What's the difference between a trekkie and a trekker?

[Carcazoid]

The Wormhole wrote:

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Trekkers are Trekkies who are uptight and snooty.

[CorporalClegg]

Greg Cox wrote:

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The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

And ultimately akin to squabbling over whether someone is wearing a "cap" or a "hat."

[Greg Cox]

The Wormhole wrote:

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Trekkers are Trekkies who are uptight and snooty.

Great. Now I'm visualizing Margaret Dumont (the snooty grande dame from the old Marx Bros. movies) as a Trekker:

"I'm sure I don't know what a 'Trekkie" is . . . ."

[R. Star]

As far as I can tell the only tangible difference is in the last two letters. The rest is just in people's heads.

[kirk55555]

The Wormhole wrote:

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Trekkers are Trekkies who are uptight and snooty.

GSnail wrote:

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Trekkies are fans.
Trekkers are people who are ashamed of star trek.
I'm not ashamed.

I agree with both of these statements. Trekker has always sounded pretentious to me. I'm a Trekkie, and proud of it.

[Greg Cox]

CorporalClegg wrote:

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And ultimately akin to squabbling over whether someone is wearing a "cap" or a "hat."

That's a beret, damnit! Only losers wear caps!

[Neutral Zone]

A state of mind - both are nerdy and devoid of reality ... so I fit the bill.

[Timewalker]

GSnail wrote:

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Trekkies are fans.
Trekkers are people who are ashamed of star trek.
I'm not ashamed.

I most certainly am not ashamed of Star Trek, or the fact that I've been a fan for nearly 37 years. I call myself a Trekker because:

1. It's a more dignified word;

2. A "trekker" is somebody who is actually doing something. A trekker is going somewhere, even if only in his/her own mind, conscience, or outlook on life. A trekker can be said to be an explorer, either in the outside world, or within his/her own consciousness.

Greg Cox wrote:

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The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

I would never presume to tell any other fan that he/she is a "Trekker" if they prefer the other word. All I ask is that you/they accord me the same courtesy.

[CorporalClegg]

Greg Cox wrote:

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That's a beret, damnit! Only losers wear caps!

Greg is a hipster. I never knew.

[Greg Cox]

Timewalker wrote:

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I would never presume to tell any other fan that he/she is a "Trekker" if they prefer the other word. All I ask is that you/they accord me the same courtesy.

Oops. I guess I was unclear with my pronouns there. I wasn't talking about telling somebody else that they're really a Trekker.

I was poking fun at the idea of taking pains to explain that "no, I'm a 'Trekker,' not one of those embarrassing Trekkies," which is just going to baffle most people.

Sorry about the confusion.

[T'Girl]

Trekkies, they are the people who helped keep Star Trek on the air for a third season (for better or worst). Formed Star Trek fanom. Went to the first of the conventions (which both of my parent say were more fun). Kept Star Trek alive through the seventies, so we could have movies and follow on series............... Loathsome little creatures.

[Greg Cox]

[QUOTE=Timewalker;6925403]
1. It's a more dignified word/[QUOTE]

Eh, dignity can be overrated. (Says the guy who has already cited the Marx Bros. and Monty Python in this thread.)

Personally, I prefer a more irreverent attitude . . . but that's just me.

[bbailey861]

I have always been a Trekkie....but I think that is more because of age than anything else. I was a Trekkie before 'Trekker' was coined and I saw no need to change.

As for The Marx Brothers, as soon as I read that I started singing (really).....Lydia, oh Lydia..Say have you met Lydia...

[Relayer1]

Greg Cox wrote:

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Or the People's Front for Judea?

I thought we were the Judean Peoples Front ?

[Nerys Myk]

[Bobcat]There's more white meat on a Trekker[/Bobcat]