I really wish that Star Trek were relavant with the Youth today.

[LOKAI of CHERON]

F**k 'em. What are their culturally enriched alternatives to Trek? Ridiculous obsession with adversarial sport? Vacuous, empty, corporate, teenage "music" no-one will give a shit about in a couple of years. The X-Factor/American Idol/Britain or America's Got Talent? High quality, thought provoking "reality" TV - choke!

 

[iguana_tonante]

If the unwashed masses you associate with can't recognize its greatness, then leave them be and move on.

The flaw isn't that the show isn't relevant. The flaw is in those who don't get it.

The people who don't "get" or like Star Trek are not the "unwashed masses", nor are they flawed.

Get off your high horses.

Sometimes I think the attitude of the "true believers" is the source of a large part of the stigma attached to Star Trek fandom.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

Really, if nobody else likes ST in your area it's their loss. More power for you to laugh at them for being such losers. Hah!

 

[CaptJimboJones]

If the unwashed masses you associate with can't recognize its greatness, then leave them be and move on.

The flaw isn't that the show isn't relevant. The flaw is in those who don't get it.

The people who don't "get" or like Star Trek are not the "unwashed masses", nor are they flawed.

Get off your high horses.

Sometimes I think the attitude of the "true believers" is the source of a large part of the stigma attached to Star Trek fandom.

QFT. Some of the comments in this thread are a testiment to that fact.

 

[indranee]

Live your life on your own darn terms! You've got to find things that are inspirational to you, and that can be Star Trek, or any number of other things, or a combination of many things; and all of those different things that you like ultimately define who you are. Don't pour water on something inspirational just because other people don't understand why you like it; and remember, you're never the only one out there who has similar feelings or interests about something.

Trust me, if anybody has a hobby/interest that makes for odd conversations and uncomfortable social implications, it's me! I've been a hobby micronationalist and fan of Nazi & WWII history for years now, and it's pretty important to me. There are plenty of people out there who wouldn't "get" my interests, and might even get judgmental about it. At some point though, I realized that my interests are more important than some arbitrary social measuring stick.

If your peers can't handle someone who isn't mainstream, they probably aren't worth having as friends; and if you're worried about not being able to find friends because of your specific tastes, don't. It's better to have no friends, or very few of them, than to wind up compromising on your individualism just so that you can gain a spot at the party.

I used to have a Wal-Mart manager who was a Next Generation fan. He once got on the overhead/intercom and said "Woop! Woop! Red Alert!" instead of "Attention Associates". I guess I just shared that little bit as a hearty example of the fact that Star Trek fans are probably more common than you realize. Trek on.

for the entire post.

 

[indranee]

If the unwashed masses you associate with can't recognize its greatness, then leave them be and move on.

The flaw isn't that the show isn't relevant. The flaw is in those who don't get it.

The people who don't "get" or like Star Trek are not the "unwashed masses", nor are they flawed.

Get off your high horses.

There is a certain special quality to Trekkies though. Every time I talk to one, I feel it.

 

[RandyS]

If the unwashed masses you associate with can't recognize its greatness, then leave them be and move on.

The flaw isn't that the show isn't relevant. The flaw is in those who don't get it.

The people who don't "get" or like Star Trek are not the "unwashed masses", nor are they flawed.

Get off your high horses.

Sometimes I think the attitude of the "true believers" is the source of a large part of the stigma attached to Star Trek fandom.

It can be a double edged sword, no doubt about it. But I've often found that it was the "Trek Haters", for lack of a better term who drew the first blood. Many younger fans either don't know, or more likely don't remember the late 60's and early 70's, when Star Trek fans were considered weird in the extreme, not just by their peers, but by William Shatner himself. For some reason that has never been explained, people just look down on Star Trek fans.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

But I've often found that it was the "Trek Haters", for lack of a better term who drew the first blood. Many younger fans either don't know, or more likely don't remember the late 60's and early 70's, when Star Trek fans were considered weird in the extreme, not just by their peers, but by William Shatner himself. For some reason that has never been explained, people just look down on Star Trek fans.

There's no question that there are a lot of jerks and bullies out there who are irrationally abusive toward Trek fans. And they're obviously in the wrong.

But the OP was talking about his friends, and his efforts to convince them that Trek is awesome despite the fact that they were vocal about not liking it. So I assume this type of abusive behavior isn't the case there.

And if it is, well, he just needs to find some new friends who aren't assholes.

 

[Warped9]

And it's easy to see how things get taken out of context. No one is saying non fans are flawed per se, but for whatever reason they don't get Star Trek. It doesn't connect for them just as some folks don't get connected to sports.

For the longest time until about twenty years ago I just couldn't get into sports. Now I can appreciate some of it but most notably hockey (hey, I'm Canadian).

And as someone else upthread already said you and your friends don't all have to be into the same thing. Find friends that are into things you like for when you want to delve into those things with someone. They key issue, though, is that just as you should respect that others mightn't be into the stuff your into in turn they should respect that you are into some things they're not interested in. If not then you need different friends.

 

[Nerd unRage]

I would imagine some of the stigma of being younger (makes me feel old saying that at 30) and liking Star Trek is probably because it's sci-fi. I would dare say sci-fi fans have kind of always been on the fringe of society with maybe one exception of Star Wars but even then, people still make fun of their fans. Another reason, is when you are a teenager, anything you like that isn't with "in" crowd is poo-pooed which is just silly. I've never felt like fitting in with other people (sometimes it got lonely that way) but the older I get, the more I meet that are into the same oddball things I'm into. I'm also noticing I'm more willing to try new things and being comfortable standing out from the crowd. It makes me unique and wonderful.

Keep liking what you like and realize there are varying degrees of interest in those things and they will change over time. Oh, and live long and prosper.

 

[Warped9]

When young some can be awfully quick to ostracize those that can seem a little different. It could be part of a desire to want to fit in and be like "everyone" else so make fun of anyone thought out of the mainstream. And yet doesn't that kind of fly in the face of many people wanting to be thought of as unique from others and to get noticed? Doesn't really make much sense, does it?

I felt somewhat ostracized when I was younger and not just for liking Star Trek. As I got older I got more comfortable in my own skin and cared ever less about what others thought. And in tandem I found others to be more considerate, more accepting and less judgmental of me and my interests.

 

[Paradon]

Well, if you asked me, I don't think there is anything wrong with being a Trekkie. It's better than being obsess with drugs and becoming addicts or joining the gangs, or doing god knows what to other people. People should find a hobby they enjoy that doesn't involve killing other people or themselves. A hobby really does give people a greater sense of purpose.

 

[Terengo]

One thing that Star Trek always represented for me was a positive attitude towards the future, and I think today's youth could really use some of that. Among a lot of young (and not so young) people I encounter, the idea that the future could actually be better than the past (in Star Trek's post-scarcity economy, a lot better) is almost inconceivable.

 

[Paradon]

Yes, it really does help viewing the future with positive attitude, but also, let's not loose sight of what is going today either. I think the world is better than what it was centuries ago...even in the third world countries people live longer than they were before.... It's possible to achieve peace if everybody speaks out and stand against injustice...that's what we should encourage people to do. People in countries with oppressive government should know they don't have to put up with them and really get together and overthrow them.

 

[iguana_tonante]

It can be a double edged sword, no doubt about it. But I've often found that it was the "Trek Haters", for lack of a better term who drew the first blood. Many younger fans either don't know, or more likely don't remember the late 60's and early 70's, when Star Trek fans were considered weird in the extreme, not just by their peers, but by William Shatner himself. For some reason that has never been explained, people just look down on Star Trek fans.

I don't think there were "Trek Haters" in the way you mean it, and especially not at that time. There were bullies, intent on a game of power and aggression, preying on the timid, the nerdy, the loner, the daydreamer, types that for one reason or another tended to gravitate towards Star Trek and other stories. So, within a short time, Star Trek became a fast way to identify their preys, and the stereotype only grow from that.


As for Shatner and others, they weren't probably prepared to the obsessiveness of some fans, wrongly labelling the entire fandom due to these few people. Also, you shouldn't draw too much from one SNL sketch.

 

[Paradon]

Most of these people that talk crap about Trekkies and Trekkers are probably drug addicts and beat up their wives and children. Some of them probably turned out to be serial killers...! I'm kidding about that part....

 

[Temis the Vorta]

When I look at the nonsense that is relevant to the youth of today, I'm proud that Star Trek is not one of those things.

 

[Warped9]

When I look at the nonsense that is relevant to the youth of today, I'm proud that Star Trek is not one of those things.

Definately!

 

[BillJ]

I don't know if Star Trek isn't relevant...

I have three kids (16,13 and 3) and two of them love The Original Series.

 

[Paradon]

Some of these people that love talking smack about other people....if they don't win the arguments and nothing is going according to what they think, they tend to take it personally and make everything about you. Most of the time they bend the truth so much, it's not even true anymore.... It's ridiculous! I think everyone is obsess about something. Serial killers are obsess about killing people they see are evil.