"One of the most frightening things about your true nerd, for may people, is not that he's socially inept - because everybody's been there - but rather his complete lack of embarrassment about it"

This quote by Neal Stephenson talks to the special nature of a true geek. While many individuals can relate to feeling socially inept sometimes, the real nerd is not embarrassed by it. This can be a frightening thing for lots of people, as it is not something that is frequently seen. The true nerd is unashamed of their absence of social skills and is comfortable in their own skin. This can be daunting to those who are not as positive in themselves, as it is a reminder that they might not be as secure in their own identity. The true nerd is a suggestion that it is fine to be various and to accept one's own quirks and peculiarities. It is a pointer that it is fine to be socially uncomfortable and to not be humiliated by it.