Wearing Starfleet Uniform Out in Public - Help

[TheGodBen]

^Unfortunately, wearing a Star Trek costume in public will not improve your overall social acceptance. JUST BE YOURSELF. Eventually you will find others who like you FOR YOURSELF, rather than because you do or do not wear a costume every day.

Now now, I'm trying to convince him not to wear the costume too, but there's no need to lie to the man. Some people are doomed not to be liked, I number amongst them, and the best way for us to be liked is to be something we're not. I mean, if I had it my way everything I'd say would be a direct quote from Star Trek, Monty Python and Terry Pratchett novels, but when I do that people look at me as though I were a nutter, so I conform and attempt to talk like a normal person.

 

[T'Girl]

Why would anybody wear a Starfleet uniform out in public?

I wore a Zoe Saldana/Uhura style uniform mini (with and without insignia) a lot last summer, in public, to clubs and even to class, got a lot of compliment on it.

Sweetness, dress like you want.

 

[TheGodBen]

There's a big difference between the female TOS uniform and the Voyager unisex jumpsuit. For one thing, the TOS uniform is sexy and form-fitting, the Voyager uniform is a jumpsuit. There's a reason they kept Seven out of it. Another big difference is that it is very easy to fornicate while wearing the TOS uniform, it would be rather more complicated attempting same with the Voyager jumpsuit.

 

[Luther Sloan]

I picked up and wore the TNG grey style uniform when playing the TNG role playing game inside the house with my buddies once. However, I would never go out into public with it, though. I'm just fine with letting my normal physical attractiveness and the way I dress in order to get the necessary attention when I need it to.

In other words: I take pride in looking good when I go out into public.

A Starfleet Uniform would kind of detract from that attractiveness. At least that is my opinion for us guys, anyways.

As for well formed women... thats another matter entirely. They can wear whatever sexy Trek outfit they want and get away with it. Cause guys are not really going to be looking at the uniform to begin with. Cause well... They're guys.

 

[22 Stars]

There are plenty of geek-chic trek t-shirts and stuff to pimp yourself out Trek style, with out wearing the full on uniform. But i say if it's something you want to try, then just do it, and let us know your experiences.

We all remember the woman featured in Trekkies who wears her uniform, and even wore it for Jury Duty.

You mean the woman who held a job, paid her taxes, was liked by her coworkers and believed that she should be doing good for others? Yeah, I remember her well.

Sorry for the back to back post. Couldn't help it.

Ya, that's her. I wasn't casting aspersions, just citing an example of someone who we know has done the very same thing as featured in that documentary. You read snark where there was none.

 

[Green Shirt]

Well, the phaser part was an attempt at humor but I am serious about what a general public response would be to some nerd walking into a grocery store and such dressed like Picard.

My mental heath is functioning within normal parameters but I am seriously lacking a "social" life and for me Star Trek has filled that void.

A grocery store? What, is your replicator busted?

 

[6079SmithW]

ST-TNG-FAN91 just be yourself. Most people probably wouldn't bother you. Maybe some will be interested because they are star trek fans. If you are very self-conscious it might be a problem since you would probably get some weird looks and some people might laugh. Overall, though, I think most people would ignore the costume and and treat you normally. If muslims can walk around in public wearing traditional clothing without a riot breaking out then so can you!

I would suggest attending more conventions where this sort of dress is deemed more appropriate and interacting with other fans if you are trying to enhance your social life. Also, start posting here on the BBS more. You can make lots of trek friends here. Welcome aboard!

 

[Therin of Andor]

I've quite safely travelled in public in a Starfleet uniform - and even as an Andorian - and even on public transport including trains, buses and even a plane. Most times I was on my way to a media photoshoot, a movie premiere or a ST convention. A few times no one has even blinked, but most times people will smile or comment, or give a Vulcan salute. Never been threatened with physical violence while in costume.

 

[JarodRussell]

Sports fans are wearing jerseys, too. The thing is, a football team is something real, Starfleet is fictional. Get a life.

 

[iguana_tonante]

My mental heath is functioning within normal parameters but I am seriously lacking a "social" life and for me Star Trek has filled that void.

A tv show is no substitute for a social life. Hobbies and common interests can, however, help you to create one.

 

[Delta1]

I once did go to a Sci Fi/Linux convention but I was so dorky and socially awkward that people like the dude in the Tux Starfleet costume were like "NERD!!!!!

Don't listen to them, I'm sure they were just BSD dorks. They're just jealous that all the good FOSS is GPL.

 

[SilentP]

I agree with this sentiment;

My mental heath is functioning within normal parameters but I am seriously lacking a "social" life and for me Star Trek has filled that void.

A tv show is no substitute for a social life. Hobbies and common interests can, however, help you to create one.

...but in regards to this one;

Sports fans are wearing jerseys, too. The thing is, a football team is something real, Starfleet is fictional. Get a life.

....to me a football team is just about as tangible as Star Trek. If I choose not to involve myself in football, it has less of an effect on my life than if I was to involve myself with it. The same with Star Trek, if I was to involve myself with it (i.e. be a fan) it's more tangible to me than if I wasn't involved with it.

For example, if I was to bump into a football player that wasn't plastered all over the tabloids for the latest scandal, I wouldn't recognise the guy, since I'm not a fan of football. If I wasn't a Star Trek fan and bumped into a 'minor' actor from the show (i.e. bumped into someone who wasn't Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy etc.) I probably wouldn't recognise them either. As far as I'm concerned, I'm as likely to be involved in football games that everyone sees as I am to be involved in shooting episodes of Star Trek (i.e. not very).

 

[Luther Sloan]

I never been a fan of sports. Not to knock it, but I mean if you really think about it, how does Team X winning against Team Y really have any effect on my life? The simple answer is that it doesn't.

Star Trek or other forms of science fiction entertainment can at least teach me moral lessons to guide me in my decision making process through out my life. It can also engage my mind in theoretical concepts and keep me out of bar fights, too.

The thing is that sports is more socially acceptable and you can gamble on it. But you don't need sports to accomplish either of those two tasks, though.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I wore a Zoe Saldana/Uhura style uniform mini (with and without insignia) a lot last summer, in public, to clubs and even to class, got a lot of compliment on it.

Well, even though it's kind of a meme on this board, I've never actually said it myself. But I think this calls for my very first "How YOU doin'?"

 

[Finn]

I never been a fan of sports. Not to knock it, but I mean if you really think about it, how does Team X winning against Team Y really have any effect on my life? The simple answer is that it doesn't.

Star Trek or other forms of science fiction entertainment can at least teach me moral lessons to guide me in my decision making process through out my life. It can also engage my mind in theoretical concepts and keep me out of bar fights, too.

The thing is that sports is more socially acceptable and you can gamble on it. But you don't need sports to accomplish either of those two tasks, though.

Yes you can. Athletic activities have kept many youth out of trouble and found their way. There are people who learned to better themselves spiritually, psychologically and physically playing sports.

And you don't need Trek to teach you all that either.


And something tells me the OP is a troll.

 

[plynch]

There are plenty of geek-chic trek t-shirts and stuff to pimp yourself out Trek style, with out wearing the full on uniform. But i say if it's something you want to try, then just do it, and let us know your experiences.

We all remember the woman featured in Trekkies who wears her uniform, and even wore it for Jury Duty.

You mean the woman who held a job, paid her taxes, was liked by her coworkers and believed that she should be doing good for others? Yeah, I remember her well.

Sorry for the back to back post. Couldn't help it.

Ya, that's her. I wasn't casting aspersions, just citing an example of someone who we know has done the very same thing as featured in that documentary. You read snark where there was none.

Yes I did. My apologies. Be well.

 

[Luther Sloan]

Yes you can. Athletic activities have kept many youth out of trouble and found their way. There are people who learned to better themselves spiritually, psychologically and physically playing sports.

And you don't need Trek to teach you all that either.

Finn:

Playing sports versus watching it is totally different. But I do realize that playing sports can be beneficial. I just don't think that watching sports is all that advantageous. Unless of course you are rooting for your siblings or something (which would be a completely different case).

 

[22 Stars]

You mean the woman who held a job, paid her taxes, was liked by her coworkers and believed that she should be doing good for others? Yeah, I remember her well.

Sorry for the back to back post. Couldn't help it.

Ya, that's her. I wasn't casting aspersions, just citing an example of someone who we know has done the very same thing as featured in that documentary. You read snark where there was none.

Yes I did. My apologies. Be well.

Thanks, I really do want to encourage the OP to do whatever his heart tells him to do. I admire the Trek Juror, and would should set a nice example for this poster.

 

[Warped9]

Many a fan has imagined wearing a Starfleet costume. But we recognize it is a costume and not an actual recognized uniform. To wear one in the privacy of your own home and/or among like minded friends or at a convention is one thing. But to wear it in public as a substitute for everyday wear is something else entirely.

It's all very well to want to be ourself, but let's be perfectly candid here. In the real world if you wear such a costume in public for no reason other than as a substitute for normal everyday wear then you might as well also wear a big neon sign that says, "Please, beat me."

 

[Delta1]

And something tells me the OP is a troll.

It couldn't be more obvious, and I bet he's delighted he got some encouraging comments. Yes, OP, there are uniform fetishists among the Trekkies, and they will defend the legitimacy of their preferences just as strongly as the rest of the dress-up crowd. But at least our confreres don't sew strategic holes into their costumes.

As for Trek v. sports, it must be remembered that sports are much more decentralized and democratized. There are local sports teams with a direct effect on the local economy. Watching them, and participating in rivalries, socially binds one to one's neighbors. There is an assumption that one "roots for the home team," and as such, those living within the home team's bailiwick are assumed to be members of the sports fan community. Professional sports are also an amped-up version of the same games that many people played as children or students; watching them at the pro level allows one to appreciate virtuosity in a familiar activity.

Trek is centralized. It all comes from one place. There is no local Trek, it has no effect on the local economy (unless you live in LA or happen to write for/draw royalties from Trek), and there aren't really any competitions to encourage rivalry. There's no public sense of community. Watching Trek doesn't allow one to appreciate a familiar activity performed well, unless one happens to be an actor or a subspace field engineer.

So, I can see why one might wear an outward sign of allegiance to a sports team in public. It's a sign of a community that many people think already exists, and most are willing to accept. There isn't an analogous Star Trek community. Perhaps if Star Trek were democratized--if people could participate in Star Trek as children, grow up to do it professionally, and if every major city had their own Star Trek theater where their own Star Trek team performed--then wearing Star Trek costumes in public might be widely considered normal.