The Doctor, and You...

[Veediotgamer]

I had just written something in an other thread about confidence and my liking of the Doctor's trend-setting abilities. That is when I got to thinking, how has the Doctor effected my life since I was introduced to him nearly a year ago.

We have heard so much about The Doctor's Companions and what he has done for them in their lives, but few ask about his most infamous companion... You. So, how has The Doctor affected your life? Or is he just an other character in a show? Does he inspire you? Does he bring out certain qualities in you, or does he have qualities that you would like to adopt? What do you admire about the Doctor? ... In short, how has the Doctor influenced you, his most loyal companion?

 

[Kelthaz]

Well it gives me something to do for about an hour a week. I also have a burning desire to dress up as the Fourth Doctor for Halloween or a convention. Other than that, meh. It's just a TV show.

 

[Cutter John]

Its provided me with a show I can get excited about and a fan community I can feel a part of. And like anime, its educated me about life outside the good ol' US of A. Some differences, but basically the same.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

^ I agree... I really enjoy getting a little dose of British culture in my sci-fi! Even tracked down some Jelly Babies to help with the experience....

 

[Veediotgamer]

I have to admit that I have been quite taken by The Doctor. Some would say I have tried to integrate several of his personality traits (The universal ones) into mine. However, to the contrary, I have been searching for similar qualities I already possess. The Doctor has helped me to accent my more Whoish Traits.

I have always been a tad whimsical, so it's no wonder I associate myself closest to 2, 9, and 11, with hints of 10. Life, however, has this ability to force you to be very serious at times, and so I have taken a more silent approach to such situations. I have always done this, but I think it's been more noticeable since I've been evaluating the Doctor's Personality.

I have also been described as Arrogant at times, and Narcissistic beyond belief. I used to dislike these features, but since seeing a character such as the Doctor having them, has actually caused me to embrace them. Now, I do learn from my mistakes at times, and I don't use every situation to say, "Oh, that's Doctorish!" or "I'm Doctorish", but I am more accepting of myself now.

I suppose if I have gotten anything from The Doctor that was "out of the way" it would be that I am a little more straight forward now, and far more adventurous. I take more time to be whimsical and amusing toward others to brighten their day (much as The Doctor does for me) and I tend toward doing good and finding the bright side to things a lot more than I have done in the past.

Yes, The Doctor has "helped" me a lot. But I count his traits among other Fictional Characters that I attribute to myself, such as Mal Reynolds (Firefly), Rigel (Farscape), and Captain Kirk (Star Trek). The thing is, when I tend to have more in common with Villians, I feel I have a need to associate with Heroes.

 

[Anachronus]

I am definitely like the first doctor.
I flub my lines a lot and tend to hide a blistering intelligence behind an air of absent mindedness.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I am definitely like the first doctor.
I flub my lines a lot and tend to hide a blistering intelligence behind an air of absent mindedness.

I'm like the 6th Doctor. Can't match clothes to save my life. And I have a tendency to shout at people around me.

Oh. And I kill Cybermen. Fucking cybermen.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I have an affinity for sonic screwdrivers and there are certain times when I come across as "Doctorish."

 

[Theodore Jay Miller]

I wrote a bunch of humorous articles for the newsletter of a Doctor Who fan club, so it stimulated my creativity.

 

[Trubinator]

I obviously love the 11th Doctor and Amy Pond. Beyond that, as other posters have said, it's a TV show. It shouldn't rule your life ...

 

[Cyke101]

Just curious, but where's this thread on the Doctor's trend-setting abilities? I ask because I had a similar notion running through my head. Ever since Topman opened up here in Chicago, I've seen more people dressed up as or evoking Eleven (the oddest thing was seeing someone dressed up pretty much in all Eleven-clothes but of a different color scheme... at an outdoor concert... on a 90 degree day, complete with bowtie and tweed jacket). Could they be inspired by him or is the Doctor ahead of his time? And other questions. But I've thought that even starting as far back as Troughton, the designers of the Doctor's wardrobe have tended to take current fashion trends into account.

 

[Veediotgamer]

I have noticed that The Doctor does take current trends into account. But I do not believe that The Doctor conforms. I believe he takes what is kinda out there and evolves it. It's like people wearing retro-90s in America today. It wasn't cool back then, but someone wearing it now is popular. Trend-setting is easy to pull off if you have confidence and can take criticism.

Also, I would argue that The Doctor does not control our lives, no more than Criton or Han Solo, but it is human nature to see the best in others and to incorporate those traits into ourselves making us more than Human.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Doctor I am most similar to is the first one. An old, cranky guy who dresses in black.

I guess I just like the fact that the First Doctor is conservative and stodgy. He takes things SERIOUSLY. Which would appear to make him - and perhaps the Third, whom I also like, though not quite as much as the First - unique amongst Doctors! (The other ones are all far too happy-go-lucky for my tastes. One of my most pettest of peeves is when people don't take anything seriously...)

 

[Satyrquaze]

The Doctor has taught me to be more accepting my own nerdiness/geekiness, and not try and hide it as I do with other guilty pleas-- *ahem* hobbies.

I'm always able to say that I was into Star Trek before it was "cool" (this time around at least), but I didn't trumpet it like I might with Doctor Who.

 

[Cyke101]

I have noticed that The Doctor does take current trends into account. But I do not believe that The Doctor conforms. I believe he takes what is kinda out there and evolves it. It's like people wearing retro-90s in America today. It wasn't cool back then, but someone wearing it now is popular. Trend-setting is easy to pull off if you have confidence and can take criticism.

I don't think he conforms either, but from a production standpoint, I'd say the designers take some things (particularly the most trendful things) into account. So there's a difference between how the Doctor dresses himself, and how the production crew and the actor choose to dress the character of the Doctor. (in particular, I'm well aware that Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith had quite a lot of input into their suits, so that helps partially explain their Doctors' look).

And in my mind, I would have loved to see Diane Keaton from Annie Hall be the Fourth Doctor's companion because of similar bohemian tastes.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I have noticed that The Doctor does take current trends into account. But I do not believe that The Doctor conforms. I believe he takes what is kinda out there and evolves it. It's like people wearing retro-90s in America today. It wasn't cool back then, but someone wearing it now is popular. Trend-setting is easy to pull off if you have confidence and can take criticism.

You do realize... it's not the Doctor. He's not a real person. It's the costume designer in consultation with the Producer and the actor....

Also, I would argue that The Doctor does not control our lives, no more than Criton or Han Solo, but it is human nature to see the best in others and to incorporate those traits into ourselves making us more than Human.

More than human? Erm. Ok.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Last year, I came up with a make-shift 4th Doctor costume (including a discarded scarf from the Gap and a long brown coat purloined from my friend's Full Metal Alchemist costume). I'm usually never very comfortable with what I'm wearing. I always feel like I'm bringing down the average coolness of my wardrobe merely by wearing it. But when I'm in that 4th Doctor costume, I feel much more comfortable and confident. I think it mostly comes down to wearing long coats, something which I almost never get the opportunity to do since I live in Arizona.

 

[Veediotgamer]

I have noticed that The Doctor does take current trends into account. But I do not believe that The Doctor conforms. I believe he takes what is kinda out there and evolves it. It's like people wearing retro-90s in America today. It wasn't cool back then, but someone wearing it now is popular. Trend-setting is easy to pull off if you have confidence and can take criticism.

You do realize... it's not the Doctor. He's not a real person. It's the costume designer in consultation with the Producer and the actor....

Also, I would argue that The Doctor does not control our lives, no more than Criton or Han Solo, but it is human nature to see the best in others and to incorporate those traits into ourselves making us more than Human.

More than human? Erm. Ok.

Oh, a Flamer! I've heard of them. Tell me, do you people... And yes, I mean "you people" really eat salt for breakfast to help them taste the bitterness of their own lives? Oh, I do pity you, you are ever so silly.

 

[Veediotgamer]

Anyway... Yeah, I am working on my own costume idea, but basing it only on The Doctor's look, not a mimic of a previous Doctor.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I have noticed that The Doctor does take current trends into account. But I do not believe that The Doctor conforms. I believe he takes what is kinda out there and evolves it. It's like people wearing retro-90s in America today. It wasn't cool back then, but someone wearing it now is popular. Trend-setting is easy to pull off if you have confidence and can take criticism.

You do realize... it's not the Doctor. He's not a real person. It's the costume designer in consultation with the Producer and the actor....

Also, I would argue that The Doctor does not control our lives, no more than Criton or Han Solo, but it is human nature to see the best in others and to incorporate those traits into ourselves making us more than Human.

More than human? Erm. Ok.

Oh, a Flamer! I've heard of them. Tell me, do you people... And yes, I mean "you people" really eat salt for breakfast to help them taste the bitterness of their own lives? Oh, I do pity you, you are ever so silly.

Seriously? You people? You honestly think that was flaming? YOUR post is closer to flaming than mine.

I'm sorry if I don't want to play along with your "idea" that the Doctor is a real person. It's a TV show. One that I have watched for MUCH longer than you have. I'm quite happy in my life actually, a life which doesn't require taking on the characteristics of fictional characters to get by.

Good luck with your costume.