As a teenager, playing the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons gave me a vicarious sense of mastery over my world, even if that world was imaginary.

In other words it’s all bullshit. See, that’s a pretty important thing to me, the divider between what’s real and not real. Call me old-fashioned.

American culture purports to encourage achievement in math and science but instead sends a more complex, mixed message.

No it doesn’t. It’s widely understood that the U.S. is falling far behind in math and science. American girls in particular seem to have no interest in these subjects at all.

A psychology professor at Bennington College who has a private psychotherapy practice in Lenox

Bennington? Oh the school where they don’t have grades and professors fuck the endless stream of wealthy young flesh (as portrayed in Bret Easton Sm-ellis’s Rules of Attraction)? Nah, that was just fiction.

“Sm-ellis.” I slay me.

But Anderegg’s promised land, where World of Warcraft players would be as revered as football heroes, lies far away.

In a world where there are no humans who exist as a result of biological evolution.

Instead, as our numbers of engineering and computer science majors tumble, other nations, primarily Asian, vault ahead. And when the geeks do inherit the earth, America will be left scratching its head and wondering why it was picked last for the team.

Ok, let’s say this wan’t previously contradicted. He’s right about this, except the part where America will be scratching its head. We’ll be too busy cleaning the toilets of scientists from Mumbai while they’re at Diwali festivals to have time for noggin scratching. Soon, Americans will become the new untouchables occupying the lowest caste.

It’s widely understood that the U.S. is falling far behind in math and science

I don’t think it is widely understood.  My coworker was complaining about how her parent’s doctor spoke w/ a heavy accent, which of course immediately meant that s/he was incompetent.

“Where’s the doctor from?”

“India.” So she’s googling the doc’s name, and she’s all, “Oh, he did his residency at MGH...but I mean, his medical school degree is from India.  How good can their medical schools be?”

I said they must be pretty damn good if he got into a residency program at Harvard.

“Yeah, but they have affirmative action and stuff, right?”

For serious.  I explained to her that it is actually very fucking hard and no, there is no “affirmative action.”

The point of that story is that the prevalent idea is that WE’RE NO.1!!  WE’RE No. 1!!

The point of that story is that the prevalent idea is that WE’RE NO.1!!  WE’RE No. 1!!

Or is it because India is thought of as behind? Like if the doc was British would it have been the same attitude?

By the way, I don’t mean to knock the article, I’m glad you posted it. It was a fun read. I just totally get off on torturing nerds.

And sensitive girls. Wanna play “riding home on the schoolbus” with me, Duchess? Hmmm? All the other kids have gotten off at other stops. Now it’s just you, me and my two buddies. Why are you holding your books so tightly to your chest?

Like if the doc was British would it have been the same attitude?

Not as much, but the assumption of inferiority at a non-American degree (unless it’s Oxbridge, only one of which actually has a medical faculty) would still be there.  My sister gets many variations on “What’s the matter, couldn’t get into school in the States?” or “Is that a real medical school?” (No, it’s a fake one, now bend over so I can ram this drill up your ass.)

Honestly you can knock the article all you want to, as long as you don’t hurt yourself.  My only objection was that a lot of people—a majority, I would even say—do still see the US as the leader in math and science, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Because you know how we ‘mericans react to a mound of irrefutable evidence: we call it a commie/terrorist and wage war against it.

Because you know how we ‘mericans react to a mound of irrefutable evidence: we call it a commie/terrorist and wage war against it.

Not true! Commie terrorist!

I just totally get off on torturing nerds.

Just how expansive is your definition of ‘nerd torture’ anyhoose?

I just totally get off on torturing nerds.

I don’t mind nerds, actually like them.  As long as they’re not also assholes.  The overlap of nerd and asshole—the nerd hole, if you will—is larger than most people realize.  ToP can probly show us this in a handy dandy venn diagram.

Just how expansive is your definition of ‘nerd torture’ anyhoose?

Strictly cock-and-ball.

the nerd hole, if you will

Ha ha ha. Sounds like some sort of hyper-focus condition.

Strictly cock-and-ball.

Did I ever tell y’all about the time my therapist suggested cbt, and I thought, Has BDSM become so mainstream they’re doling it out like Prozac? 

Turns out she was talking about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Let’s get something straight: being smart and studious does not automatically lead persecution. One is persecuted because they’re either meek, awkward, or otherwise perceived as different. And once you start getting persecuted, then starts the feedback loop - you usually start becoming more meek, more awkward, and more different.

Middle school is one big PR game that the meek and awkward, smart or not, tend to lose.

Ethan Gilsdorf is working on a book about fantasy escapist culture

Ethan, your book is not going to help your “cause.” How about helping kids learn to be powerful in reality so they don’t have to escape into fantasy?

If I could only teach my kid one thing, it might be that looking good to and seeking approval from your peers is empty and meaningless. Then he’ll grow up to be an astronaut that never played a game of d&d in his life.

All astronauts are nerds.

quod erat demonstrandum