Meh. The subsection of "nerds" that are nerds because they're so incredibly intelligent that they're just not compatible with normal society is insanely small.
Most are just weirdos that other kids shunned for some stupid reason, like they were chubby kids, had glasses, weren't good at whatever sports the other kids were into, their parents made them wear non-trendy clothes, they liked unpopular music, ... kids are stupid and kids are assholes. It doesn't take much for someone to fall through the grid.
With enough self-esteem a kid can recover from pretty much everything. I've always been fat, for example, but I was always a loud-mouthed clown so I never had much of a problem with other kids because of it.
(I'm a lonely, depressed mess now, lol, but back in the days...)
If you lack that, however, your self-esteem is going to take a plunge to even further lows and that's when things really get bad, especially later in school. If you don't present yourself as cool, you'll never be one of the cool kids. Obviously.
You're the outcast, the one who's kinda sorta friends with the other outcast weirdos...
Of course, while growing up, your parents won't tell you you're a loser with low social skills and your obsession with one shallow topic (like Star Trek, to pick a cliche) is boring to others. They'll tell you how special you are, how artistic and smart and that the other kids are just jealous.
If you're smart you see through it and know you're the same idiot as everyone else except you're not popular. If you're not you fall for this crap and develop misguided elitism, comparing yourself to the overall always stupid masses, or to douchebags
on a TV show about douchebags, for confirmation.
No offense if you, personally, are actually a highly intelligent brain of a man and you really, practically, can't be expected to socialize with the dummies around you! Although it begs the question why you wouldn't find other gifted folk, unless they're all too dumb for you too, in which case I, again, apologize.