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.

[maxrael]

Ah dear old Freaks was my first mailing list too! It's sad the seeming inevitability of all fan lists/forums to at some point turn to all out war... I couldn't believe when it happened on the second internet place I went to dedicated to the films of Orson Welles! Now I just accept it happens everywhere and do my best to sidestep it.

Makes me wonder what chance do governments have eh?!

Dear human race, please just accept that other people have different opinions and there's isn't a 'right one'... etc.

[hippydave]

Amen, Max. Makes me value the likes of Grapevine all the more!

Today's essay question: "the 'build 'em up, tear 'em down' mentality of the British media was born on the internet. Discuss."