Some years ago, American writer John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) was quoted in defence of nerds, where “nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chaircan’t- control-yourself love it… Which is just not a good insult at all.” It’s something that stuck with me, and whilst it’s been years since I heard the term nerd used earnestly, let alone as an insult, it’s something that pops into my head every time my enthusiasm for the next amazing game, gaming accessory, gaming book, or gaming anything, is questioned.
I’ll give a personal example. I felt that it was expected, because I work for a magazine about tabletop games, that I would be well aware of Dungeons & Dragons and its intricacies, but until recently, I knew of the aforementioned dungeons and the dragons that presumably lived in them, but had never actually played. Equally, I felt that I should have played the Pokémon Trading Card Game, but until recently, I hadn’t. I launched myself into both at full speed and full excitement.