~ drawing the line ~

Last night, I watched the film Trekkies, something of a documentary about Star Trek conventions and fanatics. While I may have, at various points in my past, indicated that I was a 'trekkie' - - after viewing the film, I would like to formally recind that self-description. Some of you may be aware that there is currently a Star Trek convention taking place right at this very moment in Las Vegas - - some of you also may be aware that I was giving careful consideration to going, and that I had contacted the two people I know who may possibly have 'trekkie' sympathies to see if anyone would like to go to the convention with me. After all, I was feeling a bit odd about going to a Star Trek convention by myself - - which is why I also gave careful consideration to meeting someone's sister (who I have never met) in Las Vegas. This solo-vacation that I was thinking about taking would have been intended to coincide with visiting Star Trek: The Experience before it closes forever.

Interestingly, several weeks ago, I bumped into an acquaintance who asked me if I would dog-sit for her during this week in August. It was with joy that I was able to honestly say that I didn't think I would be available because I was planning on attending a Star Trek convention during the exact time of her vacation. Has that ever before been used as an excuse to get out of doing something???....after watching Trekkies, I believe it has.

Anyway, I've been deliberating whether to go to the convention over and over in my head, and my inability to make a decision on the matter proved to make the decision for me...as the convention is currently in progress and I am not there. But, after seeing that film last night, I feel as though it enabled me to vicariously experience the convention without having to actually go and spend the moolah. And, I feel satiated with my vicarious convention experience.

If you haven't seen the film, it provides a glimpse into the convention experience and follows several really odd crazy Star Trek fans. For me, it was embarrassing and painful to watch. There was the lady who insists that she is a real Star Trek Commander and doesn't acknowledge anything said to her unless people call her "Commander" and she doesn't go anywhere without her toy communicator, phaser, and tricorder. Then there's the lady who was disturbingly obsessed with Brent Spiner, and every moment of the film with her made me feel really uncomfortable. Oh, and the crazy libertarian commando female who's obsession with Star Trek came out of an obsession with Conan the Barbarian and homemade armor. The dentist and is family who surround their professional dental practice in all things Star Trek and who have become so accustomed to wearing their Star Trek uniforms all of the time (they even force their children to wear the uniforms) that they seem to have no clue why that is odd. The other guy who wears his Star Trek uniform at all times and who, if he had the money, would get plastic surgery to have pointed Vulcan ears, because he feels much more like a Vulcan than a human. The guy whose house is completely filled with Star Trek items and whose life goal is to build a shelf to display his glory. The guy who spends all of his free time trying to build the various gadgets from Star Trek and goes to Radio Shak to talk to the 'experts' about what components would work well for a Romulan cloaking device. ...Of course, my favorite was the male teenager whose obsession with Star Trek is simply behind explanation. And this is not to mention the sheer quantity of money that the fans spend on their obsession - - there was a scene of an auction and someone bought a Klingon forehead piece for $1,400, which I thought was utter craziness. These people, none of them appeared to be at all affluent, yet they seemed to be spending their entire livelihood on Star Trek junk. Not that I am anyone to judge, but SERIOUSLY...

So, after viewing the film, I have decided that I am undoubtedly not a trekkie in any shape or form. I enjoy watching the program, but the fanaticism...yeah, no. In conclusion, I would like to say that I greatly enjoyed Wil Wheaton's account of some convention details. I will enjoy from afar, very very afar.

Posted by jennifer at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)