This Engineer Walks Into a Bar…
Debunking the Nerd Myth

Just out of college and needing some extra cash during the holidays, I worked briefly for a high-end haberdashery in Virginia. During orientation, we learned the tricks of the trade, including how to tie the perfect tie (I can still perform this impressive parlor trick…) and how to fold and stack dress shirts. But tucked neatly among all the expensive men’s clothing presentation skills was an actual life lesson. We were coached that we must not judge any customer by his appearance, and that some of the most important clients to visit the store would look quite the opposite. On further scrutiny, this amounts to no more than selfish altruism. The company’s policies were driven less by a social conscience than by an astute understanding of the habits of their target customer. Still, I managed to walk away from the experience with a keen sense that what you see is often not what you get.

We’ve all had our moments. If you hear that your blind date has a great sense of humor, perhaps you develop a preconceived notion about said date’s outward appearance. What if you were told that your date was an engineer?

The stereotype that brands engineers as nerds is clearly defined. It’s reached a level of stability and adoption that could qualify it for ratification by the IEEE. It could be known as the “Nerd Classification Code,” or NCC-1701. Over the years, creative jokesters have found ever more amusing ways to pin on the Nerd Badge. “Have you heard the one about the engineering superhero? He’s known as The Pocket Protector, and he keeps us safe from all things algorithmic, as long as it doesn’t involve fighting, athletics, or speaking to a girl.”
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