Star Trek stigmatised
- Thread starter gazomg
- Start date
I think you guys have it wrong. It's not Star Trek itself that is stigmatized, it's us, the fans. We're depicted as out of touch with reality virgins who live in our parents basements, which, as I'm sure you know, is not true.
Well, mostly. There's probably one or two like that, who knows?
What I want to know is, why is it socially unacceptable to like Star Trek which, to my mind suggests you are a literate person who uses your brain, but liking sports, painting yourself in your chosen teams colors, jumping around, yelling at the TV, and acting like an illiterate moron is perfectly socially acceptable?
I'm not saying that all sports fans are like that, but that's the image that's presented most of the time, and to people in general, this is perfectly normal.
Why?
Well, mostly. There's probably one or two like that, who knows?
What I want to know is, why is it socially unacceptable to like Star Trek which, to my mind suggests you are a literate person who uses your brain, but liking sports, painting yourself in your chosen teams colors, jumping around, yelling at the TV, and acting like an illiterate moron is perfectly socially acceptable?
I'm not saying that all sports fans are like that, but that's the image that's presented most of the time, and to people in general, this is perfectly normal.
Why?
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In my experience, if you're that extremely into sports as RandyS describes it people tend to think of you as weird, too. I believe it has more to do with the intensity of the fandom. More extreme fans will be more visible and may therefore become the stereotype of the fandom itself. Also, if you say anything against those extreme sports fans, they tend to get violent. 
In my experience, if you're that extremely into sports as RandyS describes it people tend to think of you as weird, too. I believe it has more to do with the intensity of the fandom. More extreme fans will be more visible and may therefore become the stereotype of the fandom itself. Also, if you say anything against those extreme sports fans, they tend to get violent.
That they do. At least verbally.
There are ALOT of rabid sports fans in my family, and only about four of us who are into Star Trek (and sci-fi in general). The sports fans take every opportunity possible to dump on the Star Trek fans, even if that isn't the topic of discussion. There were a couple of Thanksgivings that got.....interesting to say the least.
Geek culture (taking the place of the stigma NERD) has helped a lot.
The rise of computers and tech gadgets in everyday life has also helped. Not only nerdy guys named Jobs, Wozniak and Gates have computers in their garage, everyone has one in their hand. Technology is cool now, because you can carry it around and use it for watching porn.
The rise of computers and tech gadgets in everyday life has also helped. Not only nerdy guys named Jobs, Wozniak and Gates have computers in their garage, everyone has one in their hand. Technology is cool now, because you can carry it around and use it for watching porn.
Because mass society does not value intellect and intelligence - the literate educated intelligent 20% of the population is the origin of the geek subgroup. The other 80% is the problem, and they prefer physical entertainment.
It's not cut and dried - there are dumb geeks and smart sportsfans, but a quote about a famously 'hard' football player sums up the social situation : on the coach to Manchester United away games Roy Keane was often seen reading, something no other players did. It was said that no other players had the nerve to be seen with a book even if they wanted to, because of the abuse they would receive from their team-mates.
It's a culture of ignorance and stupidity.
Yes, but I think the public's hostile attitude toward trekkies has always hurt the franchise's potential to break out big.
I think the difference too between Trek fans and sports fans is how current the material is that is under discussion.
A sports fan will be talking about the game that happened the day before. A TNG fan is talking about a show that ended in 1994 (excluding the movies in this example).
I think if you had a sports fan talking about a game that happened 18 years ago, its a little bit different.
A sports fan will be talking about the game that happened the day before. A TNG fan is talking about a show that ended in 1994 (excluding the movies in this example).
I think if you had a sports fan talking about a game that happened 18 years ago, its a little bit different.
I hear ya, but nah. Here in NY, Yankee fans still love to talk about Jeter's flip play, or the shot that Mantle hit that almost left the entire stadium.
In my experience, if you're that extremely into sports as RandyS describes it people tend to think of you as weird, too. I believe it has more to do with the intensity of the fandom. More extreme fans will be more visible and may therefore become the stereotype of the fandom itself. Also, if you say anything against those extreme sports fans, they tend to get violent.
That they do. At least verbally.
There are ALOT of rabid sports fans in my family, and only about four of us who are into Star Trek (and sci-fi in general). The sports fans take every opportunity possible to dump on the Star Trek fans, even if that isn't the topic of discussion. There were a couple of Thanksgivings that got.....interesting to say the least.
Tribalism. It's in our nature to want to split into teams, and put everyone else in a box labeled "everyone else".
LOL, you don't know many Sportsfans, do you? Sure, they're talking about yesterday's game, but, they also talk excessively about last season, or Dwight Clark's "The Catch", or Larry Bird's stats, etc, just like we'll discuss last night's Doctor Who or 1994's TNG or 1997's DS9, etc.
After I told my best friend that I wanted to go to the London convention thingie yesterday, she spent the rest of the evening making fun of me. She was curious if I was going to dress up as that “girl with the buns”. 
It’s typical really. Hardly anyone I know watches Sci-Fi and -nobody- knows the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek. They do know that Trekkies are nerds though.
The funny thing is that everybody loves the Big Bang Theory. I’ve always wondered how you can appreciate that show when you have no idea what Klingon Boggle refers to.
It’s typical really. Hardly anyone I know watches Sci-Fi and -nobody- knows the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek. They do know that Trekkies are nerds though.
The funny thing is that everybody loves the Big Bang Theory. I’ve always wondered how you can appreciate that show when you have no idea what Klingon Boggle refers to.
Because despite some esoteric gags, a lot of the humor plays right into public expectations about NEEEERDS.
That, and Pavlovian reaction to the laugh track, I'm assuming.
That, and Pavlovian reaction to the laugh track, I'm assuming.
Miss Lemon, i would argue that BBT is not the show that true geeks watch/enjoy. Try Community instead. Better, more subtle and overt references, layered in a way that will make you smile and want to re-watch. BBT hits general audiences over the head with easy to mock stereotypes. Community embraces our culture.
I don't know. Most the fans I know (myself included) enjoy BBT. I confess I haven't checked out Community yet.
Good one, I hadn't thought of that.
I'm afraid I'm not a true geek then, because I loved the first 3 seasons of BBT whereas the trailer of Community hardly made me smile.
OMG, you posted artwork with a wrong number on a ship...and survived the encounter?
You are truly blessed
I watch and enjoy both. They have very different styles of comedy and how they approach geeks.
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