Articles From The Past - Part 2

Trekspotting

The Fanaticism of Fanaticism

How do you spot a trainspotter, answer, its the one situated at the end of a platform, armed with notepad, binoculars, flask and anorak. So how do you spot the football fanatic, answer its the one in the replica football shirt sat at the bar discussing statistics of the 4-4-2 system against the 4-5-1. That being said, how do you spot a Trekkie, answer, its all down to degrees of obsession.

For all of us have some kind of obsession, whether it is stamp collecting, tropical fish, or even shopping, some are acceptable some are not. Football fans are generaly regarded as machismic, beer drinking lads about town, where as Trekkies are regarded in the same way as trainspotters are, nerdy, wimpish, boring to be with, as all they talk about is Star Trek, and who is the better captain, Kirk or Picard.

Talking about what you enjoy is nothing to be concerned about, its just acceptence. Collecting train numbers is regarded as being odd and wierd, but collecting football programmes is quite acceptable, and the wearing of your replica shirt with you favourite players name and number on the back, goes without question. Try wearing a replica Trek shirt, and see were that gets you.

It still comes down to a degree of obsession, most Trekkies will watch an episode a week, a small percentage will actually buy the episodes, and an even smaller number will own a shirt. Try comparing that to football, who is the fanatic now?

So paying £30 every week to sit in a crowd of equally obsessed people, watching 22 grown men kick an inflated pigs bladder around a field for 90 minutes. All this is well and good, but what does it actually achieve, nothing its just as enjoyable as sitting at home, watching you favourite TV series. Does it change anybody's life, only when you are killed by a rival supporter for supporting the wrong team. Has a Kirk fan ever killed a Picard fan, i think not., but Fanaticism comes in all shapes and sizes, just make sure you are wearing the right shirt when you stand up.