I used to have a bumper sticker that said He’s Dead, Jim. Most people knew what it meant…except for the one oddball guy who pulled up next to me at a red light and thought I was “trying to tell him something” because his name was Jim.
Cheese Louise…
My brother has a Star Trek MasterCard. Who’s the geekier of the two?
Thanks to the mod who moved this thread!
You’re not a geek. As Pepper Mill pointed out the other day, Trek Culture has infected the Mainstream. There’s a car ad on TV with the tag line: “Resistance is Futile”.
As for Tribbles, they showed up not only in TOS, but in the animated series, the movies (Star Trek III), and on Deep Space Nine. He’s had plenty of chances to learn about tribbles.
I think most people, of varying age, Trekkies/ers or no, recognize references to Tribbles, “He’s dead, Jim,” “Beam me up, Scotty,” and various other Star Trek Cliches, which have pretty much infiltrated common vernacular.
It’s the same as with other concepts drawn from pop culture - most of us would get “May the Force be with you,” “Hasta la vista, Baby,” and the like.
So, no, Baker, it ain’t your problem. It’s your dishwasher, who’s been living under a rock his whole life.
Not too long ago, one of my co-workers had to explain to another co-worker the significance of red shirts.
The poor guy had just never watched Star Trek. He doesn’t know what tribbles are either (I just asked him.)
I was in class the other day, and the prof was taking about some Roman general and how he kind of made up rules as he went along, and she said, “it’s kind of like a game of fizzbin. Anyone know the game fizzbin?”
And, thinking that it must not be what I thought it was, I didn’t answer. Shame on me, because what I was thinking was exactly what she was talking about (but only on Tuesdays).
Oh, and I’m 23. The only non-public television I remember from my formative years was watching ST reruns with my mom every weeknight at 7.
Heck, there were tribbles in the first Harry Potter book, although Rowling didn’t actually use the word “tribbles”. The little fuzzballs are ubiquitous. The dishwasher has clearly been living under a rock…in a cave…somewhere under Antarctica.
Of course, there was a time when I could turn down the volume, face away from the TV, and say every line of “The Trouble with Tribbles” in perfect sync. Am I a geek? Yes!
Nah, you’re not too geeky. If you wore a Starfleet uniform for jury duty, that’d be too geeky. (Or a good way to get out of jury duty, if that was your intention, of course)
If I may (you may) gloat for a moment, I am personally acquainted with David Gerrold, the man who wrote “The Trouble With Tribbles.”
[Cartman] You may touch me now.
I SAID YOU CAN FUCKIN’ TOUCH ME!
Yes, yes, that’s right, don’t crowd… [/Cartman]
Esprix
>If you wore a Starfleet uniform for jury duty, that’d be too geeky. (Or a good way to get out of jury duty, if that was your intention, of course)<
It was simply illogical human stubbornness during the jury selection phase that caused the Prosecuting attorney to dismiss me. He simply refused to recognize how the Prime Directive applied to judicial proceedings…:dubious:
So, could you politely suggest that he get off his duff and finish the “War Against the Chtorr” series? 
My favorite scene from the whole of TOS is the barfight scene in “The Trouble With Tribbles”, and the dialogue leading up to it.
“Laddy, don’t you think you’d better rephrase that?”
“You’re right. I should.”
And so on and so on…
I’ll mention it next time I see him. He also said his latest is up for a Lambda Award, which is pretty cool.
Esprix