the social significance of nerds like Duane Dibbley?

[tombow]

I’m curious about the stereotypical 1980s nerd into trainspotting, anorak and thermos, collecting bus timetables, etc. I feel like some other comedy I’ve seen/heard from that time (not so much Dwarf but other sitcoms/stand-ups) almost seem angry at nerds. Like they were seen as middle class or conservative.

[Dave]

I don’t see it as anger, just an easy soft target and recognisable stereotype.

[Rubber]

Comedy writers who feel like they’re sitting some way down the social pecking order – and are either annoyed at it or relishing in it – doing the usual ‘well at least this person is clearly much more of a loser than me’ thing.

[Ben Saunders]

Nerds were a quasi-subjugated underclass until The Big Bang Theory happened and suddenly normies decided being vaguely into comic book movies was cool

[tombow]

this seems relevant – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorak_(slang)

I never got why it’s bad for him to have a thermos. Hot drinks are nerdy? I guess it’s because trainspotters had them on a cold platform.

[Dave]

See also: Simon Quinlank

[Ben Saunders]

I never got why it’s bad for him to have a thermos. Hot drinks are nerdy?

Just go to Starbucks like everybody else

[Rubber]

I never got why it’s bad for him to have a thermos. Hot drinks are nerdy?

Just go to Starbucks like everybody else

Pricey! A thermos is a good investment. You can probably get one with a picture of Kochanski on it these days.

[si]

See also: Simon Quinlank

Weak lemon. No hot drink required.

[Ian Symes]

Agree that it’s a little bit of a punching down thing. Society always has the need to punish non-conformists, and nerds were the go to option for a safe, non-offensive sneer for a good while. As for what changed, I’d say The Big Bang Theory is very much a consequence of nerds becoming more accepted rather than a cause. It’s the internet that caused it, with the realisation that everyone has hobbies and interests, and that far far more people happened to include sci-fi/comics/gaming/etc among theirs than had previously let on.

[Dave]

See also: Simon Quinlank

Weak lemon. No hot drink required.

A thermos keeps things cold as well as hot, like.

[Pete Part Three]

That’s right. I’ve got a mint Magnum and a cup of coffee in mine right now.

[Spaceworm Jim]

The Promised Land got something like 2 million viewers. On Dave. Now they can’t all be Duane Dibbleys, can they?

[Jonathan Capps]

I’m doing the shopping for my mum!

[Pete Part Three]

Mum, have you taped Star Trek for me?

[Author]

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