The Trekkie Conundrum

[El_Citrus]

I've been a Trekkie my whole life. Never could escape it. Growing up in Virginia though, especially central, rural Virginia, I never really let anyone see just how much of a fan I was and still am because of how much I'm already perceived as being weird. I don't feel ashamed to know that I can name a TNG episode in an average of about five seconds of seeing the episode, either the title or the plot. I'm working on owning every season of TNG and DS9 and already own all the movies, and I absolutely loved the new movie. Not a complaint from me. The "Trekkies" on the other boards are quite embarassing, afraid of change and mainstream success. Personally, I'd love to be able to freely express my love of Trek here in rural Va. I'd love to be able to discuss this new Trek casually with people and maybe even be lucky enough to find a few Trekkies like myself along the way.

EDIT: Also, as a Trekkie, I giggle that the new movie is being discussed in three different parts of the SHH boards that I know of thus far.

 

[Majic Walrus]

That's why my default answer is usually "seen some of the movies"

See that's what I hate though. If you're a fan of Star Trek even if you don't really venture out past the movies or series but you've seen watched or enjoyed more than just one series or one movie than you're a fan. You're a Trekkie or Trekker if you prefer. I don't think people should be ashamed.

Ha! That's exactly why I gave up on being cool a long time ago. Whenever someone asks me if I like Star Trek, I respond "Everything but Voyager, Enterprise, and about half the movies. Okay, fine, maybe Voyager."

When people ask me if I like Star Trek I tell them the truth, "I love Star Trek! I'm a complete Trekkie."

I've been a Trekkie my whole life. Never could escape it. Growing up in Virginia though, especially central, rural Virginia, I never really let anyone see just how much of a fan I was and still am because of how much I'm already perceived as being weird. I don't feel ashamed to know that I can name a TNG episode in an average of about five seconds of seeing the episode, either the title or the plot. I'm working on owning every season of TNG and DS9 and already own all the movies, and I absolutely loved the new movie. Not a complaint from me. The "Trekkies" on the other boards are quite embarassing, afraid of change and mainstream success. Personally, I'd love to be able to freely express my love of Trek here in rural Va. I'd love to be able to discuss this new Trek casually with people and maybe even be lucky enough to find a few Trekkies like myself along the way.

I grew up in southern West Virginia and now I live in rural Virginia. Growing up there weren't many Trekkies and even my geekier friends still weren't "that geeky". It was really just me and my dad that were die hard fans. I never really cared to get into the "Expanded Universe" if I could call it that... The online RPGs the technical manuals and omnipedias or the video games or the books until I went to a convention.

My dad didn't dress in costume but I did and there was a whole community of normal people that just liked Star Trek a lot. They were telling jokes and having fun and no one was ashamed. (Although in hind sight some people had a reason to be ashamed. )

EDIT: Also, as a Trekkie, I giggle that the new movie is being discussed in three different parts of the SHH boards that I know of thus far.

Star Trek wins.

 

[piccolo]

Thanks for the spoiler.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

Will edit.

 

[BlackLantern]

well Majic, I think there is a line between enjoying something and calling yourself a fan of it....I enjoy Trek but I wouldn't watch it over a game or another movie that might be on at the same time

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I've always ranked the level of fanboyism in a tier like this... with Trekkies being pretty much the highest level... and i'm rating these by extremities. Just because your a fan of a group doesn't mean your really as extreme as everyone else...

The Worst
1) Trekkies
2) D&D players/WoW players/LoTR/ and Renaissance fair fans

(the top 2 get the highest on the list, because there followers not only dress up, go to conventions, and take extreme steps of actually living the life style, but they also learn there own language)

The at times pretty ridiculous
3)Anime fans
4)Star Wars fans
5)Comic Book fans
6)Twilight Fans
7)Xbox gamers

The not so bad
8)Harry Potter fans
9)Dr. Who fans
10)Joss Whedonites
11)Indy comic book fans

 

[BlackLantern]

I can agree with that list

 

[piccolo]

I don't. Twilight fans by definition should be #1.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I've always ranked the level of fanboyism in a tier like this... with Trekkies being pretty much the highest level... and i'm rating these by extremities. Just because your a fan of a group doesn't mean your really as extreme as everyone else...

The Worst
1) Trekkies
2) D&D players/WoW players/LoTR/ and Renaissance fair fans

(the top 2 get the highest on the list, because there followers not only dress up, go to conventions, and take extreme steps of actually living the life style, but they also learn there own language)

The at times pretty ridiculous
3)Anime fans
4)Star Wars fans
5)Comic Book fans
6)Twilight Fans
7)Xbox gamers

The not so bad
8)Harry Potter fans
9)Dr. Who fans
10)Joss Whedonites
11)Indy comic book fans

I put Anime and Star Wars fans to the top of that list. Anime fans not only dress up like their characters of choice but they also devote themselves to modifying their interactions and lifestyles to embrace Japanese culture.

Star Wars fans have formed a pseduo-religion out of being a Jedi. Really I could go into more detail but is there really a point?

Also I think I've seen everyone of those fanboys dress up as their characters.

Dressing up like Captain Kirk when you're in your mid twenties... Weird. Harry Potter.... Down right bizzare.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I put Anime and Star Wars fans to the top of that list. Anime fans not only dress up like their characters of choice but they also devote themselves to modifying their interactions and lifestyles to embrace Japanese culture.

Star Wars fans have formed a pseduo-religion out of being a Jedi. Really I could go into more detail but is there really a point?

Also I think I've seen everyone of those fanboys dress up as their characters.

Dressing up like Captain Kirk when you're in your mid twenties... Weird. Harry Potter.... Down right bizzare.

there 3 and 4 on my list because of those reasons. Pseudo religions and life style living is something the 1 and 2 spots in some ways do as well... but they top the list because they go to the trouble of learning Klingon and Elven, practicing there rituals and fighting styles as well... all in which no one else but fellow fanboys can know or understand. That is indeed why they are the top of the list.

 

[Immortalfire]

Every mega Star Wars fan I've seen, is ten times worse than even the absolute geekiest Trekker.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

Every mega Star Wars fan I've seen, is ten times worse than even the absolute geekiest Trekker.

sorry.. in terms of who'd a girl would probably sleep with more.... rubber ears vs han solo space cowboy outfit.... there gonna go with the han... hell even a storm trooper uniform, least the helmet would hide the acne.

not to mention the star trek movies are also not nearly as critically acclaimed as the Original Trilogy is... by the likes of AFI and such, and also have a wider audience of a fanbase. Majority of men have seen star wars, and majority of those men enjoyed it growing up... now they might not be a fanboy, but i think those numbers are a much higher quality then those of star trek.

this generation, things like star wars, teenage mutant ninja turtles, back to the future, ghostbusters, etc... are almost considered "cool" and "in things" for people to like... not be obsessed with, but know about and enjoy.

 

[JStorm]

sorry.. in terms of who'd a girl would probably sleep with more.... rubber ears vs han solo space cowboy outfit.... there gonna go with the han... hell even a storm trooper uniform, least the helmet would hide the acne.

True meaning to "we kept our masks on. . ."

I think the name holds a certain stigma, as well.

Star Trek = Trekkie
Star Wars = being called a Jedi/Sith - possibly nothing
Comics = Fanboy
Movies = Movie buff
Twilight = Brittany
Sci-fi = I got nothing


Point: Out of all the names, I think "Trekkie" holds the most contempt. It even sounds like a swear. Even when one calls another a Trekkie, in context it sounds harsh: "Oooooh, you're a Trekkie?!!"

Conversely, "Ooooh, you're a fanboy?!!"

I don't know - maybe being a fanboy, this day-in-time, is 'cooler' than a Trekkie. Possibly, the new Star Trek will turn that around.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

True meaning to "we kept our masks on. . ."

I think the name holds a certain stigma, as well.

Star Trek = Trekkie
Star Wars = being called a Jedi/Sith - possibly nothing
Comics = Fanboy
Movies = Movie buff
Twilight = Brittany
Sci-fi = I got nothing


Point: Out of all the names, I think "Trekkie" holds the most contempt. It even sounds like a swear. Even when one calls another a Trekkie, in context it sounds harsh: "Oooooh, you're a Trekkie?!!"

Conversely, "Ooooh, you're a fanboy?!!"

I don't know - maybe being a fanboy, this day-in-time, is 'cooler' than a Trekkie. Possibly, the new Star Trek will turn that around.

Just because a revamp makes something look cool and is interesting... doesn't really change the history or stigma i don't think. I highly doubt wearing rubber ears and multi colored pajamas will ever be "cool"

 

[piccolo]

sorry.. in terms of who'd a girl would probably sleep with more.... rubber ears vs han solo space cowboy outfit.... there gonna go with the han... hell even a storm trooper uniform, least the helmet would hide the acne.

haha I love how thats the criteria for which group of crazed fanatical fanboys are bigger losers. "Ok, which one would a girl be less repulsed by sleeping with?"

 

[JStorm]

Just because a revamp makes something look cool and is interesting... doesn't really change the history or stigma i don't think. I highly doubt wearing rubber ears and multi colored pajamas will ever be "cool"

Yeah.

Poor Trekkies.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

haha I love how thats the criteria for which group of crazed fanatical fanboys are bigger losers. "Ok, which one would a girl be less repulsed by sleeping with?"

isn't that always a big one? lol.

 

[Majic Walrus]

there 3 and 4 on my list because of those reasons. Pseudo religions and life style living is something the 1 and 2 spots in some ways do as well... but they top the list because they go to the trouble of learning Klingon and Elven, practicing there rituals and fighting styles as well... all in which no one else but fellow fanboys can know or understand. That is indeed why they are the top of the list.

This is true. Learning Klingon was probably the biggest waste of time in my entire life.

sorry.. in terms of who'd a girl would probably sleep with more.... rubber ears vs han solo space cowboy outfit.... there gonna go with the han... hell even a storm trooper uniform, least the helmet would hide the acne.

not to mention the star trek movies are also not nearly as critically acclaimed as the Original Trilogy is... by the likes of AFI and such, and also have a wider audience of a fanbase. Majority of men have seen star wars, and majority of those men enjoyed it growing up... now they might not be a fanboy, but i think those numbers are a much higher quality then those of star trek.

this generation, things like star wars, teenage mutant ninja turtles, back to the future, ghostbusters, etc... are almost considered "cool" and "in things" for people to like... not be obsessed with, but know about and enjoy.

I wouldn't necessarily say that the Star Wars movies are more critically acclaimed. Check out the awards that Star Trek has been nominated for: http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek's_awards_and_honors I think that they are at least on equal levels if not Star Trek being a little bit more critically acclaimed.

Also I would much rather bone an Orion Slave girl than Priness Lea ANY day.

 

[JStorm]

This is true. Learning Klingon was probably the biggest waste of time in my entire life.



I wouldn't necessarily say that the Star Wars movies are more critically acclaimed. Check out the awards that Star Trek has been nominated for: http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek's_awards_and_honors I think that they are at least on equal levels if not Star Trek being a little bit more critically acclaimed.

Also I would much rather bone an Orion Slave girl than Priness Lea ANY day.

That's like choosing She-Hulk over Amidala.

 

[C. Lee]

That's like choosing She-Hulk over Amidala.

Some guys like big girls......

 

[JStorm]

Some guys like big girls......

And green.


The Orion girl in the new Star Trek, the girl playing the Orion Slave Girl scared me.


That is all.

 

[C. Lee]

And green.


The Orion girl in the new Star Trek, the girl playing the Orion Slave Girl scared me.


That is all.

Shes in the new GI Joe movie too....maybe she'll scare you again...

 

[spideyboy_1111]

This is true. Learning Klingon was probably the biggest waste of time in my entire life.



I wouldn't necessarily say that the Star Wars movies are more critically acclaimed. Check out the awards that Star Trek has been nominated for: http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek's_awards_and_honors I think that they are at least on equal levels if not Star Trek being a little bit more critically acclaimed.

Also I would much rather bone an Orion Slave girl than Priness Lea ANY day.

i'm just sayin.... AFI is kinda a big deal... and Star Wars makes the list.. Trek does not. plus none of the star trek movies ever won an academy award.

 

[EdRyder]

This is true. Learning Klingon was probably the biggest waste of time in my entire life.
.

Is that a joke or do you really understand Klingon?

 

[Majic Walrus]

That's like choosing She-Hulk over Amidala.

Not at all. Orion women have the ability to manipulate their pheremones to make you fall madly and passionately in lust with them.

i'm just sayin.... AFI is kinda a big deal... and Star Wars makes the list.. Trek does not. plus none of the star trek movies ever won an academy award.

I can agree with that but I put Wars and Trek in different categories anyway. I don't think that Star Trek ever intended to be an epic fantasy like Star Wars. I think that it was always intended to be a more classical science fiction.

Is that a joke or do you really understand Klingon?

Sadly I do understand an Denis Okuda version of Klingon and can speak it. There are very loose grammatical rules and the language is very simple to learn if you're good with languages.

 

[Manic]

Ick. You know, at least hardcore anime geeks learn to speak a real language. I have absolutely no respect for usage of the Klingon "language."