Geek, Nerd, or just
plain crazy…..
To be seen in public as a member of a 'geek' social club tends to bring
a jaundiced look from the average mortal. What seems really odd is the
degree of consideration that goes with the random collection of the
groups and the level of respect or disdain offered to each.
For example, quilters sitting around sewing and gossiping about who did
what to whom get little if any negative observation from the public.
Comic-collecting fans of superheroes get a little ruffling because
"they have not matured to the point of putting away the things of
children" (although the general public knows little more about comics
than most children do).
A few years ago one issue of Superman sold for over $100,000.00.....
just one comic book all by itself. Then there are other comics that are
$10,000 and all over the board. So that sort of shoots the proverbial
boat out of the bathtub about the stigma there. Shriners dress up like
clowns and drive around in tiny little cars, trucks, mini bikes etc.
What stigma is attached to the fez wearing Shriners?
There are Klingon fans on YouTube and in TV commercials, at sci-fi
conventions doing blood drives, and at various publicity events. Who
are these Geeks, Nerds, or Just Plain Crazy People who get into
character and costumes and pretend to be Klingons? Where do they come
from?
Why are they here?
Would there be mocking and ridicule if they were to build and fund a
hospital for sick children, or deliver a million dollars to say the
Children’s Miracle Network? Or if they placed in Jerry Lewis’s mitt a
check on national TV for a half million dollars to the MDA? There
probably would be, just because Klingons are not seen or understood by
our fellow humanoids of mortal earth. Mr. Lewis mocks just about
everything anyway, he’d have a field day with the Klingons presenting
the check. ( Unless say it were Michael Dorn and Christopher Plummer in
costume with Batleth. )
What does it mean to be a
Klingon fan?
It means that you are a volunteer. It means that you spend an
unspecified amount of your time in pursuit of projects that will endear
Klingons to the public: blood drives, helping in soup kitchens.
Whatever the project, it means sacrificing time and energy and even
sometimes money to help others.
Being a Klingon fan means you get to do fun stuff like meet and greet,
help entertain and uplift others around you. Being a Klingon fan member
means that you get social time, either in-character or out-of-character
as you feel comfortable, and getting involved in positive acts in your
own neighborhood.
The Klingon as an individual is a formidable looking creature. The
Klingon should strike an impression on anyone who observes a Klingon.
If you are five foot even or six foot four the fact that you are a
Klingon-garbed being should draw attention. Once you have achieved that
attention, what are you going to do with it?
An assault groups drills and drills their combat skills, tactical
movement and train until they act as one well oiled machine. As
Klingons they tend to be brash and arrogant, but that is their due, as
they are brutal warriors and extremely successful.
So what this boils down to is as KAG members we need to plan every
operation as if it were a battle, to have our spokes-persons ready and
drilled to get the points across and come out of the confrontation
looking sharp and ready. If we do these things and carry out the
tradition of Klingons, we will add to our numbers, because the press
will do the work of advertising for us. If you do your job well, you
will reach fans who previously had little idea where to go or how to
get in touch with fellow Klingon fans. The more members we get the more
projects we can plan and the more fun we can have.
What difference can one person make? Well, another group of people who
are looked down upon for their fandom are wrestling fans. But there are
millions of those too. And when a fan becomes a participant they can
either be a stellar performer or an embarrassment. How they become
stellar is to practice their presentation. Not all Pro wrestlers are
great until they develop their personality and one of those points is
their presence, their 'mike skills'.
Practice what you want the public to see. Develop your character, your
stance. Watch your own portrayal and ask yourself "Is this what I want
the public to see?" KAG needs the best salesmanship you have.
Believe me I have seen a five foot guy in a full Klingon outfit that
would intimidate Hulk Hogan and I have seen costumes and make up that
are reminiscent of Jerry Lewis. We as a whole are only as good as you
the individual.
If we all put as much into the development of our role, KAG will be the
best it can be, making everyone’s job a little easier and a lot more
fun.
And fun is the first objective in KAG, is it not?
by Dnor
of the House of Ydoom (Ron Moody)
rxmoody@yahoo.com
CO, IKV Peerless
Wild Frontier Quadrant
KAG
