Get down and geek out

I recently wrote a story about the upcoming release of the newest Star Wars movie, "Revenge of the Sith." For that story, I interviewed a handful of fans, and they were some of the nicest people I've ever interviewed. You know what I discovered?\nAll nerds are the same.\nLet me elaborate, because that's a pretty contentious statement. I myself am a devoted Harry Potter fan. In fact, "devoted" doesn't really cover it. For the last two books, I've been to the midnight releases, once in costume. I went as Hermione Granger. I already have set plans for the next book release on July 16. I've decided that 21 is a little old to dress up as Hermione, so I'm going as Professor Minerva McGonagall. \nI'm just afraid that if I frizz out my hair and go as Hermione, I'll freak out all the other HP fans -- you know, the nine year olds. No, it's definitely safer to go as McGonagall. That way, I can still geek out and have a good time and get my book, but I won't scare anyone. \nParents won't pull their children away from the creepy woman dressed as a witch. I have no fewer than five Harry Potter T-shirts (two for the movies, three that are book-specific). I'm contemplating buying the newest one, a black shirt that reads "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" on the front and "Mischief managed" on the back. It's a phrase from the second book. \nI'm hoping that someday while I'm wearing it, some handsome Harry Potter fan will tap me on the shoulder and then help me on to his motorcycle and we'll ride off into the sunset. Nerd romance, sigh. \nThe point of all this is that it was my inherent nerdiness has done great things for me. I met some great people while I was doing my interviews for the Star Wars story. I stay connected with my 13-year-old nephew because he's into the "Lemony Snicket" books just like I am. \nWhen I'm encountered with a new person, one of the first things I find out is what they're a nerd about. Everyone's a nerd about something, and I think if you know what and you can understand it a little, you have much better insight into the inner workings of their brain, and maybe their heart. \nI honestly believe that if you're a nerd, you're tapping into some Jungian collective unconscious-like spirit of nerdiness. If you can understand why someone would dress up as a witch and trek to a bookstore full of shrieking children at 12:01 on a Friday night in order to pay $40 for a 600-page book, you can kind of understand why people would've dressed up as hobbits for the premieres of the "Lord of the Rings" movies. \nI myself am not into the LOTR movies. They were OK. I saw all three, and I think I've seen the first or second one more than once. I just never really got into the books, and the movies, to me, were just kind of long and a little boring. But because I understand the spirit of the rabid fan, I understand why people arrange marathon movie nights to watch the extended versions of all three films (it's 11.3 hours, in case you wondered). \nMaybe that's what the world needs. It makes sense, doesn't it? Everyone is a nerd about something, even if it's not Harry Potter or Star Wars. About ten minutes ago, I just heard someone geek out over the merits of the Firefox Web browser. See? The spirit of nerd permeates all genres of nerdiness, even techie nerds. I know people who, at any given moment, can tell you the record for the Cubs for the last decade. See? Sports nerds are nerds nonetheless. \nI'm not suggesting that we all embrace our inner nerd in order to achieve world peace. There will still be smatterings of rat bastards who are hellbent on making our wonderful world a semi-crap place sometimes.\nBut perhaps if we all dig a little deeper and enjoy our nerdiness and even revel in it a little, we'll be a little more understanding. And if everyone is a little more understanding, we'll all be a little more patient and kind. Star Wars fans will become friends with Lemony Snicket heads, and the Trekkies and the Hobbit Homies will unite and hold bake sales for peace. \nSo if you're with me on this, hold on to and nurture your inner nerd. Change the world, or at least your little corner of it. And if you're a Harry Potter fan, call me. I need someone to play Snape.