Why all the Star Wars/ Star Trek hate?

Since I've been on vacation, I've been checking out Darth Wong's site Star Destroyer.net. While I'm entertained by the whole "which side would win a galactic war," I'm amazed and kinda appalled at all the hate out there between Star Wars and Star Trek fans. How Star Wars fans often call Trek fans "trektards" and Trek fanatics in turn have sent Darth Wong actual death threats. And I'm not trying to pick on Darth's site because from there I surfed to other sci fi forums where lots of angry fans continued to spew obscenities at each other simply for the fact they like Star Trek or Star Wars more.

Trek fans get labeled as lazy dumbasses or commies while Wars fans get labeled as jedi wannabies or fascist pigs ( I guess Star Wars is somehow considered eltitist for some reason). Truth be told, I haven't seen this kind of vitriol even in the most heated console vs PC or Batman vs Superman debates. I can't understand why one person would take great offense for someone liking the other series, or why debates about the two series so often seem to devolve into soccer hooligan mudslinging. I've actually seen more civility shown by Raiders fans to the other team on football forums than I've seen on sci fi fansites.

Since there seems to be a good number of both Star Trek and Star Wars fans on this forum, I'm curious to hear what others think about this. Is it just me or does the whole Trek versus Wars debate seemingly gotten out of hand?

What, you mean the International Alliance of Geeks and Nerdery has finally been sundered by the clear superiority of Star Wars? The War has finally begun? This is news to me!

since i'm a star wars fan i think it's fun to ridicule star trek but i would never take this whole debate seriously (as some people obviously do)^^

What, you mean the International Alliance of Geeks and Nerdery has finally been sundered by the clear superiority of Star Wars?

The new episodes BLOW and the new star trek series since Voyager have blown.

So how can one be superior than the other when both at this point are UTTERLY horrible.

Originally Posted by Kanaric

The new episodes BLOW and the new star trek series since Voyager have blown.

So how can one be superior than the other when both at this point are UTTERLY horrible.

dito....the only real star wars films are episodes 4-6^^

Startrek is a philosophy and a view of the universe. Starwars is just a movie franchise.

just a note

BSG & Babylon 5 > Star Wars or Star Trek. At least until they get their act together.

George Lucas has said that a benevolent all knowing dictator would be the best form of government.

You can find elements of that in Star Wars.

@ Kanaric Yes the new movies blow but there was a time when both Star Trek and Star Wars had moments of brilliance. I'm holding out hope that JJ Abrhams (the guy behind Lost and MI: 3) can help resurrect the Star Trek series with the upcoming Star Trek XI movie.

@ Karl151 - I think you underestimate the commitment of Star Wars fans to their franchise. There are a lot of people who also model their lives around the ideals of the Jedi and the force (Mark Hamill to name one). Also, when I used to pay the MMOG Star Wars Galaxies I knew hundreds of people who spent every free moment logged into to their imaginary Star Wars playground, living out their deep fantasies to be a Bothan hairstylist.

Personally, I like both series, which is why I find this debate so surprising. You'd think both Warsies and Trekies would realize their real enemies are American Idol and Nascar "you some kind of homo with them pointy ears, boy?" fans.

I agree.

They were both good so why contrast them. They should compare them with something that is actually bad.

I'll be honest I like Star Wars a lot and Star Trek a lot less, but I don't hate it. I just don't watch it.

Originally Posted by Count of Montesano

Trek fans get labeled as lazy dumbasses or commies while Wars fans get labeled as jedi wannabies or fascist pigs ( I guess Star Wars is somehow considered eltitist for some reason).

Trek fans get called commies because from what I understand of the federation, there is no currency or concept of personal wealth.

Wars fans get called fascists because the government through much of the series is an empire, and even the "good guys" (old and new republic) are pretty authoritarian compared to western democracies of the real world.

Pft, at this point Battlestar Galactica beats any Star Wars or Star Trek out the water in sheer terms of quality. The best Star Was were the original trilogy, the new ones were not good. And Voyager was by far the best Star Trek series.

It's sad. I think I'm one of the few who like both.

I like both.

I enjoy neither, Go Stargate!

Originally Posted by Charred_Monkey

I enjoy neither, Go Stargate!

star trek and star wars are both ok tv shows and movies, however i Love Stargate to

I dunno, I just prefer the operatic themes of Star Wars, the grand themes of Good vs Evil, to the somewhat more complex, and what I call pompous, Star Trek.

Besides, Death Star, there's nothing in Star Trek quite so badassed.

Anyways, why is Star Wars seen as elitist by the Trekkies?

And here's how I rate sci-fi series

Star Wars (old movies) > Babylon 5 > Star Trek (TNG and DS9) > Star Wars (new movies) > Star Trek (TOS and everything past Voyager) > Battlestar Galactica (new series) > Stargate: SG1

Sorry, I just never really liked Stargate that much.

Hatred exists between these two factions for one clear reason - they don't have enough Jesus. Think about it - Jesus isn't praised either in Star Wars, which is another galaxy far far away where they do pagan worship to Yoda instead, or in Star Trek which is set 100s years in the future where they have all sensibly become agnostics. Result - hatred. Silence the discord! Your Song is Not Ours! The Many are Strong!

Watch 'Where Silence Has Lease' for Picard's agnostic beliefs explained in detail when Data asks him about death.