"Get A Life!"

In Henry Jenkins article, Trekkies or fans were stereotyped as "social misfits, unable to separate fantasy from reality, are desexualized, and are brainless consumers". I think the question is are these really stereotypes or are they real characteristics, not just what people think? Who gets to call these Trekkies social misfits or brainless consumers? Who is the one to judge? These Trekkies are only considered social misfits, because it strays away from the norm or mainstream America. There are many people out there that do not like what is different, therefore they give these "different" people bad names, like misfits. I honestly have never seen Star Trek, Star Wars, or even all the Harry Potter movies. It just is not my thing, but I am open to new things and would not be opposed to seeing the movies. I, like many people do tend to think these Trekkies may be weird just because they dress up like the characters or do anything and everything that relates to that specific movie. However, after Jenkins article and our discussions in class it really allowed me to think. Who am I to call these people weird? I may be considered weird to them, because I am obsessed with coffee or have to smell the perfumes anytime I go to the mall. The same idea goes for the stereotype of brainless consumers and desexualized. To be honest I do not think these are nice terms to use and obviously could be taken offensively. To make fun of person, because of a passion is hurtful. Who wants to be called brainless or less of a man or a woman because we are into something we really like? The stereotype, brainless consumer was such a controversial topic in our class. I do not quite understand why they would be considered brainless, because obviously they have a brain and most likely a really smart one at that. Just because these fans have to buy every shirt, movie, poster, or whatever it may be does not make them mindless consumers. They are spending their money and consuming things, what does it matter what they purchase? If a person wants to buy something they like then so be it. It is none of our business if it is their money and their life.

While browsing Youtube, I came across a video of a StarTrek fanatic (the link posted below). This young man, being the age of at least 20 had been a dier fan of Star Trek since the age of three. He has had many so called "commander" uniforms along with books, posters, and even a framed photo of one of the Star Trek characters, Spok and himself. His friends and even his mother did not realize how obsessed he was hence the taping to prove their point in his obsession. This Trekkie can relate to Jenkins articles, when discussing the stereotypes of a fan. He was obviously a fan, but what was really mind-bottling was the fact he seem to be in that stereoptype of not being able to separate fantasy from reality. The person taping him asks questions of the spacecraft, his uniform, and the character Spok. When he answered the questions he was so into and believed that Spok was real and he was the commander of the spacecraft. Maybe he was not being serious, but he looked serious to me. Another question that the video taper asked was if there were any cute girls on the spacecraft. The Trekkie just embarrasingly laughed it off. I could see where Jenkins was coming from when he referred to fans as being desexualized and unable to separate fantasy from reality.

Whether the stereotypes are true or not, it does not matter. People are going to live their life without people telling them what to do. They may have been considered "social misfits", but hey they found a niche and seem to be happy with it! I think it is great these people found a passion as long as they have their priorities in the right place and are not ruining their lives to this obsession. If it does not make them a worse person then yayy for Trekkies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul5q4PTME-M