Star Trek escapism can really make a difference. . .

[Who_Trek]

This takes me back to my high school days -- Only I added Dr. Who to the mix. I was a button-covered, scarf-wearing nerd and proud of it (still am, for that mattter...), and reaped the bullies because of it.

Plum: I never though of ST as comfort food, but you're right, it is. Optimistic comfort food at that. ST makes me feel that the world is going in the right direction.

 

[Balrog]

Star Trek has always been escapist for me in some way. I watched TOS when I was a kid but didn't really get into the message behind the cool space stuff until high school.

The lives of many close people around me in turmoil. It was then I began hearing TOS' message about a more optomistic kind od future. When I felt abandoned by some I thought were friends, I found comfort in the close friendships held by the Enterprise crew and then created them in my own life. Star Trek got me through, gave me hope, and showed me I could be strong through adversity.

 

[Eagle]

Having the occasional Trek marathon can be great too - even more so when sharing with friends with a couple of six packs open .

 

[Eagle]

CommanderRaytas said:
Eagle : glad you like Heroes, too. I've been driving everybody mad with it, but hey, at least I'm not driving everybody mad with ST XI at the moment (or my exams). It's a change.

All hail the great escape!

I'm eagerly awaiting season 2 of heroes . As for Trek XI, I check on the news section everyday mainly because I want to see the new Enterprise design although the plot can remain a secret until I go so it at the cinema.

 

[Eagle]

Lloyd_Dobler said:
Then I felt abandoned by some I thought were friends, I found comfort in the close friendships held by the Enterprise crew and then created them in my own life. Star Trek got me through, gave me hope, and showed me I could be strong through adversity.

Great to hear more thoughts on this, thanks everyone . But this part of Lloyd_Doubler's post is something I want to comment on. A couple of people I thought were close friends moved on when I left high-school - in-fact one of them moved on during my last year of school because he couldn't understand my interest in Trek. Yet there were two other people in my year that I knew of who also watched Trek - one used to borrow his uncle's VHS tapes and they never got picked on or had there interest questioned like I did. I've been lucky to meet other people since who don't have a problem with it though, I guess I had some immature "friends" at the time. Speaking of immaturity I think they thought I was immature for watching a show "aimed at kids" in their minds but at least I wasn't making an ass of myself by trying to act cool and fail miserably .

 

[Balrog]

Eagle said:
Having the occasional Trek marathon can be great too - even more so when sharing with friends with a couple of six packs open .

I used to do this regularly about 15 years ago. Beer, pizza and Star Trek. Very fun. And I was just thinking that I need to do this again sometime soon.

Used to also have a party right before going to the openning of the new Trek movie. Did it for Star Trek II, III, IV, V, VI and Generations. Unfortunately, Generations not only killed Kirk, it killed that tradition too.

 

[Balrog]

Sorry to hear about those so-called "friends", Eagle. Not cool at all. In my case, it wasn't Trek that caused friends to bail. They were just being a-holes.

 

[FalTorPan]

Star Trek: The Next Generation was great escapism for me. Its final season ended within one month of my high-school graduation, so in a way, the show is synonymous with my childhood.

I met most of my current friends several years ago through Trek-based fan clubs. Although I'm not active in fandom these days, I'm still in touch with many of my Trek/sci-fi friends.

 

[Ktrek]

Eagle,

Your post really moved me and reminded me of the power of Star Trek.

I grew up in the 1960's and saw the very first episode of Star Trek. My parents had divorced a couple of years earlier and even though by 1966 I had a new father I never could relate to him, or he to me for that matter. I was a very "inward" person and did not display my pain openly. I fell in love with Star Trek from it's premiere with The Man Trap and followed it faithfully. My Stepfather would only allow the kids a couple of shows every week to watch and I wanted to see Star Trek. He thought it was stupid but he let us watch Star Trek and Batman.

I saw every TOS film as they came to the theater and was thrilled when it was announced a new Star Trek series was in development. I was skeptical at first because I was not sure that Roddenberry could do it again and TOS still held such a warm place in my heart. However, I stuck with the show and I'm glad I did as by the end of the second season I was hooked.

Shortly after DS9 premiered my wife of 17 years wanted a divorce. I was devastated! I had really no friends and no place to turn for comfort and support. It just so happened that TNG was being shown everyday while I was at work and TOS as well. I started recording those shows and watched my Star Trek every single day for three years until I met my current wife.

I met my current wife when I placed an ad in the newspaper stating that I had three passions...Christ, Classical Music and Star Trek. Her co-worker convinced her to call me because she thought we had a lot in common and we did! That was almost 13 years ago. My wife loves Star Trek almost as much as I do but isn't involved in the fandom side the way I am. I have always loved connecting with others who shared my love for the show/s.

Star Trek helped me immensely during those three years after my wife and left and before I met my current wife. It did indeed help me see that there was hope even when my world was falling apart. I will be forever thankful and grateful for what Star Trek has added to my life.

I no longer watch Trek every single day like I used to but it still has an important role and place and my wife and I watch something Star Trek at least a couple times a week and we work through all the movies once or twice a year.

There are very few TV shows IMHO, that can give hope and healing the way Star Trek can.

Kevin

 

[misskim86]

so touching

 

[Eagle]

Lloyd_Dobler said:

Eagle said:
Having the occasional Trek marathon can be great too - even more so when sharing with friends with a couple of six packs open .

I used to do this regularly about 15 years ago. Beer, pizza and Star Trek. Very fun. And I was just thinking that I need to do this again sometime soon.

Used to also have a party right before going to the openning of the new Trek movie. Did it for Star Trek II, III, IV, V, VI and Generations. Unfortunately, Generations not only killed Kirk, it killed that tradition too.

Sounds like a fitting thing to do - I used to watch all the previous movies right before going to see the latest one in the cinema. I will probably do the same before Trek XI.

 

[Eagle]

Lloyd_Dobler said:
Sorry to hear about those so-called "friends", Eagle. Not cool at all. In my case, it wasn't Trek that caused friends to bail. They were just being a-holes.

Thanks . Seems to be a problem in adult life sometimes as well, but I guess in order to find good genuine people to have as friends you have to put up with a lot of a-holes first if you know what I mean.

 

[Eagle]

FalTorPan said:
Star Trek: The Next Generation was great escapism for me. Its final season ended within one month of my high-school graduation, so in a way, the show is synonymous with my childhood.

Although I finished High School in 1994, we were only part way through season 4 that year. Quantum Leap though was shown all the way through from my 1st year to the end of my 5th year before my exams.

 

[Eagle]

Ktrek said:
Eagle,

Your post really moved me and reminded me of the power of Star Trek. . .

Thanks for telling me your story - it's one of the reasons I started this thread so that others could do just that. Star Trek is a great way to pass the time when dealing with major life changes and it's great that Trek filled the gap until you found someone else to spend your life with - especially someone who likes to watch the shows along with you. I've just got over another nasty life experience and although I have watched Trek on and off throughout that I never watched it the way I did through high school. To be honest, my rationing of my viewings allows me to enjoy the show even more.

 

[Balrog]

Eagle said:

Lloyd_Dobler said:
Sorry to hear about those so-called "friends", Eagle. Not cool at all. In my case, it wasn't Trek that caused friends to bail. They were just being a-holes.

Thanks . Seems to be a problem in adult life sometimes as well, but I guess in order to find good genuine people to have as friends you have to put up with a lot of a-holes first if you know what I mean.

Oh yeah. I think it gets easier with age. Now if someone's an a-hole, I just move on. No time for that sh*t.

 

[Eagle]

Lloyd_Dobler said:
Oh yeah. I think it gets easier with age. Now if someone's an a-hole, I just move on. No time for that sh*t.

Exactly :thumbsup:.