The difference between Trekkie and Trekker?
- Thread starter NuFan
- Start date
There isn't one.
Although I once saw an interview with Kate Mulgrew where she said she thought "Trekkies" were the passive fans - who watched and enjoyed the shows, and "Trekkers" were the proactive fans who memorized every detail, and also dressed up in the uniforms and went to the conventions and stuff.
Although I once saw an interview with Kate Mulgrew where she said she thought "Trekkies" were the passive fans - who watched and enjoyed the shows, and "Trekkers" were the proactive fans who memorized every detail, and also dressed up in the uniforms and went to the conventions and stuff.
When I was growing up, before TNG, we were Trekkies. Trekkers came later.
Trekkers are exactly the same as Trekkies, with one exception:
"We're Trekkers, not Trekkies! Gawd!"
"We're Trekkers, not Trekkies! Gawd!"
For a while, "Trekkie" was a derogatory term used for Trek fans by outsiders, as an analogy with "hippie," or maybe "Moonie" (a derogatory term for followers of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his eccentric cult). It was intended as a term of ridicule. As with most groups subjected to a derogatory label, Trek fans tried to replace it with a more dignified alternative, latching on "Trekker" by analogy with "trucker," I believe.
But over the past couple of decades, being a science fiction or Star Trek fan has lost a lot of the stigma it used to have, so the negative baggage attached to "Trekkie" has kind of faded. Or perhaps the use of labels like "Yuppie" and "foodie" removed the scent of hostile ridicule from the "-ie" suffix and it came to be seen more neutrally, or even as a term of endearment. So today the distinction between Trekkie and Trekker is somewhat moot.
But over the past couple of decades, being a science fiction or Star Trek fan has lost a lot of the stigma it used to have, so the negative baggage attached to "Trekkie" has kind of faded. Or perhaps the use of labels like "Yuppie" and "foodie" removed the scent of hostile ridicule from the "-ie" suffix and it came to be seen more neutrally, or even as a term of endearment. So today the distinction between Trekkie and Trekker is somewhat moot.
WoW!! All this time I thought the "Trekker" came along to wash away the "stigma" of being a "Trekkie": the fan who still lived with Mom, in her basement, avoided women (except Mom) and memorized all Trek episodes whilst donning their best homemade uniform. (some of us even used reel to reel or cassette players to record the shows audio only (that was before vhs!)...but that's another story).
I thought that "Trekker" was for the serious fan who was able to integrate into society and have a career and family, and help restore honor and dignity to the mantle of being a Trek fan.
Have I... gotten it wrong...all...these...years??
No matter! I subscribe to both! I believe in both! I..am..both!
I thought that "Trekker" was for the serious fan who was able to integrate into society and have a career and family, and help restore honor and dignity to the mantle of being a Trek fan.
Have I... gotten it wrong...all...these...years??
No matter! I subscribe to both! I believe in both! I..am..both!
WoW!! All this time I thought the "Trekker" came along to wash away the "stigma" of being a "Trekkie": the fan who still lived with Mom, in her basement, avoided women (except Mom) and memorized all Trek episodes whilst donning their best homemade uniform. (some of us even used reel to reel or cassette players to record the shows audio only (that was before vhs!)...but that's another story).
I thought that "Trekker" was for the serious fan who was able to integrate into society and have a career and family, and help restore honor and dignity to the mantle of being a Trek fan.
Have I... gotten it wrong...all...these...years??
No matter! I subscribe to both! I believe in both! I..am..both!
Nope, your initial assumption is pretty much as mine. David Gerrold covered this long ago, in 'The World Of Star Trek'.
Trekkies - Basically the low-tier fans, whose interest primarily revolved around specific character(s) or element(s) of the show (this was back when TOS was all there was, folks). Notorious for goofy costumes, and let's not forget the ears.
Trekkers - Had a more broad-based and ..... measured interest in the show. Capable of rationally discussing things like the philosophy or messages of various episodes, etc.. Also known for having lives and interests outside of Trek.
Trekkists - The Fans Who Got S##t Done (cons, newsletters, organizations, etc. - pre-Internet, mind you) and/or run a serious business that somehow tied into Trek (professional costuming, for example). IMO, this bunch were and are quite possibly linked to the SMOF.
Of course, this was all a heckuva long time ago. As with a lot of things, there may have been some evolution since. But, as far as I am concerned, the above definitions still work.
That's about the size of it
or to put it another way "Trekkie" is what other people call us, we call ourselves "Trekkers"
toh-may-to/toh-mah-to
WoW!! All this time I thought the "Trekker" came along to wash away the "stigma" of being a "Trekkie": the fan who still lived with Mom, in her basement, avoided women (except Mom) and memorized all Trek episodes whilst donning their best homemade uniform. (some of us even used reel to reel or cassette players to record the shows audio only (that was before vhs!)...but that's another story).
I thought that "Trekker" was for the serious fan who was able to integrate into society and have a career and family, and help restore honor and dignity to the mantle of being a Trek fan.
Have I... gotten it wrong...all...these...years??
No matter! I subscribe to both! I believe in both! I..am..both!
Nope, your initial assumption is pretty much as mine. David Gerrold covered this long ago, in 'The World Of Star Trek'.
Trekkies - Basically the low-tier fans, whose interest primarily revolved around specific character(s) or element(s) of the show (this was back when TOS was all there was, folks). Notorious for goofy costumes, and let's not forget the ears.
Trekkers - Had a more broad-based and ..... measured interest in the show. Capable of rationally discussing things like the philosophy or messages of various episodes, etc.. Also known for having lives and interests outside of Trek.
Trekkists - The Fans Who Got S##t Done (cons, newsletters, organizations, etc. - pre-Internet, mind you) and/or run a serious business that somehow tied into Trek (professional costuming, for example). IMO, this bunch were and are quite possibly linked to the SMOF.
Of course, this was all a heckuva long time ago. As with a lot of things, there may have been some evolution since. But, as far as I am concerned, the above definitions still work.
So would "Trekologist" be the highest form of existence of Trek fans?
WoW!! All this time I thought the "Trekker" came along to wash away the "stigma" of being a "Trekkie": the fan who still lived with Mom, in her basement, avoided women (except Mom) and memorized all Trek episodes whilst donning their best homemade uniform. (some of us even used reel to reel or cassette players to record the shows audio only (that was before vhs!)...but that's another story).
I thought that "Trekker" was for the serious fan who was able to integrate into society and have a career and family, and help restore honor and dignity to the mantle of being a Trek fan.
Have I... gotten it wrong...all...these...years??
No matter! I subscribe to both! I believe in both! I..am..both!
Nope, your initial assumption is pretty much as mine. David Gerrold covered this long ago, in 'The World Of Star Trek'.
Trekkies - Basically the low-tier fans, whose interest primarily revolved around specific character(s) or element(s) of the show (this was back when TOS was all there was, folks). Notorious for goofy costumes, and let's not forget the ears.
Trekkers - Had a more broad-based and ..... measured interest in the show. Capable of rationally discussing things like the philosophy or messages of various episodes, etc.. Also known for having lives and interests outside of Trek.
Trekkists - The Fans Who Got S##t Done (cons, newsletters, organizations, etc. - pre-Internet, mind you) and/or run a serious business that somehow tied into Trek (professional costuming, for example). IMO, this bunch were and are quite possibly linked to the SMOF.
Of course, this was all a heckuva long time ago. As with a lot of things, there may have been some evolution since. But, as far as I am concerned, the above definitions still work.
So would "Trekologist" be the highest form of existence of Trek fans?
Give it a century or so, maybe.
I call myself a Trekkie.
I guess it lost a lot of stigma, Trekkies and Trekkers, because it isn't really a bad thing to hooked on sci-fi shows...not unless you start doing drugs. That's my opinion, and plus, there are a lot of people who really enjoy sci-fi, particularly ST...more than people realize. In fact...a federal judge is the one that organize the game night that I go to every Wednesday.
How are these two things even remotely related?
Exactly! They don't! [chuckle]
Fair enough. I use the distinction myself, but it doesn't bother me that others choose not to. To each their own, indeed.
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