Dave, Rich, Steve and I sat around talking about it afterwards, and we all enjoyed it. Even Dave! This is the first Next Gen movie that Dave really liked. That's pretty cool. But it was late and I wanted to get home to Joy and Mylene, so we didn't get to discuss the movie as long as I would have liked.

I was on a high. I read all the magazine articles on Nemesis that I had been avoiding. And after Joy went to bed I decided to hop on the Trek message boards and share my enthusiasm with my fellow fans, and see how much everyone else liked it.

Well, that was where I made my big mistake.

The fans were trashing it right and left. Not all of them mind you, some of them tried to get in there and say "Well, I liked it, and here's why!" in which case they were usually attacked by the people who were loudly shouting about how much they hated it.

I was crestfallen. I didn't remember feeling this let down since... hmmm.... well, since the premiere of Enterprise, when I was on a high and jumped on the Trek message boards, only to see them trash it.

Now, I can understand the frustration with the current regime. I haven't agreed with everything that Rick Berman and Brannon Braga have done either. But one "fan" was so adamant in his hatred of the Berman / Braga regime that he was determined to not go see Nemesis opening weekend. But he caved and wouldn't wait, so he bought a ticket to a different movie and went in to see Nemesis instead, safe in the knowledge that at least Star Trek did not get his money, and he was not supporting Berman and Braga.

This is a fan?

To which I have to say... Why the hell are you still here?

Look, if you think Star Trek has sunk that low, has gotten that bad, then why are you still watching it? Why did you still have to go on opening night? Why did you have to go at all? And why, why, WHY, please answer me this, WHY do you feel you have to spend all night on the message board yelling at those of us who DID like it?

I'm not saying you have to like it. I'm not saying you're wrong to dislike it. You can say that every minute of Trek made since Rodenberry died has all been utter garbage, and that's fine, I respect that. What I want to know is, if you're hating it that much, why are you still wasting your time watching every single episode in the 10 years since then?

Sure, I feel that you can not be 100% satisfied with something and still have it be worth your time. For example, I feel Enterprise has been a mixed bag: they've done some stories I loved, some I thought were just okay, and others I aboslutely hated. My biggest complaints also fall with the Berman / Braga regime; basicly that they've gotten so stuck in their formula that they've gotten stale. But I feel that Star Trek continues to entertain me, so I still come back week after week. But if week after week you're consistantly hating it so much that you are now going in to each episode or movie saying "this is going to suck, and I dare them to prove me wrong" ...then really, why are you doing this to yourself?

Go watch Andromeda instead. Or Farscape. Or Firefly, or Stargate SG-1, or Taken, or Twilight Zone, or Odysssey 5, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dinotopia, Birds of Prey, Earth: Final Conflict, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Cleopatra 2525, Babylon 5...

Or if you have reasons why all those shows suck too, then here's a great idea: go read a book.

But please stop spending all your energy telling me why I'm wrong just because I actually enjoyed something. Channel your energy into something that is worthwhile and enjoyable for you.

One "fan" kept ending all his attacks with "Having fun yet?" Well yes, I am having fun with Star Trek. It's a shame you're not. I suggest you go somewhere that is more fun for you, and stop raining on my parade.

Or you know what, better yet... I think I'll just stop going to the message boards. They're no fun any more, and I'd rather spend my time doing something I enjoy.

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