My problem here, aside from having never seen the Big Bang Theory and having no desire to do so, is that I grew up in the 80's.

Being socially awkward and into learning got me beat. I was ACTUALLY a shy geek, not acting. I didn't want to be like that. And there was no guidance about how not to be. The message I received from my peers was "you are not worthy to be alive".

Fast forward half a century and geeks are "cool"?

I have a hard time wrapping my head around that.