One Zero:

Nerds have always been defined by their passion, and passion can be a wonderful thing. But passion seems to turn so bad so quickly. There’s an oft-used adage, “No one hates Star Wars like Star Wars fans,” which also happens to have been a line I used to hear verbatim about Star Trek fans, too. I mean, Game of Thrones’ final season wouldn’t be loathed by so many if they hadn’t adored the series first.

For the first time since high school, I have felt genuine shame in telling people I am a nerd. When I have had occasion to tell someone I’m a Star Wars fan, I immediately feel the need to qualify it by adding, “but I’m not one of those crazy assholes you hear about.” I love Game of Thrones, but I can’t think of the series at all without also remembering all the hate spewed about the final season. There are an increasing number of things I used to enjoy that feel tainted by the hate other so-called fans feel for them, and it’s getting harder and harder to separate the two.

It’s hard to argue with this. Maybe it’s because I’ve “aged out” of my former low-level nerdiness but while the article points out “…there is more nerdy love in this world than hate,” it also makes the point that, likely because of the internet, “love is quiet, and hate is loud.”