# Star Wars: To Geek or Not to Geek? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026 "2002-04-22T19:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/1 "2002-04-22T19:18:20Z")
My apologies if this belongs in IMHO. How many of you out there attend sci-fi conventions, renaissance faires, etc. in full costumes? (Yes, I HAVE seen Imperial Stormtoopers at Renaissance Faires.) I’m debating whether or not I should attend the premiere of Episode II in my full Darth Maul costume. On the one hand, dressing up is fun, trendy in a sub-cultural sort of way, and gets attention at these things. On the other hand, I live in a college town and don’t need to get assaulted verbally or physically.:rolleyes: What’s the Doper cultural consensus? Is dressing up worth it? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/2 "2002-04-22T19:32:10Z")
No. But I went to a sci-fi convention wearing a tie so what do I know? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/3 "2002-04-22T19:49:01Z")
I think it depends on **a)** whether or not you have any dignity and **b)** if you mind being mutilated or not. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/4 "2002-04-22T19:54:08Z")
If you’ve got a fully-functional light-sabre to go with the outfit, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/5 "2002-04-22T21:43:17Z")
Geek!! GEEEEEEK!!! You cannot fight your destiny!!! ---
**Author:** ![Kirkland1244](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kirkland1244](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kirkland1244)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/6 "2002-04-23T02:00:00Z")
I’m taking my lightsaber, but I always take my lightsaber to Star Wars movies… I took my Darth Vader lightsaber to the Special Editions, my Darth Maul lightsaber to TPM, and I hope to have a Darth Tyranus saber for this one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/7 "2002-04-23T22:33:27Z")
Conventions? Movie openings? Bah. A postdoc here was known to wear his Starfleet Admiral’s uniform to school, and I fully intend to wear my sword and chainmail to class as soon as I finish it (the chainmail, that is… I didn’t make the sword myself). ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/8 "2002-04-24T01:09:32Z")
I love costumes, absolutely love 'em. I actually instituted a policy that we get to wear costumes at work on Halloween. I worked at a Ren Faire for several years and always thought it was cool when patrons came dressed up. So I say “go for it!” Embrace your geek-dom. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/9 "2002-04-24T01:22:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*Conventions? Movie openings? Bah. A postdoc here was known to wear his Starfleet Admiral’s uniform to school, and I fully intend to wear my sword and chainmail to class as soon as I finish it (the chainmail, that is… I didn’t make the sword myself). \*\* Doesn’t your school have a no-tolerance weapons policy? At ours, unless you have a spotless record, you’re probably going to get suspened for a loong time, or at worst, expelled if you so much as bring a Swiss Army knife to school. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/10 "2002-04-24T19:10:34Z")
Naw, I go to school in Montana. Here, the student handbook says to make sure that your guns are kept well-cleaned and ammo properly stowed. Note that it doesn’t specify “if you have a gun”. ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/11 "2002-04-24T19:24:52Z")
I would love to do the RenFaire/pioneer costuming, but don’t have the talent to design a costume or the $$$ to buy one. Mebbe someday… [slight hijack] PS: if you’re coming to the [Star Wars Celebration II](http://www.starwarscelebration.com) in Indianapolis May 3-5 – let me know & maybe we can meet! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/12 "2002-04-24T19:31:56Z")
If you can _look good_ in a costume, go for it – but if you look like some weirdo trying pathetically to pass for Boba Fett, give it a pass. Nothing is more embarassing than a fan who doesn’t realize that his costume was meant for someone three sizes smaller than he is… ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-to-geek-or-not-to-geek/105026/13 "2002-04-24T20:05:47Z")
I’d take **rjung** ’s suggestion on step further. If you can look good [_taking a piss_](http://www.studiocreations.com/stormtrooper/images/pottytrooper.jpg) while wearing your costume, then go for it. (courtesy of [http://www.studiocreations.com/stormtrooper/main.shtml](http://www.studiocreations.com/stormtrooper/main.shtml) )