Reader: Proud to be a nerd at Nan Desu Kan!

People are still talking about the 2012 Nan Desu Kan convention that filled the Marriott at the Denver Tech Center with camaraderie and costumes earlier this month. Bree Davies was there for the entire weekend of anime and gaming of all eras, tropes and worldly origins -- where she heard...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 24, 2012

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

People are still talking about the 2012 Nan Desu Kan convention that filled the Marriott at the Denver Tech Center with camaraderie and costumes earlier this month. Bree Davies was there for the entire weekend of anime and gaming of all eras, tropes and worldly origins -- where she heard conventioneers proudly using the term "nerd." As one of the sixteenth annual convention's directors, Jeremy Pieta, pronounced at the closing ceremony: "This is what I like, this is who I am and goddamnit, I'm going to Nan Desu Kan!"

And he's not alone. Says marketingnerd:

Proud to be a NERD and it is no longer derogatory to be called that .

How was the entire experience? Totally worth it, Davies says. "Being surrounded by experts in a field you know nothing about keeps you humble," she writes, "and I could always use more of that." Read all about Bree's experience at Nan Desu Kan here, and post your own thoughts below.

Follow @WestwordCulture

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927