Yes! Totally! I'm saying this for years! It's one of the most offensive things on TV right now! The cliche of the socially awkward nerd, who speaks fluent Klingon but has no idea what women are, shouldn't be used for cheap laughs anymore!
The cliche of the socially awkward nerd, who speaks fluent Klingon but has no idea what women are
Comedy is a genre, and like all genre fiction, is heavily reliant on both archetypes and stereotypes-- both things that superhero fans should recognize very well.
Of all the groups out there, the one group with NO sense of humor are the comic fans/nerds group. They can't laugh at themselves and take comments about their culture WAAAAAY too seriously! (just read through many of these comics here and you'll see what I mean)
Yep, because nerds were enslaved for two hundred years and socially and economically oppressed for another two hundred fifty. Right, that's a totally valid analogy.
Nice straw man. It's about something claiming to be something it's not. The analogy derives from the fact that white people pretended to be black people and portrayed black people via the most accessible stereotypes.
Black face is a drop in the bucket of oppression and using the historical persecution and oppression of the race to attempt to invalidate the analogy has no grounds in the claim the analogy is making.
Well, if nerds were people of science, and thought scientific theories that were against god (Earth not the centre of universe, ect.) Then yes, nerds were oppressed.
And actually, if you are remotely familiar with the trial of Galileo, you'd see that his opponents were mostly celibate theologians-- so they were "nerds" as well-- or at least closer to the "nerd" stereotype than the "jock" or "preppy."
Yep, this guy's right on. The whole cast did a SDCC panel that was on the Nerdist podcast, and they got booed a few times by the crowd for not knowing a thing about nerd culture. The host mentioned a TARDIS and not a single person on the panel knew what that was. I don't watch or enjoy Doctor Who, but I know what a TARDIS is. When asked how they pitched a show about nerds, the producers said that it "wasn't about nerds, it was about extraordinary people". Seriously?
Blackface involved white people masquerading as black people exhibiting nothing but stereotypes for the amusement of white society. Big Bang Theory involves portrayals of nerds performed by non-nerds exhibiting nothing but stereotypes for the amusement of non-nerd society.
It's all well and good to introduce the racial history into the context, but it's not germane to the analogy itself. Analogies don't make a claim on historical context. There's also the fact that any claim of "nerd blackface" is intended as hyperbole to highlight the point that it is a) offensive and b) unrepresentative despite the fact that viewers have come to regard it as a legitimate nerd experience.
Also: Not watching it doesn't stop the cavalcade of horrible references on Facebook and Tumblr and the like.
"O thanks you white people for comings to ours defense. We sho nuff couldn't handle that type of hyperbole. We ain't like the jews. We can't make jokes about our repression or stereotypes likes theys can. We sho is a fragile bunch."
We can fucking handle hyperbole with out someone coming in an saying "Nerds didn't go through slavery". That shirt that you saw the other day wasn't "awesome" like you said it was. We all deal in hyperbole. Get over it. My people did and you can too.
the big bang theory is mostly a show about a small group of people who pointlessly quibble,argue,over rationalize,over analyze,dismiss,justify and or basically try to "out nerd" one another on various "nerd culture" subject matters and minutia in order to successfully validate their own seemingly correct points of view on any given subject within the realm of "nerd culture".
which is EXACTLY what all of you silly nerds do every time you argue about whether or not the big bang theory is in fact a good show.
I hate to say it, but I know people like those in Big Bang. I have had many Big Bang worthy conversations. People like that do exist. Say it with me: ooooooohhhhhmmmm...
Thankyou! I can't believe how many people here are acting like the show is made of lies when I can think of multiple people EXACTLY like everyone in the show!
Of all the groups out there, the one group with NO sense of humor are the comic fans/nerds group. They can't laugh at themselves and take comments about their culture WAAAAAY too seriously!
Yeah, no. I watch Community all the time, Abhed is a media nerd, they just made a Dr. Who joke last week, it's filled with references nerds and geeks actually get and it manages to do it without being intensely stupid. Funny, that.
Ummmm...I think that was me. At the midnight Justice League/Flashpoint sale. The caricature looks just like me minus the Star Trek shirt and the pimples and I said those very words to a buddy of mine while on line.
Guess I'm famous now! Well, internet famous. Kinda.
You're right, unfortunately. The second part, I mean. I couldn't give a crap about the other argument.
The change in tone on this site has become increasingly difficult to bear. And the loss of tigerama was a significant blow. I enjoyed his comments as much as the cartoon. I've tried to keep my game face on. Not sure how much longer I can do it.
This section used to be about riffing on the cartoon and what the person said. Lately, it's degenerated into anger and insults thrown at the person in the cartoon and at the commenters. Seriously, if I wanted to read hate-filled arguments, name calling, and insults disguised as banter, I'd read the comments on Bleeding Cool. Could we just go back to making jokes and being witty? Or is it too late? Has the infection spread too far?
If I go a few days without posting again, then I've probably smartened up and followed tigerama out the door. In which case, to some of you I say, it's been a pleasure.
And now someone will probably insult me and tell me if I don't like it, I should not read the comments or go somewhere else. To that I say, "probably" and "maybe."
Cool. Can we please just get back to cracking jokes and having fun?
Sorry, dude. BBT's characters are so similar to some people I know it's scary.
The people that most of us are forced to associate with because we like comics or gaming can be frustrating since some of those people have no sense of humor regarding their obsession. Last week at my game store a guy left his Yugioh cards on a table and I scooped them up and said, "You left your Pokemon cards." It was like something popped in his head and he whined, "It's YUGIOH!" I told him I knew. It still makes me laugh.
You should have looked at his shirt and told him, "Star Wars sucks." It would have been entertaining.
The big bang theory isn't a very good show in my opinion, but not because I'm 'offended' by the sense of humor. It lost focus of what made it good, i.e. Sheldon being an endearing character and Leonard/Penney's sexual tension. Both of those things are gone now and so am I, content with what parts of the show I enjoyed, but no longer enjoying it. It was and still is a fine show and I have no issue with people liking it, but I am no longer enamored by it.
Also, people who are offended by the show really need thicker skin.
Regardless of what you think of the show, I think it's pretty fair to say that an acne-riddled, thick-glasses wearing comic store patron wearing a Star Trek t-shirt has absolutely no business complaining about stereotypical nerds.
Speaking as as humongous nerd, I quite like The Big Bang Theory. Like people are saying about this guy, 'it's funny because it's true'. I recognise myself in it, and a whole bunch of people from RL and the internet. Including too many people from this comments section.
People here harrumphing that "BBT is just like racism" sound like they're a hair's breadth or two away from screaming 'fursecution!'
Sure Big Bang Theory is a bit stereotypical. Most comedy is. Just look at Seinfeld. How many New Yorkers are really that self-absorbed? How many bosses are really as incompetent as Michael Scott on the Office (US version)?
Is distinguishing between Pokemon and Yugi-Oh or between Star Trek and Star Wars really any different than distinguishing between the Texas Rangers and the New York Rangers? Is memorizing loads of sports stats any different than memorizing starship stats? OK, yes athletes are real people, but sports themselves are no more significant than comics or movies. In fact, I would say that the original 1977 Star Wars has had a much greater impact on world-wide culture that the 1977 Stanley Cup or World Series.
I'm a nerd myself, a physicist, and very very recently a phd as well. I find nothing offensive in BBT - on the contrary I love it for telling people out there that being a mindless mainstream bimbo (of either sex) isn't the only reality. I think it's one of the very few works of art reaching a wide audience and preaching against uniformity. At the same time, it has one or two good points to tell nerds and geeks. Finally, the acting is monumental, the artistic direction is good. Why complain? (In my defense, I don't know what Blackface is, will look it up.)
[Stops and walks back.] Also, in my defense, I haven't watched the last season and a half. I heard it lost focus, like a commenter wrote above. So, I'm talking about the old good times ;)
Lot's of people commenting on this have terrible taste in television. And by that, I mean the people defending the shit show that is Big Bang Theory. It's not because it makes fun of nerds, it's because it does so with no real grasp of what "nerd culture" actually is, and doesn't seem to care. It's also poorly written, acted, shot, and just not funny. It's a totally generic, shitty sitcom in every way. If you want to watch something that's ACTUALLY funny, It's Always Sunny is fantastic, and Curb Your Enthusiasm is always good.
You guys doth protest too much, methinks. Striking too close to home is it?
Naturally these are actors acting, it's a sitcom not a reality show. How many real true geeks that could act showed up to the casting call I wonder? You know, James Doohan wasn't Scottish. Nathan Fillion wasn't a real starship captain either.
Also these are caricatures of academic nerds, not gamers or hackers, they are a different breed. Yes, there are those who are like them.
Our culture is gaining mass and going mainstream. It's a sitcom, well written and funny if you're not too uptight to laugh at yourself. Get over it.
@Gabriel Actually, your point just proves the saying "To each his own." I've tried both It's Always Sunny and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I found both annoying, overly whiny, too crude, and often dull. Keep in mind that is MY opinion. Just like it is your opinion that TBBT isn't good. I would definitely disagree with that statement, but, again, to each his own. There's nothing wrong with this. Nothing at all. Be glad that both types of shows exist.
Often, people forget that you cannot argue what is better about something like comedy because it is subjective.
Also, @Anonymous 9/29/2011 1:05PM Well put. Very well put.
Stop whining. If you consider yourself a nerd and you're offended by Big Bang Theory, then your problem is you take yourself far too seriously and probably have no sense of humour. Having said that, uttering the remark 'Nerd Blackface' is so ridiculous it's genius.
Chock another "TBBT is a nerd minstrel show" up on the board from me then. Independent of reading anyone else saying it, I've described as such before. Not really in a righteous fury way, but a sad disappointment way.
"TBBT is too mainstream, it's a poorly written hack, they aren't REAL nerds, I only laugh at it ironically, it's like nerd blackface (hipster hyperbolegasm!), I watch the BBC import The IT Crowd, etc. etc."
a few days late, but I'm overseas, so sue me. I've always been torn on the show, 'cuz it doesn't make jokes for nerds, it makes jokes about nerds. This is because it's a show for mainstream viewers. As an actual scientist (I work for MARTECH while doing my Masters at FSU) I found the show offensive at first, however I do know plenty of people who are that ridiculously awkward. The problem I always had was that the awkward nerds tended to obsess about TV while the scientists (who are also nerds) seem to be more well rounded, but just enjoy "nerdy" entertainment instead of the more banal shows about relationships and singing competitions.
TBBT is just a cheap cash-in on the 'nerd' trend that's been happening lately. The really depressing irony is that the people who watch and enjoy the show and misidentify themselves as nerdy would never in a million years go near an actual nerdy person in real life.
Someone just linked to this article in a thread and I was looking over my comment.
I did comment a year ago that I thought calling it an 'Aspergers Minstrel Show'. Certainly it's a bit more weighty if you look at it at making fun of people with a metal condition than just nerds in general. Though since then I've definitely put an asterisk on my comments to note that blackface and the plight of blacks against the minstrel show isn't really close to nerds putting up with this show.
I take the whole 'nerd blackface' commentary of BBT with a grain of salt.. unlike a friend of mine who reminds me a bit of Sheldon. Actually, being his roommate made me realize how unrealistic BBT's depiction of nerds is. It's a bad caricature on par with the science depicted on CSI shows. I know it's a sitcom, but considering the whole premise is "lol nerds are so weird" you'd think they'd try to be a bit more realistic and sympathetic. At the same time, the whole blackface accusation is very much hyperbole. As much shit as nerds have gone through over the years.. yeah.. nothing compared to what blacks went through. Well.. unless you're a black nerd. So calling BBT 'nerdface' is a gross over-exaggeration. Yet it highlights how cheaply the show targets nerds and uses nerd culture in an otherwise lame mainstream comedy.
wow, he's right.
ReplyDeleteSo true, so true. Best comic yet Mr. Tim!
ReplyDelete-Prof. Feather
p.s. Blackface never went away, just ask ICP!
Yeah, I think this should be filed under "it's true."
ReplyDeleteA theatre historian of my acquaintance has noted to me that minstrel shows are far more sophisticated than we tend to imagine today.
ReplyDeleteA person with perspective of my acquaintance has noted to me that they were still fucking racist.
ReplyDeleteAlmost fell out of my chair on this one. Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThat shit's like...shit.
ReplyDelete'struth.
ReplyDeleteYes! Totally! I'm saying this for years! It's one of the most offensive things on TV right now! The cliche of the socially awkward nerd, who speaks fluent Klingon but has no idea what women are, shouldn't be used for cheap laughs anymore!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't land on Tatooine. Tatooine landed on us!
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law insists that I would love Big Bang Theory and what I've watched has repulsed me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not above making fun of nerd culture. But that show laughs AT nerds, not WITH them.
To be fair he's absolutely right, in fact I'm fairly certain I've uttered that exact sentence before.
ReplyDeleteEven if it wasn't nerd blackface it'll still be lazily written and poorly acted, bottom of the barrel shit.
The cliche of the socially awkward nerd, who speaks fluent Klingon but has no idea what women are
ReplyDeleteComedy is a genre, and like all genre fiction, is heavily reliant on both archetypes and stereotypes-- both things that superhero fans should recognize very well.
Of all the groups out there, the one group with NO sense of humor are the comic fans/nerds group. They can't laugh at themselves and take comments about their culture WAAAAAY too seriously! (just read through many of these comics here and you'll see what I mean)
ReplyDeleteIt's true! Making jokes about nerds is exactly like racism against black people.
ReplyDeleteAnti-nerd discrimination is serious business.
Yep, because nerds were enslaved for two hundred years and socially and economically oppressed for another two hundred fifty. Right, that's a totally valid analogy.
ReplyDeleteBunch of privileged douche bags.
Nice straw man. It's about something claiming to be something it's not. The analogy derives from the fact that white people pretended to be black people and portrayed black people via the most accessible stereotypes.
DeleteBlack face is a drop in the bucket of oppression and using the historical persecution and oppression of the race to attempt to invalidate the analogy has no grounds in the claim the analogy is making.
This customer is like nerd blackface! Someone get him a haircut, acne cream and a new wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about "nerd blackface", but it's definitely not funny or good.
ReplyDeleteWell, if nerds were people of science, and thought scientific theories that were against god (Earth not the centre of universe, ect.) Then yes, nerds were oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't believe there's a dumbest comment of the day contest, Anonymous 12:00 PM. Socially awkward comic book nerd ≠ Galileo.
ReplyDeleteAnd actually, if you are remotely familiar with the trial of Galileo, you'd see that his opponents were mostly celibate theologians-- so they were "nerds" as well-- or at least closer to the "nerd" stereotype than the "jock" or "preppy."
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA!!! Gods bless that kid- it's a perfect summation of that "show"...
ReplyDeleteAnd just for the record; The IT Crowd does nerd-culture proud!
And "Two and a Half Men" is Ducky Blackface. That's right. I'm not afraid to say it.
ReplyDeleteYep, this guy's right on. The whole cast did a SDCC panel that was on the Nerdist podcast, and they got booed a few times by the crowd for not knowing a thing about nerd culture. The host mentioned a TARDIS and not a single person on the panel knew what that was. I don't watch or enjoy Doctor Who, but I know what a TARDIS is. When asked how they pitched a show about nerds, the producers said that it "wasn't about nerds, it was about extraordinary people". Seriously?
ReplyDeleteLink, please?
DeleteWow! This analogy is so far off it hurts my brain. Sure its stereotyped, but get over it! Dont like it, dont watch it..
ReplyDeleteHow, pray tell, is it off?
DeleteBlackface involved white people masquerading as black people exhibiting nothing but stereotypes for the amusement of white society. Big Bang Theory involves portrayals of nerds performed by non-nerds exhibiting nothing but stereotypes for the amusement of non-nerd society.
It's all well and good to introduce the racial history into the context, but it's not germane to the analogy itself. Analogies don't make a claim on historical context. There's also the fact that any claim of "nerd blackface" is intended as hyperbole to highlight the point that it is a) offensive and b) unrepresentative despite the fact that viewers have come to regard it as a legitimate nerd experience.
Also: Not watching it doesn't stop the cavalcade of horrible references on Facebook and Tumblr and the like.
"O thanks you white people for comings to ours defense. We sho nuff couldn't handle that type of hyperbole. We ain't like the jews. We can't make jokes about our repression or stereotypes likes theys can. We sho is a fragile bunch."
ReplyDeleteWe can fucking handle hyperbole with out someone coming in an saying "Nerds didn't go through slavery". That shirt that you saw the other day wasn't "awesome" like you said it was. We all deal in hyperbole. Get over it. My people did and you can too.
I... I love you.
Deletethe big bang theory is mostly a show about a small group of people who pointlessly quibble,argue,over rationalize,over analyze,dismiss,justify and or basically try to "out nerd" one another on various "nerd culture" subject matters and minutia in order to successfully validate their own seemingly correct points of view on any given subject within the realm of "nerd culture".
ReplyDeletewhich is EXACTLY what all of you silly nerds do every time you argue about whether or not the big bang theory is in fact a good show.
it's just tv. get the fuck over it.
and tigerama was right.
ReplyDeletethe commentary on this blog is starting to venture dangerously close to troll territory.
it's just supposed to be a funny strip about shitty comic book consumers. get the fuck over it.
I hate to say it, but I know people like those in Big Bang. I have had many Big Bang worthy conversations. People like that do exist. Say it with me: ooooooohhhhhmmmm...
ReplyDeleteThankyou! I can't believe how many people here are acting like the show is made of lies when I can think of multiple people EXACTLY like everyone in the show!
DeleteOf all the groups out there, the one group with NO sense of humor are the comic fans/nerds group. They can't laugh at themselves and take comments about their culture WAAAAAY too seriously!
ReplyDeleteYeah, no. I watch Community all the time, Abhed is a media nerd, they just made a Dr. Who joke last week, it's filled with references nerds and geeks actually get and it manages to do it without being intensely stupid. Funny, that.
Ummmm...I think that was me. At the midnight Justice League/Flashpoint sale. The caricature looks just like me minus the Star Trek shirt and the pimples and I said those very words to a buddy of mine while on line.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'm famous now! Well, internet famous. Kinda.
@ jason quinones
ReplyDeleteYou're right, unfortunately. The second part, I mean. I couldn't give a crap about the other argument.
The change in tone on this site has become increasingly difficult to bear. And the loss of tigerama was a significant blow. I enjoyed his comments as much as the cartoon. I've tried to keep my game face on. Not sure how much longer I can do it.
This section used to be about riffing on the cartoon and what the person said. Lately, it's degenerated into anger and insults thrown at the person in the cartoon and at the commenters. Seriously, if I wanted to read hate-filled arguments, name calling, and insults disguised as banter, I'd read the comments on Bleeding Cool. Could we just go back to making jokes and being witty? Or is it too late? Has the infection spread too far?
If I go a few days without posting again, then I've probably smartened up and followed tigerama out the door. In which case, to some of you I say, it's been a pleasure.
And now someone will probably insult me and tell me if I don't like it, I should not read the comments or go somewhere else. To that I say, "probably" and "maybe."
Cool. Can we please just get back to cracking jokes and having fun?
Sorry, dude. BBT's characters are so similar to some people I know it's scary.
ReplyDeleteThe people that most of us are forced to associate with because we like comics or gaming can be frustrating since some of those people have no sense of humor regarding their obsession. Last week at my game store a guy left his Yugioh cards on a table and I scooped them up and said, "You left your Pokemon cards." It was like something popped in his head and he whined, "It's YUGIOH!" I told him I knew. It still makes me laugh.
You should have looked at his shirt and told him, "Star Wars sucks." It would have been entertaining.
So in other words, you're a bully?
DeleteI can't believe people are defending this guy.
ReplyDeleteThe big bang theory isn't a very good show in my opinion, but not because I'm 'offended' by the sense of humor. It lost focus of what made it good, i.e. Sheldon being an endearing character and Leonard/Penney's sexual tension. Both of those things are gone now and so am I, content with what parts of the show I enjoyed, but no longer enjoying it. It was and still is a fine show and I have no issue with people liking it, but I am no longer enamored by it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, people who are offended by the show really need thicker skin.
Regardless of what you think of the show, I think it's pretty fair to say that an acne-riddled, thick-glasses wearing comic store patron wearing a Star Trek t-shirt has absolutely no business complaining about stereotypical nerds.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as as humongous nerd, I quite like The Big Bang Theory. Like people are saying about this guy, 'it's funny because it's true'. I recognise myself in it, and a whole bunch of people from RL and the internet. Including too many people from this comments section.
ReplyDeletePeople here harrumphing that "BBT is just like racism" sound like they're a hair's breadth or two away from screaming 'fursecution!'
Sure Big Bang Theory is a bit stereotypical. Most comedy is. Just look at Seinfeld. How many New Yorkers are really that self-absorbed? How many bosses are really as incompetent as Michael Scott on the Office (US version)?
ReplyDeleteSweet Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWHITE PEOPLE PROBLEMS
SERIOUS BUSINESS
WAT IS HYPERBOLE?!
ReplyDeleteCan't tell if he got it from Reddit or Reddit got it from him....
ReplyDeletehttp://i.imgur.com/DgLal.jpg
ReplyDeleteO.O You've got some charming customers.
ReplyDelete@Anon 3:22
ReplyDeleteIs distinguishing between Pokemon and Yugi-Oh or between Star Trek and Star Wars really any different than distinguishing between the Texas Rangers and the New York Rangers? Is memorizing loads of sports stats any different than memorizing starship stats? OK, yes athletes are real people, but sports themselves are no more significant than comics or movies. In fact, I would say that the original 1977 Star Wars has had a much greater impact on world-wide culture that the 1977 Stanley Cup or World Series.
"Can't tell if he got it from Reddit or Reddit got it from him...."
ReplyDeleteI had the same question.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm a nerd myself, a physicist, and very very recently a phd as well. I find nothing offensive in BBT - on the contrary I love it for telling people out there that being a mindless mainstream bimbo (of either sex) isn't the only reality. I think it's one of the very few works of art reaching a wide audience and preaching against uniformity.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, it has one or two good points to tell nerds and geeks.
Finally, the acting is monumental, the artistic direction is good. Why complain?
(In my defense, I don't know what Blackface is, will look it up.)
[Stops and walks back.]
ReplyDeleteAlso, in my defense, I haven't watched the last season and a half. I heard it lost focus, like a commenter wrote above. So, I'm talking about the old good times ;)
I hope the last commenter is not American, because seriously how the hell can you not know what blackface is.
ReplyDeleteLot's of people commenting on this have terrible taste in television. And by that, I mean the people defending the shit show that is Big Bang Theory. It's not because it makes fun of nerds, it's because it does so with no real grasp of what "nerd culture" actually is, and doesn't seem to care. It's also poorly written, acted, shot, and just not funny. It's a totally generic, shitty sitcom in every way. If you want to watch something that's ACTUALLY funny, It's Always Sunny is fantastic, and Curb Your Enthusiasm is always good.
ReplyDeleteYou guys doth protest too much, methinks. Striking too close to home is it?
ReplyDeleteNaturally these are actors acting, it's a sitcom not a reality show. How many real true geeks that could act showed up to the casting call I wonder? You know, James Doohan wasn't Scottish. Nathan Fillion wasn't a real starship captain either.
Also these are caricatures of academic nerds, not gamers or hackers, they are a different breed. Yes, there are those who are like them.
Our culture is gaining mass and going mainstream. It's a sitcom, well written and funny if you're not too uptight to laugh at yourself. Get over it.
@Gabriel
ReplyDeleteActually, your point just proves the saying "To each his own." I've tried both It's Always Sunny and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I found both annoying, overly whiny, too crude, and often dull. Keep in mind that is MY opinion. Just like it is your opinion that TBBT isn't good. I would definitely disagree with that statement, but, again, to each his own. There's nothing wrong with this. Nothing at all. Be glad that both types of shows exist.
Often, people forget that you cannot argue what is better about something like comedy because it is subjective.
Also, @Anonymous 9/29/2011 1:05PM Well put. Very well put.
Stop whining. If you consider yourself a nerd and you're offended by Big Bang Theory, then your problem is you take yourself far too seriously and probably have no sense of humour. Having said that, uttering the remark 'Nerd Blackface' is so ridiculous it's genius.
ReplyDeletealso who the hell wants to be mainstream anyway
ReplyDeleteOh my god. I actually used that term to describe Big Bang Theory recently, before seeing that picture.
ReplyDeleteChock another "TBBT is a nerd minstrel show" up on the board from me then. Independent of reading anyone else saying it, I've described as such before. Not really in a righteous fury way, but a sad disappointment way.
ReplyDeleteOMG I just realized: NERD HIPSTERS!
ReplyDelete"TBBT is too mainstream, it's a poorly written hack, they aren't REAL nerds, I only laugh at it ironically, it's like nerd blackface (hipster hyperbolegasm!), I watch the BBC import The IT Crowd, etc. etc."
Get over yourselves.
I could care less about the nerd factor. I just hate the Big Bang Theory because it sucks so much and it airs during Community.
ReplyDeletea few days late, but I'm overseas, so sue me.
ReplyDeleteI've always been torn on the show, 'cuz it doesn't make jokes for nerds, it makes jokes about nerds. This is because it's a show for mainstream viewers. As an actual scientist (I work for MARTECH while doing my Masters at FSU) I found the show offensive at first, however I do know plenty of people who are that ridiculously awkward. The problem I always had was that the awkward nerds tended to obsess about TV while the scientists (who are also nerds) seem to be more well rounded, but just enjoy "nerdy" entertainment instead of the more banal shows about relationships and singing competitions.
I'm pretty sure I've said it's a nerd Asperger's Minstrel show in various stores I've been in when it's been brought up.
ReplyDeleteTBBT is just a cheap cash-in on the 'nerd' trend that's been happening lately. The really depressing irony is that the people who watch and enjoy the show and misidentify themselves as nerdy would never in a million years go near an actual nerdy person in real life.
ReplyDeleteWow. Screw you all, it's one of my favorite shows. :P Hilarious. Also, nerd stereotype? They get more sex than most of my friends.
ReplyDeletecompletely agree with the original post!
ReplyDeletei watched it for about 5 minutes once and it was absolutely terrible
Someone just linked to this article in a thread and I was looking over my comment.
ReplyDeleteI did comment a year ago that I thought calling it an 'Aspergers Minstrel Show'. Certainly it's a bit more weighty if you look at it at making fun of people with a metal condition than just nerds in general. Though since then I've definitely put an asterisk on my comments to note that blackface and the plight of blacks against the minstrel show isn't really close to nerds putting up with this show.
I take the whole 'nerd blackface' commentary of BBT with a grain of salt.. unlike a friend of mine who reminds me a bit of Sheldon. Actually, being his roommate made me realize how unrealistic BBT's depiction of nerds is. It's a bad caricature on par with the science depicted on CSI shows. I know it's a sitcom, but considering the whole premise is "lol nerds are so weird" you'd think they'd try to be a bit more realistic and sympathetic. At the same time, the whole blackface accusation is very much hyperbole. As much shit as nerds have gone through over the years.. yeah.. nothing compared to what blacks went through. Well.. unless you're a black nerd. So calling BBT 'nerdface' is a gross over-exaggeration. Yet it highlights how cheaply the show targets nerds and uses nerd culture in an otherwise lame mainstream comedy.
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