What is Trek for you?

[C5]

After reading topics after topics about whether or not Enterprise, Voyager, or whatever, was really Trek, after seeing lot of you arguing that an episode or series was good/bad because it was/wasn't Trek, I thought it would be interesting if we shared our views on the subject :

What is Trek for you? Why do you like Star Trek? What do you like in Star TRek?

Please - I don't want to start another "Enterprise war" here, or to debate whether Braga is really a demon from the Seventh Hell whose mission is to utterly destroy the Holy Spirit Of Gene's Trek.
I would just like every one of us to discuss calmly of what we like and don't like in Star Trek, and what does make Trek for us (there are a few other topics wich deal on the subject, but - well, I just wanted to create a central point of discussion).

So, to begin with me :

First, I have to confess that I am not, technically, a ST fan : I only discovered Trek 4 years ago with TNG, and only saw half of TNG, 2 seasons of VOY and am currently following the final seasons of both TOS and DS9, and it will probably be a few years before I have the opportunity to watch Enterprise (well I do my best with the airings in my country).
So okay, I'm learning Klingon, have the Ent-E as Windows wallpaper, and salute my friends with the Vulcan sign, but that doesn't supress the fact that I'm a rookie to ST fanhood nevertheless.

I like Star Trek because of the ST universe, ST technology and the plotlines.
I love technology, and ST is a world where it is omnipresent and almost omnipotent.
I like the coherence of ST universe (especially as developped in TNG and further), the ideals the Federation stands for, and the way they are shown.
I like most of the plotlines, because there are well balanced between action, suspense, character developpment, and, very important for me, humor (I just love a series that can parody itself).
And, usually, I like most of the characters as well.

Here it is. Hope you will find this topic worthy of your contribution.

[Diamond_Spear]

To me all Trek is just a TV show and with the exception of most Voyager episodes, a good TV show.

[ghosty]

I agree with Diamond. Star Trek is just escapism a look at what should be a more perfect world...but then again it wasn't perfect was it.

Star Trek is a good way to relax and have fun as is playing the RPG...

I for one will leave all the hogwash and debate about what the "spirit of trek" and whether it has been despoiled after Gene Roddenberry's death. i admit that I've nitpicked and moaned at continuity errors and outright retcons that plauged all the show today and compared to more tightly scripted shows like Babylon 5 and Stargate SG-1 Trek has fallen behind the curve. But I don't bemoan the fate of Trek because it hasn't had one...it changed with the times...so to those who are bemoaning Trek's fate:

"GET A LIFE" - William Shatner

No offence.

[Captain Zymmer]

Star Trek....hmmmmmm....I guess it is simply my favorite universe for TV/Movies and RPGs.

I am becoming less and less of supporter of the "Spirit of Star Trek", simply as it has taken on rival camps of late and each side argues their point with almost religious fever...

But for me it is the visuals of the Movie gen that really got me hooked on Star Trek...the uniforms, the ships, the klingons, Kahn, Saavik (both versions), the Reliant, Spacedock, Kirk and crew yeah...that's what I love about Star Trek. Movie Gen.

[Commodore 2]

For me, it has always been the "treknology" and the plots that explored the human condition.

[Phantom]

Its a good TV show (TOS, TNG, VOY and DS9). Jury is still out on Ent.

Its a good story. I for one do believe in the "Spirit of Trek", as Roddenberry saw it anyway.

[qerlin]

I think there's two Roddenberry 'spirits of Trek' -- TOS/TMP and TNG -- the latter, despite better stories, etc, I dislike. I just don't buy the perfect, clean, socialist future. The TOS era was better -- more adventurous and idealistic; TNG was ideology.

I still say ST II & VI are the best of the flicks. They are better character pieces, are more realpolitik, and probably the best written Trek...exactly what I expect from a Nick Meyer project.

I actually like Enterprise, so far. Other than finding the ship design a bit of a rip-off, I like the more real feel of the technology, clothing, characters, and the lack of blatant utopian musings.

For RPGs, I got roped into Trek because a friend of mine is a fan. I've enjoyed the game, but the first thing I did was toss the bad episodes and series (Voyager), and tried for more consistency in the technology. I also got rid of the static nature of Trek politics and tightened the military aspects of Starfleet to make it work.

[Robbert Raets]

I'm a Utopian. Or is it utopianist? Or utopianoman?

I like the idea of poverty being 'abolished'. And the humor. And the 'exploring humanty' aspect. Hell, I like almost everything.


$0.02

[Lee T]

Originally posted by C5
What is Trek for you? Why do you like Star Trek? What do you like in Star TRek? [/B]

Well, I'm gonna try answering that .

What I like in sci-fi, wether it is books or movies I don't care, is to explore an universe. A story is not enough for me, I want details about the world around the characters, I want to feel like I'm back from vacation when I close the book, I want the writer to make me visit is own private vision. That's why I allways prefer big, multi volume books, where I can see the universe unfold page after page as I read.

That's why I like Trek, that's why I like TOS, TNG, DS9 and I don't care much about Voyager. That's why I like continuity and I consider weak a writer who must change the rules to implement is idea rather than changing is idea or finding a better context for his idea.

First I started by watching regularly TNG, just like a breath of fresh air, 42 minutes of classic sci-fi but without really be interested, then I got caught by DS9. And that's the time when I saw the encyclopedia in a bookstore. At this very moment combining DS9 trying to have a high continuity and the encyclopedia compiling al the details in each episode of every trek franchise, I realised what was Star Trek: a complex and highly develloped universe unfolding episode after episode just like the books I like.

That's what I like about trek. That's why I may like Enterprise or not be interested by it. If Enterprise continue develloping the Trek universe I'll be interested, if it do something else like Voyager did then I won't care about it.

I guess that's why I like role playing games, with RPG I can explore strange new universe too.

[prophetsteve]

The "Spirit of Trek" is the single most abused Trekism out there. Everyone uses it to bash series they don't like. Heck I have used it on occasion (in regards to the Dominion War), so I know

Reminds me of the term "munchkin" in RPG circles - people sometimes use the term "not Trek" as if that somehow is reason in itself.

The truth is, the only "Spirit of Trek" I acknowledge is humanity's pushing the boundries of exploration. Its one of the few common threads throughout TOS, TNG, and ENT eras.

Everything else is negotiable; Ironically that was something that Enterprise taught me.

If I hate a series, it will be for poor writing, poor characterization, or lack of continuity, rather than some nebulous reason such as "is it Trek"

[Karg]

Originally posted by Commodore 2
For me, it has always been the "treknology" and the plots that explored the human condition.

Same for Me. I've always been a Tech head.

Karg

[Imagus]

Originally posted by Robbert Raets
Or utopianoman?

Is it difficult to play a utopiano? It's something I might consider, since I can't get the hang of the guitar

Seriously, I think my interest in Trek has always been the idea of the universe it rests in. I like the idea of the vast interstellar empires, that they are not perfect monolithic states, and that their politics are complex. Exploring the frontiers is good too, but holds less interest for me. And Trek has always (usually) looked good... (tech, ships etc)

What I don't like is too much ignorance of established continuity; straying from the established part of the universe; and wilful ignorance of established science. All reasons I disliked Voyager. Oh, and too much reliance on Klingons and Borg...

There are elements of regular Trek I don't like - the technology is usually a little too advanced for my tastes, treknobabble gets on my wick occasionally, and while Q grew on me, I'm really fed up of omnipotent beings!

Like I've said elsewhere, I like Enterprise, but not as Trek...

[Phoenix]

Endurance, Star Trek is the longest running and still continuing science fiction universe we have. There are several other sci-fi's out there I like (some are starting to edge ST out of the top spot though)- Andromada (I hope it lasts), B5 (really did like the continuity), Farscape (some of it creeps me out), and early Earth: Final Conflict (I've lost much interest when they killed off the main characters).

However it's not just trek, or Gene's ideas, but many scifi's. To me it is simply a slight hope that we, as a species, just might survive. Despite our own self destructive natures...I still have some hope left.

Phoenix...

[Marcus D Samson]

Simply put, Star Trek is a fun hour of escapism. It was forced upon my fragile mind at an early age by my mother (usually as she cooked tea), and has stuck ever since.

What is it that makes it so special??

I think it is the diversity of stories, from TOS tounge in cheek attitude, yet with some hard hitting morals, to TNG with it's peace-time attitudes (Iron Curtain has fallen), to DS9 with the darker holy war aspects rising to the boil, and then Voyager (lost on the other side of the galaxy....as did Star Trek itself come towards the end! Sorry, couldn't resist!).

It is the way that it evolves to match the current political climates in the world, and keep us interested, no matter how naff some episodes are (even though I disliked Voyager, I still had to watch every episode!!!)

Overall, what makes Star Trek so special is ourselves, the die-hard fans who ignore the mockings and taunts, and proudly say "We watch Trek!".

[dimeboy99]

Star Trek is, to me, good drama and good television. For TOS you could approach sensitive subjects in a way that mirrored current events yet made it past the censors. Trek really was a mirror of social commentary and events that allowed people to look at things in a different light. Besides, it was fun.

TNG and DS9 also played off of social commentary from time to time, but not nearly as often as TOS did. I enjoyed TNG and DS9 for their entertainment value, character development and setting. It was an escape for an hour or so a week that allowed me to sit back and enjoy in intelligent show.

I wasn't much into VOY and haven't seen Enterprise so I really cannot comment on the merits of these specific shows. Instead I enjoy an hour each of DS9 and TNG nightly via syndication and reruns.