Some thoughts on the movie "Revenge of the Nerds"

I just watched it on the Spike channel and a a few thoughts came to mind. Things I did not realize when I first watched the movie as an 8 year old in 1984.

There is actually more deep social commentary to this movie than one realizes.

The boys try to form their own fraternity but all of the traditional white fraternities reject them. The one that accepts them is a black fraternity, Lambda Lambda Lambda. Black fraternities were formed because all white fraternities did not welcome racial integration (and at some schools this is still the case). The nerds membership in Tri Lambda is an analogy to the difficulties blacks faced on college campuses for decades.

Notice that the Alpha Betas and Pi's are all white. The Tri Lambs and Omega Mu's are black, white, Asian and homosexual. In speaking out for nerds, the Tri Lambs are actually making a statement on behalf of all groups that have suffered from discrimination.

And finally, there really is no shame in being a nerd anymore. In the 22 years since the movie came out a lot has changed. In fact, I rarely even hear the epithet used anymore. I think that given the success stories of so many so-called nerds in computers, engineering and internet start-ups, that suddenly being nerdy is now seen as a pathway to power and success.

it isn't something some wonk can choose to opt for, like some bottom feeder joining whatever party is in power and worming their way into a position of influence.

Geekdom and nerdom are true meritocracies, it's not something you can fake. If you can't cut it technically you won't fit in. There is a huge difference between a hacker and a script kiddie.

Sorry...no thoughts.

;-)