This is sad but if you find "like minded friends" that can help. Hooray for us!

At my age...or any age for that matter...I consider "nerd" a compliment. IMO...it's far from a "negative and pejorative word".

In school, the kids would deride achievers by saying " You're such a NERD ! "

Yvonne, I remember that 'Nerd' phrase from the nineties when my own children were in school. I'm pretty sure there was an equivalent expression when I was a student in the fifties and sixties. . .but what was it?

I've been trying to post to this discussion since August 1, but it has been playing hide-and-seek with me. I tried to start a discussion that day too.. It appeared long enough for one person (Annpan) to respond but then the whole thing did a flit! I wonder if these occurrences are happening to anyone else.

Friedag I can't find that discussion either. What was it about?

Annpan, I titled the discussion "Do you remember. . .?" I added The Childhood of Famous Americans series title to the body, but I explained that I was interested in general biographies geared to young readers. That's where you came in and told about what you read in school in England.-- very interesting! Alas! It disappeared from view before I could reply. . .it's thoroughly maddening to me.

Curiously I did find the discussion in the 'My Activities' section of the Home Page so I don't know why it no longer shows up in the Reader's Paradise list of discussions.

Friedag........all I can come up with is " bookworm".

I think back in my day it was an admirable trait to be studious and intelligent ! We had many really nice guys who were not only athletes but also Honor Society members and eventually Ivy Leaguers.

Times have changed .

I still cannot find that post but I now recall my answer. I wonder why the post got shifted?

Perhaps it was my incorrect spelling? (-:

Frieda, are you thinking of 'egghead?'

Yvonne and Donnamira;

Bookworm and egghead were certainly used as putdowns (then and perhaps still). Depending on the intonation, they were labels to rationalize a sense of envy and to equalize by mockery. I don't know why there's a need for people to do this, but the need can't be refuted with logic. It just is. as far as I can comprehend it.

Another I now recall, dripping with sarcasm: "She's one of those smart girls," as if smartness in females was always undesirable. Another saying was "Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses" seemed to follow the "smart girls" snarkiness too often!

Book loving is associated in some minds to the "pinking" of an activity. There's been a backlash toward males who like to read when they could be doing more masculine pursuits.

I don't think kids read and enjoy books as they did 20 years ago when HP series came out. That series created a renewed love of reading in children.

Now kids have their ipads and games on it, they can 'chat ' with friends or instant message them on them. Books are irrelevant and a waste of time because it takes them from the more interactive world on the ipad.

As a former teacher I am shocked at the use of ipads in the classroom, changing the way kids test.

If a kid is lucky enough to have an Apple watch then they can do all kinds of research and messaging right at their desk .....on their wrist !!

I am so glad to be retired from this new world of 'computer centered learning' and active shooter drills.

It is a world I do not relate to easily.

@friedag, is the word you're looking for "swot"?

Colleen, I had forgotten all about "swot". I don't recall hearing it before I went to England the first time in 1972. I realize now that there were many terms and phrases used in the U.S. to sneer at the bookish, high achieving students Yoyobon referred to. Times have changed, sure, but sarcasm seems to have been attractive for a long time!