Fanboy's TREKKIES

[RobertScorpio]

Just saw the movie FANBOYS this weekend. This is the real cool movie where four friends try to break into LUCAS Ranch and steal the Phantom Menace...The movie has some "Star Trek" aspects, including William Shatner himself.

But more importantly is the image of Star Trek fans, as portrayed in this movie. And, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is the 'concensus' of the rest of the world when they think of a "star trek" fan.

Star Wars fans have always been percieved to be a little more hipper than us. Its just the way it is. Its just the order of things.

This new Star Trek movie is going a long way to attracting, hopefully, a new wave of Trek fans. I know this because the past few times I have been to Target I have seen children (9-10) wanting to buy the Star Trek action figures. Oh, and yes, one of them was asking the Target dude if they had Kweenser. So bash that little dude all you want, but he is doing what he was intended to do..attract younger kids.

From FANBOY to THE BIG BANG THEORY, Star Trek fans are seen to be a little, well, off balance. Having been to many conventions, as Im sure some of you have been, I can't deny this label.

Where does this perception come from? And is it warrented. As a fan of Star Trek, which we all are I guess on this site, where did our public 'image' get defined as a bunch of dork-looking-Spock ear wearing-asexual humans? Is it fair? Is it etched to deeply into reality and can never be altered?

I guess I'm asking; why and how did Star Trek become so GOOBERISH??

Rob

 

[Anwar]

I think it was in the early to mid 90s, after TNG finished.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think it was in the early to mid 90s, after TNG finished.

I don't know...this gooberish perception of Star Trek started, I think, with the arrival of moder-TREK and the zillions of conventions that followed it. That to me is when TREK went real mainstream.

Shatner's GET A LIFE skit on SNL was, IMO, when it became apparent there was a disconnect between some of the fans and reality. Because even to this day he gets zinged by some of the fans for doing the skit. Where as I thought the skit was more revealing than it was comical.

But yeah...it does seem to have grown since the passing of TNG...and movies like INSURRECTION and NEMESIS didn't help either...

Rob

 

[Misfit Toy]

I think it was in the early to mid 90s, after TNG finished.

I think it was from local news coverage of any Trek convention. They always seek out the most outlandish types to "showcase".

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think it was in the early to mid 90s, after TNG finished.

I think it was from local news coverage of any Trek convention. They always seek out the most outlandish types to "showcase".

Ummm...yep. I lived up on LA for many years. And that Pasadena convention would happen every year. And every year the local FOX-TV sent teams out there to film the people in line. Some were okay. But every year they seemed to find that guy who dressed up like Spock, with a real cat on his shoulder, and looked very creepy.

Rob

 

[BrownShatner]

It probably goes back to the 1960s when Trek fans protested the original series cancellation. Star Trek was also the first television show to have a real fandom, as far as I know, so that's probably why trekkies are especially infamous.

Star Wars fans might have been perceived as a more hip when it first returned to the big screen. However by Episode III, the local news was very much "Hey look at these nerds dressed up like stormtroopers!", and a lot of the internet reaction was very much anti-star wars fanatic.

 

[RobertScorpio]

It probably goes back to the 1960s when Trek fans protested the original series cancellation. Star Trek was also the first television show to have a real fandom, as far as I know, so that's probably why trekkies are especially infamous.

Star Wars fans might have been perceived as a more hip when it first returned to the big screen. However by Episode III, the local news was very much "Hey look at these nerds dressed up like stormtroopers!", and a lot of the internet reaction was very much anti-star wars fanatic.

Yeah...but having said that? They don't look as nerdy as some of us do. I wonder who would win, STAR WARS or STAR TREK, with the most amount of nerdy looking fans. Somehow I think...we would.

Then again; one man's nerd is another man's han-solo

Rob

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think it simply became that way because Trekkies became such an easy target. It's pretty much been that way since the good old Babylon days. You find a certain social group that keeps to itself and start point your finger and laughing, get enough people to join you and suddenly the stereotype becomes the perceived truth.

I don't own a costume, I've never been to a con, I don't collect Star Trek related paraphernalia, and I don't seek out the actors for their autographs, but that doesn't mean I see myself as "better" as those who do. If that's why people wish to live their lives, then so be it and more power to them.

I know it's always brought up, but the old comparison to the sports "fanatic" is a valid one. I speak of course of the guys who participate in a dozen fantasy drafts each year, already have their '10 NCAA tournament brackets filled out and all 7 rounds of the '10 NFL draft mocked out, have a basement full of pennants, player jerseys, signed balls, player cards, baseball bats, soccer cleats, a set of Tiger Woods tournament balls, etc. This isn't anymore asinine, puerile, or frivolous than the Trekkie gig, except it's accepted as "cool."

Why? because the sports guy is generally one who works a blue collar job, is of average intellect and tries to stay below the beam. On the other hand, the Star Trek guy generally works a white collar job, is of higher intellect, and is a bit more outward with his hobby.

Now for various socio and physiological reasons not really relevant to the scope of this thread, the latter is a much more popular, and therefore easier, target. Also, there are simply more of the sports fans.

Likewise, there are more Star Wars fans than Star Trek fans. I don't think this is because it's "cooler," so much as it's simply due Star Wars being much better films.

And to be fair, there is more than enough ridicule and stigma of Star Wars geeks to go around too.

As far as the Fanboys movie, I think it was simply because it was made about Star Wars and the whole one v. the other thing was just used as a cheap plot device.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think it simply became that way because Trekkies became such an easy target. It's pretty much been that way since the good old Babylon days. You find a certain social group that keeps to itself and start point your finger and laughing, get enough people to join you and suddenly the stereotype becomes the perceived truth.

I don't own a costume, I've never been to a con, I don't collect Star Trek related paraphernalia, and I don't seek out the actors for their autographs, but that doesn't mean I see myself as "better" as those who do. If that's why people wish to live their lives, then so be it and more power to them.

I know it's always brought up, but the old comparison to the sports "fanatic" is a valid one. I speak of course of the guys who participate in a dozen fantasy drafts each year, already have their '10 NCAA tournament brackets filled out and all 7 rounds of the '10 NFL draft mocked out, have a basement full of pennants, player jerseys, signed balls, player cards, baseball bats, soccer cleats, a set of Tiger Woods tournament balls, etc. This isn't anymore asinine, puerile, or frivolous than the Trekkie gig, except it's accepted as "cool."

Why? because the sports guy is generally one who works a blue collar job, is of average intellect and tries to stay below the beam. On the other hand, the Star Trek guy generally works a white collar job, is of higher intellect, and is a bit more outward with his hobby.

Now for various socio and physiological reasons not really relevant to the scope of this thread, the latter is a much more popular, and therefore easier, target. Also, there are simply more of the sports fans.

Likewise, there are more Star Wars fans than Star Trek fans. I don't think this is because it's "cooler," so much as it's simply due Star Wars being much better films.

And to be fair, there is more than enough ridicule and stigma of Star Wars geeks to go around too.

As far as the Fanboys movie, I think it was simply because it was made about Star Wars and the whole one v. the other thing was just used as a cheap plot device.

Have you ever been to a STAR TREK convention? Have you ever waited in a line to see a Star Trek movie? Have you ever seen the BIG BANG THEORY?

Shatner's GET A LIFE skit was right on target; as was Crosby's Trekkies movie. Star Trek fans do have this strange stigma.

Rob

 

[Islander]

Trek being a bit more intelectual has always been associated with nerds and even if Wars also add such association, it also had a group of fans that classified more as stoners and they have been brought to a somewhat fame by different movies like Harold&Kumar, Jay&Silent Bob and Grandma's boy.

 

[barnaclelapse]

Al Gore was (still is?) a Trekkie, for God's sake.

What else do you need to know?

 

[Broccoli]

As far as the Fanboys movie, I think it was simply because it was made about Star Wars and the whole one v. the other thing was just used as a cheap plot device.

Yeah, judging straight from the trailer, that's what I suspect; showing one to be cooler than the other.

That is one of the reasons why I like the approach they took in the movie Free Enterprise. Though the movie clearly favored Trek, both franchises were looked upon as being equally cool and dorky.

 

[SFRabid]

I don't remember ever seeing a feature about a Star Wars fan building a star cruiser bridge in his basement.


I wonder how much is marketing and timing. When Star Wars came out Star Trek was already considered "for nerds." Star Wars was new and did not have the same connatation. The toys were marketed towards kids and parents never hesitated to buy those toys for their kids. Star Trek toys were grabbed up by adult fans but were never really a marketing success for parents who were not Star Trek fans. It never fostered a new generation of Star Trek fans and collectors.

 

[Anwar]

Also, Star Wars is just a straight up adventure series that just happened to be set in a sci-fi setting. And the scope and scale of the stuff they were doing had never been done for a big-screen audience at the time. It appeals more to the kiddies and such.

 

[RobertScorpio]

As far as the Fanboys movie, I think it was simply because it was made about Star Wars and the whole one v. the other thing was just used as a cheap plot device.

Yeah, judging straight from the trailer, that's what I suspect; showing one to be cooler than the other.

That is one of the reasons why I like the approach they took in the movie Free Enterprise. Though the movie clearly favored Trek, both franchises were looked upon as being equally cool and dorky.

But in reality? Star Wars, at least IMO from my generation, has always been cooler...TREK has always been seen to be nerdy...

Rob

 

[CaptJamesScott]

meh, I've never cared what other people think. Maybe we are a little weirder than Star Wars fans, but thats because Star Wars is a completely different type of story, based more on action and special effects than on the human condition and progress. As a fan of both, I can tell you both have interesting fans

 

[BrownShatner]

But in reality? Star Wars, at least IMO from my generation, has always been cooler...TREK has always been seen to be nerdy...

I think for most of Generation X, Star Wars was just those great movies you grew up with. The fandom aspect didn't really take hold until the younger generation got into the prequels and the whole expanded universe materials.

Wikipedia had some massive editorial battles over Star Wars fanon leaking all over the place - they finally got rid of most of it, but it was far worse than the Trek articles. There's some real hardcore SW nerds out there.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Have you ever been to a STAR TREK convention? Have you ever waited in a line to see a Star Trek movie? Have you ever seen the BIG BANG THEORY?

Have you ever been to a football game? Have you ever waited in a line to see a football game?

Have you ever been to a "Best in Show" dog show? Have you ever waited in a line to see a dog show? Have you ever seen the movie "Best in Show"?

The irony of "Fanboys" is that the SW fans were just as geeky as the ST fans, but they just didn't realise it.

 

[Balthier the Great]

Have you ever been to a STAR TREK convention? Have you ever waited in a line to see a Star Trek movie? Have you ever seen the BIG BANG THEORY?

Have you ever been to a football game? Have you ever waited in a line to see a football game?

Have you ever been to a "Best in Show" dog show? Have you ever waited in a line to see a dog show? Have you ever seen the movie "Best in Show"?

The irony of "Fanboys" is that the SW fans were just as geeky as the ST fans, but they just didn't realise it.

Oh that's nothing -- have you ever seen an Otaku or been to an anime convention? I dunno, I don't mind them, except for the lolis and the furries. And I wish they'd stop making anime pornos. /thread

 

[M.Robison]

meh, I've never cared what other people think. Maybe we are a little weirder than Star Wars fans, but thats because Star Wars is a completely different type of story, based more on action and special effects than on the human condition and progress. As a fan of both, I can tell you both have interesting fans

I agree completely, I grew up (I am 32) with a love for both ST and SW, but as I think back and look at old family photos Trek had MUCH more of an impact. I know I used to build cardboard starships alot, and TOS phasers and communicators also out of cardboard had Trek pj's (Still do).

But I can remember being called a nerd because I liked Star trek.