4 Smart Rules For Dating A Nerdy Guy
How to make a nerd fall in love with you.
DariolaVera, Dean DrobotView, STILLFX | Canva So, you've met a great guy, but after a few dates, you begin to realize he's not like the other guys you've been dating. He's smart, a little shy, and quirky, and he loves science fiction, online gaming, comic books, and other related pursuits. In other words, he's a nerd. While nerds often make great partners (in fact, many of us in the dating business consider them the unsung heroes of the single male demographic), women usually tend to overlook them. Thus, when a woman decides to give a nerd a chance, she often finds herself in uncharted territory. As a scientist and closet nerd myself, I've known my share of nerdy men. They're great guys, but if you aren't accustomed to being around them, here are a few things you can do to ensure dating success.
Here are 4 smart rules for dating a nerdy guy:
1. Focus on his positive qualities, not his quirks
When some women date nerds, they tend to focus on the "negative" side of their nerd-dom (long hours spent online gaming or dressing up like Frodo every Halloween). Instead, focus on his intelligence, faithfulness, and other great traits. Moreover, while nerd-dom is now mainstream (even cool), it wasn't always this way and many nerds grew up suffering at the hands of dumb jocks or mean girls. To succeed with him, show him you aren't one of those people and that he's awesome exactly the way he is. Is he smart? Computer savvy? Well-employed? Good in bed? Make sure he knows you recognize what makes him a great man.
2. Never knock his nerdy tastes
Sure, the Star Wars posters or long days spent at Comic Con may seem silly to you, but everyone has unique interests that other people don't "get." And really, how are a nerd's interests any different from a non-nerdy guy's obsession with Fantasy Football or baseball cards? To belittle or make fun of his hobbies is to belittle him. Your judgment sends the message that he's not good enough the way he is. Instead, give him free rein to express his quirkiness. If you do, he's more likely to zip his lip when it comes to your giant shoe collection or your secret addiction to The Real Housewives of New York.
3. Take an interest in his nerdy stuff
While it's fine if you don't engage in his hobbies, it never hurts to take an interest. Ask him why he loves his favorite sci-fi books or movies. Try playing his World of Warcraft game (at least occasionally). Pay attention when nerd-dom hits national news. For example, when Disney purchased the entire Star Wars franchise (for a sum numbering in the billions) and announced plans to release more Star Wars movies. That's something your man wants to chat about! That said, taking interest in you and your interests is something he should also do for you.
4. Celebrate your common ground
You may have different interests, but one way to spend quality time with your nerdy guy is to watch sci-fi movies or TV shows that also appeal to female non-nerds. Here are some of my favorites:
- Game of Thrones — Immensely popular, Game of Thrones chronicles seven noble families fighting for control of a mythical land. With its backbiting, battles, and political intrigue, this show is about as addictive as it can get. On HBO.
- The Hunger Games — Based on a trilogy of books, the Hunger Games movies have been a huge success. Set in the future, a totalitarian leader selects a boy and girl from each of the 12 districts and forces them to fight to the death until only one stands. This is a gripping, well-acted movie with a very strong female main character.
- Star Wars, the original trilogy — On a cold or snowy day, pop some popcorn (or grab some beers) and watch the old trilogy. Yeah, it's a bit cheesy but there's a reason this franchise was so amazingly popular. It has memorable characters (including a strong woman), lots of good humor, and a cosmic theme that appeals to everyone.
- Battlestar Galactica. I've gotten non-nerd friends (male and female) hooked on BSG. It has none of the cheesiness of Star Trek and everything it lacked — Romance, violence, drama, very strong women, and seriously hot guys.
In many ways, relating to a nerdy guy isn't all that different from relating to a non-nerd; he just has different toys. Love him for who he is, and he will be a loyal partner.
Christie Hartman is a psychologist, scientist, dating expert, and author who specializes in unraveling the scientific and psychological mysteries behind dating and attraction.