Question of the Day, August 19, 2010

[MongoBaer]

I voted star trek but I really think it depends on your genereration.

Star Wars and Trek could be seen as gateways into nerd/geek-dom. If you look at it rationally all other sci-fi (the key element to nerd/geek-dom) flowed from either of those two properities. At least it opened the door for the others to follow.

 

[Misterian]

Star Wars, maybe.

But I'd like to think it's the Lord Of The Rings.

 

[Legion]

Star Wars and Star Trek, and funnily enough, I don't particularly like either.

 

[Drexlor]

Star Wars. Everyone has seen Star Wars.

 

[2xDouble]

Anyone not picking "Star Trek" over "Star Wars" and thinking of himself as a "nerd" is wrong. Also, kudos for not putting Matrix on there.

Edit: I should explain. Star Trek with its infamous "techno babble" is the obvious choice. It's MADE for nerds. Some episodes are science-fiction masterpieces. The science of Star Trek is based on actual science, current theories.

Star Wars on the other hand is mostly a fairy tale in space, which is fine. It's about space pew-pew, which is fine. Of course they explain a lot of the technology in the expanded universe and books, etc..., but it's not the core of Star Wars.

Heh, "Treknobabble". Which is the main reason the new Star Trek movie sucked... but seriously...

Are we only considering the film series? If so I'd say it's at least a draw between Star Wars and Star Trek. Considering only the first 6 movies each (I know what I said), they each have 3 awesome movies, 2 that are kind of "meh", and one that sucked. (you know which ones are which). Star Trek continues with the TNG timeframe, and gradually devolves into more "space pew-pew"... which still averages out to be fairly even with Star Wars.

That said... I still vote Star Trek. Because without Star Trek (original series, 1966-69), there would have been no Star Wars (1977). Plus that whole "the TV series' each being cornerstones of modern science fiction" stuff... lol.

 

[Jark212]

Star Wars, it's what made geekdom expand the most...

 

[El_Teodoro]

I kind of expected the HUGE Star Wars bar, then absolutely nothing until Trek.

I'd say Trek's slightly more important.

 

[icyneesan]

In reality its probably Star Wars or Star Trek but as a otaku I had to pick other and mean Anime

 

[friedo.obrain]

I feel sad only 20 nerds voted Dune It's a friggin gigantic Space Opera spanning millenia and dealing with politics ecology and philosophy in a way most authors can only dream of.

Nevermind the milking by his son, it's one of the best scifi stories ever told, in any medium.

 

[Denamic]

'Nerd culture' is such a broad term.
There's loads and loads of different types of nerds.
Each of them would probably just answer that their personal favourite thing is the most important, and they'd be right from their own niche's perspective.

On the whole though, it's a simple question to answer.
The most important thing to 'nerd culture' is media.
Vague question, vague answer.

 

[Tiny116]

Star Trek. Where would we be if someone never asked "Kirk or Picard in a fight?"

Calumon: Aww... But I like Wookies!

I always thought seven of nine verses Data would be interesting.

And I put Starwars.
But Startreck runs a very close second in my eyes.

 

[Mike Richards]

Doctor Who, I can't believe that wasn't on there.

The original series ran from 1963 to 1989 non-stop, and it was still popular enough to be brought back in 2005. The 2009 Christmas/New Years two-part The End of Time, best known for being Tenth Doctor David Tennant and Lead Writer Russel T Davies last episode, brought in the highest viewing figures BBC America has ever achieved. And it's been consistently one of the most watched shows in Britain.

The Guinness Book of World Records deemed it the most successful sci-fi franchise ever, and many of its creations continually rank on 'Best Ever...' polls, such as reoccurring villain the Daleks topping SFX's user voted Best Monster poll and reoccurring villain The Master topping the Best Villain poll AHEAD of Darth Vader.

And it's the only series I can think of that's killed off its main character ten times and gotten away with it.

I rest my case.

 

[daskat]

Clerks, Animal House, Goonies, The meaning of life, Time bandits. Zardos

 

[Jonluw]

I would have expected more votes for Blade runner in light of the critical miss - and subsequent Moviebob - incident.

OT: I'll say Star Wars, because I haven't really seen any of the others.

 

[Woodsey]

It's easily Star Wars.

 

[Zing]

Excuse the caps but..


WHERE IS LORD OF THE RINGS?!!!

Anyway...I guess Star Wars...although Lord of the Rings is pretty important, I think LOTOR paved the way for Fantasy(the Books), Star Wars revolutionized sci-fi.

-snip-

On the contrary, sir, it's quite an easy choice....

You pick the one with the god damn Lightsabers.

edit: Okay, even though it's only movies I still think LOTOR should be included.

 

[Tiamat666]

Anyone not picking "Star Trek" over "Star Wars" and thinking of himself as a "nerd" is wrong. Also, kudos for not putting Matrix on there.

Star Trek is to Star Wars what Barbie is to Playmobil.

So, NO! YOU'RE WRONG AND STAR TREK SUCKS!!!

 

[Keava]

While Star Wars is probably the more accepted and better known among the wide public, Star Trek is the holy grail of nerdiness. There is hardly anything more nerdy than trekkies. Star Wars fans are much much more docile despite the odd Jedi religion followers.

 

[SalamanderJoe]

I voted Alien/Aliens. I love them film. Except Ressurection. That was just bad.