Trekkie

Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term that in recent decades has been used to describe a fan of the Star Trek science fiction franchise.

The word "Trekkie"

The term Trekkie is sometimes considered derogatory, perhaps because of a perceived parallel to the term groupie. Some Star Trek enthusiasts prefer the term Trekker, while some others hold the latter term to be stupid or pretentious, and, for that reason, self-identify as Trekkies. Some Trekkies even say that a Trekker is a Trekkie who is embarrassed for being Trekkie. On the other hand, Trekker is sometimes used as a term for the kind of Star Trek fan who is obsessed with the fine details.

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"Trekker" actually has its origins in the early days. When the media picked up on the word "Trekkies," some of the fans thought that sounded too much like "Crazies."

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In the late 1960s, science-fiction editor Art Saha applied the term "trekkies" when he saw a few fans of Star Trek's first season wearing pointy ears at a science fiction convention. He used the term in an interview with Pete Hamill that Hamill was conducting for TV Guide concerning the phenomenon of science fiction. Today, the word is found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, and aficionados of the long-run series have seen their subculture achieve stratospheric status. Not all "Trekkies" are created equal, however, with some having distinct preferences for ', ', ', ', ', or the movies. Some are also fans of the Pocket Books tie-in novel franchise and the comic books.

Related Topics:
1960s - TV Guide - Concise Oxford Dictionary - Pocket Books - Tie-in novel - Franchise - Comic books

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A 1997 documentary film, called Trekkies, chronicled some of these devoted fans; a sequel followed in 2003. The argument that Trekkie is the correct term is settled once and for all by the director of Trekkies Roger Nygard by this post on the official web-site for the documentary. When a fan posed the question of why the film was called Trekkies and not Trekker, Nygard had this to say:

Related Topics:
1997 - Trekkies - 2003 - Roger Nygard

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Gene Roddenberry's former assistant and Star Trek researcher, told us the following story, and that clinched it for us.

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Gene (Roddenberry) didn't recognize the term "Trekker" however. Somebody once corrected him when he used "Trekkie" on stage. He responded, "Excuse me, did you say 'TrekkER?' The word is 'TrekkIE.' I should know, I created them."

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http://www.trekdoc.com/database/fanfeed/1.htm

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The term Trekkie, originally intended only to describe enthusiasts of Star Trek, has so often been used to describe its most ardent, diehard fans, that the term has also been used sometimes to indicate obsession itself. For example, there is a character in the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q named Trekkie Monster who is obsessed, not with Star Trek, but with internet porn. Because he is called Trekkie, however, the audience assumes his enthusiasm is focused and insatiable.

Related Topics:
Star Trek - Broadway musical - Avenue Q - Trekkie Monster - Internet porn

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The first people to call themselves Trekkies are believed to be writers of Slash fiction involving James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock.

Related Topics:
Slash fiction - James T. Kirk - Mr. Spock

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