I noticed that the "cool guy & nerdy girl" actually is pretty common in shoujo manga (duh). But have you ever seen this actually happening in real life? I don't think I have ever seen it.

Of course I have always wished that something like this actually does happen. I've always had the personality of a nerdy girl, and no matter how well I dress up or how I appear in the outside, I always feel like I'll still be in a different league than guys who are "cool". There are reality shows like "Beauty and the Geek", or stories like "Densha Otoko", but for some reasons, the society seems to find it acceptable when the "geek" is a guy, not when it's a girl. And sometimes it even seems like geeky guys don't like geeky girls

Please discuss

I think the "cool guy & nerdy girl" story is used in shoujo manga because it sells. Most girls like the idea of an unexpected/out of the norm relationship between an average girl and an impossibly different boy(usually popular and "cool"). I'm not saying that this type of relationship doesn't occur in real life, but yeah, as you said, it's not as common. According to some articles I've read online, good-looking people tend to value aesthetics in partners, and average-looking people tend to value personality traits and intelligence in partners (some evolutionary mechanism). My nerdiness just showed through there. Anyways, they say opposites attract, but really, similarities are what bring people together. I'm probably sound really preachy, but if it means compromising what makes you you, don't force yourself to look/behave like other groups of people. Embrace your nerdiness!

Yes, my girlfriend and myself. Of course, I'm not as much of a bishounen or quite as cool as a manga character.

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Yes. My best friend.
He's a very popular guy in my school, cool, smart, and skateboard player. His GF since junior high school is a nerdy and religious girl but a verrryyyy genius one
ah but she's not wearing any glasses and even though nerdy, she's beautiful :/

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I actually know about 2 couples like this. They've been together since high school and now one pair's married while the other one's engaged.

Where I live cool and nerdy are not mutually exclusive.
So yes, I've seen them.

depsnds on what the nerdy girl is like i guess

i mean
...
most nerdy girls i remember from my school days looked like...poo on a stick

the term nerd today seems more like a movement for the hipsters
and the more classic nerd
is now just known as the ugly kid

so...plz die hipsters

Yes my boyfriend and I. He is a popular jock, though he's not like a shoujo pretty boy, and I am the nerdy girl who's shy and wears glasses

Well that was illuminating.

Anyway. I think any type of pairing's possible, but it mostly depends on the open-mindedness of the individuals in said pairing. Certainly this is a more rare case ("cool" x "nerdy"), and that's because people (more especially of the "cool" variety) are shallow. Labels are equivocal, however; what's "nerdy" to some might be "cool" to others. I personally think passion for any kind of hobby/what-have-you is cool. Nerdy certainly doesn't carry the stigma it used to, as well.

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Ah yes, sorry for not making it very clear when I made this thread. But usually what I mean by "cool" is basically extroverted and sociable. I agree that both terms tend to have more flexible definitions these days. (But I dunno what "nerdy" means anymore, because even though I'm not classic nerdy/awkward, people in my nerd college still finds me to be among the weirder ones. WHY ? )


It's funny you mentioned that, because I've always had some prejudice against the "cool" people, and I'd like to believe that it's my fault for being cautious towards them and that they're actually not shallow.

I think the standard is more 'cool' people (sociable, outgoing, extrovert) people tend to get together with 'cool' people as well because that's the ones they hang out and spend time together with. Some people are shallow, yes, but I don't think that's the only reason why this kind of pairing is rare in the real world.

Also it's easier for 'nerdy' (shy, geeky, introvert, quiet) guys to get 'cool' girls because girls actually don't look at appearance as much as guys do. Plus, some girls find it cute, not to mention that it lessens the chance of the guy cheating on her. Granted some girls still look at appearance though. Having a boyfriend/girlfriend during teenage/college years is like having a trophy after all. The shinier the better.

I have a friend who was like this during high school. The guy was tall, handsome and popular and he got together with one of my best friend who's not a typical nerd, but she's more of a quiet and kind type. She's not like the popular and mean girls that wears skimpy skirts and heavy make up.

I know another one but this one is more the reverse. The guy is a nerdy engineer, while the girl is a bubbly and cheerful person. She's a bit on the chubby side but she's really really pretty.

So yeah, it happens but only during the right situations. LOL.

Well, doesn't in the end everything depend on ones personal preferences? Like: Why should one be with someone, who is just like oneself - popluar/outgoing or considered as "nerd"/shy, because of reason xy? Wouldn't that by times be kind of annoying, since everyone should have a few rather "dislikable traits", even if others kindly tend to overlook them - or even tend to like them? Of course that's somewhat analog and may not be the case in general, but ... There should be a bunch of couples out there, that could probably be described as "Nerd and Cool one" - or "tidy and chaotic", "timid and blunt" and such ... Maybe. Lol.

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Nope.
Same goes for nerdy guys and hot chicks.
Nerdy as in, neckbeard, bad posture, untreated hair, power metal shirts, stinks of sweat.
Sounds appealing?
It is not just about wearing glasses, that's not nerdy.

I've definitely seen couples where I thought the girl/boy isn't as gorgeous as their partner but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

I think it's all about confidence, regardless of nerdy or cool. I have a gorgeous friend (pretty & fashionable) who is so shy that when guys hit on her she awkwardly retreats and they lose interest. It's not like a manga where people gain a fan club even if they're silent, personality plays a huge role.

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Lol. And, that's probably the point, where one would need some kind of definition for words like "nerdy"...

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"It's like love is a bonus in your life. Even without it, I'm just fine. I don't feel like pointlessly searching for it. You don't have to make yourself unhappy." (Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji)

"Why does it rain?" - "To create drama." (Drops (Andou Yuki))