I seem to have a real chip on my shoulder when it comes to the internet. I am constantly attacking it with each passing article. One might think the Internet slaughtered my family in front of me, or something. In many ways, the internet is an amazing thing; however, like most amazing things, there are a ton of negative side-effects. The internet, to me, is like those medicine commercials you see on TV. It'll be like, "This will help you sleep at night." That's good. The commercial will then proceed to say, "The pill may also cause cancer." That's bad. I'm not going to get cancer by taking a pill to help me sleep at night. It's a mixed bag scenario.

So, what am i going to complain about the big bad internet today? Well, I'm glad I asked myself that while writing this Odyssey article. I personally think that nerd culture is not only dead, but no longer exists.

This lightbulb went off in my head by watching the amount of people walking around and enjoying Pokemon Go. Like it's a full blown craze. People who would be giving a young nerd the stink eye are trying to catch Squirtles and crap. It just doesn't add up to the world that I was born and raised in. However, I then opened my eyes and really took a look at the landscape of the world. Super heroes are the new black. "Star Wars" is one of the highest grossing movies ever made. People are hyped for "Star Trek!" What in the blue hell is going on?

Now, the obvious question one could be quietly thinking to themselves while reading this, Why are you complaining? Aren't you happy people are sharing your passion? My answer is a strong yes and no. It's cool that stuff I like gets popular and that the content creators' checks get fatter. That's all good. I also don't mind not being shoved into a locker because I read Spider-Man comic books. I'm OK, to an extent, with not living in a cliche teen '80s movie. However, there is an unrefined beauty to being apart of a niche. It feels all the more special to you because you are one of the few who love it.

I mean, I used to hate the fact that I was the only one around me who still watches pro wrestling. It can get super lonely sometimes not being able to share your passion. However, I don't want it to ever be popular again. For whatever reason, it just feels less and less like mine when everybody else is taking part in it. Some things you just want to have to yourself. Humans are selfish creatures after all.

The other big problem with nerd culture being non-existent is having to share some of your favorite properties with people who only surface-level like it. I heard a story about a die-hard Batman fan talking to a colleague at his work about Batman. He asked the colleague who is his favorite Batman villain was and he responded with, "The Joker and Lex Luthor." I don't know about you, but Lex Luthor isn't exactly a name that pops out when thinking about The Dark Knight's amazing rouge gallery. He said Lex Luthor because "Batman V. Superman" had just been released. This bothers me to no end because I am both an asshole and a hipster.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, one could say that base-level nerds are gone. However, there are still extreme nerds out there. The ones that "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" was loosely based on. But like street rats, I don't buy that. There used to be a fine line that was never crossed. Now, not only has that line been crossed, it has been erased entirely and now it's havoc. If comics, "Star Wars," "Star Trek" and freakin' Pokemon is no longer nerdy -- what is? Can there be anything nerdy anymore? Is it possible to have a culture with anything to base it around? I guess pro wrestling is that last lingered thread on the nerd blanket waiting to be unraveled. I shall hold it tight with my thumb placed firmly into my mouth.