Firstly before I go into why nerds are unpopular I shall try my best to define what exactly constitutes a nerd. From my observations a nerd is an intelligent person who is not overly social, and due to placing intelligence and work or school above social activities, he or she is deemed a nerd and unpopular. However the term also refers to hardcore science fiction fans, and other groups who are fanatical about some area, and do not have to be necessarily smart, just enthusiastic.

Nerds are unpopular for a few reasons. The first and foremost is that they place intelligence, the gaining of knowledge, and success at work or school, above social activity, which is an easy way to become unpopular. Todays youth worship freedom, relaxing, partying, having friends and just being lazy and incompetent at things. As such nerds appear uncool and too ‘up tight’ to be popular.

Another reason is envy of intelligence. Some may perceive nerds to have an unfair advantage in life over themselves due to their higher intellectual ability. Another reason, with regards to science fiction and comic book fans and others of the obsessed fan type nerd group, is that what they are into may be seen as unpopular or lame.

However it is not always so simple, as nerds may befriend other nerds and even non nerds. Even jock nerd/nerd jock relationships can occur. Jocks and nerds are not always hostile to one another, and of course the definitions jock and nerd are a trifle vague.

Not all intelligent people are nerds however, as a nerd is somebody who is both intelligent and antisocial or not social. There are many examples of intelligent people with healthy social lives. Daria Morgendorffer has her good friend Jane Lane, and Holmes has Watson. Many nerds are even popular and have many friends. And believe it or not some nerds are jocks as well, and can be classified as nerd jocks, or jock nerds. Some nerds like sport and other jock things, which means that there are fusion nerd jocks or jock nerds.

As such the typical image of the unpopular nerd needs to be redefined as the typical unpopular person, as many jocks are unpopular as well as nerds. Many nerds are popular. Thus the reason most unpopular people are unpopular is they place work or school above being social, are antisocial, or are weird people, referred to as weirdos or freaks.