)

You smoke clove cigarettes (5 points)

____

You have a dog (1 point)

You have a cat (2 points)

Your dog, cat, parakeet or whatever is named any of the following: Linux, Emo, Spock, Spielberg, Pixel, Einstein, Hawking, Devo, Frodo, Spaz, Starbuck, Kubrick, Dr Pepper, or Cisco. (5 points)(Double your score in this category if you've named your pet 'Calvin Tang').

____

In high school, you dated someone who was in the A/V club (1 point)

In high school, you were in the A/V club (2 points)

You are currently dating someone who is still in the A/V club (5 points) (I gave ya that one, Ryan...)

____

Your female role model is Naomi Wolf or Camille Paglia, because they're so, like, post-feminist (1 point)

Your female role model is Donita Sparks or Suzi Gardner (2 points) (double that score if you actually recognized either of those names without having to google them)

Your female role model is Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero-One (5 points) (triple that score and email me if you've ever actually dressed like Seven of Nine at a Star Trek convention.

____

SCORING:

0-15 points -- You are a cheerleader. You should drop the pretence of being a nerd before you're found out. You wear far too much pink, your mother sold Avon part-time, and you think HTML is a chemical ingredient in chocolate. But cheer up, you have many cool sisters on this site who will be happy to relieve you of your pastel-coloured innocence and initiate you into the ways of nerdette-hood.

15-30 points -- Nice try. You're pretty nerdy, and you can probably sling some pocket-protector trash with the best of them. But beneath your unhip facade, you still yearn for the uncomfortable back-seat gropings with the quarterback that you missed out on in high school. Cheer up, though. Your six-figure salary should more than make up for the disappointment.

30-60 points -- You are a veritable icon of Nerdette-ity. Your post-adolescent awkwardness and discomfort have been replaced by a deep sense of being at home in your skin. You revel in the fact that you are brighter than most of the females, and almost all of the males, that you know. Women think you're cool, men think you're hot. You are a strong, smart, independent, but still geeky enough to be preciously unique.

60-85 points -- You are a true geek goddess. I may as well give you half the equity in a house and $1000 a month right now. You have within you the capacity to rule over Newsvine like a terrible and beautiful queen. All NV males should be required to approach on bended knee and offer gifts of link love and leaderboard votes. You are Seven of Nine, Dana Scully, Princess Leia and Marilyn vos Savant, all rolled into one delectably quirky package. (Did you get that part about calling me?)

61 Votes
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Synthesis's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Hot-Chicks, Lovevine, Newsvine Community, Newsvine Computer Society, Science And Technology, Science Fiction, Star Trek
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

Jump to discussion page: 1 2

{"commentId":2060216,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Erm, I got a 7.

I feel like such a failure.

{"commentId":2060216,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

10 votes

#26 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":2060287,"authorDomain":"celestina"}

Celestina

I still love you, Viki. You'll always be a nerd to me.

{"commentId":2060287,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"celestina"}

9 votes

#26.1 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2060383,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Thanks, C. *sniff* That means so much...

{"commentId":2060383,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

9 votes

#26.2 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":2078201,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Steve Mock

Not to worry. You're in a class all by yourself, Viki. What with the poetic cursing and penchant for cased meat.

Hot.

{"commentId":2078201,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"mock"}

6 votes

#26.3 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":2078811,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

Very.

An unique and self-contained species of nerd, for sure...

{"commentId":2078811,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

4 votes

#26.4 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:45 AM EDT

{"commentId":2066871,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}

Andimia

So I just went to Cousins subs for lunch with a co-worker and after I ordered the girl behind the register stopped a moment to read my shirt which has a drawing of an adventurer with a jelly monster sneaking up on him in a cave and the caption says "I don't think you're ready for this jelly." and she asked me if I play D&D and after confirming my nerdiness she said "woohoo girl gamers! high five!" and I proceeded to high five the girl. While we were waiting for our sandwiches my co-worker made fun of me relentlessly.

{"commentId":2066871,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Andimia"}

9 votes

#27 - Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":2071569,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

I don't have time to take this test, I'm re-doing my living room this weekend to look like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

{"commentId":2071569,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

10 votes

#28 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":2071575,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

Here, the test posted above is MUCH too short for a real nerd...

Take the GEEK test.

{"commentId":2071575,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

5 votes

#29 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:44 AM EDT

{"commentId":2071604,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

Brad Leclerc

The geek test is indeed the best around....though still fairly out of date these days with all the 90's references (and earlier)....but anyway, for the record "59.56607% - Extreme Geek" :)

{"commentId":2071604,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

9 votes

#29.1 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:01 AM EDT

{"commentId":2072074,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

Only got a 33%. And even that was based on a lot of stuff I used to do but don't do anymore.

{"commentId":2072074,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

9 votes

#29.2 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":2072354,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

tigerblade

WTF. I got only a 26.43% - "Total Geek." I have a shirt that says "geek" on it. That I wear regularly. In public.

That's only good enough for 26%?? Lame.

{"commentId":2072354,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

9 votes

#29.3 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":2072619,"authorDomain":"celestina"}

Celestina

54.43787%
As I suspected, I am only getting geekier with time (I think last time I took it I only came out 52-ish%).

{"commentId":2072619,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"celestina"}

9 votes

#29.4 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":2072749,"authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

Brad Leclerc

As I suspected, I am only getting geekier with time (I think last time I took it I only came out 52-ish%).

Yeah, and just think.....that quiz is circa 1999 or so.....imagine all the social network related questions and other things that would have to be added to update it....the rating of many viners would skyrocket I'm sure :)

{"commentId":2072749,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Brad-Leclerc"}

9 votes

#29.5 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2073791,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}

hemphill

I didn't think I was that geeky.... But 74 seems a bit high, I bet it was the 'I have read' section that did me in.

{"commentId":2073791,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"hemphill"}

8 votes

#29.6 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074001,"authorDomain":"celestina"}

Celestina

...or it could have been the Magic cards.

{"commentId":2074001,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"celestina"}

7 votes

#29.7 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074286,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

You hotties you!

I'm somewhere in the 35% plus, though of course I had to fudge a few (stretching the truth, not an outright lie...)

{"commentId":2074286,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

6 votes

#29.8 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074672,"authorDomain":"Wheel"}

Wheel

I don't know if any of you have ever played Spiritwars. It's a great online game, now almost defunct. But if you're a magic player you'd love spiritwars. For several years I hosted a tournament every saturday night. I'd love to get a group of Viners to play there sometimes.

{"commentId":2074672,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Wheel"}

7 votes

#29.9 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2076799,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

I've heard of it. Thought it was in that geek test too...?

An online game? Yes?

{"commentId":2076799,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

4 votes

#29.10 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":2077237,"authorDomain":"jordang"}

JordanG

44.97041% here... Honestly, I think I'm glad I didn't score higher. As I just got my BS in Computer Science, my geekery is mostly computer related. At least I'm socially conscious enough not to blather on about geeky things my friends don't care about, which is waaay more than can be said for many of the people I went to school with. I'm one hell of a computer geek, but even I think (for one example out of hundreds or thousands) debating RISC vs CISC architectures gets boring after a while.

{"commentId":2077237,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"jordang"}

7 votes

#29.11 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":2077710,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}

hemphill

prolly was the magic cards...

{"commentId":2077710,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"hemphill"}

5 votes

#29.12 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 5:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":2079347,"authorDomain":"edelweiss"}

Edelweiss

Only a 27 for me on this one and only a 28% Total Geek on the Geek test (for me, it wasn't the 'I read' but the 'I want' that did me in. I mean, there were a lot of hotties on that list). These scores indicate to me that among geeks, I am probably not such a geek, but among non-geeks people, I am a geek. :-)

{"commentId":2079347,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"edelweiss"}

9 votes

#29.13 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":2079424,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

tigerblade

among geeks, I am probably not such a geek, but among non-geeks people, I am a geek.

Probably the best description of what that test represents. Among uber-geeks we're "normal people" but around anyone else, definitely a geek.

{"commentId":2079424,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

8 votes

#29.14 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 2:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":2081634,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}

Andimia

43.79% Major Geek and dangerously close to Super Geek. I can only imagine what my score would be if it was more up to date.

{"commentId":2081634,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Andimia"}

9 votes

#29.15 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":2117232,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

I just had to send you a friend request when I read this Andimia.

{"commentId":2117232,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

2 votes

#29.16 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 10:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":2073448,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

41.02564% - Major Geek

{"commentId":2073448,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

8 votes

#30 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074289,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

With a nickname like gecko, I'd say you're at least a major geek! Geeks Rule, everyone else drools.

{"commentId":2074289,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

7 votes

#30.1 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074396,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

36.68973% - Major Geek

(actually, I am glad it's not more than that, I don't like to be pigeon-holed)

{"commentId":2074396,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"nearing"}

7 votes

#31 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":2074917,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

You rounded that off like a major geek too! Precision is important, I totally agree.

{"commentId":2074917,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

6 votes

#31.1 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":2075335,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

Fine line between geekiness and OCD!

:wink:

{"commentId":2075335,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"nearing"}

7 votes

#31.2 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":2076105,"authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}

AmazingSDJ

28.4237% Total Geek! Somehow I find this very comforting.

{"commentId":2076105,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"amazingsdj"}

5 votes

#32 - Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":2078900,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

41.61736% - Major Geek

As the writer of this article, I felt it was only fair of me to come clean... ; )

{"commentId":2078900,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

6 votes

#33 - Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":2117222,"authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

Sem0l1na

Hah!

But is was assumed if you're writing these kinds of articles, right?

Geeks have a tendency to come clean with the info, one of their many endearing qualities.

{"commentId":2117222,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"Sem0lina"}

5 votes

#33.1 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 10:29 AM EDT

{"commentId":2120907,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

assumed if you're writing these kinds of articles, right

Heh. Yeah...I guess I'm busted.

*grin*

{"commentId":2120907,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

3 votes

#33.2 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 12:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":2090260,"authorDomain":"theangryblonde"}

The Angry Blonde

10 points for me

double it if you have one pair of stilettos

Unless I lose those points because I own about a dozen pairs of stilettos

TAB~

{"commentId":2090260,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"theangryblonde"}

7 votes

#34 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":2090354,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

I would never take points away for stilettos...

{"commentId":2090354,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

6 votes

#34.1 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":9634887,"authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

Nan-813417

pretty girlz. Am not techno-ie enough to pass I think.

{"commentId":9634887,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

2 votes

#35 - Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":9634890,"authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

Nan-813417

em in wrong group. prefer magic slippers.

{"commentId":9634890,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

2 votes

#36 - Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":9636459,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

You get extra points if your footwear possesses supernatural qualities of any sort.

{"commentId":9636459,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

#36.1 - Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:42 AM EDT

{"commentId":9634900,"authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

Nan-813417

crap. am hipster. look guyz am old lady. girlz rock.

{"commentId":9634900,"threadId":"298226","contentId":"1606974","authorDomain":"blackcat8838"}

2 votes

#37 - Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:24 AM EDT

Jump to discussion page: 1 2

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"298226","isPrivate":false}

SYNTHESIS

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What's Your Nerdette Cred Rating?

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