Are proghead nerds?

TBH, when I first joined in 04, I was taken aback by dozens auto-qualifying themselves as nerds or geeks.

In the 70 & 80's, this was an insult hurled at losers (those that couldn't get laid - even by their own fists - if their lives depended on it), and had 50's looks like we regularly saw in those 80's teen comedies like Porky's & others.


i suppose that the insults became a claim or advocacy (like queers and sluts) by those proud to be so in the 90's & 00's.

Hrychu wrote: Honestly, I'm a massive prog nerd myself. Almost a textbook example.

You'll be referred as Spaz from now on (see the movie Meatballs) .

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Edited by Sean Trane - May 26 2025 at 02:21

Logan wrote: Like progressive music, one might say that nerdism is a spectrum, in which case I might fall on that spectrum. I have been very enthusiastic about things including film, TV and music. I have been very big on so-called international art house cinema but I also love lots of sci-fi and fantasy (I think of the arthouse film aficionados as nerdier in ways). I do tend to favour music under the Prog umbrella (the prog spectrum) that might come from the more RIO and Avant side, love Krautrock electronic, acid folk, experimental music, post-rock, Canterbury Scene, kinds of jazz... I also like a lot of music outside Prog that might be considered hipsterish such as Indie. I'm an individual with individual tastes (much of which is shared by various people here) and don't consider myself to be a Proghead. It's more like I like a lot of music covered at PA, and not in PA, and a lot of music at PA is not my thing.

Dude why are we so alike?

Honestly, I'm a massive prog nerd myself. Almost a textbook example.

Edited by Hrychu - May 25 2025 at 23:20

No! we are very cool

Some are and some aren't. Like a bit like my brother in that I have nerd in me but neither of us are full on nerds.

I've never really considered myself a nerd, apart from my interest in computer science. I'm quite sporty, and my taste in literature and film leans more toward the classic and art-house end of the spectrum than toward fantasy or sci-fi. While some branches of progressive rock could be labeled as nerdy, genres like RIO, Krautrock, post-rock, or the Canterbury scene evoke a completely different atmosphere—more psychedelic, experimental, and offbeat. To me, listening to that kind of music suggests an eclectic, countercultural, and intellectually curious mindset rather than the stereotypical sci-fi/fantasy nerd identity.

I don’t have anything against nerds, but I think the label is often used too broadly and simplistically. Even classic prog bands like Yes, King Crimson, or Rush—despite their fantasy and sci-fi themes—can’t be reduced to “nerd music.” Their work intersects with psychedelic traditions and even elements of classical philosophy. Ironically, most of the nerds I know don’t even listen to this kind of music.

Anyway, that turned into a bit of a rant, but I’m honestly just tired of the cliché.

Edited by Gnik Nosmirc - May 25 2025 at 17:10