How has Star Trek impacted your life?

[Kilana2]

Star Trek made me collecting Trek novels, more than my little apartment can bear. There are some great stories among the books that gave me food for thought.
I wanted to read about the characters we all came to cherish, like Spock, Kira and several others.

 

[SCE2Aux]

I have a cynical/depressive streak in me which Star Trek helps to counteract.
It's nice to see lots of people in this thread who enjoy the shows for similar reasons.

I live in an area that has a lot of social and economic deprivation relative to the rest of the country. I'd like to think that Trek has had a hand in encouraging me to do something about it, and reach out where I can.

It has also been an outlet for creativity, something which has given me a great deal of enjoyment.

 

[Riker'sMailbox]

It hasn't impacted my life. I enjoy watching it, I enjoy talking about it, but that is it.

It may be because I only got into it in the last few years, when I was 39. It played no role in my relationships, my formative years, my hobbies. But, I certainly do enjoy it.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Star Trek has allowed me to out myself as a colossal nerd. Nowadays, it's cool if you like Star Wars, MCU, DC, Game of Thrones, whatever. But, in school, in the 80s and 90s, if you identified yourself as a Star Trek fan, there was a 99% probability you were getting your ass kicked. When the JJ Abrams films came around, and everybody loved them, it was safe to identify as a Trek fan. And now, I'm able to talk (publicly!) about Trek, Wars, Thrones, whatever!

 

[Rasmussen]

I think it impacted me when I was a kid. And subsequently the more or less the idea of multiculturalism, science and exploration as ideals and sometimes philosophical reflections certainly shaped a part of me. I remember very clearly how my Mom always said: "How can you watch these ugly aliens." as I respondend: "They are not ugly, just different."

I have to say, I still take some idealism in regards to the future out of Star Trek. But (again, Sorry) DSC has become somewhat a perversion of this, since it seems to reflect the current state of american societal conflicts which are beeing fought on an extremely superficial us vs. them level from both sides.