Nerds

I don't understand why nerds are such an insult and a big thing these days. When I say something factual or something basic:

And usually the guy isn't even that smart. Even in French, usually when I say something basic in French, like 17- then basically the same thing happens up in the cartoon up there.
Bill Gates, one of the most successful people in the world, said this

I not saying be nice to just nerds- be nice to everybody- regardless of what they are.