# "Trekkie" vs. "Trekker"?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 4, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429 "2000-02-04T19:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/21 "2000-02-04T22:06:00Z")
Glitch wrote: > [@](#): > > Trekkie came first. It wasn’t until some people who couldn’t handle being called a Trekkie that they decided to change it to Trekker. That doesn’t jibe with what I remember reading in the rec.arts.startrek FAQ several years ago. According to what I read there, _Star Trek_ fans had always called themselves “Trekkers” at their conventions, but when the mainstream TV news reporters started showing up to do “look at the weirdos wearing pointy ears” pieces, the reporters coined the term “Trekkie” to refer to these die-hard fans. I guess it was simpler than asking one of the fans what they _actually_ called themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Glitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/0ea827/32.png) [@Glitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glitch)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/22 "2000-02-04T22:54:00Z")
Hey I wouldn’t ask a bunch of geeks in pointy ears what they call themselves either. Now, a bunch of geeks in robes with plastic laser swords, that geeks with style. None the less, Trekkie got on amongst the fans, and it wasn’t until later that they (the pig-dog, pinko, chicken fans) changed it. And frankly, I don’t care if you are right, I being closedminded on this one. 😛 * * * “Glitch … download” - Glitch’s final action. _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/23 "2000-02-04T23:00:00Z")
I have always been a Trekker. “Trekkie” sounds to me like one of the Seven Dwarfs. * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/24 "2000-02-04T23:01:00Z")
“Loser” vs. “Weenie” * * * I used to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I’m lucky if I can find a half an hour a week in which to get funky. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/25 "2000-02-04T23:09:00Z")
As I recall, Trekker didn’t come into vogue amongst the fen until about '87 or so. It was used to refer to Star Trek fans who were still rational and didn’t act like Elvis fans at Graceland. 😉 Of course, once it became well known, ‘Trekkies’ started refering to themselves as Trekkers, since they wanted to claim they did in fact, have a life. Me, I’m not Trekkie or Trekker. I prefer Sci-Fi that admits it is Sci-Fi/Space Opera and doesn’t try to claim it is Science Fiction. (Yes, **there is a difference**. ) I don’t mind if they simply call themselves SF, because that to me means Speculative Fiction, which encompasses Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Space Opera/Sci-Fi. But they better not try insinuating that SF = Science Fiction. I’m odd that way. 🙂 * * * \>\>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.\<\< —The dragon observes ---
**Author:** ![Jai\_Pey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@Jai\_Pey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jai_Pey)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/26 "2000-02-05T00:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s sad how many people can quote this but not the original. Hey guess what APB? I know the original… I never knew the parallels Rodenberry drew in ST2 from _Mobu Dick_ for a LONG while after. Strangely enough, one of the only good lines from Patrick Stewart’s crap [Moby Dick\* movie from a couple years ago. AND YES I read the book. Regards, Jai Pey ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/27 "2000-02-05T02:09:00Z")
_Moby Dick_ must be the favorite story of _Trek_ writers, because it’s been referred to no less than four times: Original Series Episodes “Obsession” (Kirk hunts down a vampire cloud that killed all his shipmates years before on another vessel) and "The Doomsday Machine (Commodore Decker tries to destroy an alien automated weapon capable of destroying whole planets after losing his crew). Movies: _Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan_. Not only does Khan quote from the book twice, the second time just before he dies, we even see a copy of the book in his bookshelf on the crashed freighter. _Star Trek: First Contact_ Libby calls Picard “Ahab” and then the two briefly discuss the book. * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/28 "2000-02-05T02:34:00Z")
Did anyone see the _Night Court_ episode where a fan of the 60’s show and a fan of TNG were called in for fighting? (I think this may have been the show where they had to close _X_-number of cases before midnight.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/29 "2000-02-05T14:12:00Z")
The weird thing about that episode was that a) Brent Spiner was a recurring character on Night Court, and b) Dan Fielding played a Klingon in Wrath of Khan. But to the OP: ‘Trekkies’ are what the fans are called by others, and ‘Trekkers’ are what they call themselves. That’s the distinction. Trekkies is almost an insulting term made up for ‘those weird obsessive geeks who have learned Klingon with more avarice than when they took French at school’. Trekkers makes them sound like they’re part of the Enterprise crew, which is what they all want. I’m a Star Wars fan, and that’s the only name we have. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** Returns! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **By Popular Demand!** Enjoy, enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/30 "2000-02-05T16:07:00Z")
Guano, I think you meant to say John Larroquette (spelling?) played a Klingon, not “Dan Fielding”. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/31 "2000-02-05T19:00:00Z")
Furthermore, there **weren’t** any Klingons in _The Wrath of Khan_! Although there _were_ a few Klingon Battlecruisers shown from the outside-only in the Kobayashi Maru scene at the beginning. The filmmakers merely re-used some of the Klingon Battlecruiser footage from _Star Trek: The Motion Picture_ and showed it on the simulator’s viewscreen. Sorta like how they re-used the Enterprise-in-drydock footage from the first movie when Kirk came aboard to train the new cadets. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/32 "2000-02-05T19:08:00Z")
jab1 wrote: > [@](#): > > _Star Trek: First Contact_ Libby calls Picard “Ahab” and then the two briefly discuss the book. Yeah, and Picard quoted the book incorrectly, too! Picard said, “If his chest had been a cannon, he’d have shot his heart upon it,” whereas Melville actually wrote, “If his chest had been a mortar, he’d have shot his heart upon it.” Geez. Picard shoulda known better. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/33 "2000-02-05T22:51:00Z")
John Larroquette played the Klingon Maltz in _ST III: The Search for Spock_. Did any of you see the _Night Court_ episode where Bull won a toupee? He picked the model called “The Shatner Turbo 2000.” * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/34 "2000-02-06T12:20:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Guano, I think you meant to say John Larroquette (spelling?) played a Klingon, not “Dan Fielding”. 🙂 Yeah, I did. But it was late, and my mind went blank. Heck, I was trying to remember Brent Spiner’s character’s name too… _goes to IMDb_… and it’s Bob Wheeler. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** Returns! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **By Popular Demand!** Enjoy, enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/35 "2000-02-06T19:12:00Z")
I was a “Trekkie” or a “Trekker” (whatever) when I was about 15. But it wore off. Don’t get me wrong, I love the show, but my devotion isn’t fervent enough to warrant a label. Anyway, I remember the term “Trekker” _definitely_ being used before TNG came out. My recollection was that “Trekker” was the “serious” label that the fans called themselves, and “Trekkies” was what the “mundanes” called the fans. But whatever the label, it is nothing to be turning purple over, or comparing the term “Trekkie” to “nigger”. I am actually rather appalled by that comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/36 "2000-02-06T19:42:00Z")
Trekkers, Trekkies, whatever. You’re all a bunch of fanboys who wouldn’t recognize true greatness if it came up and bit you on your pointy little ears. Get off your little starships. Get in the Tardis! ---
**Author:** ![Glitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/0ea827/32.png) [@Glitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glitch)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/37 "2000-02-06T19:51:00Z")
Tardis. Oh please. Talk about cheesy. Early Doctors running around in tin foil suits. Then you have a dork with a scarf. Robots running around saying “Exterminate! Exterminate!”. Oh yeah, that is sssoooooo much better than Star Wars and Star Trek. I couldn’t wait for the Doctor to finally lose his last life. Poodo Slimo! (Actually, I like Doctor Who, but I want to win BBQ Pit - Rookie of the Year) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/38 "2000-02-08T14:00:00Z")
At least saying you’re a Star Wars fan is less likely to ruin your chances of getting laid than using the word “Trekkie” or “Trekker” when describing yourself. * * * J “Cast a cold Eye, On Life, On Death, Horseman, ride by” W.B. Yeats ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/39 "2000-02-08T15:24:00Z")
Just to let you guys know, I the self proclaimed Trekker do get laid quite often. This is of course since I am married. I have one child and another on the way. Being a Star Wars fan would have gotten me nothing. She likes Star Trek. She thinks the characters are better. Her opinion is the only one that matters, so there 😛 Jeffery ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429/40 "2000-02-08T20:33:00Z")
Calling yourself a “Trekker” will indeed increase your chances of getting laid … with the women dressed in Klingon outfits at a _Star Trek_ convention. But be warned, Klingons like it rrrrrough! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trekkie-vs-trekker/17429.md?page=3)