What's with conservative Trekkies?

[Pingfah]

^ And some people just like the spaceships and battles and stuff, which is a perfectly good reason to like Trek on it's own.

 

[Gary Sebben]

Now in answer, I like the optimism of a future that says we're all going to figure things out and get better as a whole world. It's a world where everyone lives and lets live. Terrorism is gone, unless aliens show up to do it. Poverty is gone and everything is a lot better. Sure, the future isn't perfect, but it is better because we found a way to heal.

No, my query is a good one. You're response and a few others like it is the most confusing thing. You like the future it creates, where there is no poverty and we found a way to heal - but that's because people are rehabilitated, there's no desire for "stuff", the education system is strong, there are huge social programs, the government owns so much of the private sector that science, medicine, commerce and military have merged. Its like FDR new dealism taken to an extreme with laser guns added.

I'm not saying conservative don't want peace and happiness, I'm just saying that a conservative utopia would be more like "Wall-E" with no government, only the private corporation where people's only concern is "stuff" and now and not on worrying about future generations. Putting aside racism and religion (even though those are pretty core tennants of Republicanism as seen in both the 2000 and 2008 elections). Reaganists are hedonist who seek endless consumption without reprecussion as well as the poor being left to their own devices. That's not really arguable. So it just makes little sense that a conservative could be happy with that kind of future.

 

[Captain X]

Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ! Liberals can be every bit as intolerant and censor-happy as conservatives, it's just that their focuses are different! This has to be one of the most bullshit threads in this forum. Ah yes, conservatives can't possibly like Star Trek, because Star Trek is obviously only for liberal atheists... Completely forgetting that there are 5 series and 10 movies, which means there's probably something for everyone. I also love the sweeping generalizations in this thread, particularly in light of how not all that long ago, some of us were laughing about how we can get labeled as both an evil liberal and an evil conservative depending on what the topic is. People don't all fit into nice little neat boxes we can slap a label on. Hell, Locutus is a guy that proudly identifies himself as a liberal, yet he's been trying all along to point out how retarded the basis of this topic is, and it's like you all have your deflectors set to repel common sense.

[/rant]

 

[Amaris]

Now in answer, I like the optimism of a future that says we're all going to figure things out and get better as a whole world. It's a world where everyone lives and lets live. Terrorism is gone, unless aliens show up to do it. Poverty is gone and everything is a lot better. Sure, the future isn't perfect, but it is better because we found a way to heal.

No, my query is a good one. You're response and a few others like it is the most confusing thing. You like the future it creates, where there is no poverty and we found a way to heal - but that's because people are rehabilitated, there's no desire for "stuff", the education system is strong, there are huge social programs, the government owns so much of the private sector that science, medicine, commerce and military have merged. Its like FDR new dealism taken to an extreme with laser guns added.

I'm not saying conservative don't want peace and happiness, I'm just saying that a conservative utopia would be more like "Wall-E" with no government, only the private corporation where people's only concern is "stuff" and now and not on worrying about future generations. Putting aside racism and religion (even though those are pretty core tennants of Republicanism as seen in both the 2000 and 2008 elections). Reaganists are hedonist who seek endless consumption without reprecussion as well as the poor being left to their own devices. That's not really arguable. So it just makes little sense that a conservative could be happy with that kind of future.

Oh, no no. Conservatives want limited government. Anarchists want no government. Conservatives want the government to allow for more freedom while limiting their ability to prevent that freedom, whether it be social, financial or political, while maintaining social and fiscal responsibility. I used to be conservative, but leaned over the moderate line into being liberal due to modern social changes that are being repressed today. Today's brand of "conservatism" is anything but. I put that in quotations because true to form social conservatives don't generally agree with the way our current Administration has handled these past 8 years, and it showed in this election. Surely you don't think that 65 million liberals voted for Obama, do you?

Pingfah also makes a good point; some people just want to watch the ships, the explosions, the technology, and there's nothing wrong with that either. The appeal of Star Trek for many is it's optimism, but it is not strictly limited to such. Star Trek appeals to all walks of life, and that is what made it so groundbreaking to begin with.

J.

 

[Meat Tenderizer]

Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ! Liberals can be every bit as intolerant and censor-happy as conservatives, it's just that their focuses are different! This has to be one of the most bullshit threads in this forum. Ah yes, conservatives can't possibly like Star Trek, because Star Trek is obviously only for liberal atheists... Completely forgetting that there are 5 series and 10 movies, which means there's probably something for everyone. I also love the sweeping generalizations in this thread, particularly in light of how not all that long ago, some of us were laughing about how we can get labeled as both an evil liberal and an evil conservative depending on what the topic is. People don't all fit into nice little neat boxes we can slap a label on. Hell, Locutus is a guy that proudly identifies himself as a liberal, yet he's been trying all along to point out how retarded the basis of this topic is, and it's like you all have your deflectors set to repel common sense.

[/rant]

Sometimes I think certain people forget Star Trek is in the end just entertainment.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Boy, Kyon really his the master of the face-palm.

 

[trekkiedane]

Sometimes I think certain people forget Star Trek is in the end just entertainment.

Nooooo, not true! -Star Trek are historical documents!

 

[Kryton]

 

[trekkiedane]

^xactly

 

[Superwoman]

I'm just a noob around here, for sure, but I can't help noticing - mostly through avatars - that there are a lot of conservative trekkies. And I'm wondering how that could be?

I mean Roddenberry was pretty much a miscegenating, atheist, commie at least by the time of TNG. Trek is pretty much all about progressive politics, with its on again, off again currency, socialized medicine, shunning of material gain, and rehab colonies. I know Enterprise was more "Bush Era" in its phylosophy, but it didn't really work out, possibly for those reasons.

So what do these Obama-fearing, right winging, some times homophobic Trekkies see in the series? Is it all about the tech and sci-fi and not about the culture and politics? I'm not saying get the F out or anything, Im just curious.

My husband has been a Star Trek fan his whole life, and he's also been conservative to moderate just as long

I am not a Trek fan, but joined up here to see why my husband spend sso much time here. Politics doesn't really enter into his enjoyment of Star Trek.

And do you think maybe your post is maybe a little insulting? I don't mean to offend you, just asking.

 

[RJDiogenes]

That's it exactly. Conservative means sticking with the bad old days, liberalism works for a better future.

Not so much, even as a L/liberal (big and small L) I can see that C/conservative can just mean not fixing what's not broke.

Theoretically, but we're talking about the Right Wing in America; they're just as often about breaking what's fixed.

So Northies have a lot in Trek to enjoy. In fact, I'd argue it's more of a Northie series than any other quadrant.

Hmmm. Maybe even Northeastern.

While I understand that to which you refer, let's not forget that it was the Republican party which fought against slavery. And I find a good deal of Progressive elitism highly intolerant. They condescend to nearly everyone except themselves. They consider nearly anyone except for their small group to be stupid, and view the masses as children which need constant control and direction. So intolerance cuts both ways, RJ.

True enough, but the Republican Party that ended slavery existed almost a hundred and fifty years ago and did so as a by-product of their failure to stop Civil War; and the intolerance of the Left Wing is pretty much a symptom of recent extremism. In any case, we're talking about how these specific ideologies relate to a specific TV show, so it's the specific prejudices associated with the Right Wing that are at issue.

Nor is bigotry part and parcel with the conservative ideology. Being of a right-wing ideology does not mean I want to dance around with a sheet on my head and burn crosses on people's lawn OR even that I must harbor some pernicious, subconscious desire to do so.

That you would make such an assumption I find quite offensive and, I must say, intolerant.

First of all, I tolerate everybody as long as they don't interfere with anybody else. Second of all, I made no assumptions: Bigotry has been and is associated with the Right Wing ideology; that's a fact of life. If you and your family are an exception to that, then that's very good indeed. But it doesn't change the nature of that ideology.

 

[RAMA]

Oh, no no. Conservatives want limited government. Anarchists want no government. Conservatives want the government to allow for more freedom while limiting their ability to prevent that freedom, whether it be social, financial or political, while maintaining social and fiscal responsibility. .

This isn't really the case. Conervative administrations were responsible for some of the worst over-spending ever...Reagan, Bush. George W in particular was also responsible for some of the most intrusive legislation of anti-freedom.

RAMA

 

[FalTorPan]

Trek appeals to people of all persuasions. Why continue this thread any further?

 

[Amaris]

This isn't really the case. Conervative administrations were responsible for some of the worst over-spending ever...Reagan, Bush. George W in particular was also responsible for some of the most intrusive legislation of anti-freedom.

RAMA

That would be a part of the neo-Conservative movement that focuses on larger government and higher spending.
I'm thinking more along the lines of "Goldwater Conservative".


J.

 

[Frontier]

I'm just a noob around here, for sure, but I can't help noticing - mostly through avatars - that there are a lot of conservative trekkies. And I'm wondering how that could be?

I mean Roddenberry was pretty much a miscegenating, atheist, commie at least by the time of TNG. Trek is pretty much all about progressive politics, with its on again, off again currency, socialized medicine, shunning of material gain, and rehab colonies. I know Enterprise was more "Bush Era" in its phylosophy, but it didn't really work out, possibly for those reasons.

So what do these Obama-fearing, right winging, some times homophobic Trekkies see in the series? Is it all about the tech and sci-fi and not about the culture and politics? I'm not saying get the F out or anything, Im just curious.

Take a peak in the USA Politics sub-forum of TNZ, when you can. You'll see a much more realistic representation of the "liberal" VS "conservative" Trekkie dynamic.

I can honestly say, on this entire forum, I only know of about 10-15 people who voting for McCain. I can point to about 200 who voted for Obama though. I've found the same true on the majority of Trek communities.

I, like so many others, like yourself, can't grasp for the life of me how such is possible - a "conservative" trekkie - but hey, IDIC and all. Everything is possible I guess.

 

[Amaris]

^ You guys are making these folks out as aberrant, as something less than human, simply because they're conservative and like a show that you've claimed as liberal. This is silly and more than a bit close minded.


J.

 

[Captain X]

^ You guys are making these folks out as aberrant, as something less than human, simply because they're conservative and like a show that you've claimed as liberal. This is silly and more than a bit close minded.


J.

QFT. Not to mention it makes them hypocrites.

 

[trekkiedane]

^ You guys are making these folks out as aberrant, as something less than human, simply because they're conservative and like a show that you've claimed as liberal. This is silly and more than a bit close minded.


J.

Indeed, they shouldn't be treated as second class -after all they are trekkies, so there's still hope for them

 

[Leandar]

I'm a Christian and fairly conservative. My grandfather is now a retired Southern Baptist minister and he liked Star Trek when it first aired in the 60's and he got me into watching it when I was about 2 or so and I've been a Trek fan ever since? So what difference does it make if you're Republican, Democrat, 3rd party or whatever you might be worldwide? What difference does it make if you're liberal or conservative or your religion of what?

Can't we all just enjoy Star Trek for our various reasons?

 

[Peacemaker]

I'm just a noob around here, for sure, but I can't help noticing - mostly through avatars - that there are a lot of conservative trekkies. And I'm wondering how that could be?

I mean Roddenberry was pretty much a miscegenating, atheist, commie at least by the time of TNG. Trek is pretty much all about progressive politics, with its on again, off again currency, socialized medicine, shunning of material gain, and rehab colonies. I know Enterprise was more "Bush Era" in its phylosophy, but it didn't really work out, possibly for those reasons.

So what do these Obama-fearing, right winging, some times homophobic Trekkies see in the series? Is it all about the tech and sci-fi and not about the culture and politics? I'm not saying get the F out or anything, Im just curious.

Well, that's like saying I can't quote from a Roman Catholic commentary on the Bible if I'm Presbyterian, isn't it? Or I can't go dancing at a gay circuit party unless I'm gay or a Democrat or a non-Christian. That's absurd. It's called the all or nothing fallacy.

What do conservatives see in Trek? Well, Dean L. Russ Bush (RIP) @ SE Baptist Theological Seminary loved Trek. He even included a lecture on the way Trek helped change humanity's perception of its place in the universe in his Philosophy of Religion class. It was a great lecture.