Ah, yes, well that is the typical effect indeed on people trying to build a career in academic archaeology ….

Ahhh, I thought those were severely depressed people that had lost all hope.

One thing gives them all away though, when they are outside – they always look at the ground. Classical archaeologists are an exception to that rule, they don’t ever look down.

Confusion with non-archaeologists is possible with both experimental archaeologists and prehistorians (with an added confusion introduced by the nearby field of palaeontology). Many having a beard, wearing ragged old clothes and looking down at the ground, frequently stooping to pick something up, you can confuse them with homeless easily….

As a result, I’m a very, very lonely nerd, even if I seem successful to others (in terms of secondary things like wealth etc.).

Slouchy posture? Check. Un-coiffed hair? Check. The clothes? Do tie-dye sarongs and a windbreaker count? (Definitely ‘yikes’, but not quite the same way…)

Though truly, I rate higher on the “geek” scale than “nerd”.

You forgot to mention the easiest way to tell an astronomer just coming off an observing run is: the huge, dark circles under the eyes, dazed look, blinking at bright lights, and of course, immediately falling asleep once they are on the plane.

PZ: Your comments activated my “pervdar.”

I agree with Steven Novella. You should totally put together a double-blinded study of this effect. I do think that there are subtle and not-so-subtle signals that people perceive to come to the conclusion that people are gay, nerd, or even bikers. Even gay, nerdy bikers.

Anecdote: When I first was hired for my current position, there was an orientation class to get us acquainted with hospital procedures and benefits, etc., and we of course did the tell us your name, where in the hospital you’ll be working, and a little about yourself. I noticed one of the men in the class who didn’t mention anything about motorcycles in his intro, but during the break, I asked him if he was a biker, and he was really surprised. He was in fact a biker, but was confused as to how I could know. I’ve played in pool leagues and there’s a lot of overlap in the pool-player and motorcycle-enthusiast Venn diagram. The big diamond stud earring, the handlebar moustache, the cut of the hair, the glasses with large lenses and a slight tint, the tough-yet-friendly demeanor: all of these were little signals that added up to my strong suspicion of his being a biker.

One more anecdote and we have data!!

Everyone knows they just want a guy who can really take them out of this world. That’s why rocket scientists are so popular :p But perhaps it takes a rocket scientists to know that. I can never tell- any nuclear physicists or brain surgeons want to chime in? Dr. Novella?

And being a reader of pharyngula and SBM, fancy seeing you two here. Gave me that “walked into a biker bar in a suit and tie” feeling.

For example, they will not mention anything to do with science or science -fiction for hours, sometimes days! … You need to reprogram your nerdar to detect ‘chamelenerd’.

<__>

I have no idea what you’re talking about. None whatsoever. Please, do go on about the big game tomorrow, it’s fascinating stuff.

If anybody tries to take credit for that, I’ll kill them. And no, I will not reveal the one trait that tips me off that someone probably is or has at least one time been a basketball player. That, I take to my grave.

If I have to tell you where this is from….

‘mute

Nerdar is even more problematic – in order to say that it meant anything you would have to use criteria to decide that someone qualified as a nerd that were different than the observed traits you used to “predict” someone was a nerd. Otherwise this is completely circular – I can tell nerds by looking at them; someone is a nerd if they look like one to me.

I know, I’m just being a skeptinerd. (Hey – I just coined that term, you have to pay me a quarter every time you use it.)