BiTrektual

[DeimosMasque]

I've been a Aurelio Voltaire fan for a very long time. I even have his home decor book 'Paint it Black' and met him in person a few times at conventions and concerts. I sort of lost track of him a few years back but then just a few months ago I found out about this album called BiTrektual. The album itself is good but not spectacular, it's mostly new versions of a previous album he did with Star Trek themed songs. But this one song made me think.

However, it made me think about how divided the sci-fi fan community is divided, even in there own "groups." Among the Trekkers alone you have the TOS vs Everything Else people. The Kirk vs Picard people (BTW the answer has and always been Sisko) The people who love Voyager and the people who hate Enterprise. Even further divided by those who like the JJ Abrams movies and those who hate them.

And it made me think about something else. I love Firefly, Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon Five, Lost in Space, Dragon's Egg, Robocop, Total Recall, Doctor Who, Stargate SG-1, Farscape, the Foundation Series, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Event Horizon, and so much more when it comes to Sci-Fi.

Why do we all draw lines in the sand and say "You like Star Trek, you can't understand why I like Star Wars." and other such nonsense.

With so much good sci-fi in the past, and so little good sci-fi coming out now a days why are we not joining together and showing that there is still an audience for science fiction besides "Action Movie set in the Future"

So why do we do it? Why do we just squabble about if the Brown Coats are better than the Trekkies. Why do we attack Star Wars for just being "lightsabers" instead of the smart political ideals being shown in the trilogies? Why do people hate Farscape because "it has muppets" Etc Etc Etc if you're a Sci-Fi fan you've heard them all.

TLDR: So come on let's not fight... it's so unintellectual. How about we join sides and be BiTrektual.

 

[shrekfan246]

Why do we all draw lines in the sand and say "You like Star Trek, you can't understand why I like Star Wars." and other such nonsense.

Because clan warfare and tribal thinking.

Also the fact that many humans are bull-headed, confrontational/contrarian, and defensive, especially when it comes to their hobbies, especially when said hobbies have earned them weird looks or snide remarks in the past.

I mean, granted, I completely agree with you. I like the Star Wars prequels and have enjoyed all of the Star Trek movies I've seen, which include The Motion Picture, all of the TNG films, and both Abrams films. Just because I like those doesn't mean I don't also love the original Star Wars trilogy, TOS, or Deep Space Nine. The former may be dumber than their forebears, but they're still mostly entertaining in their own rights.

And while I've never cared about Voyager and refuse to even watch Enterprise, I'm not going to begrudge the people who like those series'. They're perfectly entitled to do as such, just as whenever I talk about Final Fantasy XIII, I'm going to rail on the game, not the people who like it. It's inconsiderate to think less of someone because of their tastes and preferences, and just plain mean and rude to outright insult them for enjoying something you think is bad. Why should I give a toss if someone loves Final Fantasy XIII? It doesn't affect my life in any way. The most I'll do is try to convince them to play older FF games if they haven't already.

 

[SnakeTrousers]

I don't know.

I don't really watch Star Trek.

I'm just glad to see someone else here who listens to Voltaire.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I met Voltair at a close friend's hand fasting last summer. He's an awesome, Awesome individual and I agree with the sentiment that we really shouldn't fight about what sci-fi series we prefer. I like Star Wars, I like Star Trek (Next Gen, Wrath of Khan, JJ Abrams 1st ST movie, Original series), I like Dr. Who...I don't see why there has to be animosity at all but then again, I'm the kind of person who laments how rare it is to see Contemporary or, Futuristic Sci-Fantasy. Stupid lines in the sand...all I want to see are laser-armed ships flying through space to destroy the dragons being controlled by the Dark Sorcerers from the Galactic Core...

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Well, there can be no art appreciation without discrimination. I can't very well like everything.

 

[DeimosMasque]

Well, there can be no art appreciation without discrimination. I can't very well like everything.

I don't not agree with you but I think there is a difference of having a different preference in movies and having a legitimate animosity for fans of a work you do not like. I'm not a fan of the Transformer live action movies but I don't see any reason to hate the people who do for example.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Well, there can be no art appreciation without discrimination. I can't very well like everything.

I don't not agree with you but I think there is a difference of having a different preference in movies and having a legitimate animosity for fans of a work you do not like. I'm not a fan of the Transformer live action movies but I don't see any reason to hate the people who do for example.

I never said anything about hate, all I said is I can't like everything because of thematic similarities.

 

[DeimosMasque]

Oh I know, I wasn't talking about your specifically more the thesis of my topic which was "Why do we fight about it all the time rather than just live and let live"

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Among the Trekkers alone you have the TOS vs Everything Else people. The Kirk vs Picard people (BTW the answer has and always been Sisko) The people who love Voyager and the people who hate Enterprise. Even further divided by those who like the JJ Abrams movies and those who hate them.

And it made me think about something else. I love Firefly, Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon Five, Lost in Space, Dragon's Egg, Robocop, Total Recall, Doctor Who, Stargate SG-1, Farscape, the Foundation Series, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Event Horizon, and so much more when it comes to Sci-Fi.

**grin**

Actually, I'm weird. I like TOS and DS9, but find TNG meh and hated both Voyager and Enterprise.

Although, I agree about one thing. Sisco is the best captain, bar none. Sisco has all the best traits of both Kirk and Picard mixed, and cooks awesome cajun food besides.

Typically, I go Sisco > Kirk > Picard > Janeway > that other guy on Enterprise.

Also props for giving Babylon 5 and Farscape some love. Those are my two favorite sci-fi series ever (moreso than even Doctor Who and Firefly) and they never get enough attention.

 

[Adam Locking]

Like many peeps here, came to this thread purely as a Voltaire fan. Onto the topic, I think it's pretty sad, especially when it gets to the extent of the police called (Link [http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/16/star-wars-and-doctor-who-fans-clash-at-sci-fi-festival/]).

I do find it interesting when people bring up Jedi/Trekkies/Browncoats/Whovians, no-one ever mentions Invader Zim fans. It's not as if there havn't been two (and by next year three) conventions dedicated exclusivly to it.

 

[Master_of_Oldskool]

I believe we're all on the same page regarding the actual topic of this thread, i.e. don't be a dick to people for liking what they like, so I'm just gonna take this opportunity to say:

Voltaire has an album called Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children. Said album has a song of the same name. It is mandatory listening. I will personally find you and take away your Musical Taste License (an actual thing, I assure you) if you don't do it. I am not exaggerating.

[sub][sub]I am. But not by much.[/sub][/sub]

Also? If you ever want to make a Voltaire fan instantly break down in tears, the phrase "Feathery Wings" will do the trick.

 

[TheRiddler]

So come on let's not fight... it's so unintellectual. How about we join sides and be BiTrektual.

Good God... I just died a little.

Still, end point... sure, I basically agree. Being a part of one fandom doesn't (or at least, shouldn't) exclude you from any others. Life's short. Like what you like.

[b/]However[/b], you can also dislike what you'd like to. That's why I don't think that we can all "join sides" that easily. Sci-fi's a pretty broad genre, and not everybody likes all the same things.

I mean, even you have a bit of distaste for what you called "Action Movie set in the Future"... while other people who also identify as sci-fi fans might actually [i/]like[/i] the very same movies you're thinking of.

And that's what I'm trying to get at. The reason we can't all just get together and like sci-fi is the same reason we can't all just get together and like [i/]anything[/i].

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I think it's just a logical result of people needing to be superior to others.

In order for there to be a winner in the great game of fandoms, there also has to be a loser. It's like when you're a kid and the PC people are always telling you everybody is a winner. Well if everyone wins, then winning means nothing. Same sort of concept. Your show needs to be bad in order for good shows to have meaning.

It's silly of course, but I think crossover fandom happens more often than any of us know.

[sub/]and for the record, Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi show[/sub]

 

[DeimosMasque]

And that's what I'm trying to get at. The reason we can't all just get together and like sci-fi is the same reason we can't all just get together and like [i/]anything[/i].

I think it's just a logical result of people needing to be superior to others.

In order for there to be a winner in the great game of fandoms, there also has to be a loser. It's like when you're a kid and the PC people are always telling you everybody is a winner. Well if everyone wins, then winning means nothing. Same sort of concept. Your show needs to be bad in order for good shows to have meaning.

It's silly of course, but I think crossover fandom happens more often than any of us know.

I think both of these posts is really what I was getting to when I (unfortunately drunkenly) came up with this thread idea. I mean you are both totally correct. Sci-Fi is a huge genre and I do get that sci-fi fans like sci-fi for different reasons and that there will always be arguments between the various fandoms.

I mean it more in a general way I suppose, instead of name-calling at each other and going things like "Star Trek is for people who'd rather listen to boring techno-babble than have great action" or "People who like Michael Bay's Transformers movies are a bunch of brain dead losers who wouldn't know good sci-fi to save their life."

I think it's more that I think we should cast that stuff aside and go "Oh you like Star Trek, eh I never really got the appeal."

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Its a pride thing perhaps, like you are apart of something. Anything that is popular yet of the same subject matter will generally cause ranks to be made. I believe you end up boarding up an area that you might enjoy so in the end only you suffer.

Star Trek takes humanity and shines it in a great technologically grand light. It gives us hope for our future and perhaps even a strong pull towards progressing into the future. Oh yeah, and that we are not alone. That perhaps that in itself caused humans to compete with other races besides its own in a big team humanity sort of way.

Star Wars is a very old story, but a good one. Its about how long before the movies the jedi became so concerned about a group they named "dark jedi" that they nearly wiped them out on the very planet the jedi exiled them to. Now the two groups fights for centuries to the point where there are no true winners and countless innocents suffer in their wake.

 

[Artina89]

I too, absolutely adore Voltaire, and I managed to get all of my friends to listen to his music and now they are all fans as well, he is a master of getting macabre topics and putting an upbeat slant on them.

I actually prefer classic Doctor Who (the Patrick Troughton/ Jon Pertwee era), I didn't even mind Paul McGann as the Doctor, but I just can't get into the newer series, I don't really like Eccleston/Tennant or Smith as the Doctor, but I know plenty of people that do and that's OK by me, I also know plenty of Trekkies, people who are into Firefly, Star wars etc, and even though we have playful banter over what we think is the better show, we all respect each others opinions and likes and dislikes, variety is the spice of life after all and it wouldn't do for all of us to be the same.