This weekend marks a huge anniversary...if you're a dork. Dungeons and Dragons celebrates thirty years of making nerds forget getting picked last in gym class, not having girlfriends, and the reality that the school band isn't as esteemed as the football team. Pointing this out helps me forget that these D&D nerds make tens-of-thousands of dollars more than me, have higher IQs, and find life more pleasant after high school than during it. Needless to say, I've never played Dungeons and Dragons. I know only that the game employs weird dice, and features someone called "the dungeonmaster"--whose role almost certainly carries some sick, sexual connotation. Being ignorant of the game, but realizing its cultural significance, I'd love to hear from readers who've actually played, or at least have some memory of others playing. D&D players: if you still fear ridicule, you may use a pseudonym in the comments section.

I played once one day for a couple hours. I could never find anyone who wanted to play it. I guess I went to High School in 90210 or something, there weren't enough dorks.

I never have time to play computer games but the best role playing games are D & D based, particularly "Baldur's Gate." I highly recommend the game for anyone who has interest in computer games.

The real odd people are the gamers who actually make costumes and equipment, including things like chain mail, for the character they play in the game.

Brian: I knew you would respond to this!

But I'm not making fun.

Although I never played D&D and I don't make tens of thousands of dolars more than Flynn, otherwise Flynn's description matches. I was in the band, was picked on, didn't have any boyfriends in HS, have a higher IQ than Flynn (perhaps!?), and find life after high school very pleasant (and far more pleasant than life during HS, to say the least).

So I'm a nerd I guess. And proud.

well the funny part is Flynn was on the football team but he probably would have been of more use to the band! that will teach you to play games with me Dr. Flynn and by the way can i get my beads back if the book doesnt come on time? LONG LIVE #5!!!!!

Beads? Doesn't that involve some type of flashing? WTF you guys r sick! I paid $27 for the book and Morris gets one via barter? Your next book I'll give u a acorn necklace and keep my $:) Also, I have a tip for anyone out there who would actually admit to playing D&D... Don't admit it! Getting a wedgie when your 30yrs old would be humiliating. "You just got your ass kicked by a bunch of goddamn nerds!"

Auc, I think you're on to something. The zenith of nerd culture certainly was when "We Are the Champions" kicked in at the conclusion of "Revenge of the Nerds."

Have you ever felt pick on? Put down,shut out?

Nerds are a needed culture to the social foodchain of power and respect. Knowing your place on campus, in the workplace or hanging at the mall is essential to keeping harmony within their every day life.

Nerds thrive in there own environment among their peers an fellow geeks but once they stray and experiment and interact with other groups they almost always crash and burn.

If they chose to cross over those boundaries into the jock, outcast/misfit or freak culture those said groups will responed in a most hostile manner.

I believe the quintessential nerd was Malvin from Wargames. The dialog below says it all....

Jim Sting: I can't believe it, Jim. That girl's standing over there listening and you're telling him about our back doors?

Jim Sting : [yelling] Mister Potato Head! Mister Potato Head! Back doors are not secrets!

Malvin : Yeah, but Jim, you're giving away all our best tricks!

Jim Sting : They're not tricks.

I though malvin did his best work in Midnight Madness myself!

All this talk of nerds takes me back to "Herb," Burger King's dweeby mascot during the mid-80s. Wonder what happened to the old guy?