No, that's what watching "Desperate Housewives" or "90210" is for
.RT.
Why does it seem uncool to bea trek fan nowadays?
- Thread starter Cap.Sicho Nosk
- Start date
No, that's what watching "Desperate Housewives" or "90210" is for
.RT.
. Chocolate and wine are much more helpful!Are there fans so ashamed they lie about it? Are there fans who name some other show as a favorite rather than admit that they really love ST? Is there a ST closet?
I think its always been perceived as being uncool to be a Trek fan. However, I could care less what people I meet in life think of my fandom or my viewing habits.
In general, I haven't had any major problems anyway. I get the occasional "Are you still a Trackie [sic]?" kind of kidding from a family member. Or an odd look from the store clerk when I ask if they have any Star Trek items/toys/whatever in stock. With a return question... "Do you mean Star Wars?"... "no, I mean Star Trek"! Nothing I can't handle.
In general, I haven't had any major problems anyway. I get the occasional "Are you still a Trackie [sic]?" kind of kidding from a family member. Or an odd look from the store clerk when I ask if they have any Star Trek items/toys/whatever in stock. With a return question... "Do you mean Star Wars?"... "no, I mean Star Trek"! Nothing I can't handle.
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Here's how it looks from my perspective, as someone who's been a fan since the early '70s.
Star Trek has at times been mainstream and popular. The early '90s, especially, when TNG was at its peak. Friends, family, co-workers -- almost everyone was watching TNG.
Now, this is the important part: all these family members and co-workers and friends watched the show. Period. They did not go to cons. They did not buy books, comics, t-shirts, soundtracks, videos, or any other merchandise. They did not discuss Star Trek on Compuserve or rec.arts.startrek.current or whatever else was around back then. They did not read or write fanfic, and in general were unaware that it even existed.
Liking Star Trek was cool, for a few years. Being a fan -- doing the things that we as fans do -- was never cool.
Star Trek has at times been mainstream and popular. The early '90s, especially, when TNG was at its peak. Friends, family, co-workers -- almost everyone was watching TNG.
Now, this is the important part: all these family members and co-workers and friends watched the show. Period. They did not go to cons. They did not buy books, comics, t-shirts, soundtracks, videos, or any other merchandise. They did not discuss Star Trek on Compuserve or rec.arts.startrek.current or whatever else was around back then. They did not read or write fanfic, and in general were unaware that it even existed.
Liking Star Trek was cool, for a few years. Being a fan -- doing the things that we as fans do -- was never cool.
Why should any of us care? We like Star Trek. It shouldn't matter if anyone else thinks it's cool or not. There was a point between 1985 and 1991 where Star Wars was at its nadir when it came to popularity. I remember buying this cheap 3D Star Wars comic (couldn't remember the publisher) and the story and artwork were horrendous. But I never stopped loving it. And after four new theatrical releases, a new animated series, an upcomming live action series and more videogames, novels and other related crap than I can shake a lightsaber at, I feel my loyalty has been greatly rewarded. But I digress.
My point is that you like Trek. It gives you fulfillment and meaning. That's all that should matter. And to hell what I or public opinon thinks.
My point is that you like Trek. It gives you fulfillment and meaning. That's all that should matter. And to hell what I or public opinon thinks.
in the 90's when TNG was on in the mid to latter part of the series, ds9 and the movies came out, it seemed like trek was more in the mainstream than it feels now, even with the anticipation of the new movie. It was almost cool to be a trek fan in those days. Now it seems like we're back to being "uber nerds" or "geeks" for liking trek, what could have possably happened to bring about this stigma?
It just couldn't last. I DO remember when it was briefly cool to be a Trek fan.
RAMA
Are there degrees of "out" when it comes to the ST closet? If 10 is wearing Spock ears on any leisure occasion, and 1 is telling no one, where would most of us find ourselves on the spectrum?
L
Lord Garth
Guest
That's exactly the same as my situation IRL.
In fact, as strange as this will sound, the place that seems the most anti-trekkie to me is TrekBBS.
It's too bad. I've been posting on this board for almost 10 years and I actually don't think I want to talk about ST XI on this board when it comes out in May. I just don't want to deal with the chest-thumpers on either side.
I know I can't possibly be the only one the atmosphere is off-putting to.
I'm with you, too!
Raging hatred from those ST fans, who somehow can't accept change, despite ST's message of IDIC (Infinite Diversity, Infinite Combinations), bewilders me. But it's been around since ST:TMP.
I'd say I'm a 5 or a 6. I love all the shows and movies, can quote them at will, can debate them for hours, know all the episode names, etc.
But I don't go around in public dressed as Spock. Or name my kids after Porthos or Mayweather or anything. Or tell anyone of my obsession.
I'm probably a hardcore but closet Trekker on the scale.
It has never been and will never be about being cool.
I remember admitting to being a fan back in the mid '90s. My boss at the time, commented how there were too many shows on TV with guys in rubber foreheads. Pretty much sums up what we're up against and why nuBSG holds so much appeal. Oh Star Trek is occasionally inventive when it comes to aliens - The Borg, Breen, Species 8472, The Xindi... but the ubiquitous latex appliances needed to be phased out by ENT (particularly for the alien of the week™). Ironically the one "back to TOS" aspect they didn't try to update.
I remember admitting to being a fan back in the mid '90s. My boss at the time, commented how there were too many shows on TV with guys in rubber foreheads. Pretty much sums up what we're up against and why nuBSG holds so much appeal. Oh Star Trek is occasionally inventive when it comes to aliens - The Borg, Breen, Species 8472, The Xindi... but the ubiquitous latex appliances needed to be phased out by ENT (particularly for the alien of the week™). Ironically the one "back to TOS" aspect they didn't try to update.
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No, but then it's never needed to be. Trek entertains me, screw what everybody else thinks.
I am with you both. I mean...OK, it's new Trek, so yay! If it's good, I'll be pleased, if it's bad, I'll be sad, but I'm not invested in it, if you know what I mean, and I don't entirely understand people who are. I think I'll just stay out of the forum for at least three months after I see it.
Can't really see ST's "message" being IDIC (more like "shallow diversity, and few combinations"). It's all about espousing everybody should be "human", physical or otherwise, and that there is only one "right" paradigm.
(Which I suppose is easy when one portrays every other culture to have even weirder things going on than the "standard".)
Is it really surprising if some ST fans have taken that to heart?
(Which I suppose is easy when one portrays every other culture to have even weirder things going on than the "standard".)
Is it really surprising if some ST fans have taken that to heart?
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