Why Do Trekkies Love To Nitpick?

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by Aike, May 11, 2010.

  1. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 10, 2005
    Location:
    Confederation of Earth
    The only thing I like to see Peeps do is this. :D
     
  2. caisson2delta

    caisson2delta Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2009
    Location:
    The South of Florida
    I would say it's because the vast majority of fans, that do nitpick, are more than just casual. They pay attention to what came before, are interested in the technology, and truly want to know the backstory of certain things presented. The nitpicking might help to justify their own sort of personal cannon, when the writers get things a little screwy.
     
  3. Luther Sloan

    Luther Sloan Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2010
    Location:
    Section 31 Headquarters
  4. barnaclelapse

    barnaclelapse Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    May 10, 2009
    Location:
    Waverly, VA.
    Exactly, and I think that's true of all dedicated fandoms.
     
  5. flemm

    flemm Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    May 8, 2009
    Off the top of my end I'd say the "nitpick" is a way of exerting control over something that the fan cares a lot about but has little to no control over.

    A lot of fan behavior can probably be explained by that basic dynamic, including the common "permenantly disgruntled fan" who loves a franchise but hates everything that is being done with it/has been done with it recently/has been done with it since X moment in the franchise's history.

    To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: "Each fan kills the thing he loves." Replace "kills" with "nitpicks" according to the severity of the syndrome.
     
  6. The Grim Ghost

    The Grim Ghost Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    May 29, 2007
    Location:
    Thee Olde Spook Shack
    I think it could have something to do with the long period of no new Trek after TOS.

    People loved this show so much, they watched and re-watched the TOS episodes. Soon they started to notice little mistakes of course, as you would in most shows if you watched them enough. And I think that turned into a tradition for the later shows.
     
  7. Pauln6

    Pauln6 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2009
    Location:
    Bristol, United Kingdom
    Because nitpicking is hilarious. The nitpickers guides are a fun read, especially as you can grade your own nerdiness by how many of them you'd spotted beforehand.
     
  8. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2004
    Location:
    Lancaster, PA
    It's not just a Trekkie thing. Trust me, comic book fans, TERMINATOR fans, UNDERWORLD fans, FARSCAPE fans, BUFFY fans, or whomever can get just as nitpicky . . . if not more so!
     
  9. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    Exactly. Nitpicking is the prevalent aspect of fanboy culture. It was there long before the term "fanboy" was coined.

    "I am fanboy/fangirl...hear me bitch."
    :guffaw:
     
  10. Pemmer Harge

    Pemmer Harge Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Location:
    Between the candle and the star
    Because they have no romance in their souls ;)
     
  11. Chrisisall

    Chrisisall Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Not so literal, dude!:rommie:
     
  12. plynch

    plynch Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2007
    Location:
    Outer Graceland
    because they are human beings
     
  13. Chrisisall

    Chrisisall Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Oh, and, like, Tellarites & Romulans are above that sort of thing...:vulcan:

    :rommie:
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2010
  14. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2001
    Location:
    The Wormhole
    ^^It's spelled Tellarite.
     
  15. Chrisisall

    Chrisisall Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    NITPICKER!!!!!!
    :rommie:
     
  16. Sector 7

    Sector 7 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2008
    Location:
    Rural North Carolina
    :techman::guffaw::rommie::bolian:
     
  17. Chrisisall

    Chrisisall Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    He's right though, I *did* spell it wrong.

    Crap. I'm picking my OWN nits now....
     
  18. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2001
    Location:
    The Wormhole
    Honestly, I thought you intentionally spelled it wrong, and were waiting for someone to point it out so you could accuse them of being a nitpicker. I decided I would do the honours.

    Yes, this is how my brain works.
     
  19. I am not Spock

    I am not Spock Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Australia
    Are you sure about that? We Trekkies are a particularly anal and observant type. Many other shows could well have just as much inconsistency, we just don't notice it as much.
     
  20. I am not Spock

    I am not Spock Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Australia
    Quoted for truth. We sci-fi fans, not just Trekkies, are an obsessive bunch, and we tend to dedicate a lot of our time to picking apart our chosen show/s of worship. Your average CSI Miami fan probably doesn't care too much about trivia. Who wrote what episode, whether Caruso said he had a brother in this week's episode, yet last week he was an only child, etc.