Are We Taking Trek Too Seriously?

[C.E. Evans]

To me, if you don't go to Star Trek websites, write multiple (and sometimes long) posts debating various aspects of Trek minutiae, and criticizing the creators for robbing your childhood, then you kind of realize that most of the world doesn't take Trek too seriously.

 

[MarkusTay]

Being a fan is great. Being a 'big fan' is good...

Being a 'rabid fan' is toxic, and hurts fandoms. Unfortunately, those tend to be the most vocal, who scream their opinions at anyone who will listen, so outsiders get the idea we're all loons. When a person can't separate reality from fantasy (TV. etc.) thats problematic, and its how a lot of this star-stalking happens. Those people need psychiatric treatment... in a facility...

That being said, I met Nichelle Nichols back in 1972... and then again in 2012.. and she remembered me. The first time was an accident, but the second time is one of my favorite stories, and I have a LOT of good ones. (I have sat in Picards actual real captain's chair LOL). You can be a 'big fan' and still be sane about it.

 

[Greg Cox]

I think there's a fine but crucial line between taking this stuff seriously and taking it too seriously.

Where exactly that line falls is harder to pin down.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

What "MarkusTay" and Mr. Cox said.

That being said, I met Nichelle Nichols back in 1972... and then again in 2012.. and she remembered me.

Met her once myself, in a Creation autograph line. She was clearly very tired, but willing to sign a few more autographs than her handlers wanted her to sign.

And I met James Doohan in an autograph line, and despite his fatigue and advanced age, he engaged the fans in smalltalk.

I think I spotted DeForest Kelley near the restroom; given that he was obviously tired, and probably there for the same reason I was, and that because of his advanced age and ill health, would not be signing in person, I declined to bother him, or even to confirm that it was him.

And I once met Pat Tallman, again in an autograph line. Given that her ST involvement was limited to stunts and (if I remember right) a single speaking guest appearance, she was (again, if I remember right) sharing an autograph table with Chase Masterson and Camille Saviola. And given that her B5 role was of a much higher profile, I told her one or two B5 jokes, which she apparently liked (e.g., "how many Vorlons does it take to change a lightbulb? Vorlons don't need lightbulbs; they could get jobs as lightbulbs").

And I've met writers. With the result that I have a copy of the "Phantasms" script, autographed by Brannon Braga: "It's only a dream." (I thought about celebrating with a piece of cellular peptide cake, but I don't care for mint frosting.)

Fans taking a television series seriously are a good thing. Their doing so can even help keep the people making the series honest. (Case in point, after Dr. Bialik had begun referring to the first round of Jeopardy! as "single Jeopardy" frequently enough to be irritating, and a relatively small number of fans complained [I found it downright grating, but held my tongue], she publicly apologized [even after somebody had pointed out that Trebek had done so a few times], and immediately banished the phrase from her vocabulary.)

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I think there's a fine but crucial line between taking this stuff seriously and taking it too seriously.

Where exactly that line falls is harder to pin down.

I think the line is somewhere around the point where a TV show is consistently making someone feel upset and angry.

 

[at Quark's]

To me, if you don't go to Star Trek websites, write multiple (and sometimes long) posts debating various aspects of Trek minutiae, and criticizing the creators for robbing your childhood, then you kind of realize that most of the world doesn't take Trek too seriously.

I think the first two (going to Star Trek sites and writing long posts about Trek minutiae are still fine, as long as they're just done for fun and relaxation. When those those minutiae are starting to get important to you in the sense that you get upset if someone sees those matters differently, that's becoming problematic.

I would generally draw the same line with any entertainment, for example with soccer fans. Enthusiastically supporting your team and spending hours debating football tactics is fine (even if you could perhaps have spent that time more productively). Getting really upset because your team lost is not.

 

[Oddish]

I think there's a fine but crucial line between taking this stuff seriously and taking it too seriously.

Where exactly that line falls is harder to pin down.

I think I'm over it, regardless.

 

[Ragitsu]

Is there a double standard? If someone is consistently happy with a show and isn't afraid to regularly express their elation, we don't (or at least, only rarely) tell them to "Stop being happy." and/or "It's only a show.". As for why someone with serious grievances would continue to contribute towards a disliked show's viewership? Maybe they're willing to give that creation a fair shake until the end of a season.

 

[fireproof78]

Stop being happy," and/or "It's only a show.". As

Believe me, I want to.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Star Trek is serious business!!!!!

STAR TREK is our business! It's what this board is about. It's why we participate here!

I think there's a fine but crucial line between taking this stuff seriously and taking it too seriously.

Where exactly that line falls is harder to pin down.

But you'll often find that line crossed right here... on this board.

 

[Oddish]

Some of us even admit it.

 

[BillJ]

Never!

 

[Jedi Marso]

There comes a point where things get out of hand.

I've witnessed arguments where fans have asked, "Why didn't they use X ship model from First Contact?"

Be very careful. You are on dangerous ground, blasphemer!

 

[Airmandan]

I think we take Trek as seriously as it takes itself. More recently Trek has tried to make itself very serious, hence all the bitter arguments on here. Probably why SNW is doing better amongst folks so far, It doesn't try to take itself too seriously.

 

[Oddish]

That also may be why Lower Decks is such a success.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

That also may be why Lower Decks is such a success.

And for that matter, Prodigy too.

 

[Danja]

That also may be why Lower Decks is such a success.

LD is slowly finding its way. It's doing a LOT more original material than it did in S1.

One of the producers described Prodigy as being heavily influenced by the Steven Spielberg movies of the 1980's. It's a much more straightforward adventure story than LD.

It's nowhere NEAR as self-referential as LD.

 

[Nyotarules]

Its not a matter of life and death, its more important than that..

 

[Greg Cox]

I think the line is somewhere around the point where a TV show is consistently making someone feel upset and angry.

That's kind where I fall. If the announcement of a new Trek project causes you more anxiety than anticipation, maybe you need to put things back into perspective and remember that, among other things, we're talking entertainment here. If we're not having fun, what's the point?

 

[fireproof78]

That's kind where I fall. If the announcement of a new Trek project causes you more anxiety than anticipation, maybe you need to put things back into perspective and remember that, among other things, we're talking entertainment here. If we're not having fun, what's the point?

Possibly because it becomes "the special thing that makes me special." Being a Star Trek fan was some times a pejorative. I think that wore on parts of the fan base who now take Trek as super serious business rather than remembering that enjoyment is the purpose.