I must say it is quite a nerdy pastime, but let's face it that's only a bad thing if you look like the guy who runs the comic store in the Simpsons.
I happen to be a Bowyer/Fletcher, spoon carver, botanist,mycologist, Traceur(practioner of Parkour), bilingual, Skater, Vocalist, Actor, video gamer, Archer extraordinaire. And I can cook.
My point is, here that I love this hobby, but I am in no way defined by it.
If that happens to be a nerd then so be it. Just another label to throw in my CV lol.
For some of my antics
http://wherethewildfoodfindsus.blogspot.co.uk/http://www.youtube.com/user/grungehog/videoshttp://beardyhardwoods.blogspot.co.uk/Show this to your friend see if he still thinks 'nerds' are uncool social recluses who spend their time like troglodytes arguing online about why jarjar binks is the worse thing to happen to Starwars.