We all have our own obsessions. From daily living, baseball stats, the “fine art” of serial killing, to the just plain weird, everyone has an unhealthy fascination or hobby. Nevertheless, much to our frustration, our friends don’t want to hear about them though. The people at Nerdnite do though.

Nerdnite is a monthly event in which nerds and non-nerds alike are brought together to drink, socialize, and learn something new. However, the topics are anything but nerdy, ranging from the brutal sex lives of insects to the culture of car stereos.

But who is a nerd? While the goofy images of Steve Urkel or Bill Gates might be the first to pop into one’s mind when thinking of nerds, Nerdnite transcends the tired images of nerds of old, giving the title of nerd more of a universal significance. “A nerd is really someone who has a fascination about a topic that transcends the passing interest of your average person,” stated co-chair of Nerdnite Austin, Dan Rumney. “You can be a nerd about anything; indeed, everyone is a nerd about something.”

Nerdnite scorns all superficial characteristics of the nerd. Instead of pocket protectors and taped glasses, Nerdnite christens all who carry some sort of deeply obsessive knowledge or interest in them as nerds.

“The idea that it requires certain items of clothing or mannerisms is clearly ridiculous. All it requires is a level of curiosity that is an innate part of being human,” said Rumney.

Even though the drinking and presentations are the goals, this monthly event seems to be something more altogether: Nerdnite is the democratic utopia that nerds have been dreaming of since the invention of the wedgie.

“Nerdnite is all about providing an arena for people to share their passions,” adds Rumney. “Our presenters have really thought about their interests and place them within a broader context. It’s the act of sharing that with others that is the fascinating and most important part.”

In addition to booze and information, nerds, and the rest of us, usually require one last thing: love. The folks at Nerdnight are trying their hands at a once-a-month Speed Dating event. Offering straight and gay speed-dating nights, the singles in Nerdnite’s dating pool offer a fresh alternative for those who are tired of the dolts on OkCupid.

“The people who attend Nerdnite are innately interesting. I know that is a highly biased viewpoint, but to elect to spend your evening listening to people talking about Chaucer, economics, computer science, epidemiology, etc., you’ve got to be a pretty well-rounded, thoughtful person,” said Rumney. “We are looking to add this same thoughtfulness to the drab world of dating.”