Why have people started to call internet people "nerdy"?

[Anonymous]

From my understanding, being nerdy means that you are academically intelligent (in STEM fields typically) and somewhat detailed in your responses. These people (in the past) tended to do things like play chess or watch anime etc..

Now I see people that aren't particularly STEM smart but watch anime and play video games calling themselves nerds. Why have people these people hijacked the word? Is this a coping mechanism in the same way that fat women hijacked the word "curvy"? (curvy used to describe something akin to the hourglass figure, which is essentially describing the bone structure [and musculature] associated with a slim woman.)

It is a coping mechanism

They are actually referring to the smart people you described first

The newer generations confused the typical traits seen to be the actual meaning as opposed to the original meaning

Other

[Nikki1989]

So this is a feeble attempt to body-shame women, is that it?

[Asker]

Nope, my purpose on Earth is not to body-shame women. Even if you think I'm body-shaming, surely you must also think I'm body-worshipping the woman that aren't being shamed, since not all women are fat. My point here is that I'm just trying to speak what I believe, whether it offends or not.

Anyway, I still want to know what you think about the main question.

[RandomUser1000]

You are either a nerd or Amish.

[Asker]

I don't know what Amish means.

[RandomUser1000]

Well I was not being serious. It was a joke.

But anyhow,
Amish is people who live a simple life.
Like using horse and carriage instead of car.
More of a farmer life with growing their own crops and such.
Using little to no modern things.
Essentially living a pre industrialisation kind of life style.
Usually also a religious life.

There do exist Amish communities in real life.

But my reply was mostly me just kidding.

[Asker]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation.

[RandomUser1000]

You are welcome