If it helps: I was strongly discouraged and guided away from actually being a nerd throughout my upbringing. I found my way to nerdy interests and footnotes I’d visit later on my own from creative pursuits that were less discouraged.
Moving forward it's important to remember that mainstream films effectively doomed almost two decades of smart people to either closet nerd behavior or condemnation and ostracization.
Not dismissing your experience at all, but I want to make sure mine is represented accurately.
Most of the harmful attitudes I experienced towards nerds were very socially insular, in my family and among friends.