Based on some of the posts in this thread, self-described “Trekkers” really, really want self-described “Trekkies” to be maladjusted, pew-pew loving social rejects who can’t understand that not being offended about being called a word that ends in an “ee” sound means that you’re too gauche to really appreciate the sociopolitical allegory and deep themes of the speculative fiction that is “Star Trek.”
That’s… not surprising at all. 
Sure, if you’re that insecure and nerdy. Us average folks self-identify as “Who are Alex Trebeckies”.
This is how it all happened:
First, the term was Trekkies. It was the typical thing you’d name a group of people with a common interest in the 60s. Trekkies were fans of the show, who liked to discussed the scientific and social aspects of the show. They also liked the details, the actors, the sets, continuity, all that stuff that people like to talk about in relationship to any TV show, movie, book, etc.
Then suddenly there were people who thought they were on the show. They began to make their own Star Fleet uniforms, stick pointy things on their ears, and tried to talk in Klingon, even though they had to make up most of the words.
People who were leading productive lives and didn’t live in their mom’s basement did not want to be associated with that kind of thing, so we started calling ourselves Trekkers. The Trekkies immediatly took offense and began firing their toy phasers at us. We ignored them, we were too busy having sex.
I don’t even regard the game they play as baseball, if that answers your question. And if it doesn’t, no, I’m not. Nor am I a supporter of any designator for them other than “California Angels.”
I wager 400 quatloos on the newcomer!
(That’s trekker, I guess?)
Few things are sadder in this world than nerd jocks.
Yeah, but it’s a sucker bet.
Or a suckie one, if you prefer.
I honestly think you have those backwards.
But! He is half black… on the RIGHT side! :eek: I am half black on the left.
No, TriPolar is describing the historical path to the nomenclature, including her own personal class bashing.
The term “Trekkie” was applied by a science fiction editor (Arthur W. Saha) to the visible Star Trek fan base, and it stuck. Some Star Trek fans were put off by the over-the-top nature of other fans, so they created their own term by using the standard noun form of a verb. To trek is to go on a journey, one who goes on a journey is a trekker. Since that’s a more real word than* trekkie*, it fit the desires of the group wishing to distinguish themselves from the obsessive types to use the more “refined” term.
So one group includes people that are obsessive about Star Trek to the point of being the root of the negative stereotypes, the other group is obsessive that they are not associated with those others and thus are hung up on the label in order to distinguish themselves.
Which is the group that takes themselves too seriously, again?
Clearly, it’s those nerds who tried to start a Jedi religion.
…
What?
(/joke)
It was a joke. I was calling “Trekkers” basement-dwelling weirdos. I understand the history behind both words.
ding ding That would be, Who are Tribeccers. We would have also accepted Tribeccies as well.
Actually, the correct term is “rich hipster douchebag.”
Then your first post should have been
People who are fans of Jeopardy
Voyager, who got tangled up correcting Trebek’s use of scifi when I was on Jeopardy! (Cut, thank Og.)
Scifi was invented by 4sj, who had an excessive love of puns. Today alas, it is used something like this
Person 1: I love scifi. Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien,
Person 2: I like those too, and I also like books such as Childhood’s End
Person 1: It comes in books?
4sj?
her? The “class bashing” part is right though.
Yep. I mention that I like science fiction, and I get people telling me how they love various movies and TV shows. I mention various books, and I get blank looks. I can’t decide if the blank looks are better or worse than the responses of how the person just LOVES Anne Rice and/or Twilight.
Forrest J Ackerman. He loved puns and science fiction and collecting. He was not discriminatory in his collecting, either, if it related to science fiction at all he’d collect it.
Yeah, this kind of insider jargon used in general public where one cannot expect everyone to have insider knowledge is one of the things that gives Trekkies a bad reputation. 