Nerd Culture and Odd Fellowship

Nerd Fellows Untie!

I’m a nerd, and proud of it! If I weren’t, I never would have found the Odd Fellows or even considered joining. After spending some time in the Odd Fellows and getting to know its members, I once suggested to myself that “Nerd Fellows” might be a more fitting name.

 “A nerd is a person seen as overly intellectual, obsessive, or introverted…such a person may spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular, little known, or non-mainstream activities.” That description of spending “inordinate amounts of time on unpopular or non-mainstream activities” certainly resonates with what it means to be an Odd Fellow. However, certain aspects of nerd culture are becoming more mainstream.

Let’s be honest: the words “Odd” and “Nerd” are practically synonymous*. In the Order, we talk about being “Odd” all the time. For instance, you might hear someone say, “Hey, is that guy Odd?” and the reply could be, “No, he’s not a member.” Another example could refer to a particular book: “This book was written by an Odd author.” Or you might hear, “When did you become Odd?” and the response would be, “I became Odd in 2017.”

Does it get any nerdier than that?!

Nerds take interest in our hobbies much further than a regular person because we have a deep love for them, often to the point of obscurity. Nerds are passionate.  We’ll dive into source material and behind-the-scenes details all to get that rush you get when you discover something new. 

Maybe you can recite lines from the original star trek, have obscure collectibles from Star Wars, or know esoteric facts about 19th century baseball, or have read everything ever written about the Whig Party.  We love superheroes and sci-fi and swords and anime and zombies for so many reasons. Sometimes it’s because we want to escape to a cooler world, and many of us escape to Odd Fellowship.

For decades, nerds have been sidelined from socializing because our passions often go beyond what’s considered “normal.” Instead of fitting in, we embraced these interests as our own. While some people have parties, we have Wolverine. Others have football, but we have Dungeons and Dragons. You have your thing, and we have ours.

Although originally not considered mainstream, nerd culture has gained significant acceptance in recent years in mainstream culture. The subculture is marked by a passion for intellectual quests and unconventional interests. The rise of nerd culture has led to empowerment and inclusivity, boosting marginalized voices and creating welcoming spaces for those who once felt excluded. Nerd culture creates platforms for self-expression and celebration of diverse interests.

Here’s a new term to try out: “Odd-Nerd.” That would be an Odd Fellow who happens to be a nerd about Odd Fellowship. The Odd-Nerd has a museum’s collection of Odd collars, Odd books, Odd art, even music used in lodge and floor work. They probably have a small diorama of a lodge so they can learn the floor work better. They walk around with a complete history of their lodge in their head passed down from our esteemed elders. And they probably have the “old man” somewhere around the house. 

They likely have a lock of Thomas Wildey’s hair someplace… 

If you aren’t yet an Odd-Nerd and you want to immerse yourself in Odd-Nerdiness, realize that you are already particularly unique because you’re an Odd Fellow. Embrace your eccentricities, embrace being an Odd Fellow, and see if you can combine them. What nerdy things do you already enjoy that can be applied to your experience as an Odd Fellow? 

Odd-Nerds benefit the Order greatly by creating music, art, literature, very cool degree work, insane degree production, and awesome costumes. We are often the Order’s preservationists as well, keeping alive old traditions while being open to newer more positive ones. 

Nerds make great Odd Fellows and if you know any nerds, ask them to come cosplay with us in an amazing fraternal order! 

(**The word “Odd” during the formation of the Order probably referred to “Odd trades” or “odds and ends” trades of work)

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Scott Moye is the author of the book Think Like An Odd Fellow (available on Amazon). He is an award-winning history educator. He grew up on a cotton farm and is currently a museum worker. Hobbies include: old house restoration, writing, amateur radio, Irish traditional music, Folk Punk, archery, craft beer, old spooky movies, and street performance.  He is a member of Marshall Lodge #1, in Marshall, Arkansas, and a founder of Heart In Hand Blog. He resides in Little Rock, AR.