John Hodgman Asks Obama, "Are You a Nerd?"

Hugh Pickens writes "Watch a video of comedian John Hodgman speak after Barack Obama at the recent Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner in DC and discuss the central question of our age: "how we can heal the great and shameful division that has plagued our nation for so long — the age old conflict between jocks and nerds" and ask Obama: Are you now, or have you ever been, a nerd?"

Comments

Let's first agree on one thing

[bogaboga]

I suggest we first define who a nerd is. Otherwise this being slashdot, we'll end up submitting comments about something that is entirely different depending on who is posting.

My submission: I agree with this definition and hope that all of you use it as a bench mark as you post your comments.

In part: "...derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests..."

Thank you.

Re:Let's first agree on one thing

[dk90406]

"that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests"
So pursuing intellectual activities are obscure? What a sad state the world is in (by wikipedias definition). I'd better get drunk, watch a ballgame and get in a fight like a other proper human being.

Re:He is President of the United States

[vertinox]

When did all of this disrespect for the position of our President start?

When people tried to make the position a king above normal citizens.

When people start to think of Presidents as Emperors or Popes that are above common man, then they start acting like it.

He's a jock

[Attila Dimedici]

The press made a big deal about his basketball playing ability during the campaign, therefore he is disqualified as a nerd. He is the diametric opposite of a nerd, he is a jock.

Re:He's a jock

[Attila Dimedici]

If someone is a nerd, they are not one of the "cool" kids, that is part of the definition of nerd. It's like you're asking, "Why can't something be both round and square?" The answer is that if something is round, it isn't square, and if something is square, it isn't round. That is the nature of what those words mean.

Re:First geek President?

[dkleinsc]

And if Jefferson isn't geeky enough for you, there's always Herbert Hoover (degree in geology, worked as a mining engineer, and advocated technocratic solutions). Of course many folks don't like to claim him, for obvious reasons.

Re:You wish

[brkello]

He's a constitutional lawyer, which is a whole different breed. And who says a nerd has to be a certain profession?

Re:WTFV

[Attila Dimedici]

The Bush Administration could be described as confident(arrogant) and self assured and unwilling to give ground to their opponent. The Obama Administration can be described as confident(arrogant) and self assured and unwilling to give ground to their opponent. What's the difference that makes Obama nerd like?