Trekkies and Confederates

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

I was not sure where to post this. Too many possible places. So here it is.

Quote::

A battle outside the box

The idea's so outside the box it's hard to believe anyone thought of it.

But thinking "outside the box" is what the local civic club "Outside The Box" does, and that's what members did when they thought about this weekend's re-enactments of the 1865 Battle of Columbus at the Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum, online at www.portcolumbus.org.

"We thought about how meticulous those Civil War re-enactors are about having historically accurate uniforms and equipment," says OTB President Hugh Lessjo. "Then we thought, 'Who else is so obsessive about having the right props and costumes?' "

The answer: Star Trek fans.

"We have Star Trek fan clubs in our area, and Sunday's battle re-enactment already includes a 'what-if' scenario featuring a Confederate counterattack," says Lessjo. "So we started thinking outside the box, and we thought, 'Why not have Trekkies join the battle?' They already have the equipment."

OTBs, or "Outside The Boxers," as they call themselves, are unconventional thinkers who believe "there are no stupid ideas," Lessjo says. "We really just wanted to know what would happen if Civil War soldiers fought the crew from 'Star Trek.' You never see that in the movies or TV reruns."

So the OTBs asked battle organizers: Why not attract a wider audience by staging a second "what-if" battle sequence in which a starship crew joins the conflict?

Unwilling to openly ridicule the idea, organizers set up a meeting for Lessjo, Confederate re-enactors and a local Star Trek club -- the latter two in full regalia.

Then the trouble began.

First the Confederates said they wouldn't associate with "Trekkies," and the Star Trek fans said they preferred "Trekkers." The Confederates all laughed, and "that right there got things off on the wrong foot," Lessjo says.

Other missteps followed.

"One of the Trekkers said Starfleet's prime directive wouldn't let the crew introduce superior technology to a primitive culture," Lessjo says. "Then a rebel yelled, 'Don't call us primitive, geek!' And the Trekker said Starfleet wouldn't defend a society based on slavery, either."

That riled the Confederates, provoking one to shout: "Y'all just go fight for the Yankees then! You're all living in a fantasy world anyway!"

"Yeah, like you're not!" a Trekker retorted.

Both sides abruptly drew their weapons, and Lessjo ducked under a table as the firing commenced, he says. He did not crawl back out until the smoke cleared, and by then the Trekkers had withdrawn from the field.

"It turns out replica Civil War guns use real gunpowder, whereas 'Star Trek' phasers have only a battery-powered bulb that lights up," says Lessjo. "You don't go up against a guy with a firearm if all you've got is a flashlight."

So thinking outside the box yielded an unexpected answer to OTB's hypothetical question: "We proved Civil War soldiers would win a battle against the crew from 'Star Trek,' " Lessjo says, chuckling. "You never would have figured that, would you?"

Dimitri

sniper · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

Awwww, come on! This happened for real? Actually, I never imagined that scenario. Musta been a slow news day, or something. Shocked

Hmmmm....Sort of redefines "Phasers on stun", doesn't it? Very Happy

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

I honestly don't know, but what I do know that as a person that enjoys watch Star Trek, and a person of history, I was pleased with the outcome. Laughing

Dimitri

Elvis · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:38 am Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

that is too funny.

slimjim · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

never thought I'd read something like this. Definitely OTB. However, there might be a Star Trek Episode on the same theme. I remember one with the Germans in WWII era.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

No Star Trek Episode with the same thing, I can garrenty that. Laughing

Dimitri

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

Damn it Jim I'm just a Doctor ROFL

PaulS · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

I think that quote is; "Damn it Jim, I'm just a country doctor"

But then I'm not a trekker...... Smile

slimjim · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

Beam me up Scotty!

Vince · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

Sorry 'Mitri....I can't take the Trekkies" seriously. I used to work with one and I saw how he would spend a fortune on his "uniform" and how he would change when he put it on...really weird.

Now ren-enactors....that is a very different kettle of fish. They are re-creating a real life situation from the past.

Hey, now here's a thought....Star Trek meets the Robinsons - Lost in Space...WARNING WILL ROBINSON...or The Jetsons..."Reorge, rum rick...rit's Raptain Rirk and Rotty" Shocked

Beam me up Scotty...no intelligent life down here. Laughing

Cheers, Vince

whittling · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:58 am Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

Yeah -us reenactors use REAL guns that go boom! Besides whats the fun of playing something that never happened - you can have fun playing Halo[which isn't very much fun either ].

stovepipe · Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: Trekkies and Confederates

HE'S DEAD JIM! Shocked

Moral: Never bring a flashlight to a gunfight. Razz