I got a case of the Shame.

Have you ever accidentally blurted out Leonard Nimoy’s entire filmography in front of group of Sperry-wearing prepsters who don’t know a phaser from a lightsaber? Ever discussed that time you cosplayed Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor with a sophomore who will most likely dress up as a slutty mouse for Halloween?

Then you may have experienced the phenomenon known as Nerd Shame. Symptoms include stuttering, rapid backtracking, and, eventually, blushing and/or rationalization (i.e. “I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL!”).

I am here to tell you it is never warranted.

My solution: find some new friends, you nerfherder. There are plenty of guys and gals out there – well, maybe not “out there” per say, more…in-there-avoiding-the-sunlight – who understand what Courage Wolf is.

But we don’t have an official nerd signal yet and wearing pins is just awkward. My strategy is always pairing a nerdy shirt with nearly endless references to internet memes. It both drives normal people away (I’m so alone…) and attracts the Comic-Con set. So, wear that shirt with an Iron Man-related pun. You just may wrangle yourself a companion more loyal than that fop, C-3PO.

We need to band together outside of Cons, people. Start a Sci-Fi society through Student Activities at school. Lobby Congress for increased access to teleportation. There are dozens of us!
Dozens!

If, like me, you go to school where people enjoy the films of Sandra Bullock unironically, my advice still does not change. Learn to wear the Shame as a badge of honor. Speak about the merits of the Quenya versus Sindarin dialect of Elvish. Be a nerd!