It's...It's...It's a NERD?!

The following post comes from super Sparkler BraedenP, a real reader who takes a closer look at one of high school's oldest social labels. Enjoy!  —SparkNotes Editors

There it is—sitting in the pitch-black basement at 4 am, thick Harry Potter glasses covering up the freckles, its eyes glaring into a computer screen…What is it?

IT’S A NERD!

Nerds, politely referred to as “technology enthusiasts,” come in a variety of forms and live in a variety of habitats, yet they are one of the most stereotyped species on the planet!

What is a "nerd" exactly? Is a nerd some introverted freak with pocket protectors, zits, and strange habits? Is it a "plump" Trekkie who watches moves all day and can’t hold up a conversation that doesn’t involve Captain Kirk? Or is a "nerd" simply an intelligent person?

While the definition might be unclear, I think nerds can be divided into the following subgroups:

Some nerds are self-proclaimed. (Case in point: Me.) If someone calls me a nerd, I thank him for the compliment.

On the other end of the spectrum are the Nerds in Denial. They’re intelligent, and they display stereotypical nerd-like behaviors, but in lieu of pursuing their interests, they choose to impress their friends by being all "cool"…and stuff…that’s, like, so awesome, right?

Then, we have the Beautiful Nerds. They’ve got the good looks, and they spend their days partying it up with friends, flirting with people, and cracking witty jokes. Then, come the early morning hours when they’re alone, they rip off their sexy apparel, climb into their overalls, attach their pocket protectors, and in a moment of instant transformation, they’re a whole new person—a nerd!

If you’re considered a nerd, which are you? Blessed with the sexy body, cursed with the introverted personality, or are you somewhere in between? Chances are, if you’re caught doing anything but social networking and game-playing on the computer, or if anyone's ever seen you write out chemical formulae and math equations, or read something other than a gossip magazine, you’ve been called a nerd more than once. Did it get plastered all over your Facebook wall and ruin your life?

What do you think is the appropriate definition of a "nerd," and if you’ve ever been called one, was it offending?