I’ve been asked many times — many times — if I watch CBS’ popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Obviously, people ask me this because it’s a show about nerds, and I’ve certainly been lumped into that category. However, I actually do not like the show at all. In fact, I find it incredibly annoying.

Specifically, I find the four main characters annoying. Sure, some of the show’s jokes have been funny, but it’s overshadowed by how irritating those nerdy bastards are. Now, I’ve known many nerdy people in real life. Some of them are extremely nerdy, but I’d like to think that they have some grounding in the real world. At most, I’ll shake my head or roll my eyes when their cup of nerdity runneth over. However, if the characters from Theory were real, their existence would drive me to the point of insanity. It’s completely impossible for them to separate fiction from reality, and I can’t stand shit like that. I understand that the show is designed to propagate and amplify a stereotype, but there’s a reason that stereotype is a negative one.

Case and point: the show’s popular among nerds because they secretly want to be those characters, or worse yet, are already very much like them. This is inherently dangerous. The guys on Theory are social misfits and complete losers; no matter how much the geek chic fad seemingly gains ground, guess what: a majority of the population finds people like that irritating. If you think Theory is only popular among nerds because they’re kindred spirits, think again: just as many people (if not more) watch Theory to laugh at, not with, that group of douchebags. Most folks’ tolerance is just at a different level than mine, as they likely don’t deal with many nerds in real life.

By way of comparison, let’s look at It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If I hate the nerds on Theory, why wouldn’t I hate the assholes on Sunny? The difference is that you’re supposed to hate Sunny‘s characters, and relish their misery when their mad schemes invariably fall apart. They’re horrible human beings, and that’s the allure of the show; you’re never supposed to empathize with them. Not so with Theory: the stars are total losers, but you are supposed to feel their pain. I don’t, as I can’t stand people like that in real life. Why should I enjoy watching fictionalized versions of them?

I don’t care how popular Theory is; as we all know, popularity does not necessarily equal quality. (Need I remind you how much money those godawful Transformers and Twilight films make?) The characters are more irritating than a rash, and that’s reason enough to avoid the show. There are better sitcoms out there with which to spend my time. Besides, if I want nerdy humor, all I have to do is drop by my friendly neighborhood comic book store. At least the material there isn’t scripted!