What is it about SW-Fans...

[connyg]

Why are Star Wars-fans so uber-geeky?

Don't get me wrong here. I've been a fan myself for the last 26 years. But I'm not sure if I want to be part of that community any lorger. You ask why? Well, I visited a convention over here in Germany last weekend...

To sum things up: The people there looked and acted exactly like to Comic Book Guy from the "Simpsons". Overweight, badly dressed, badly smelling nerds with almost no exeption. And I haven't even started talking about the girls yet. But what really infuriated me was the fact, that these girls and guys are taking SW faaaaaaaar to seriously! They can't just enjoy the movies. No, they have to figure out, why there are no escape pods on the Millenium Falcon in the Trilogy but in the "Incredible Cross Sections" (and bother the poor guest stars with these minutiae).

I've heard non-fans saying "Get a life!" alot of times. But, you know, the're right. Most SW-fans should really get a life!

I left the convention after 5 hours, happyly returning to my wife and life. And here's my question to you:

Why isn't there some sort of "cool" SW-fandom?

[Darth Palpy]

Because obsession is never a pretty thing ?

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

I think you were just unfortunate to come across a particularly weird group...not all are like that, most are actually *normal* people who just happen to like Star Wars.

[KarvoZem]

Cool Star Wars fans? Sound like the Five-Oh- First to me style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/trooper.gif

[DarthAnakin]

There are lots of SW fans that are normal. Do normal things, hang-out with normal people, dress normaly, and still watch the movies and go on the message boards.

[Obidobi]

I'm normal..... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif
Maybe... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/scratchchin.gif

[Miasmo]

Originally posted by Emp@Apr 13 2004, 11:29 AM
Because obsession is never a pretty thing ?

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

I think you were just unfortunate to come across a particularly weird group...not all are like that, most are actually *normal* people who just happen to like Star Wars.
Exactly. Connyg, you went to a friggin convention. I'm a fan of donuts, but if I went to a donut convention I bet I'd meet some far out people.

I don't consider myself a Star Wars ubergeek, but I can easily blend in if I want to. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif Maybe to get some lovin, geek style. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/scratchchin.gif With the vibros and the breast tape and the hey hey good luuuck kiiiss.

[flo fett]

The people there looked and acted exactly like to Comic Book Guy from the "Simpsons". Overweight, badly dressed, badly smelling nerds with almost no exeption. And I haven't even started talking about the girls yet.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! *sobs and tries to throttle her badly dressed, badly smelling overweight body with a Boba Fett T-shirt*

[Greedo Boy]

Originally posted by DarthAnakin@Apr 13 2004, 01:58 PM
There are lots of SW fans that are normal. Do normal things, hang-out with normal people, dress normaly, and still watch the movies and go on the message boards.
Just like me! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Darth Drew]

Originally posted by Greedo Boy+Apr 13 2004, 07:38 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Greedo Boy @ Apr 13 2004, 07:38 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-DarthAnakin@Apr 13 2004, 01:58 PM
There are lots of SW fans that are normal. Do normal things, hang-out with normal people, dress normaly, and still watch the movies and go on the message boards.
Just like me! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif [/b][/quote]
Same here.

[general grievous]

im fairly normal
only one of my friends likes starwars the rest hate it
we go 2 concerts and hang out, stuff like that





but then again how do i know thats normal
what really is "normal"?

[Darth Holmes]

Originally posted by DarthAnakin@Apr 13 2004, 11:58 AM
There are lots of SW fans that are normal. Do normal things, hang-out with normal people, dress normaly, and still watch the movies and go on the message boards.
Yeah, but those folks don't go to conventions. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

I would never go to one of those things for exactly that reason; they're total geek fests.

In fact my wife said the other day that she doesnt mind that I'm into Star Wars, just as long as I dont go to those conventions! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Greedo Boy]

Originally posted by Darth Holmes+Apr 13 2004, 08:17 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Holmes @ Apr 13 2004, 08:17 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-DarthAnakin@Apr 13 2004, 11:58 AM
There are lots of SW fans that are normal. Do normal things, hang-out with normal people, dress normaly, and still watch the movies and go on the message boards.
Yeah, but those folks don't go to conventions. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[/b][/quote]
Hey, I hope to go to Celebration III, if only to meet fellow GS members first hand, and I'm as normal as can be admitted for a fifteen year old raptor/monkey/alien thing!

[Spacehunter24]

I think just about very big franchise will always have it's Fans and it's Obsessed Fans. haha!! I definitely fall into the former category. I'm a Fan. I like the movies, I enjoy watching them, I enjoy talking to other fans on a message board, I like reading some of the books. But I don't care about why there's no escape pods on the Falcon. I know they're there and we don't have to see them, you know? My life doesn't revolve around it. I have other stuff I like to do: writing, listening to music, watching other movies, hanging out with friends.

You definitely just encountered one of those "stereotypical" grounds of fans that you always hear about. I'm sure I'll see plenty at the San Diego ComiCon this year. (And with a little luck, maybe there will be a few who are normal like me. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif )

[Blizzard]

Why does someone feel compelled to come to a Star Wars forum and make one post admitting they are embarrassed to be a Star Wars fan?

[Tovor]

He probably figures that the best place to inquire about ubergeekiness of SW ubergeeks was to go to a place he assumes ubergeeks to congregate en masse. To quote Queen Amidala, "You assume too much."

In regards to:
But I'm not sure if I want to be part of that community any lorger. You ask why? Well, I visited a convention over here in Germany last weekend...
I am sooooooo tempted to suggest, maybe you shouldn't go to Germany, since you think that German SW fans represent SW fans of the whole wide world. That may come off as being insulting to Germans which is not my intent, but you did come in here insulting SW fans, you know. By the way, what kind of a word is "lorger"?

I have to respond to this, I can't resist. It's a no brainer. "It must be a decoy, sir, all of the escape pods have been jettisoned." And I don't even smell bad, though I am a few pounds overwieght, I admit.
No, they have to figure out, why there are no escape pods on the Millenium Falcon in the Trilogy but in the "Incredible Cross Sections" (and bother the poor guest stars with these minutiae).

[goodwije]

Overweight, badly dressed, badly smelling nerds with almost no exeption.

God forbid people actually not be physically perfect and dress for comfort or to show they are fans of something. As for smelling, well yes i am sure they all smelled because anyone toteing some extra pounds has to smell right?

People talk about stupid stuff like that at conventions because in their normal everyday lives they do not have a lot of people around to talk about it with. Maybe their wives/husbands/family isnt in to sw so when they get around other fans they have fun talking the talk. Had it been a football game and someone was discussing the intricasies or minor details of a game that happened 10 years ago no one would say a word. People go to conventions to be around other people who are into what they are into. Simple as that.

[connyg]

God forbid people actually not be physically perfect and dress for comfort or to show they are fans of something.

So it's my fault that I am expecting decent looking, regular folks at a SW convention :-)

People talk about stupid stuff like that at conventions because in their normal everyday lives they do not have a lot of people around to talk about it with.

I got the impression that they haven't got anything to talk about except SW.

[Blizzard]

At Celebration 2 I always said that BEST thing was the fact that every single place you turn someone is talking about Star Wars and you can just walk up to strangers and join in and have an excellent conversation. Everyone wanted to hear your opinion. I went to see Star Wars, hear Star Wars, and TALK Star Wars and I was not disappointed. I wouldn't waste my money to go there to talk about the weather.

[Miasmo]

At least not Earth weather. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

[Luvinna]

I think Goodwije hit the nail on the head. It's nice to be around people who don't roll their eyes at you when you start talking about the Force, or when you quote Star Wars in casual conversation.

[Dutch]

It's nice to be around people who don't roll their eyes at you when you start talking about the Force, or when you quote Star Wars in casual conversation.



Yeah, but if you go to said conventions and admit to liking the PT, are you shunned?

Are most of these people at the conventions like the many bashers that you encounter all ove the internet?

Just curious

[Luvinna]

Never been to a convention, but I've been to a couple of SW fan club meetings. My experience is that you'll run into both fans that like the PT and fans that don't. Just makes for some lively discussion.

[goodwije]

Originally posted by connyg@Apr 14 2004, 09:54 AM
God forbid people actually not be physically perfect and dress for comfort or to show they are fans of something.

So it's my fault that I am expecting decent looking, regular folks at a SW convention
Uhmm.. who the heck are you to judge who is decent looking or not? Sounds to like pure arrogance to me.

I personally think sw has some of the best "Looking" fans around, especially here in the GS (but i maybe a little biased). More over, i just dont care, i go fan club meetings or to a convention for the fun of being surrounded by other fans not to hook up or judge someones clothing. On this board i know there is someone who makes a lot of her own clothes and from the pictures i have seen she is very talented. I also know there are people into collectables including vitage t-shirts etc. It is part of who they are.

[Darth Darthy]

I'd like to visit a convention just for the Star Warsyness of it all but be warned - if you smell of B.O. I'll be the first to point it out. The appearence of an induvidual is never offensive but stinking like a sweaty hobo is. I went into Forbidden Planet the other day to marvel at what I could never afford to purchase and by god, one of the chaps in there stunk.

[Saranac]

Sorry I don't shower when I attend Star Wars conventions in hope's of warding off Flo since I'm just tooo damn sexy style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif

[Darth Darthy]

Lets not have any arguments about this - she likes me better then you. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

In fact, there's an idea for a new pointless poll!

[Tovor]

Bah! When you meet me at Celebration 3 next April, what you'll be smelling are my pheremones that I'll use to temp and draw in the lovely ladies of the GS. But I'll have to stop and demand that darthy stop sniffing my pheremones. Heck, I've been inadvertantly humped by a dog here or there, but I don't need Darthy on my back too. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif

[Darth Darthy]

So that's your pheremones doing that to me! I was wondering why I had a hankerin' for your leg and my crotch to meet in a romantic restaurant by candle light and then perhaps back to mine for some "coffee".

[Tovor]

I'm sure I know what you put in your coffee besides cream, Sweet 'n Low. Yes, sweet and low.

[Darth Darthy]

I hope your leg isn't playing hard to get. Don't worry, this infection'll be gone in a few weeks...

[Tovor]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/barf.gif

[The_Senator_from_Terra]

Hey if the guy who statred this thread thinks SW conventions are bad, he'd probably kill himself if he attended a St*r Tr*k one (a vulgarity so I cleaned it up).

Heh I'm kidding but seriously why the hell would you want to spend your time pondering the lifestyles of the people at a convention, aren't you there to enjoy the atmosphere of something you enjoy? Sheesh, people who like to pick out supposed flaws in other people on a regular basis, or when they are in an environment where they can potentially enjoy themselves such as a convention for something you enjoy and instead choose to go flaw hunting, do it because they do not wish to face their own supposed flaws. And though he didn't say it, I'm sure he wondered how those people he was criticising "could possibly have something in common with me."

He's been a Star Wars fan for 26 years, which means high school was over for him a long time ago, perhaps he should start acting as such.

I apologize if I'm coming off sounding a little too caustic... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif I'm sure in all other aspects of life he is probably a pretty decent guy. We all have our flukes anyway.

[leiaorgana]

Damn! i think i´m pretty normal... but of course that depends on what´s normal for u... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif

I mean, i dress normal i´m not dress like leia just because i happen to like the character... i work, i live by myself i hang out with my friends a lot and even though i loooove SW i do not talk about it all the time.... yes my friends already hate me...(just kiddin´) but i´ve just found GS !!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[goodwije]

one of the aspects of SW fandom much reported about before TPM was simply how many sw fans there are and how many of them where family people who (although mostly male) came from a such diverse locations.

One of my favorite lines from the Newsweek Mag that featured the big sw webmasters (in which our own T'bone was featured) was one that talked about them being your neighbors, fathers, friends "..and they have a lightsaber in the closet"

On the whole i think sw has some of the more level headed fans, even here in the GS if you read some of the more popular threads have more to do with religion, politics, and just getting to know one another. Oh we love sw, sometimes maybe even embarrasingly so, but sw is not the whole of our lives.

[jadeskywalker]

i am normal! i listen to music, love to watch star wars movies and read the books. I have a doughter who is in dance and i work at school. Do normal things anyone else would do. And i am a sw fan! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif i even like the GS.

[Ripley the Warmaster]

being normal sucks. I love being a star wars geek. Plus I became a book worm because of Star Wars books.

[brookie]

Originally posted by connyg@Apr 13 2004, 09:41 AM
Why are Star Wars-fans so uber-geeky?

Don't get me wrong here. I've been a fan myself for the last 26 years. But I'm not sure if I want to be part of that community any lorger. You ask why? Well, I visited a convention over here in Germany last weekend...

To sum things up: The people there looked and acted exactly like to Comic Book Guy from the "Simpsons". Overweight, badly dressed, badly smelling nerds with almost no exeption. And I haven't even started talking about the girls yet. But what really infuriated me was the fact, that these girls and guys are taking SW faaaaaaaar to seriously! They can't just enjoy the movies. No, they have to figure out, why there are no escape pods on the Millenium Falcon in the Trilogy but in the "Incredible Cross Sections" (and bother the poor guest stars with these minutiae).

I've heard non-fans saying "Get a life!" alot of times. But, you know, the're right. Most SW-fans should really get a life!

I left the convention after 5 hours, happyly returning to my wife and life. And here's my question to you:

Why isn't there some sort of "cool" SW-fandom?
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif

[Darth Palpy]

I got the impression that they haven't got anything to talk about except SW.

To comment on the football analogy (well said `goodwije`). No one says a word when people blab on and on incessantly about that so people shouldn't complain about SW fans discussing their thang !

Funny thing is, `sports` fans call SW fans geeks for dressing up but think nothing of wearing their teams strips !

It's a funny old world !

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Tovor]

Originally posted by M. Perror Palpy@May 9 2004, 09:58 PM
Funny thing is, `sports` fans call SW fans geeks for dressing up but think nothing of wearing their teams strips !

It's a funny old world !

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
And not just wearing their team stripes, but sitting in the stands in cold weather, barechested, with the team colors painted on their chest, necks, head, and backs. That's what I call geeky! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Ripley the Warmaster]

Originally posted by M. Perror Palpy@May 9 2004, 07:58 PM
I got the impression that they haven't got anything to talk about except SW.

To comment on the football analogy (well said `goodwije`). No one says a word when people blab on and on incessantly about that so people shouldn't complain about SW fans discussing their thang !

Funny thing is, `sports` fans call SW fans geeks for dressing up but think nothing of wearing their teams strips !

It's a funny old world !

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
that is so true. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[bluemilk]

exactly! There are just as many self proclaimed "jocks" that look more like hot dog eating contest winners that are just as or more geeky then Star Wars fans. They talk sports 24/7, wear jerseys/hats/tshirts/jackets of their team every day, play online fantasy league pools and and video games for their favourite sports.

And like mentioned before if you go to a Con then you're getting the die-hard fans that are there specifically to talk shop. Most are too busy with jobs, family and friends to be that obsessive day in and day out.

To look at me most people would never guess I'm a die-hard SW geek, -- in fact most are really surprised! Geek and proud dudes, geek and proud! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/trooper.gif

[Luvinna]

Originally posted by bluemilk@May 13 2004, 10:49 PM
To look at me most people would never guess I'm a die-hard SW geek, -- in fact most are really surprised! Geek and proud dudes, geek and proud! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/trooper.gif
It's the same with me. Just about everyone I know out here in Colorado knows by now that I'm a SW geek (mostly because of my car's license plate frame and my geekish behaviors when AOTC came out) but I'd bet that there are more than a few people I knew in high school and college who don't have a clue. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/y.gif