Ummm. . .we're not 'geeks'. . .how did that happen?
POSTED BY: Static
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 4, 2004 12:12
VIEWED: 10890
PAGE 1 of 6
You know. . .I've written several posts that I re-read and deleted because I wasn't sure how to approach this. . .
But I guess I'll come out and say it. . .
I've noticed that as ENTHUSIASTIC and DEDICATED as we "Browncoats" are. . .we manage to artfully avoid falling into the stereotype of scifi fans that end up wearing prosthetic foreheads, spouting klingon and elvish and just generally creeping the regular public out.
"RAY. . .you're scaring the straights!"
Why is that. . .do you suppose? My theory is. . .
Firefly. . .compared to Star Wars, Trek and everything else. . .is actually FAIRLY EASY for someone to 'wrap their head around' . . .no uber-technology. . .no stupid holodecks, transporter beams, no friggin' 'aft thermocouple' that ALWAYS seemed to screw up, but Geordi never had the sense to have an EXTRA one. . .No alien races and wierd cultures where chewing with your mouth open might woefully offend them into war. . .
It's US. . .our SAME stuggles. . .our SAME conflicts. . .just spread out a bit more. Ya know? It's too close to reality for even the MOST die-hard fans to get unrealistic.
Am I making sense?
==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
You are certainly making sense!
And I agree with you, that this level of devotion would normally have an associated 'geek'-factor. Maybe it's just that browncoats look like normal wear so we pass under the radar of oddness 
---
"I think the right place to start is to say, fair is fair. This is who we are. These are our numbers." Mr Willis of Ohio - The West Wing
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
You make good points, but what's wrong with being a geek? What's wrong with knowing how to fix the continually busted aft thermocouple? Or learning chinese, or klingon, or elvish?
To a certain point, it's not your problem if your passion makes people uncomfortable. So long as your not harassing them, scaring the straights is a good thing.
I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by BarneyT:
You are certainly making sense!
And I agree with you, that this level of devotion would normally have an associated 'geek'-factor. Maybe it's just that browncoats look like normal wear so we pass under the radar of oddness
I agree: Static makes a ton of sense; however, I think that BarneyT's answer is exactly right. Any "costumes" we might wear for Firefly look enough like normal clothing that we don't immediately stand out to the general public, unlike those that wear the Federation jumpsuits, prosthetic foreheads, Princess Leia cinnamon bun hair, elf ears, and all the other myriad incarnations of costuming prevalent among the fandom of other sci-fi shows.
I submit that we actually are geeks - and just as geeky as Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, et all, fans - we just don't stand out as easily in a crowd of non-fans. (I am a fan of all the aforementioned, and have worn all the costumes, so I know whereof I speak.
)~A~
...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
LOL- Maybe we ARE geeks, and just dont know it- For the love of Pete, I'm getting a Jayne hat- Do you think the guy who dresses up as a Klingon and learns the Klingon dialect thinks HE's a geek? doubt it- - But, I think what separates Browncoats is the lack of technobabble, the lack of aliens, etc.- I (we?) like FF because of the characters and the dialogue, not because they have cool looking aliens and a crew of geniuses (cmon, really, the folks on STTNG were Sci-Fi's UBERCREW, not realistic) -
But what do I know, I have a small collection of B5 merchandise, and bought a Jayne hat- 
------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Maybe we are just geeks flyin' below the radar. LOL
I think Static has a point. Firefly is not based on uber-technology, does not have a bunch of aliens, nor is there a ton of techno-geek jargen to try to translate. For these reasons, Firefly is the best sci fi series I have ever watched.
The one thing about shows like Star Trek that just don't keep my attention is the writers need to fill lines of script w/ techno babble that is way over the average persons head. I especially hate it when two engineering types get together and start talking about thermowidgets and inverted phase thingamabobs and talk so fast that I get a headache trying to listen to them. They may as well be speaking Greek.
I love Stargate SG 1, but when Carter starts babbling on about technical things and spacial anamoly theories, I go crosseyed just like O'Neill and want to just tell her "Stop! Say it in Captain dumb speak."
Firefly to me is easier to follow and lacks all the unnecessary techno mombo-jombo other shows use to try to impress people. Me personally, I would rather have a good script and a damn fine cast than all of those fancy bells and whistles.
"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
In answer to your question, SevenPercent, most of us that dress up as Klingons and attempt to (or actually do) learn the language actually DO think that we're geeks and nerds... and we revel in being outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, movies like Trekkies take the few that are truly, severely extremist and pretend that they are the majority, thus giving the world the impression that we all sit around wearing our costumes and speaking Klingon for no reason whatsoever (most of us only do that at conventions). End Rant
Sorry, this is just something I'm a bit passionate about... I truly hate wide-sweeping generalizations, and the media tends to exaggerate them.
Browncoat1: I am totally in agreement with your statements about being better able to get into Firefly because of the lack of technobabble. Until Firefly came along, I truly missed seeing the Star Trek that used to actually delve in character development, rather than the "technology of the week", and after a while, all the aliens start to look the same.
Now, in the words of Nathan and Allan (War Stories commentary): "Why did they cancel this show again?"
idiot central (FOX)
~A~
...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Okay. . .I can see that. That makes perfect sense.
I, myself, have always been a big fan of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. . .From Dr. Who to Andromeda to Farscape. . .all of it. I've attended several cons, and other such gatherings. . .but when I got around people I knew who wore the jumpsuits or Klingon armor or somesuch, my internal systems always said, "Whoa. . .whoa whoa whoa. . .calm down." And I NEVER posted on a fansite for ANY of these shows. . .no matter HOW much I loved them. Just never did.
I hope Joss read this thread and takes some measure of inspiration from the observation that HIS creation is the ONLY venue in the ENTIRE genre that I love so dearly. . .that I've delved into this DEPTH of devotion.
Yes. . .I have a website bookmarked where I can find a really good brown trenchcoat. . .I already have a lever-action 30.06 with the western style 'loop' lever for one-handed action that a gunsmith buddy of mine will cut down for me. . .AND the same gunsmith buddy said he can probably craft a WORKING replica of Mal's pistol.
wow
I've ALWAYS preferred chopsticks to regular utensils, and I've toyed with learning how to swear in Chineese because I work with kids and officers (not much difference) whom I wouldn't want to swear in front of. . .
Boy I feel like I'm at a 'geeks anonymous' meeting. . .confession time. *laugh*
I think the reason I've always been a little 'edgy' about the ones I describe in my first post. . .wearing the foreheads. . .speaking Klingon. . .all that. . .is because I perform at a Renaissance Festival. . .enthusiastically, by the way. . .and every year, we have a contingent of Klingons that show up in full regalia.
Now. . .let me say that again.
Every year, we have a contingent of KLINGONS . . .that show up in FULL REGALIA. . .at a RENAISSANCE festival.
Now. . .
People who attend RenFests in Renaissance costumes don't bother me at all.
People who attend Sci-Fi cons in Sci Fi costumes don't bother me at all.
People who MIX the two. . .for reasons I can't describe. . .BUG THE CRUD out of me. If you're one of those types, then more power to you, I love you for who you are.
I could go on more about this, but I won't because you are all very cool people in my book and I really don't want to offend you or hurt your feelings.
MY delicate sensibilities are MY problem, and I'll deal with them. I just felt like offering some insight about myself and if I offended, please forgive.
==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Boy I feel like I'm at a 'geeks anonymous' meeting. . .confession time. *laugh*
Hi, my name's Barney and I'm a geek... If I had enough money, I'd be a geek with a replica of Hadhafang (Arwen's sword from Lord of the Rings, for the non-Ring-geeks!)...
I suppose there isn't much to Firefly that shrieks 'geekdom' to the outside world, but I bet there are some non-fans out there who mutter everytime they hear someone say 'gorram'!
---
"I think the right place to start is to say, fair is fair. This is who we are. These are our numbers." Mr Willis of Ohio - The West Wing
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I have attended several Cons and met many people who like to get into costume and portray one Star Trek race or another. I have hung out with and got to know some of them and I must say they are good, perfectly sane folk, like anyone else.
A little story:
Two years ago at Dragon Con in Atlanta, we were sitting in a sports bar around midnight having a few drinks. They have karaoke at this bar, and there were a bunch of people singing that night. Karaoke is not normally my thing, but no way in a special Hell are you getting me up there. I have to say that anyone that does do it has guts.
Anyway, a guy in full Klingon costume including the forehead piece, wig, weapons, the whole nine yards takes the mic and sings Kenny Rogers "Lady". People heckled him at first, but this guy was a trooper, and he had one heck of a voice. He was the best singer that evening, and when he was done, we invited him to join us and bought him drinks. I got to talk to him awhile and he was a heck of a guy. I still email him and consider him a friend.
I guess what I am trying to say is that Astriana is right, you can't generalize all Trek fans into the stereotype the media tries to lump them into. I have yet to meet one of those the news speaks of, as all I have met are regular folk who are passionate about a show like I am about Firefly.
Astriana: I gave up on Trek when they got all wrapped up in the techno thing of the week. I really liked the original and the character development. I even liked the first three seasons of STtNG until it went over the top on me.
Guess Firefly for me is sci fi grounded with some reality and good old fashioned character development and good script writing.
"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME