Captain Robau - unprecedented fan response?

[JarodRussell]

LOL, Captain Robau, the manifestation of the inferiority complex of Trekkies.

I think you're taking his popularity here almost too seriously. A fangroup that can poke fun at itself by creating their own meme can't possibly have an inferiority complex. It's called having fun dude, plain and simple.

Lest we forget all those times we ever thought that William Shatner could beat the Terminator in a fist fight, or that Kirk and Spock were the original modern slash-fiction characters.

Really, am I taking this too seriously?

Robau exuded dignity faced with impossible odds. He had composure, and the way he sacrificed himself was a testament to his character. To be killed by an ignoble adversary is not to surrender. To sacrifice oneself to steal a couple minutes time for the safety of your crew is not a failure. Robau and George Kirk died honorable deaths.

Unlike Pike he didn't exude any wholesomeness. He had a man of mystery quality to him. If he had been a regular character he would always be the one that never had everything revealed about him, a man with hidden qualities and potentials. He's the sort of character that it could be was really working for Starfleet Intelligence, or who had an alien grandparent or had experienced a great personal loss of a wife and children and yet never ever spoke of it. A man of mystery.

So, more interesting.

 

[Cyke101]

LOL, Captain Robau, the manifestation of the inferiority complex of Trekkies.

I think you're taking his popularity here almost too seriously. A fangroup that can poke fun at itself by creating their own meme can't possibly have an inferiority complex. It's called having fun dude, plain and simple.

Lest we forget all those times we ever thought that William Shatner could beat the Terminator in a fist fight, or that Kirk and Spock were the original modern slash-fiction characters.

Really, am I taking this too seriously?

Robau exuded dignity faced with impossible odds. He had composure, and the way he sacrificed himself was a testament to his character. To be killed by an ignoble adversary is not to surrender. To sacrifice oneself to steal a couple minutes time for the safety of your crew is not a failure. Robau and George Kirk died honorable deaths.

Unlike Pike he didn't exude any wholesomeness. He had a man of mystery quality to him. If he had been a regular character he would always be the one that never had everything revealed about him, a man with hidden qualities and potentials. He's the sort of character that it could be was really working for Starfleet Intelligence, or who had an alien grandparent or had experienced a great personal loss of a wife and children and yet never ever spoke of it. A man of mystery.

So, more interesting.

Yes, you. How does any of the above speak of an inferiority complex? If anything, teacake and urbandk are doing a character analysis, pure and simple. You can do that with anybody in fiction really... hell, that's why we've got such dedicated fanbases to Garak (a guy who needs a lot of examination) and Morn (a guy who requires almost none). This is also why some fans can be so forgiving of, say, Captain Harriman.

Seriously, if Robau isn't hurting you, if his fanbase isn't threatening you, then what's the problem? Telling them they have an inferiority complex is essentially no different than making fun of Trekkies by saying they can't get a date on a Saturday night. Solidarity! Viva la Trek!

 

[JarodRussell]

Seriously, if Robau isn't hurting you, if his fanbase isn't threatening you, then what's the problem? Telling them they have an inferiority complex is essentially no different than making fun of Trekkies by saying they can't get a date on a Saturday night. Solidarity! Viva la Trek!

Now I think you are taking the thing way too seriously.

 

[Cyke101]

Seriously, if Robau isn't hurting you, if his fanbase isn't threatening you, then what's the problem? Telling them they have an inferiority complex is essentially no different than making fun of Trekkies by saying they can't get a date on a Saturday night. Solidarity! Viva la Trek!

Now I think you are taking the thing way too seriously.

And you insulted them, simple as that: "inferiority complex" is a bit strong. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, no? But I would have to ask, why come into a thread to negatively diagnose an active group of fans here like that?

Viva la Trek! http://uploads.roddyinnovations.com/users/ITL/Robau_1.jpg

 

[Jeri]

Robau exuded dignity faced with impossible odds. He had composure, and the way he sacrificed himself was a testament to his character. To be killed by an ignoble adversary is not to surrender. To sacrifice oneself to steal a couple minutes time for the safety of your crew is not a failure. Robau and George Kirk died honorable deaths.

I think this is good; in fact, in addition to George Kirk, Robau is the guy Spock is talking about regarding the true purpose of the Kobayashi Maru test.

 

[JarodRussell]

Seriously, if Robau isn't hurting you, if his fanbase isn't threatening you, then what's the problem? Telling them they have an inferiority complex is essentially no different than making fun of Trekkies by saying they can't get a date on a Saturday night. Solidarity! Viva la Trek!

Now I think you are taking the thing way too seriously.

And you insulted them, simple as that: "inferiority complex" is a bit strong. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, no? But I would have to ask, why come into a thread to negatively diagnose an active group of fans here like that?

Viva la Trek! http://uploads.roddyinnovations.com/users/ITL/Robau_1.jpg

LOL. It rather seems I have only insulted you, since you're the only one making a fuzz over it.

 

[Cyke101]

Now I think you are taking the thing way too seriously.

And you insulted them, simple as that: "inferiority complex" is a bit strong. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, no? But I would have to ask, why come into a thread to negatively diagnose an active group of fans here like that?

Viva la Trek! http://uploads.roddyinnovations.com/users/ITL/Robau_1.jpg

LOL. It rather seems I have only insulted you, since you're the only one making a fuzz over it.

If that's how you choose to avoid the question, then sure, way to flake.

Look, I know you hate the film, but now you're just getting to the point where you're looking for reasons to hate the film now, beyond the common complaints. Now you're insulting a small subset simply because they're got a thread of Chuck Norris style jokes. Inferiority complex? Have we tried the superiority complex yet?

 

[JarodRussell]

*sigh*

I like that. Every time I say something sarky, almost EVERYONE ignores it, BUT ONE decides to make an elephant out of it. And eventually it's of course turned around so that I was the one who took it too seriously to begin with.

Well, frankly, I don't care anymore. But I'm sure someone, either Robau or M'Sharak, is soon going to rule in your favor.

 

[Cyke101]

*sigh*

I like that. Every time I say something snippy, almost EVERYONE ignores it, BUT ONE decides to make an elephant out of it. And eventually it's of course turned around so that I was the one who took it too seriously to begin with.

Well, frankly, I don't care anymore. But I'm sure someone, either Robau or M'Sharak, is soon going to rule in your favor.

Friend, a snippy remark at the expense of others is still an insult. You can't blame anyone for calling you out on that. And if it happens enough to the point where you yourself notice a pattern...

Also, I don't have the audacity to know if Robau will rule in my favor. This is why I offer the daily animal sacrifice! That's also why I smell of goat blood right now.

 

[JarodRussell]

Come on, I think you seriously need to put on a thicker skin. Especially when it comes to all the variations of the "Get a life, have you ever kissed a girl?" joke. Are you really feeling personally insulted when someone says that Trekkies never get laid?

Hundreds of various Star Wars vs. Star Trek dick size contests all over the web are evidence enough that either side has a complex and takes things too seriously. And it's like a fact that a guy wearing a Jedi robe is considered "rather strange fellow, but cool", and a guy wearing a Trek uniform is considered the ultimate geek.

 

[Cyke101]

Come on, I think you seriously need to put on a thicker skin. Especially when it comes to all the variations of the "Get a life, have you ever kissed a girl?" joke. Are you really feeling personally insulted when someone says that Trekkies never get laid?

And my response would be, do we really have to indulge in such behavior anyway? Why are we always ripping on each other rather than just letting people enjoy themselves? It's not an issue of how thick the skin is, it's an issue of how open can the mind get. The number of posts here in support of Robau is a pretty good sign of the open mind.

Hundreds of various Star Wars vs. Star Trek dick size contests all over the web are evidence enough that either side has a complex and takes things too seriously.

And again, do they need to be called out on that? It might not be something that you or I think is a good use of time, but they're doing something that they're passionate about. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

And really, the goat sacrifice joke didn't get to you? Well, at least I tried.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Robau exuded dignity faced with impossible odds. He had composure, and the way he sacrificed himself was a testament to his character. To be killed by an ignoble adversary is not to surrender. To sacrifice oneself to steal a couple minutes time for the safety of your crew is not a failure. Robau and George Kirk died honorable deaths.

BEAUTIFULLY said. I couldn't have expressed my feelings better than this!

 

[JarodRussell]

And again, do they need to be called out on that? It might not be something that you or I think is a good use of time, but they're doing something that they're passionate about. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Do we really need to taboo them? I make fun of roaring football fans, too.

 

[Cyke101]

And again, do they need to be called out on that? It might not be something that you or I think is a good use of time, but they're doing something that they're passionate about. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Do we really need to taboo them? I make fun of howling football fans, too.

I'm saying that about everybody, though. From your Trekkies to Otaku to Sport Nuts to Politicos to Fashionistas and everything between and beyond... live and let live is all I'm saying. Only when they start stepping on your toes (like calling out howling football fans who wake you up in the middle of the night) should you do something about it.

Now, if someone from the Church of Robau tried to forcibly convert you with blood sacrifice while chanting "George Kirk" over and over again, then yeah, you should voice your concern

 

[M'Sharak]

Time out.


Edit:

Reopening the thread. Could we please leave behind the baiting of specific fan groups and the rest of the personal stuff?

 

[M'Sharak]

Back on topic:

Looking around the internet following the latest Star Trek film, particularly Trek BBS, I've noticed an almost unprecedented response to the character of Captain Robau that is nothing short of phenomenal.

Can't help wondering what exactly illicited such a strong response from the Star Trek fandom, any one help me out here?

Certainly for a character who appeared on the screen for barely five minutes, how has Robau managed to achieve such a prominent position in the minds of fans?

I'd venture that for a minor character with only a few minutes of screentime the response is unprecedented.

Speaking only to what's been happening in this forum and on TrekBBS, here's the nutshell version: the time is early 2008, not a lot is yet known about the movie. Some of the cast is already known and there are some sketchy details available. Much speculation was in the air and the term "badass" was being much bandied about -- Kirk was going to be badass; Spock was going to be badass; the Enterprise was going to be... well, you get the picture.

Then came a casting announcement that Faran Tahir would be playing the character "Federation captain" and that he would not be the usual bumbling captain-who-is-not-Kirk we've all seen many times before. An interview with one of the filmmakers even contained the term "bad mother******" (or words to that effect) and many people thought that would be a good thing.

And then, finally, he had a name, and the "Facts About Captain Robau" thread sprang into being, a parody of the humorous "Facts about Chuck Norris" lists found around the internet. And it just sort of snowballed from there, being well underway more than a year before the movie was released. I think that this is a different sort of thing than pure fan response. As pointed out more than once in this thread, it was mostly for fun -- something to do while waiting for the movie and not to be taken any more seriously than warranted. It was kind of cool seeing an interviewer asking Tahir at the film's premiere whether he'd heard about all the "Badass Captain Robau" stuff, though.

As it turned out, we ended up with a character that a lot of people liked (but not Kpnuts, apparently) even given that we only saw him for a few minutes and he didn't make it out alive. Some people have also gone into detail about that, in this thread and elsewhere.

 

[Shazam!]

Unlike Pike he didn't exude any wholesomeness. He had a man of mystery quality to him. If he had been a regular character he would always be the one that never had everything revealed about him, a man with hidden qualities and potentials. He's the sort of character that it could be was really working for Starfleet Intelligence, or who had an alien grandparent or had experienced a great personal loss of a wife and children and yet never ever spoke of it. A man of mystery.

That's the strangest thing I've ever read.

 

[Cyke101]

Unlike Pike he didn't exude any wholesomeness. He had a man of mystery quality to him. If he had been a regular character he would always be the one that never had everything revealed about him, a man with hidden qualities and potentials. He's the sort of character that it could be was really working for Starfleet Intelligence, or who had an alien grandparent or had experienced a great personal loss of a wife and children and yet never ever spoke of it. A man of mystery.

That's the strangest thing I've ever read.

Says the poster with the Doctor for an avatar

 

[SilentP]

Unlike Pike he didn't exude any wholesomeness. He had a man of mystery quality to him. If he had been a regular character he would always be the one that never had everything revealed about him, a man with hidden qualities and potentials. He's the sort of character that it could be was really working for Starfleet Intelligence, or who had an alien grandparent or had experienced a great personal loss of a wife and children and yet never ever spoke of it. A man of mystery.

That's the strangest thing I've ever read.

True that. It's amazing what some people can read into an actor's performance. Not that I probably haven't at some point.

 

[Shazam!]

Says the poster with the Doctor for an avatar

Yes, says me.

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