Silly question of the day...

[Tosk]

So you're saying Star Trek is not worthy of veneration?

 

[CorporalClegg]

One has nothing to do with the other.

But yes, I do think some fans revere things (not just Trek) a bit too much.

 

[Tosk]

One has nothing to do with the other.

Doesn't it? I followed one of your links.

Iconic: 1 Relating to or of the nature of an icon:
Icon: 2A person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration:

 

[Masiral]

Do you see said definition on any of the following pages?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/iconic?s=t

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/iconic

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/american-english/iconic

https://www.google.com/#q=iconic

I bet you won't find it in any reputable hard copy dictionary either. Most importantly, you won't find it in the OED.

Merriam Webster being a conservator to the English language a long time ago. It's more a brand name now. It's notoriously lax in its criteria, often accepting vernacular and idiomatic definitions--as noted by its recent inclusion of coincidental irony and the oh-so common misuse of "literally."

So by citing it as your once source, you've basically proved my point for me.

The misuse of "literally"...
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literally

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/literally

https://www.google.com/search?q=literally&gws_rd=ssl

"Ironic"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ironic?s=t

Also, the word "Muggle", a fictional word from the Harry Potter series, is in the OED. I don't see how Merriam-Webster is any less reputable, when the other dictionaries you cite are doing the same thing.

People use the word way too much. The problem is, when everything is iconic, nothing is.

There are only a couple of things in contemporary pop culture that truly pass the initial smell test: Mickey Mouse and maybe Superman. And even then it's iffy.

Yes, words get overused. But it seems like you're going too far in the other direction and underusing them.

 

[Set Harth]

So it was a continuation?

Yes.

There's a black storm trooper!

There may have been many black stormtroopers in the OT for all we know. We didn't get to see what they looked like under the armor.

Star Trek is a reboot, hence the new look. The Force Awakens is a continuation, hence the familiar look.

Of course, my local paper insisted on calling SW:TFA a reboot. Star Wars and journalism don't mix.

 

[DWF]

I'm sure the JJ Abrams directed Ep. VII is sure to anger somebody just give it time.