For some reason, your average nerd often considers themselves to be a part-time economist. A nerd meeting an economist would likely attempt to argue out points, where you wouldn't do the same if you met a brain surgeon. It is just that type of field where you can pick up things in your 'spare time' and sound smart enough to hold a conversation. It must piss real economists off a lot .. (I couldn't imagine economists arguing about why RubyOnRails won't scale, but you see the opposite scenario - geeks/nerds arguing fine economic points, all the time)