Star Trek stigmatised

[gazomg]

I know in Ireland and Britain if you say you are a fan of StarTrek there is some sort of stigma.

This notion of trekkies/ trekkers being some spotty teenager, virgin, nerd or all three or whatever is the common portrayal.

And this mockery comes from the same sheep that find "entertainment" in reality tv, the last refuge of the braindead.
Is this stigma the same where you live ?

 

[sojourner]

Not so much these days in the U.S. Ever since Bill Gates and Steve Jobs made being nerds cool, saying you like trek has become socially acceptable.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I know in Ireland and Britain if you say you are a fan of StarTrek there is some sort of stigma.

This notion of trekkies/ trekkers being some spotty teenager, virgin, nerd or all three or whatever is the common portrayal.

You forgot fat.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

 

[MacLeod]

I know in Ireland and Britain if you say you are a fan of StarTrek there is some sort of stigma.

This notion of trekkies/ trekkers being some spotty teenager, virgin, nerd or all three or whatever is the common portrayal.

And this mockery comes from the same sheep that find "entertainment" in reality tv, the last refuge of the braindead.
Is this stigma the same where you live ?

As opposed to say some sports fans (the minority I know), who have been known in the past to riot when their team losses.

 

[marksound]

I know in Ireland and Britain if you say you are a fan of StarTrek there is some sort of stigma.

This notion of trekkies/ trekkers being some spotty teenager, virgin, nerd or all three or whatever is the common portrayal.

And this mockery comes from the same sheep that find "entertainment" in reality tv, the last refuge of the braindead.
Is this stigma the same where you live ?

You shoulda been around in the 60s and 70s.

 

[Therin of Andor]

As opposed to say some sports fans (the minority I know), who have been known in the past to riot when their team losses.

Beat me to it. And can quote endless lists of historical scores of grand finals. And dress in their idols' costumes. And put on funny makeup and coloured wigs. And blow stupid plastic horns.

If anything, "Star Trek" fans who worry too much about being perceived and stigmatized as freaks, geeks or nerds, seem to attract that kind of reaction.

It's also possible to laugh it off and just keep on going.

Spend some time with passionate dog competition entrants (see the movie "Best in Show"), university computer geeks ("Revenge of the Nerds"), hairdressers ("You Don't Mess with the Zohan"), models ("Zoolander"), "Star Wars" fans ("Fanboys"), or sportspeople ("Dodgeball", "White Men Can't Jump", "Cool Runnings", "Slap Shot") and you'll see enough parallels.

When you're really passionate about something, it can look really bewildering to outsiders. And people tend to bully other people they do not relate to, because it is seemingly empowering to them.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I've always found the tipping point to be fandom itself. As in it's fine to really like a tv show and own all the dvd's of it but once you are participating with other people in your love you're hardcore man. And as such open to some mockery, light hearted or otherwise.

 

[Count Zero]

These same sad little people that live shallow lives seems to think a person who has enjoyed star trek is some kind of freak.

This is an attitude one sometimes see among Trek fans and it always makes me laugh. You complain about prejudices against Trek fans by spouting prejuidces against other groups. Being a sports fan doesn't mean you live a shallow life. It isn't a contradiction to being a Trek fan, either, by the way, as illustrated by the fact that this board has a sports section. So, the "fat guy in a football jersey" you look down on might be a Trek fan, too.

Generally speaking, I always find it ridiculous when people who define their group by a hobby or a fandom look down on others who do the same but have different interests.

 

[T'Girl]

And this mockery comes from the same sheep that find "entertainment" in reality tv, the last refuge of the braindead.

See, you're doing it too.

When you're really passionate about something, it can look really bewildering to outsiders.

But if you wear your TNG uniform down to the courthouse, it can get you out of jury duty.

 

[Admiral Bear]

There seems to be a rapidly decreasing Star Trek fanbase in the UK judging by attendances at the very few cons the UK has had over the last 10 years, and IMO that's no bad thing. A lot of Trek fans in the UK are people you could easily look at and think "overweight, ugly, socially excluded, few bricks short of a full load" etc etc, and that's because a lot of them are. They're not people you want to try and have a rational conversation with about anything, nor meet at night down a dark alley. But that also equally applies to British Doctor Who fans and the nasty cosplaying teenagers who, having ruined UK events, are far more like religious zealots and utterly intolerant of everyone else who doesn't like that they like.

In short, a great many of these people make a very large rod for their own back.

 

[Kelthaz]

And this mockery comes from the same sheep that find "entertainment" in reality tv, the last refuge of the braindead.

you get sports like football in the uk where fat out of shape middleaged men go around in football jerseys with their name on the back as if they were in the team.
These same sad little people that live shallow lives seems to think a person who has enjoyed star trek is some kind of freak.

but I would not ridicule them publicly or laugh at them when they say they love football or whatever.

Yeah, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you being a Star Trek fan has nothing to do with the negative reaction you're getting from people. Generally speaking adults don't give a fuck what other people do with their lives, so as long as you're not being all judgemental and annoying about your hobbies nobody will give you a hard time.

 

[Forbin]

As opposed to say some sports fans (the minority I know), who have been known in the past to riot when their team losses.

Beat me to it. And can quote endless lists of historical scores of grand finals. And dress in their idols' costumes. And put on funny makeup and coloured wigs. And blow stupid plastic horns.

The response I always get when I bring this up is "Yeah, but sports are REAL things, Star Track isn't!"

 

[iguana_tonante]

Is this stigma the same where you live ?

Not really. Star Trek is only on the sidelines of public consciousness in Italy, and it's not particularly associated with any stereotype. People will think you are weird if you tell them you are a Star Trek fan, but the stereotype of "fat, pimply, basement-dwelling nerd" is simply unknown (except only, ironically, from US movies and tv series).

 

[MacLeod]

I think the issue is that it is laregly accept by the general populance to be a sports fan, whilst being a fan of a TV esp. Star Trek is looked down on. The argument why is it acceptable to be a sports fan but not a Star Trek fan. There should be no difference between the TV.

I might not support a Football team, but I respect peoples right to support any team they like with critising them for doing so. All I ask in return you respect my right to be a fan of this.

If you look at ST as a whole we have 5 TV shows, sure we can support one show more than another, but by and large aside from maybe a bit of name calling from time to time. We don't engage in riots when the result doesn't go our way.

 

[Kelthaz]

I am speaking more about how I see others slag or ridicule people who say they like trek, as opposed to anything that was ever aimed at myself.

I apologize then. I misunderstood your post.

As for your question, I can't say I've ever seen anything like that happen. Sure, I might get some friendly teasing by my friends about my MLP fandom, but that's not the same thing. I've never seen an adult treat someone differently because of what TV shows they watch as long as that person was relatively normal.

 

[trek_futurist]

You're alright in the U.S as long as you make it abundantly clear that you only like trek for space battles and to see Kirk get the girl.

Otherwise, if you take its vision of humanity seriously, you're definitely stigmatized as a 'socialist' or someone who needs to 'get a life'.

Oh, you're also fine if ST 2009 is the only trek you like. Then you're considered cool, Macchio even.

 

[Admiral Bear]

You're alright in the U.S as long as you make it abundantly clear that you only like trek for space battles and to see Kirk get the girl.

Or if you live in San Francisco, see Sulu get the man.

Otherwise, if you take its vision of humanity seriously, you're definitely stigmatized as a 'socialist'

So that's why Patrick Stewart did 7 seasons and 4 movies, earning himself zillions of $ in the process. Mental reinforcement of what a great champagne socialist he is.

 

[sojourner]

You're alright in the U.S as long as you make it abundantly clear that you only like trek for space battles and to see Kirk get the girl.

Otherwise, if you take its vision of humanity seriously, you're definitely stigmatized as a 'socialist' or someone who needs to 'get a life'.

Oh, you're also fine if ST 2009 is the only trek you like. Then you're considered cool, Macchio even.

Ralph Macchio?

 

[JustKate]

As for your question, I can't say I've ever seen anything like that happen. Sure, I might get some friendly teasing by my friends about my MLP fandom, but that's not the same thing. I've never seen an adult treat someone differently because of what TV shows they watch as long as that person was relatively normal.

I agree. I get some good natured teasing, sure, but eh, so what? I can tease back, can't I? And do. So long as I don't act like a nut (and thus far, keeping a Romulan warbird as a decoration in my office has not branded me as a nut), people seem to assume I'm not one even if I like Trek. A lot.

I really do think most adults are at least somewhat cognizant of the fact that just about everyone, including themselves, is odd in some way or another, and they are therefore fairly forgiving of minor foibles.

However, I ought to point out that not everybody becomes an adult at the same age. So it could be that some guy (it is usually, though not always, guys) who's 30 going on 15 would think less of me even as he's getting a Yankees logo tattooed on his neck, but I could not possibly care less.