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Jackercrack comments on Mistakes repository - Less Wrong Discussion

24 Post author: Dorikka 09 September 2013 03:32AM

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Comment author: solipsist 09 September 2013 05:30:17AM 40 points [-]

Placing zero value on the ability to look, dress, and act like a non-nerd. I seriously overestimated the effort and underestimated the benefits.

Comment author: notsonewuser 09 September 2013 05:35:20PM 4 points [-]

non-nerd

Define/taboo this term, please.

Comment author: solipsist 09 September 2013 06:26:27PM 14 points [-]

I don't think the boundaries of "nerd" are important to the mistake. If I were a <bimbo cheerleader | '80 skateboarder | stoner hippie> and placed zero value on appearing as anything other than a <bimbo cheerleader | '80 skateboarder | stoner hippie>, that would have been a huge mistake. I didn't realize how much appearance and mannerisms had pigeonholed me until after I changed them.

Comment author: [deleted] 13 September 2013 11:41:28AM *  3 points [-]

That's the point. Looking like a non-nerd sounds like selling non-apples to me. One possible way to “look like a non-nerd” is to look like a '80 skateboarder, but that wouldn't achieve your actual goal, so what you're actually trying to do is more complicated than that.

And what do you mean by “nerd” in the first place? Someone with a very high IQ? Someone with poor social skills? Someone who studies or works in a hard science or maths? Someone who couldn't play football halfway decently to save their life? Someone who is into certain particular games and works of fiction such as (say) Dungeons and Dragons or Star Trek? Only a few of those things would I want to advertise the opposite of via appearance. (Your age, gender and social circle are also relevant to that.)