What's the difference between a trekkie and a trekker?

[Greg Cox]

The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

And ultimately akin to squabbling over whether someone is wearing a "cap" or a "hat."

That's a beret, damnit! Only losers wear caps!

 

[Neutral Zone]

A state of mind - both are nerdy and devoid of reality ... so I fit the bill.

 

[Timewalker]

Trekkies are fans.
Trekkers are people who are ashamed of star trek.
I'm not ashamed.

I most certainly am not ashamed of Star Trek, or the fact that I've been a fan for nearly 37 years. I call myself a Trekker because:

1. It's a more dignified word;

2. A "trekker" is somebody who is actually doing something. A trekker is going somewhere, even if only in his/her own mind, conscience, or outlook on life. A trekker can be said to be an explorer, either in the outside world, or within his/her own consciousness.

The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

I would never presume to tell any other fan that he/she is a "Trekker" if they prefer the other word. All I ask is that you/they accord me the same courtesy.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

And ultimately akin to squabbling over whether someone is wearing a "cap" or a "hat."

That's a beret, damnit! Only losers wear caps!

Greg is a hipster. I never knew.

 

[Greg Cox]

The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

I would never presume to tell any other fan that he/she is a "Trekker" if they prefer the other word. All I ask is that you/they accord me the same courtesy.

Oops. I guess I was unclear with my pronouns there. I wasn't talking about telling somebody else that they're really a Trekker.

I was poking fun at the idea of taking pains to explain that "no, I'm a 'Trekker,' not one of those embarrassing Trekkies," which is just going to baffle most people.

Sorry about the confusion.

 

[T'Girl]

Trekkies, they are the people who helped keep Star Trek on the air for a third season (for better or worst). Formed Star Trek fanom. Went to the first of the conventions (which both of my parent say were more fun). Kept Star Trek alive through the seventies, so we could have movies and follow on series............... Loathsome little creatures.

 

[Greg Cox]

1. It's a more dignified word/

Eh, dignity can be overrated. (Says the guy who has already cited the Marx Bros. and Monty Python in this thread.)

Personally, I prefer a more irreverent attitude . . . but that's just me.

 

[bbailey861]

I have always been a Trekkie....but I think that is more because of age than anything else. I was a Trekkie before 'Trekker' was coined and I saw no need to change.

As for The Marx Brothers, as soon as I read that I started singing (really).....Lydia, oh Lydia..Say have you met Lydia...

 

[Relayer1]

Or the People's Front for Judea?

I thought we were the Judean Peoples Front ?

 

[Nerys Myk]

[Bobcat]There's more white meat on a Trekker[/Bobcat]

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Trekkies are fans.
Trekkers are people who are ashamed of star trek.
I'm not ashamed.

I most certainly am not ashamed of Star Trek, or the fact that I've been a fan for nearly 37 years. I call myself a Trekker because:

1. It's a more dignified word;

I absolutely do not want to ever be dignified.

2. A "trekker" is somebody who is actually doing something. A trekker is going somewhere, even if only in his/her own mind, conscience, or outlook on life. A trekker can be said to be an explorer, either in the outside world, or within his/her own consciousness.

Well I do post a lot..

 

[Mr_Homn]

i prefer star trek fan

 

[Shanndee]

The other issue, of course, is that these distinctions are only meaningful to the handful of people who care about them.

Try explaining to most people that, no, you're a "Trekker," not a Trekkie, and they're just going to look at you funny . . . which, ironically, is probably the opposite of what you were going for!

Exactly! Everyone understands that a Trekkie is a fan of a show called Star Trek. If you try to use the word Trekker...not so much!

I much prefer the word Trekkie, to me it is a lot more fun!

 

[Elder Knight]

"English Sherlockians like to call themselves Holmesians; American Holmesians like to call themselves Sherlockians."

-- William S. Baring-Gould

 

[Sector 7]

The main difference is some over-senstive fans way back when got tired of being looked down upon by tactless morons with nothing better to do than make fun of sci-fi fans, so they came up with a name that sounded "less insulting".

My brother tortured me with the term Trekkie as an insult. When TNG came along, many people felt like me and coined the term Trekker. I quickly adopted the new moniker.

As far as I can tell the only tangible difference is in the last two letters. The rest is just in people's heads.

QFT!! I was called a Trekkie for years as an insult. Then I owned Trekker. Now I really don't care, because I am old enough that none of it bothers me.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

When TNG came along, many people felt like me and coined the term Trekker.

This is incorrect.

The term trekker dates from 1970, and it is evidently due to Carol Pruitt. From Boldly Writing: A Trekker Fan & Zine History, 1967-1987, by Joan Marie Verba, page 4:

The May issue of Deck 6 [issue #8, in 1970] saw a very early distinction between the terms "trekkie" and "trekker." Carol Pruitt, the editor, said in part, "...when I start acting like a bubbleheaded trekkie (rather than a sober, dignified—albeit enthusiastic—trekker)." (Some fans think the distinction between the terms is a more recent phenomenon, but Deck 6 shows that fans were making that distinction over 30 years ago.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trekkie#Trekkie_vs._Trekker
http://www.jessesword.com/sf/view/201
http://fanlore.org/wiki/Deck_6

 

[Sector 7]

^Where I lived, in regular America, none of us ever heard the term prior to TNG. Maybe in those big fancy cities, it was different.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I think the difference between trekkies and trekkers is that one of them takes themselves too seriously...but I can never remember which one that is.

 

[Xhiandra]

i'd never encountered the term "Trekker" until this thread.

So, what are the chances a non-fan would've? In light of this, I'd say "Trekkie" is word designating a fan of Star Trek, "Trekker" is a forced word intended to designate some fans of Star Trek that just didn't take.
You can keep trying to spread the distinction, but I doubt the population at large will ever care enough to accept both terms; you'll just end up looking nerdier, which seems to be what you're trying to avoid.

 

[Greg Cox]

You can keep trying to spread the distinction, but I doubt the population at large will ever care enough to accept both terms; you'll just end up looking nerdier, which seems to be what you're trying to avoid.

Exactly. It's like trying to draw a line in the sand between "scifi" and "SF" . . . you can try all you want to get the rest of the world to recognize a distinction, but the rest of us will just keep being Trekkies and scifi fans . . . .