What you got from Star Trek....

[Warped9]

Star Trek wasn't my introduction to science fiction. For me that started in the '60s watching Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Lost In Space, Twilight Zone, UFO, Time Tunnel, Land Of The Giants, Space Ghost, Stingray and The Thunderbirds, The Adventures Of Superman and Flash Gordon serials on The Commander Tom Show.

But Star Trek changed my perception and understanding of what good science fiction could be. And it opened new areas of interest that I desperately wanted to understand since the show spoke on an adult level. Things like history, politics, astronomy and space flight sciences.

Star Trek taught me that ideas matter.

And so in retrospect it's amusing to recall how my father occasionally teased me about watching things that were and will always be impossible. It's amusing in light of him being a child of the '30s and how many changes and advances he must have seen in his lifetime.

Star Trek has often been written off as just a TV show by many. But I'm not shy to say that I always took the show seriously and that it was very important to me. After everything else it was a wonderful refuge of sanity in a world that could often be very confusing.

 

[QuasarVM]

Star Trek inspired me to draw at a very young age...

 

[Gary7]

I was a toddler when Star Trek aired... so, unfortunately I wasn't able to make much sense of what was really going on until I caught it in reruns later on. During that time, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost In Space, UFO, Space: 1999, and Twilight Zone episodes were my staple of Sci-Fi. Later, Battlestar Galactica.

At different points in time, the other shows became my favorite, over Star Trek... but that didn't last. I guess it was all down to variety. After a while, you know all of the Star Trek episodes and so the interest isn't as strong as with something new. Once those newer shows were done... I was back to Star Trek. Always came back to it.

I got a lot from Star Trek. The depth of the stories. The character interaction. The insight into humanity... but my parents didn't get it, kind of like what happened with you Warped9. The most infuriating thing was my mother chiding me for watching it, warning that "Mr. Spock will become your role model, an emotionless and cold person. Do you want that?". "Oh look, he's watching Star Trek again..." (with an air of disapproval). They didn't get it. And they weren't open minded enough to allow me to explain it. Unfortunately, their "pressure" always made me feel a little unsure of myself. I had created a lot of drawings from Star Trek... built the models... even wrote episodes. But I was never encouraged to embrace it (quite the opposite). Seriously, I think if I hadn't been discouraged, I'd have become a writer and possibly gained enough skill in time to write for TNG. By the time I wised up to the availability of a writer's guide, amateur submissions were barred.

Anyway, I'm just glad I didn't completely lose the spirit... and was eventually vindicated. Star Trek has been an incredible entertainment phenomenon, unlike anything else. It would have been so amazing to have become a part of it though, contributed in some way...

 

[Kelso]

Trek was my first introduction to quite a bit of literature. I remember struggling through Hamlet for the first time (I was probably ten-ish) after my mother explained the origins of "The Conscience of the King." Macbeth wasn't far behind ("Dagger of the Mind"). I had trouble with the language but it got me started.

In elementary school, I discovered that several of the Star Trek writers had also written books and short stories (I didn't yet know that it was the other way around). Thus, was my introduction to the works of Harlan Ellison and Theodore Sturgeon (others followed later- Spinrad, Bixby, Gerrold, etc.)

I'll never forget the first time I (as a lonely, geeky twelve year old) read Sturgeon's A Saucer of Loneliness...

"There is in certain living souls
A quality of loneliness unspeakable,
So great it must be shared
As company is shared by lesser beings.
Such a loneliness is mine; so know by this
That in immensity
There is one lonelier than you"

 

[Kirby]

I started watching Star Trek in 4th grade, around 1977 right after my world was rocked by Star Wars. In Trek I discovered teamwork, that everone has something to contribute (even Chekov!), leadership, science, and dedication to doing the right thing.
One thing I learned the hard way was how not to fight. I tried to fight a kid using Kirk's flying drop kick and completely missed, tubmled to the ground in a heap and then proceded to get mt ass kicked. Not to mention mocked and ridiculed... I should have gone with the double fisted judo chop.

 

[IrritatingGameOfChess]

I was a toddler when Star Trek aired... so, unfortunately I wasn't able to make much sense of what was really going on until I caught it in reruns later on. During that time, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost In Space, UFO, Space: 1999, and Twilight Zone episodes were my staple of Sci-Fi. Later, Battlestar Galactica.

At different points in time, the other shows became my favorite, over Star Trek... but that didn't last. I guess it was all down to variety. After a while, you know all of the Star Trek episodes and so the interest isn't as strong as with something new. Once those newer shows were done... I was back to Star Trek. Always came back to it.

I got a lot from Star Trek. The depth of the stories. The character interaction. The insight into humanity... but my parents didn't get it, kind of like what happened with you Warped9. The most infuriating thing was my mother chiding me for watching it, warning that "Mr. Spock will become your role model, an emotionless and cold person. Do you want that?". "Oh look, he's watching Star Trek again..." (with an air of disapproval). They didn't get it. And they weren't open minded enough to allow me to explain it. Unfortunately, their "pressure" always made me feel a little unsure of myself. I had created a lot of drawings from Star Trek... built the models... even wrote episodes. But I was never encouraged to embrace it (quite the opposite). Seriously, I think if I hadn't been discouraged, I'd have become a writer and possibly gained enough skill in time to write for TNG. By the time I wised up to the availability of a writer's guide, amateur submissions were barred.

Anyway, I'm just glad I didn't completely lose the spirit... and was eventually vindicated. Star Trek has been an incredible entertainment phenomenon, unlike anything else. It would have been so amazing to have become a part of it though, contributed in some way...

Great post! Some of your experiences are similar to what I went through. My parents just didn't get it (my mother in particular) but when I was a young teen my father still brought me to conventions...

Do you still write your own Trek fiction or your own fiction? I'm almost 40 years old and still draw Trek art (in addition to portrait art, some of which I sell professionally). The best thing about Trek is that fans can discuss the moral dilemmas of the plots and so forth, and then get in touch with their inner child and draw things like starships with lots of nacelles!

 

[Ssosmcin]

Trek introduced me to science fiction. I don't remember any period in my life when I didn't love the show. I was as young as 4 when I became engrossed in it - that's as early as my memories go, so 1971 is my Trek Birth Year. I remember getting my entire family - Dad, Mom and sis, into it. They remained fans throughout their lives. Even as the family broke up due to divorce and lives changing, we always got together every couple of years from 1979 to 1994 to see the newest Trek movie in theaters. Dad died in 96 and mom in 2003, but my sister and I will still get together to see the newest film.

My love of Trek opened the door for Space:1999, Buck Rogers, Galactica, V, Voyage, LIS, Time Tunnel, any adventure based SF show. Back when SF and TV in general was fun and not drearily serious. It opened my imagination.

Other than that, it didn't help me choose a career or anything.

One thing I learned the hard way was how not to fight. I tried to fight a kid using Kirk's flying drop kick and completely missed, tubmled to the ground in a heap and then proceded to get mt ass kicked. Not to mention mocked and ridiculed... I should have gone with the double fisted judo chop.

Dude, did a lot of us do this? This is exactly what happened to me! The other kid just - stepped out of the way. WHAM! Down I went. It was humiliating...

 

[JiNX-01]

Star Trek gave me science fiction I could be passionate about.

 

[trevanian]

Trek introduced me to science fiction. I don't remember any period in my life when I didn't love the show. I was as young as 4 when I became engrossed in it - that's as early as my memories go, so 1971 is my Trek Birth Year. I remember getting my entire family - Dad, Mom and sis, into it. They remained fans throughout their lives. Even as the family broke up due to divorce and lives changing, we always got together every couple of years from 1979 to 1994 to see the newest Trek movie in theaters. Dad died in 96 and mom in 2003, but my sister and I will still get together to see the newest film.

My love of Trek opened the door for Space:1999, Buck Rogers, Galactica, V, Voyage, LIS, Time Tunnel, any adventure based SF show. Back when SF and TV in general was fun and not drearily serious. It opened my imagination.

Other than that, it didn't help me choose a career or anything.

One thing I learned the hard way was how not to fight. I tried to fight a kid using Kirk's flying drop kick and completely missed, tubmled to the ground in a heap and then proceded to get mt ass kicked. Not to mention mocked and ridiculed... I should have gone with the double fisted judo chop.

Dude, did a lot of us do this? This is exactly what happened to me! The other kid just - stepped out of the way. WHAM! Down I went. It was humiliating...

Good thing you didn't grow up on STARSKY & HUTCH, you'd have tried jumping off the hood of a car spinning donuts to tackle the kid and wound up impaled on a mailbox.

 

[sbk1234]

Like so many, I was chided by my parents for being, in my father's words, a "Star Trek Freak." And, yes, I had to put up with the comments about how wierd those Star Trek fans were. (Of course, Heaven help me if I ever critisized the people bare chested (often in sub-freezing temeratures) and painted the team colors of the sports games my father was watching.
What I gained from that experience, is to be a lot more open minded, when it comes to the things my kids like to watch, even if they aren't my cup of tea.
I also learned to be more open minded in general, and to accept others' points of view, as well as a desire to settle disputes peacefully. I gained an attitude that even though such things may be unlikely, anything is possible, such as peace in the Middle East, and so on.
I also met my best friend in line at a Star Trek convention, so I need to thank Star Trek for introducing me to him. (That was back in 1986. We're still friends.)

 

[Daneel]

Aside from a lot of fun science-fiction adventures, I got the same thing out of it that Philip J. Fry did:

FRY: It... it taught me so much. Like, how you should accept people, whether they be black, white, Klingon or even female...

 

[Ghrakh]

Star Trek inspired me to draw at a very young age...

Same here.

 

[Cakes488]

Star Trek gave me science fiction I could be passionate about.

Well it didn't make me crazy for the sci-fi genre but my older brother
introduced me to Star Trek as a child and we would enjoy watching it together in the 70's....I feel like I was born watching Star Trek! I didn't understand half the stuff but that didn't deter me!! I eclipsed my brother long long ago with love for Star Trek...but at least he has an easy time with what to get me for x-mas. However, I do hold him fully responsible for my Star Trek addiction.
Star Trek also introduced me to staying up late since it was on at midnight. That was my routine, odd couple, honeymooners and then the best -- Star Trek. These night owl habits still persist to this day, but I do remember being very impressed with the diversified crew and it just made me appreciate this show even more. I will say I get really pissed --even though I try not to show it --- when a non trekker belittles Star Trek. I try my best to logically argue the merits of the show but I usually just end up insulting whoever is attacking my beloved crew. Ok I'm rambling now.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Liberal hippie commie ideas.

 

[QuasarVM]

But KIRK was not a flaming liberal hippie communist.

In fact, by today's standards he'd be a flaming conservative!

I hate it when people blame Star Trek for being liberal. It's just a TV show...it's not meant to be a social roadmap -- anymore than any other TV show. The kinds of issues they dramatized on the show were really pretty common sense...and actually more reflected "JFK liberalism". "JFK liberalism" was not the radical form we see in society today. And again, by today's standards JFK would be flaming conservative.

Anyway, let's put it like this, if I seriously thought it was conduit for liberal thinking I wouldn't waste my time with it.

Hmmm...I think that may be why I don't like the series after TOS as much as that one.

 

[Kemaiku]

More ship ideas than even my massive Lego collection would allow. I had 56 littering my room at one point.

 

[Cakes488]

But KIRK was not a flaming liberal hippie communist.

In fact, by today's standards he'd be a flaming conservative!

I hate it when people blame Star Trek for being liberal. It's just a TV show...it's not meant to be a social roadmap -- anymore than any other TV show. The kinds of issues they dramatized on the show were really pretty common sense...and actually more reflected "JFK liberalism". "JFK liberalism" was not the radical form we see in society today. And again, by today's standards JFK would be flaming conservative.

Anyway, let's put it like this, if I seriously thought it was conduit for liberal thinking I wouldn't waste my time with it.

Hmmm...I think that may be why I don't like the series after TOS as much as that one.

If you thought it was a conduit for liberal thinking you wouldn't of wasted your time with it????????????????? Yes liberal thinking is evil evil evil!!!
If you look up Liberal *spit hiss filthy word* it means broad minded. If you look up conservative it means preferring to stay the same old stinky way and not open to change. Whether Star Trek meant to be "liberal" or not.... I don't know...but is sure came across that way in any case.

 

[QuasarVM]

But KIRK was not a flaming liberal hippie communist.

In fact, by today's standards he'd be a flaming conservative!

I hate it when people blame Star Trek for being liberal. It's just a TV show...it's not meant to be a social roadmap -- anymore than any other TV show. The kinds of issues they dramatized on the show were really pretty common sense...and actually more reflected "JFK liberalism". "JFK liberalism" was not the radical form we see in society today. And again, by today's standards JFK would be flaming conservative.

Anyway, let's put it like this, if I seriously thought it was conduit for liberal thinking I wouldn't waste my time with it.

Hmmm...I think that may be why I don't like the series after TOS as much as that one.

If you thought it was a conduit for liberal thinking you wouldn't of wasted your time with it????????????????? Yes liberal thinking is evil evil evil!!!
If you look up Liberal *spit hiss filthy word* it means broad minded. If you look up conservative it means preferring to stay the same old stinky way and not open to change. Whether Star Trek meant to be "liberal" or not.... I don't know...but is sure came across that way in any case.

HAHAHAHA!!! Broad minded?

Please.

Again, TOS is not really liberal...at least not in the modern sense. Today's liberals would let the Klingons overrun the Federation and then learn to speak Klingonese so as not to offend them.

I have a VERY hard time seeing James T Kirk go along with that kind of thinking.

Sorry if you're pissed or offended, but I'm a diehard conservative and proud of it! I make no apologies for that either.

 

[Nerys Myk]

But KIRK was not a flaming liberal hippie communist.

In fact, by today's standards he'd be a flaming conservative!

I hate it when people blame Star Trek for being liberal. It's just a TV show...it's not meant to be a social roadmap -- anymore than any other TV show. The kinds of issues they dramatized on the show were really pretty common sense...and actually more reflected "JFK liberalism". "JFK liberalism" was not the radical form we see in society today. And again, by today's standards JFK would be flaming conservative.

Anyway, let's put it like this, if I seriously thought it was conduit for liberal thinking I wouldn't waste my time with it.

Hmmm...I think that may be why I don't like the series after TOS as much as that one.

I was watching in the 60s and 70s. In that time frame it was a liberal hippie commie show. Peace, love and understanding.(You know IDIC) Not all that different than the ideas liberalism promotes today. The counter culture and the college kids loved it. Moral messages up the wazoo. Don't let the military setting and weapons fool you. It leaned a bit to the left and was a gateway drug to even more liberal ideas.

 

[Cakes488]

But KIRK was not a flaming liberal hippie communist.

In fact, by today's standards he'd be a flaming conservative!

I hate it when people blame Star Trek for being liberal. It's just a TV show...it's not meant to be a social roadmap -- anymore than any other TV show. The kinds of issues they dramatized on the show were really pretty common sense...and actually more reflected "JFK liberalism". "JFK liberalism" was not the radical form we see in society today. And again, by today's standards JFK would be flaming conservative.

Anyway, let's put it like this, if I seriously thought it was conduit for liberal thinking I wouldn't waste my time with it.

Hmmm...I think that may be why I don't like the series after TOS as much as that one.

If you thought it was a conduit for liberal thinking you wouldn't of wasted your time with it????????????????? Yes liberal thinking is evil evil evil!!!
If you look up Liberal *spit hiss filthy word* it means broad minded. If you look up conservative it means preferring to stay the same old stinky way and not open to change. Whether Star Trek meant to be "liberal" or not.... I don't know...but is sure came across that way in any case.

HAHAHAHA!!! Broad minded?

Please.

Again, TOS is not really liberal...at least not in the modern sense. Today's liberals would let the Klingons overrun the Federation and then learn to speak Klingonese so as not to offend them.

I have a VERY hard time seeing James T Kirk go along with that kind of thinking.

Sorry if you're pissed or offended, but I'm a diehard conservative and proud of it! I make no apologies for that either.

I see you didn't look it up! I'm not pissed or offended...just sarcastic..... But TOS is completely liberal...hello..... they had a freak alien and black woman in full view on the bridge...and that's just the tip of the ole iceberg......but it's clear that we're going to have to agree to disagree since I'm one of those flaming liberals and very proud of it! However, I don't subscribe to doctrine just because it's labeled liberal...I judge each issue seperately and independently...I can bet that we actually (probably, maybe ) will even agree on some things & issues.... can you imagine that!