Anyone else sick of Star Trek fans being called "geeks"?

[C.E. Evans]

So what we need is a name for the people who never watch Trek and wouldn't know Kirk from Janeway, like when Harry Potter fans call people Muggles.

I guess science fiction fans who make a big deal of hating Star Trek could just be called snobs. For people who hate all science fiction including Trek we need something else.

Mundanes

 

[David F. Weisma]

I think Piers Anthony and the Xanth community have reserved that.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Herbert.

 

[RandyS]

Herbert.

Since that's my first name (Randy is my middle name), I must take exception to this one.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Its canon.

 

[MacLeod]

Randy is not a good choice for a childs name in the UK.

 

[-SS-]

Vicious Savage Child (Race).

 

[Alrik]

Herbert.

Its canon.

I'm just shy of being tech savvy enough to be a geek, so I guess that makes me a nerd......my wife is the geek around our place.

Either way, to me its a badge of honor.

 

[MacLeod]

The Geeks run the world. We only let normal people think that they do.

 

[nightwind1]

For people who hate all science fiction including Trek we need something else.

Among most fen (at least in organized sf fandom), these are referred to as "mundanes".

 

[RandyS]

Its canon.

I never looked at it that way before.

You know what this means don't you? It means none of you can ever ignore me again.

I'm official.

I'M CANON!!!!

Now somebody bring me a Root Beer.....

 

[RandyS]

Randy is not a good choice for a childs name in the UK.

If it means the same in the UK that it does in the US, I've always considered that to be a compliment.

It's Herbert that embarrassed me.

Not now that I'm canon, of course.......

 

[scotpens]

The only drawback is having to bite a chicken's head off from time to time . . . .

And having to walk up to people and ask, "How does it feel to be such a freak?" and then handing them a bone.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

As for big budget special effects movies, non-fans believe in going to that kind of "science fiction" film (including ST films) just to have a couple hours of fun. What they don't get and make fun of is people taking Trek seriously enough to form clubs, go to conventions, discuss it online, and "worst" of all, dress up in costume at cons. This makes non-fans assume that fans actually don't know that Trek isn't real. They're that ridiculously literal-minded about it sometimes. I think the cosplay shows a healthy tendency to take oneself less seriously, actually.

I had no idea until reading this thread that "geek" had any negative connotations.

I've always said though that it's fandom that gets the flack, not being a fan. People do respond negatively to conventions, cosplay etc.. I don't think this has anything to do with the word geek which is applied to people who don't even watch science fiction.

Anyway no I am not "sick of it" whether it's the negativity about fandom or the application of the word geek. I'm out and proud and if someone's going to be negative about my fandom activities I usually have a bit of fun with them at their expense.

 

[David F. Weisma]

Ok, unless anyone says otherwise, I'll accept that calling people mundanes is not a Xanth reference. I have nothing against mundanes, although I am a little concerned to see so many in positions of political power. I don't see how they can have much perspective on the long term future if they mock those who think about it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Ok, unless anyone says otherwise, I'll accept that calling people mundanes is not a Xanth reference. I have nothing against mundanes, although I am a little concerned to see so many in positions of political power. I don't see how they can have much perspective on the long term future if they mock those who think about it.

Not sure one should confuse Science fiction with the future.

 

[Count Zero]

I also think that most people in positions of political power really don't care about Sci-Fi fandoms of any kind.

 

[David F. Weisma]

.[/QUOTE]Not sure one should confuse Science fiction with the future.[/QUOTE]

Not all science fiction, but if you follow science fiction broadly, you can't avoid at least a passing glance at how our present actions might affect the future. Many though not all who don't follow SF do avoid any fleeting thought of the future beyond their lifetime and perhaps their childrens.

 

[David F. Weisma]

I also think that most people in positions of political power really don't care about Sci-Fi fandoms of any kind.

Which is exactly my point. I mean, some of my best friends are mundanes, but really!

 

[Greg Cox]

I also think that most people in positions of political power really don't care about Sci-Fi fandoms of any kind.

I would hope that sci-fans who found themselves in position of political power would have other things on their minds as well!