Something important has been lost in our online world.

Decades ago, if you wanted to make connections, form friendships, or exchange ideas, you had to do it in person. There was no other practical way. Those gatherings happened in what sociologists call the “third place”—somewhere that is neither home nor work, but a neutral space in between. A bar. A coffee shop. A church. Places where people could relax, talk freely, and simply be around one another.

In the age of social media, much of that has been displaced. Electronic communication makes it effortless to connect and share ideas, but it is not the same as an open-ended, face-to-face conversation. The informal social spaces that once supported those interactions have been neglected.

That is why I created Nerd Nebraska: a place for people who consider themselves nerds in one way or another—creatively, technologically, or socially—to connect, talk, and get to know one another in a casual setting.

I saw the need for this shortly after COVID. The pandemic delivered a heavy blow to face-to-face conversation, and years later many of the venues that closed never reopened. It is time to start rebuilding those connections. It will require returning to some old-fashioned habits of in-person communication, and it may not be easy. But I believe it is worth the effort.

I am not entirely sure how this will work online at first, but I am willing to create a platform—or at least a central place—where people can find information, arrange meetings and meetups, and learn how to get involved.

I hope you’ll join me as we try to reengage in the conversation.