The Dark Side Of Fandom

[hippydave]

As many of you reading this will know, I'm a bit of a Star Trek fan. Well, actually more than a bit - I'm a huge, giant Star Trek fan. I was introduced to the Bill Shatner-helmed original series as a wee lad as my mum liked to sit and watch it when it was on (Friday nights, if I remember correctly) back in the mid-to-late 70s. I loved it then, and

Comments

[psychochicken]

Amen. On the trek thing, I am not a fan. In fact, I generally dislike the franchise in general, finding it a bit weedy. I guess I never got hooked as a kid so don't have the nostalgia factor. I got hooked on B5 later, with its slightly less rosy view of inter species co-operation and complex politics, and more recently BSG with its sociological implications, but I've never been an SF fan per se

[hippydave]

Firstly, if you liked the slightly less pink-tinted specs approach of "Babylon 5", you need to get watching "Deep Space Nine". Seriously. Until the re-booted BSG came along, it was easily the most realistic and likeable series dealing with inter-species communication breakdown, political intrigue and the outbreak of interstellar warfare. It may just challenge your existing perception of Trek as overly "safe", which I have to say, even as a fan, I do understand. "TNG" is a great show, but it's very cerebral and family-friendly for the most part. "Voyager" fell into the same trap for the most part: the set-up was full of possibilities for conflict and danger, and whilst danger remained on the menu, conflict generally wasn't, so it sort of fell between two stools. "Enterprise" learned from its mistakes, but was only really getting into its stride when it was cancelled. "Deep Space Nine" is nothing like as cosy - which led to many Trek fans disowning it altogether, saying its emphasis on conflict and tendency to serve up anything bu the

[psychochicken]

Conventions. You have to be careful. Well, I have to be careful. There are many kinds - you have what used to be refered to as 'the media con'. This is the stereotype view of what an SF convention is - a bunch of people sitting around watching their favourite TV show. It used to be a bunch of people watching episodes they maybe hadn't seen, possibly imported from the States but in this day and age of internet downloads and litigous producers, they tend to be very lucrative and very expensive opportunities to sell merchandise and pay to have your picture taken with a star of the show. No thanks

[hippydave]

Yeah, a "Fun Con" sounds more like my cup o' Rosey Lee. Sound advice there, I think. Much as I absolutely adore all things Trek - and I love all iterations of the show - nothing fills me with dread like the idea of sharing a room with a bunch of Math Club anal retentives dressed in Starfleet uniforms trying to get their homemade tricorders signed by Brent Spiner.

[psychochicken]

Poked my head in on the molf today. Does BrianTheLion ever post without mentioning Rangers football club or bellyaching about a gig that was now nearly two months ago???

[hippydave]

Has BrianTheLion ever posted anything even remotely worthwhile? Ever? Seems to me it's a bunch of adolescent Rangers/Iron Maiden/"liberals are cowardly idiots" bullshit scattered liberally (ha!) with condescending "I-know-better-than-you" comments and intolerant thread-pissing.

Hopefully he'll take Lucy's advice and not come to the convention. I'm sure the atmosphere will be that little bit lighter without him there to sully it.

[itwasatrickpie]

Aww but that was hilarious. I was thinking up brian quote generator lines all afternoon ;o)

"I LIKE MY GERS LIKE I LIKE MY THATTHERS: COVERED IN LENTILS"

"I HAVE REPORTED YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR LIBULLING ME AS IT IS A CRIME."

"I THINK MAIDEN IS A PRETTY COOL GUY. EH THROWS LARGE THATTHERS AT NEW LABOUR AND DOESN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING!!!1!"

etc...

[hippydave]

LOL!

[friedegg_ntl]

To me, the step back and let them all stew in their own outrage is always the answer. It's not that I lack passion for the subject, it's just that I have no time to waste on discussing stuff* - I'd much rather just get and on indulge the passion for the stuff. Makes like much more fun!

With the 100%-piss-and-moan people, such as much of the plopulation of the MOLF, I usually just ignore them.

* stuff = film/music/language/computer science principle/beer

[hippydave]

Yes indeed. I think I may have just - finally - hit my limit with the MOLF. I've got pissed off with it several times and left it alone for a few weeks, then gone back, acting as if I've only just discovered the place. Which works for a while, until the torrent of negativity and mean-spirited bikcering sets in once again...

Now that the poll is done, I think I'll be giving it a wide berth. For my own sanity if no-one else's.

[livingarmchair]

I rarely read the "Marillion" part of the MOLF as it seems to be full of people slagging off the albums, the producer, etc, etc. (Although I really liked Somewhere Else)

Neved like the ST series much, but loved the first Motion Picture which everyone hates! That usually leads to baffled silence. And then when I say I like the one Shatner directed you can see them foaming...:)

[hippydave]

Well, you're not alone as far as the first "Trek" film goes, because I always loved it too! The Shatner-helmed "Final Frontier", though? I think you're the first person I've ever met - even after having spent years talking "Trek" with likeminded folks - that has actually said they liked that one! :-)